FEB 2015 30 Day Rule/30 Day Focus Pic and Discussion Thread

February Focus - Blades
2/2/15 - Day 3

Brush - Omega Pro 48
Cream - C.O. Bigelow
Razor - EJ89L
Blade - (3)
Post - RazoRock Alum

Third and final day on the GSB. For the record, this would have been the last day for the blade even if I wasn't in a trial. While the GSB started great on day one, it faded through the last two. Today's result was very similar to yesterday. Some drag, less smooth after each pass and even more to clean up after the third pass than yesterday. Alum found lots to complain about especially on my neck.

Grade today is going to again be A- /2. I can say I never had a problem with weepers or nicks but I think if I pressed it one more day I could start to see some. This is a premium blade and at the best price I can find of 23.00 for 100 blades a bit pricier than many options. For me that is too much to pay for the performance I get out of it. Of course, YMMV.

Final result for the blade - A-/1.5 which places it behind the Voskhod in the number 2 position so far. Tomorrow it's on to the Sputnik. Gotta run...I think the Girl Scouts are here with some cookies.

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02/02/15 February Focus on Blades

Prep - Hot Shower
Razor - Mongoose Satin B2
Blade – Feather Pro (2)
Brush – Rudy Vey Faux Briar with Shavemac Finest 26mm/52mm
Lather – Catie's Bubbles Santal Sensuelle
Post - Witch Hazel and CC Sandalwood AS



Today's shave was the first time I have used this brush. The brush has a huge amount of backbone but is so soft. Catie's Bubbles proved to be very slick and easy to lather. Very nice 2 pass shave this morning with touch ups around my chin. First pass was ATG with the second pass XTG was possible because of the blade's sharpness. Finished up with the Captian's Choice Sandalwood AS. Love the scent but I wish it were stronger.

 

Menthol Monday, and Day two. Proraso green with 4 drops mbomb. Aftershave: TSD witch hazel with Eucalyptus, and 2 mbomb drops. Hugo Boss balm for the finish. I focused on no pressure with this razor, and it was good, except for a strip on the base of the neck, where the angle was wrong, and I got some irritation.

 

No pictures today but I got my Omega 49 in yesterday. I was a little hesitant since I figured it would take a little while to break in and be enjoyable. Wow is all I can say. I'm not sure what the difference is between this brush and my VDH boar brush but it is a night and day difference for me. The lather was actually good! I mean the first time...no practicing with the brush just went about my normal routine and BAM, awesome lather. No irritation and my head actually felt nice when I rinsed with water. Also the post shave balm didn't burn when I applied it.

I'm really looking forward to this rest of the month with this brush. Hopefully I can keep replicating the success.

 

If you like the brush now, you'll love it when its fully broken in.

 

That brush will only improve for a few weeks. Enjoy!!! It's a great piece of equipment.

 

I love the 48. It's just now starting to bloom really nice so just keep at it with your 49. You'll never want to be without it.

 

Brain clearing Arko Shave

Or

Cadet OC Redux

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A great shave...superb. Just wanted to break it up...big contrast to my last OC shave and a testament to riding the cap!

For comparison:

The Halloween Massacre

If that doesn't show skill improvement....



Proraso and injectors the rest of the month! I am writing up my Feb Focus...another travel month...so thinking about options.

Happy Monday Everyone!

 

February 2

Stirling Sheep Soap
Feather Artist Club razor (aka "The Hammer")
Feather Professional blade (day 1)
Two-band silvertip
Stirling Naked and Smooth soap plus a few bits of leftover soap & glycerin
One-pass plus touch-ups
Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, & unrefined shea butter

This is February Focus day number two to improve my skills using a shavette. I had a better shave today than yesterday, considering I had only one small weeper on my chin. It took everything I had to stop at one pass, but I'm glad that I did. I have a little more stubble this evening than I normally have. Shaving my cheeks is relatively easy, with the chin area being slightly more difficult. My upper lip and lower neck are my two most challenging areas. It will take time and practice for me to achieve a close and comfortable two- or three-pass shave with this set up. NO pressure, correct blade angle, and much patience are going to be key success factors for me.

I'm still getting used to my new two-band brush. I've never used a brush with such soft tips and good backbone like this one. I wish the handle was a bit longer, but my opinion may change with time.

I hope you all have a blessed week and smooth shaves!

 

Day 2 with Feb Focus. Had a good shave overall, the Slim Adjustable seems to be a little more fickle with angle for me. First pass I was riding the cap, for 2nd and 3rd pass I changed angle a little and seemed to get smoother passes....more experimenting needed...
Also I have a question, I post photos in SOTD, should I post those same photos here as well or just post observations of the progress of the challenge?

 

Post photos here too if you want. Probably not everyone sees SOTD. I know I don't get there everyday. That's my opinion anyway.

 

02/03/15 Focus On Blades

Prep - Hot Shower
Razor - Mongoose Satin B2
Blade – Feather Pro (3)
Brush – Rudy Vey Rover with TGN Finest 24mm/48mm
Lather – Soap Commander Passion
Post - Witch Hazel and CC Bay Rum AS



Took a little extra time this morning for a excellent 3 pass shave with very small touch ups around the chin. These blades are very sharp. Even 3 shaves in the blade seems sharper than a brand new Kai Mild. I ended up with a weeper so I must have put some pressure. The Soap Commander Passion scent paired well with the Captain's Choice Bay Rum AS.

 

February Focus - Blades
2/3/15 - Day 4

Brush - Omega Pro 48
Cream - C.O. Bigelow
Razor - EJ89L
Blade - (1)
Post - RazoRock Alum and AV Ice Blue

Today is a lesson on deception. I had read a lot of conflicting reviews on the Sputnick. Named for the first man made satellite to orbit the earth you would think it would fly high and provide a high tech shave. Some think so, some not. The proof is in the shave.

First pass I was totally impressed. Extremely smooth, as in, WOW smooth. WTG was flawless and I lathered up for the XTG. Again, very smooth, comfortable, impressive and.....wait a minute....do I see pink lather on the razor? Yep. One very small nick on my right jawline on the XTG. Didn't feel it at all but there it is. Did the XTG on the left side and no issues but another small nick showed up on the right side on my neck. Where did that come from? Lathered, ATG and done. No further issues and the blade felt smooth throughout the whole process.

Now to the alum. No doubt about it the blade, in spite of its smooth feel, left irritation. The alum was having a field day on my neck and letting me know that smooth feelings can be deceiving. This blade may be more aggressive than it feels, or else it lacks a bit of sharpness that it disguises under Teflon. We'll find out more in the next two days. I did achieve DFS and with very little cleanup.

Somewhat disappointed as I was rooting for this one because of its cool name. Oh well, can't have everything. Based on my rules I have to give it a B2 on its first day. Not setting a high bar.

One thing is for sure, it's a lot easier to shave with than its predecessor. This little beauty launched October 4, 1957, which is 2 years and 3 days before I was launched. It started the space race as it was visible and audible with ham radio during its three month life in low orbit. While we beat the Russians to the moon they had us on the ropes in the beginning.

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BONUS QUESTION: Name the Soviet spacecraft shown below and I'll send you a tuck of blades. First three to answer correctly win.

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Day 3
Added Corn Huskers for a pre and had improved results with the XXX soap. A DFS was had. Still working on the angles with the Slim Adj, and so far it appears a steeper angle is needed for better results at least with the Ladas blade.

 

February 3rd SOTD (Shave 2 of the challenge)
Two Day's growth
Prep: Hot shower
Razor: '52 Gillette Super Speed Black Tip (X2)- Steel Handle and Baseplate
Blade: Rapira PlatinumLux, second shave on this blade, stropped 30 times per edge
Soap: Dirty Deeds Green Tweed
Brush: Vie Long Horsehair
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block
Aftershave: Thayer’s Witch Hazel, Cucumber scent


Focus is learning this razor. The razor/ blade combo is very smooth, and that can be misleading. I had quite a bit of irritation on my neck on the last shave, from attempting to buff. I just did a two pass shave today, with no buffing. The blade was fairly smooth after stropping. DFS all the way around, but didn’t chase the baby. Neck felt comfortable, and no feedback from Alum block.
I have shampooed the brush twice since I shaved with it last, and left soap on it overnight to try and get rid of the funk. It’s not gone, but is getting better. Brush lathered really well. Soap is one of my favorites that I have been using for a while. It makes a slick lather and smells great.
Going on a trip for the next week, and mailed blades to where I am going. I will put a picture up tonight with my travel kit, since I won’t be putting pictures up.

 

2/3/15 - Blades/Face lather focus

Prep: hot shower and cornhusker's lotion
Lather: TSD Grey Vetiver type
Brush: Omega 10066
Razor: Weber PH
Blade: Derby Extra (3)

Today's shave turned out pretty good, although I though the blade was pretty tuggy right from the start. I made 3 passes. I struggled just a little with the lather, but I think I have to "wake-up" this soap as it has been in a tin for a couple of months without water. It was better today than it was yesterday and hopefully will get even better with a couple more lathers.

 

Vostok?

 

Nope, not the Vostok.

 

I'd say yet another successful day with the Omega 49. Still using my EJ89 with rebranded Personnas and VDH Luxury soap. This brush is helping me get some crazy close shaves without the irritation I was getting before. I know it's a lather thing but I wouldn't have imagined this big of a difference between two different boar brushes. Who cares what's making it work as long as it's working lol.

 

Likely Soyuz 1