DEC 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Focus day 1
I've just completed what I am claiming as my first ever BBS thanks to the advice and guidance of this 30 day focus the palms of my hands have more hair on than my head and no irritation as of yet. I also had absolutely no sting from the alum bloc for the first time and I only did 3 passes with a touch up. I guess Astra sp blades were not to blame. My wife mentioned my head as soon as I walked down stairs saying that's the closest and most shiny yet. I have been struggling for a month and blaming equipment and in 24hrs of this group my shave has improved ten fold I thank you all. Key areas I believe I was making mistakes were moving the blade to fast and stupidly having music on during my routine like mentioned on TSD sound is of major importance I think having the radio on while shaving is for pros. I will continue my focus by improving on today's technique while being sure to not get over confident I will start my sample pack on the next focus using my new found skills. I am now happy with my modest but ample set up... For now!

 

SOTD 12/14/15 (Shave 7 of this focus)
Razor: Henkels Friodur Inox
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Forty Five Series Bridle/ Poly
Soap: Barrister & Mann Seville
Brush: Omega 1066
Post Shave: Cold Water rinse, Alum, Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue

10 hours post shave, still almost a BBS. Did a three and a half pass shave, N/S, XTG, S/N, and touch up with a scything stroke on the neck and jawline. Lather was perfect, using a few tablespoons of water in the soap while showering, then dumping it into the bowl. I load the brush, then whip the lather in the bowl with the water, and put it on a damp face. Had enough lather for six or seven passes. One cut on the jaw, but almost no irritation. Alum was quiet, as was the AV. A+ for closeness, A- for irritation only because of the cut. This kind of shave is why I switched to straights.

 

December Focus

The Twelve Blades of December!

Hard to believe we've almost put this year to bed. Wow. Where did the time go? But, here we are and as a gift to everyone here I'm offering up my shaves with twelve blades that have never touched my face, randomly paired with twelve of my DE razors. Two shaves with each setup to finish on Xmas Eve. So, sit back, get the fire burning and enjoy what I hope is an enjoyable month of further proof Technique Trumps Tools. I hope for that....my expectations aren't as optimistic.

December 14

Razor - Rimei A2002
Blade - (2)
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold water, Alum, Nivea

Finally, it's the WEEKEND!! Wait, not for you? Sorry about that. I'll keep the celebrating down. Monday morning and it's my weekly head shave ahead of the main event. Last week's head shave didn't work too well as I somehow managed to slice myself behind the left ear. Going to pay a bit closer attention to that stroke around the ear to see if I can avoid that. Still wondering how I did that. Merkur 23c and Astra SP along with VDH Deluxe soap and boar brush as always. And, other than a nick in a rough spot it all went well. However, it took some doing so I'll be changing the blade for next week. I usually go 3 shaves on the blade but I'm stopping after 2 this time. I feel like maybe I got a dud as it just didn't work as well as normal for the Astra SP. It happens.

On to day two of the Remei A2001 and Vincent blade from China. The blade was good yesterday, but again it's made in China for an American company, Sewicob. BoSFat for the lather and it really exploded into life today. First pass felt very smooth and I went into the second pass with high hopes of a DFS. Found some touch up work needed after the second pass and thought I had the high DFS. Afterwards, though, I discovered as I worked with the alum and Nivea that I can't call it that. I would have needed a third pass to accomplish a good DFS. The result is a barely DFS if I'm a bit generous. Still not a horrible shave but not what I thought as I finished. I'm blaming that largely on the Remei, however. It is a mild razor even with the blade a bit straighter than most. Just takes more work to get where you want.

My overall impression of the Vincent is that it is a quality blade. If the shavepocalypse happened tomorrow and all I could find was a stash of Vincent blades I'd be perfectly happy. Not thrilled, but happy.

Now, for those who are bored or want to pretend they're interested, here are some observations I have made over the past 14 days and 7 blades. I know I have 5 to go, and a couple of them, well more than a couple, are probably going to be horrible. But, I have noticed that so far I really haven't had a horrible experience with the ones I've used. Even the Gentle Man, wherever the hell it's from, wasn't bad enough to throw away. And, the Cloud from Shanghai turned out to be usable. Certainly more than any other Chinese blade except perhaps the Rimei blade. Is the improvement based on the fact I'm on a better batch of blades or is it something else? We know that the 30DC started almost a year ago in the belief that Technique Trumps Tools. The 3 T's that are our mantra here. The proven theory that if your technique is strong enough you can use any tool (razor, blade, brush, soap) in any combination and still attain an acceptable shave.......unless a tool is defective. Blades that aren't sharpened evenly, razors with broken parts (or just made in the Soviet Union), soaps that won't lather and stink like bug spray (Williams) and brushes that would rather shed than lather are all examples of potentially defective tools.

After nearly a year of working technique with a variety of razors, both good and bad (and a few horrid) as well as too many blades to count, and a solid month on the Feather SS AC, I have noticed my technique has evolved considerably. Especially after the pain stick I notice myself making minute angle adjustments with DE razors now. If a blade tugs a bit I will add or subtract a fraction of angle to try and find a smoother spot. My theory is that because I worked with the pain stick and its potentially 180 degree range of angles, which traditional straights and kamisoris also provide, I developed the feel for a blade on my face and how it is performing at any given angle. I also developed the ability to adjust that angle by the tiniest of degrees. With a pain stick you do that to avoid cutting your throat while still getting a shave accomplished. With the DE's I find myself doing it to try to smooth out and get a more effective pass. So, technique in varied types of razors and systems does translate to other systems and razors and helps develop the skills to truly accomplish TTT!

My apparent lack of self-survival instincts in using so many potentially horrible setups has been a grand experiment to see how far the three T's can actually be effective. And, the question that now comes to mind is "how defective does a tool have to be to be beyond the reach of TTT?" The answer, through trial and discovery, may be closer than you think........stay tuned!

 

Awesome results!! You are obviously a quick study and will be able to dance while you shave in no time!
Astra SP has always been in my rotation and I use it for my head shaves without exception. I have found other Russian blades to be better for my face, such as Voskhod, Sharp Star, and a few others, but I still throw the SP in now and then. You'll have fun and learn a lot with the sample pack. Keep up the good work! It's all about nailing down technique.

 

It's largely down to the advice from people like your self I just need my sample pack a brush and I've just emailed mongoose ready for when I'm more proficient. Do u know of the process when dealing with mongoose?

 

You have taken the most important step. You're on the list. They will contact you when your name comes up. I waited 12 weeks.

 

Congrats on the great start. If you stick with one razor for a couple of months you'll be surprised how much your technique improves. What you learn will transfer quickly to other razors.

I started out with a Merkur 34c as well.

 

Great write up. I have been finding myself adjusting angles just as you say with the Pain Stick, although I have to be very deliberate about so I don't have an unintended slip. I hadn't really thought about what I was doing and how it might apply to a DE until reading your post.

 

Yeah everything about the pain stick needs to be deliberate until it becomes automatic. Way too many things that can go wrong and with very bad results. LOL I have read others who said that after using straights and pain sticks their technique with DE's improved. So finding out where that improvement came from was interesting. I think it's also a confidence thing, too. After all, I survived 30 days with a Feather SS....what can a Super Speed do to me?

 

I was amazed on how much shaving with a pain stick and then a straight changed how I shave with a DE. I haven't had any bad DE shaves this year, and most of them have been automatic BBS ones. I am now working on getting to that point with the straights.

 

When does your Super Speed come up in the rotation again? I don't want to miss that report.

 

Razor: Gillette Milord w/case and blade pack
Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (1)
Brush: Brass Handle Boar (I know nothing about this brush)
Soap: Proraso
A/S: Captain's Choice Sandalwood w/ M-Bomb
Excellent shave after a busy day and great supper. Three passes with a great Captain's Choice Sandalwood with added M Bomb finish.

 

What's the worst that could happen?

 

You're in luck.....it's next in line! The next two days with the German Souplex blade. Never heard of the blade but every time I say or write it I get hungry for French Onion for some reason.

 

I know about a German Suplex, they will generally necessitate a chiropractor visit or 12. Sounds fun!

 

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So, then, perhaps proper technique is shaving with this blade while jumping off the top rope and applying an elbow smash to a puck of Williams?

 

I shaved, just laughing at the thread too much to compose my SOTD....

 

Control yourself kind sir, this is serious business here. Give me an harumph.

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