DEC 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Pain Stick Focus December 3:

Homemade PS Oil
Frank Shaving Pur-Tech Brush
Cella
CJB Pain Stick
Stirling Unscented PSB
Tabac AS

Today was one of those days where things just didn't go too well. Didn't get enough rest last night, and I probably should have considered using Schick Repeating this morning, but I went forward with the CJB. It wasn't actually terrible, but not too good either. A couple of small nicks in my mustache, and I forgot about the cut on my jaw line, but it was happy to remind me it was there. Looking forward to a better shave tomorrow.

 

Day 3 Schick Repeating Razor focus:


Today I used the Schick Type A repeating razor. Loaded with an NOS Schick blade, the type A performed admirably for an 85 yr old. Once the proper blade angle was found, the 3 pass DFS was an easy goal. For the price, TOBS shaving cream is every bit as good as any it's expensive British cousins. All in all a great early morning shave.

 

Good setup @clint64. Great looking brush. Is that a Flair tip?

 

Thank you Doug. It's a 1964 Super Speed so I think that makes it a Flair Tip. I'll defer to those with more knowledge.

 

Hi Troy! Download this app Aviary, it's a photo editing app, simple to use and some nice features. 10:8 when sizing fits TSD perfect.

 

Aviary is a fantastic App. The vast amount of effects and frames are very helpful in editing the photos. Kerry, thanks for the tip about the sizing.

 

SOTD
December 3, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Gillette Aristocrat Junior #49
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Saponificio Varesino Dolomiti
Brush: Semogue 830
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Myrsol F/Extra
No picture. My asthma was bad last night, I was whistling all night. I have a cough that won't go away!! My doctor prescribed some cough medicine but man it's lingering around. I'm good though.
So I received a very nice sample of this soap from Ed @Redrock sometime ago, it's definitely a top shelf soap. Thanks again Ed! I'm rediscovering that I like boar brushes more than I thought, the Semogue 830 feels nice and soft. I can't say enough good things about my love for the Gillette Aristocrat Junior #49. I'll shave my head later on today as I'm out of regulation. Hippy style rain today!!
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE!

 

First impressions of the Black Handle SS: This razor is both lighter and milder than any other DE I've tried to date. It wasn't until the first XTG pass that I could honestly say I felt, rather than heard, any beard reduction happening. Some minor fiddling with the angle told me that I had, in fact, gotten the angle about right to begin with and needed to stop messing with it. Of course, this meant there was no tugging going on, either. I almost never do 3 passes on a blade's maiden voyage, but the SS seemed so mild that I decided I could probably do three passes irritation-free. As it turns out, I was correct. While not the closest shave I've ever gotten in 3 passes, it qualifies as DFS+, with the added benefit of - to paraphrase the old Johnny Bench commercials for a paint product - no burns, no nicks, no irritation. . . and if you don't get the reference, get off my lawn before I whap you with my cane!

 

Dec 3 Shave 2

First shave in Phuket so I broke out my hot weather traveling soap, QCS Vostok. Loaded up the CJB and went at it. First pass was ok but got some blood flowing on the second pass and then two weepers on the third. I was surprised the irritation level was not higher, just some light stinging. This have was just SAS. This razor is definitely allot less forgiving than a SR.

Irritation B+ Closeness C+

QCS Vostok soap
Vie Long white horsehair fan
CJB with Feather Pro
Alcolado Galcial AS
Castle Forbes ASB
Sunscreen and bug repellent.

 

1961 was a very good year
Another great shave with my birth quarter razor. Two pass BBS with very little cleanup and no irritation. I like this combination!
SOTD
Route 66 Sweeney Todd soap
AoS Pure Badger brush
SuperSpeed (1961 birth quarter)
Feather blade (3)
AoS AS Balm
Pitrulon Classic AS
Happy Thursday!

 

​

 

December 3, 2015
This month I’m focusing on my two birth quarter razors.
Gillette Ball End Tech A4 - Week 1
Gillette SS Red Tip A4 - Week 2

Morning shave
Hot Shower
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Dolomiti
Brush: Stirling Kong Synthetic
Razor: Gillette Ball End Tech A4
Blade: 7 o’clock (Blues) (4)
TSD Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Myrsol Blue



2 pass shave - XTG, ATG

The streak continues…same solid shave as yesterday.
Have a great day!

Cheers!
RT

 

Here we go again!

 

And we're official!

 

I've always found the lack of stock photo editing tools on Apple products annoying. I will try that app soon as well!

 

I feel like many new guys inadvertently sentence themselves to mediocre shaves, because they try many razors and master none.

 

I remember.

 

December 30 Day Focus--Gillette Executive and Stirling Kong

December 2

Razor - 1958 Gillette Executive Adjustable (WTG 4, ATG 4)
Blade - Gillette Silver Blue (2)
Brush - Stirling Kong
Soap - Proraso Red
Post - Cold water, witch hazel, Jovan Musk


I forgot to post yesterdays shave. Another day with both the first and second passes set on 4 on the Executive. Nice mild shave that resulted in near BBS with no irritation. The razor is a joy to hold and use. The weight, thickness of the handle, and balance are all perfect for me.

The other purpose of my focus is the Stirling Kong brush. Basically I am trying synthetic for the first time and am comparing it to a true starter brush in the VDH boar and a good high quality brush in the AOS fine badger. Well, the Stirling is kicking some butt! This thing creates a mean lather and feels amazing on the face. Yes, this is just after two shaves, but wow, what a difference from the AOS. The first shave with the Tabac was face lathering since the Tabac is a stick. This shave was in my bowl and both times the brush effortlessly created the necessary lather, was a joy to use, feels great with its size and weight, and is an easy cleanup! I am thinking my next purchase will be the 22 mm version to have a smaller one for travel. I am definitely looking forward to using this brush for the foreseeable future.

 

I love the Kong too, but it makes me sad to hold a $20 brush and look at brushes I've spent $50 $80 even $100 on and think how much better the $20 one performs. I still plan on keeping my others and using them, but if I had to keep only one, it would be the Kong.

 

December 30 Day Focus--Gillette Executive and Stirling Kong

December 3

Razor - 1958 Gillette Executive Adjustable (WTG 4, ATG 5)
Blade - Gillette Silver Blue (3)
Brush - Stirling Kong
Soap - Stirling MITA
Post - Cold water, witch hazel, TSD ISZ

Today I started my shave with my usual first pass doing WTG on the cheeks and XTG on the neck and chin. I left the Executive at setting 4 for this pass. As the pass the few days, it has provided decent reduction on the first pass with no irritation. For the second pass I moved the Executive up to 5 and did my usual ATG everywhere pass. I could notice a little difference in the aggression and had to remind myself to ride the cap a couple of times. I placed it down at a bad angle on my chin and got a small weeper. The 5 seemed to provide good ATG closeness with very minimal irritation (except for where user error was involved). Performed minimal touch-up again on 5. I could tell the difference between 4&5, but it was definitely not a huge difference. Tomorrow I will be testing @Rufus T. 's theory on setting the first pass to 5 and the ATG second pass to 4 to see if I notice any difference.

The Kong continues to impress. Swirled on the MITA soap for about 15-20 seconds and it had grabbed enough soap to make a beautiful lather in the bowl! Again this brush performs magnificently in a bowl. It also feels incredible on the face. The tips are nice and soft, but the brush does not flop everywhere like the AOS fine badger did. The brush has enough backbone that you actually get a little of the message feeling from the brush that I liked with the boar and definitely missed with the badger. Still looking forward to this brush with every shave!