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

Welcome to the focus group! Glad to have us join us.

 

Thanks!
There's a first for everything

 

Until you see a squirrel

 

I attempted buffing strokes on my chin with a straight today. It was a trouble spot for bbs. So the question was asked, "what's the worst that could happen?", stitches I was thinking, but tried it anyhow. Skin is a little tender, but it's smooth 6 hours later... Hmmmm.

 

Welcome! Quite the lineup you have there! Looking forward to write-ups and thoughts on all the different styles.

 

Gillette Fat Handled Tech/ Voskhod (1)
Mitchells Wool Fat (MWF/The Fat)
@Jayaruh #23 Silvertip
Lilac Vegetal (The Veg)

First shave into my first focus went alright for the most part. BBS almost everywhere except for my neck and my upper lip. How I managed to give myself such bad irritation on the neck with such a mild razor is a feat in its own and I am wondering what I did wrong... The upper lip was not a surprise as I struggle most times there as the hair grows in N to S in one spot and then merges with a patch that goes XTG back up into....well you get my point...going with the grain or figuring it all out is near impossible. The neck was SAS and the upper lip fell in the range of between SAS and DFS.

The Fat decided to be stubborn and pretty much requested a gallon of water (ok not that much) to start lathering up but once I got the water ratio right I had no complaints. Oh...is it normal for the Fat to develop a crack problem? I keep it well hydrated and never let it get insanely dry but it is starting to crack all throughout the puck... any suggestions on what to do?

Finding the right angle for this razor is proven tricky in some areas but I am enjoying figuring it out.

The Voskhod is....interesting... I find it sharper and smoother then my normal Personna Lab Blues....I may have found my new go to blade but ill give it a little longer.

 

I never buff with a straight, not to say that it can't be done successfully. If I want a de bbs, I'll go 2.5 passes with straight and buffing/half pass with de to achieve that kind of bbs. I've noticed that de and straight bbs criteria are a little different.
Cheers,
Eric

 

And not to say I will exactly repeating that tactic. And I agree, the skin feels different after a Straight shave versus DE, and the open blade makes me less inclined to chase.

 

The MWF cracking is typical, just keep using it. The Tech is a very mild razor, I believe you are leaning in on it like it's a cart. My worst irritation was always mild razor/high angle. I got scraped up pretty bad too. Try to keep the blade angle at about 25deg, and just drag it over the skin, don't worry about results yet, just keep mapping the beard and find the angle sweet spots! Voskhod is indeed one of the sharper blades and enjoys a devout following here on this thread.

 

Welcome aboard! See there was foci for you after all. I look forward to the reviews of the New Forest line. @Keithmax runs QC at the Dark Side Bakery, and has the hookup for you! Glad you're joining in!

 

Polyesterday

 

You need a wide angle lens for that line up!:wave:

 

That's macho.:hooray:

 

That's what I like about you, Neal. Always willing to sacrifice and take one for the team!

 

Straights Focus February 1:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
MDC
Henry Sears and Son Queen 3/4
Stirling Unscented PSB -- Mentholated
Brut Classic AS

Basically the same shave as Saturday, so I recycled the picture. I kept it to a single pass with a little clean up on my jaw line. I ended up with a CCS. After two shaves with the MDC, I can see why it is so well regarded. It is very slick with good cushion. I think the scent is great. Have a great Monday!

 

2/1/2016
Mongoose Satin B2 with Triad Ti
Feather Pro (1)
DK7 with Druida Manchurian
Mystic Water Lavender
Witch Hazel
Folsom & Company Capri
Whipped Shea Butter


​

A great near BBS shave this morning with a couple of revelations. First coming off the AlumiGoose with a Feather Pro blade, it is very obvious that it is more efficient than my Mongoose B2. Much more effort with the Mongoose in terms of touch ups to get the same shave that was automatic with the AlumiGoose. It could be there are subtle differences between Batch 2 and Batch 3 razors. However, I did enjoy the increased weight of the SS head.

Since I have been concentrating on using up some of my soap inventory, this morning served as a reminder that Mystic Water for me is just a notch above most of my other soaps. The lavender scent was intoxicating with the lather being slick and rich. I feel the rewards were worth the effort to master this soap.

Finished up with a splash of F&C Capri followed by whipped shea butter. I hope everyone has a great Monday.

 

SOTD
February 1, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: Gillette Super Speed Flare Tip TV Special 1958 D3
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Monsavon Bol à Raser
Brush: Semogue 830
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Gingers Garden Aventus
Nice shave. Monsavon Bol à Raser is like Noxzema and Proraso hooked up. Nice stuff. I'm a big fan of Gingers Garden aftershaves, healing, soothing and overall excellent.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE!

 

February 1
Edwin Jagger DE89
Feather (1)
Hot Shower, Nivea Face wash
Omega 10066 Boar Shaving Brush
Shannon's Soaps Bay Patchouli Grapefruit
Alum, Witch Hazel, Nivea Balm
Mod Cabin Honeysuckle Beard Oil

I was Captain Nic today, wish I could just blame trying to use my left hand, but got myself once with the right too. Nothing serious... Pulling skin seems to help, got a really nice shave. Happy Monday!

 

2/1/16 - Monday
Day 1 of the Persona 30 day rule shave.

Prep: Warm wash
Lather: TSE Bay Rum tallow
Brush: E7
Razor: Blackbird
Blade: Persona Lab Blue (1)
Post: Old Spice

No surprises here. This brush is a real lather hog and did not want to give it back to me. Need to use it a few more times to make it behave.

 

As always I am looking forward to your science experiment. I know the Bolzano is an excellent blade. I used it this past month and it became one of my favorite overall blades. Hopefully the remaining ones will work well too. No matter what, I do hope Germany does a better job than China with the blades. Those Chinese blades are SCARY!