February '16 - 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion Thread

SOTD February 8, 2016
Menthol Monday!

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Personna lab blue (2)
Razor: Maggard MR1
Brush: Satin Tip 'The Purest' synthetic
Lather: Proraso Green
Post: Witch hazel splash, TSD SubZero, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up

I really enjoyed this shave and the CCS results. The Proraso Green lathers up very nicely. The Satin Tip brush has been a great addition to the arsenal after I determined to use more pressure when loading and face lathering. It's a good brush. The MR1 razor has been working wonderfully. I've really enjoyed using it so far this month.

The TSD SubZero splash cooled everything off quite well! I had one little weeper just below my jaw line but that was taken care of with the cold rinse and witch hazel. This combination of products is a great way to start off the week!

I wish everyone a great day!

 

Neat picture.

 

Thanks Doug!

 

February Focus - German blades

February 7

Razor - Merkur 23c
Blade - (1)
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold rinse, Alum, Nivea, The Veg

Welcome to Sunday, my Friday. After two German blades I've had a bit of mixed results. The Timor was quite excellent, the Elios not so much. So, onward we go to the Wilkinson Sword, German edition. This blade is made by the American Safety Razor Co. and listed as having no coating on one site. However, I've also found information that states they are made by Gillette and are either a carbon blade, or have a chromium and PTFE coating. Gillette does make a Wilkinson in India so I lean toward the Gillette ownership as being more valid. A bit of confusion on this brand name. I'm trying to sort through all of the info available to figure out the truth. What I do know is that it is an older brand, having been first introduced to the U.S. in the 1950's. A lot of us grew up with Wilkinson commercials. And, of course, Wilkinson went the way of the cart like everyone else in the American market. Having this classic DE blade still available is due to international sales more than anything. However, the cart days did produce one of the all time great shaving commercials.

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Alright, enough fooling around. Let's shave.

BoSFat for the lather today. Getting low on The Fat. Definitely need to remember to order some more. While I would be fine using only Tabac, Arko, and Proraso, life without the Fat just isn't a life I want to live. Still using the German Merkur 23c and away we go.

First pass was quite nice. In fact, it reminded me of the Timor. Extremely smooth and comfortable and effective. Hard to beat a WTG pass that reduces that much. Lathered again and went XTG. I deliberately slowed down the pass a bit working each stroke to maximum effect and adjusting to my face as I went. I am a huge believer that using the straight for the time I did in addition to the AC has made me much better with DE. I think concentrating on that single sharp edge of steel and getting a good result with it forced me to really learn the angles and growth patterns necessary for maximum effect. Finished the second pass and felt my face. And felt it again. Then again. Then one more time. My mind screamed BBS in two with no touch up!! I still kept trying to find something wrong with it and finally just gave up. No need to lather again. I'm done. A no-touch BBS in two passes? Pretty amazing.

Went to the alum figuring I'd find the problem there. Quiet as a Russian passed out on his third bottle of vodka. Not the slightest hint of burn or sting. Wow. Rinsed it, added the Nivea and the Veg.

About a half hour after I got to work I did find two spots, my normal tougher areas, that might make me reconsider the BBS but I'm not going to. If it took that long to discover a problem then it couldn't be an issue. BBS in two. No touch ups. That's a five stein shave if I've ever had one. The Timor produced the same kind of result only with a couple of minor touch ups so the Wilkinson beats it by a tiny bit so far. Really great shave.

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Monday, February 8, 2016


Soap: Strop Shoppe Barbershoppe
Brush: Doug Korn Prototype 2 Band
Razor: King Cobra
Blade: Kai Mild #2
Post: Floid Mentolado Vigoroso

 

Excellent picture, beautiful brush.

 

Thanks Doug!

 

I am 14 hours or so removed from my shave and still at what I would call a DFS. I will likely be skipping tomorrow's shave.

 

Congrats Chris! You nailed it.

 

Thanks! You're going to have a blast with straights!

 

Tomorrow will start another run of SE shaves. Will be with a fresh GEM Blade, software is TBD. My first run last week went decent. Let's hope tomorrow I am smart and controlled.

 

Your new razors are nice looking! Both this one and the Queen.

 

Angle is everything. Focus on shaving well, don't overthink it, and it'll be great!

 

Nice clip!

 

2 pass using Chiseled face Tradewinds, the Semogue 1438, and a Shick type G with a once used Schick blade. Clubman to finish with no burn.

I broke focus with the Schick but I wasn't confident I could shape my beard into what I wanted with the straights. I now have a Vandyke with a chinstrap. I ended with BBS on the cheeks and a DFS on the neck. Now that its shaped I'll likely be bad to the straights on my next shave.

 

Thank you. They both shave well, too. This one is a bit light, so it is a little adjustment, but I am about 24 hours post shave, and still at least SAS.

 

02/08/2016
AlumiGoose with Triad SS
Feather Pro (1)
Rubberset 400 with Omega 49 Boar
Catie’s Bubbles Santal Sensuelle
Witch Hazel
Fine Platinum
Whipped Shea Butter


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A great 2 pass shave, ATG & XTG, followed by minor touch ups provided a near BBS work morning shave. I really can't ask for much better. Overall I would rate the shave an A for Closeness and A- for irritation due to one weeper. I know the AlumiGoose is supposed to be the same as the Mongoose but for me it is more efficient and a touch more aggressive. I would place it between my B2 Mongoose and the Classic Cobra. Finished off with a splash of Fine Platinum. I hope everyone has a great Monday.

 

Great shot Clint.

 

Great picture!

 

Gillette Old Type
Gillette Silver Blue (3)
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
C.O. Bigelow cream
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Aqua Velva Ice Blue



Menthol Monday, and the third shave with the GSB in the Old Type.
Today I went with C.O. Bigelow cream. 2 full passes: Pass 1 XTG. Pass 2: ATG. Both with very good reduction. Followed up the second pass with some light touch up using the lather still on my face. A cool water rinse and a light amount of touch up in a few of my trouble spots brought home the baby. The Aqua Velva stung a little, but quickly went to freezing. The C.O. Bigelow lathered easily, was very slick, and offered great protection. I had enough remaining for another pass or two.

A nice comfortable BBS from the Gillette Old Type loaded with a Gillette Silver Blue. A better lather makes for a more enjoyable and closer shave. I like the C.O. Bigelow much better than the Mystic Waters Lime. I'll give the Mystic Waters another try at some point. I know a lot of folks like it, but so far I'm not a fan. YMMV.

Hope everyone has a great Monday!