DEC 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

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.

 

Goodness. The only things you were missing were the shades and the small headset and wire. A little stubble would have been a bonus, but we all know that was totally out of the question.

You should be in my line of work. My coworkers are happy if I bathe weekly. Of course, my job is not to make everyone happy.

 

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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Change to a Jack Knife Power Bomb followed by The People's Elbow finisher and you're looking sharp... Just be sure it's pro wrestling rules and not Mma. I am sincerely hoping that blade provides some excellent reading for tomorrow!

Edit: mma power bomb > pro wrestling power bomb.

Knowing is half the battle...

 

Hot shower with Hair/Face washed with Tee Tree shampoo

Gillette Flair Tip
Feather HI Blade
Taylor’s Sandalwood
EJ Badger Brush
Nivea AS Balm
Every Man Jack AS Lotion

So I did something different today with my technique to it a try. Been watching “NickShaves” on Youtube and wanted to give his style a whirl and see how my face reacted to it. So I got a nice hot shower and washed my hair with Tee Tree shampoo and went ahead and washed my face and neck with it as well. Then on to the shave. Cold water shave as that’s been a big improvement in the irritation department. So, cold water splash – WTG (N-S), XTG (right ear to left), XTG (left ear to right). At this point I felt NO irritation at all and I was feeling lucky so I went with a “Touch-up” pass. Now this has always left me RAW and irritated to no end in the past. I am pleased to say this routine (even after the touch-ups) left me with the best shave I’ve had to date with NO irritation, NO bleeding, NO sting with the AS Balm or Lotion! Super impressed and thrilled about this shave I had today and went into work this afternoon (working the afternoon shift this week) smiling ear to ear as if the spot light was on me and there was a theme song playing when I walked in the door HaHa.

For me, this is what it’s all about and can’t wait for tomorrow’s shave where I’ll be using this routine again to see if I get the same results.