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

Looks like a Golden Barrel Cactus to me. I miss Arizona.

 

SOTD
February 23, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: Blackland Blackbird
Blade: Gillette 7 o'clock Super Platinum
Lather: Italian Barber Amici
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft
Post: Thayers Rose Petal WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Folsom & Co. Shambala
EdT: Floid Blue
WOWZER! IB Amici is the best $3 soap I've ever used! Beautiful Red grapefruit, lemon, orange, musky scented soap. F&C Shambala is in my top 3 aftershave. The Blackbird. The best. Floid Blue EdT great stuff! Going to my mother in laws house today for a afternoon BBQ to celebrate my wife's 50th birthday! It's going to be a blast, will have our kids, and our grandchildren there. As soon as we get a little more day light I'll be shaving my head. It's going to be a nice day for a Barbecue! 75 for the high today.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE!

 

Sunday morning and Monday night shaves:
Shave den Sunday! Simple one pass with the gemstarcustom plus fluffy lather from TSD shop wheat cream. I'm still amazing that I enjoy a one pass shave almost as much as a 30 minute 3 pass shave. Never as close but always consistent. When I go single pass, I really focus in on my chin and neck area. Finished with TSD shop after milk both vanilla bourbon. All this before the Daytona 500!

Last night was a 3 passer. Waking up third morning to still having a bbs doesn't get old! Dr Harris Arlington is fabulous for a face lather. Favorite cream I've been using this focus. Might have to move it to my daily rotation.

 

I'm in Utah today and Colorado the rest of the week. I'll have to try not to do the same

 

Thank you!

 

30 Day Focus - February 23, 2016
Gillette Heavy Tech / Gillette Silver Blue
Omega / Santa Maria del Fiore
WH / shea butter

Another nice shave with the GSB this morning. Amazing blade -- the perfect combination of sharp and smooth. The judges have even been considering calling the Rusty Blade "King of the Castle" blade trial to a halt because it is uncertain whether any of the remaining blades in the trial will come close to this Gillette Silver Blue! Will see on Day 7 if this blade remains a top performer. Is it possible this champion will be like the Derby and run out of steam on the last days of the week...who knows? Stay tuned!

 

Happy birthday to your wife! Have fun with the family, sounds like a great day.

 

Thanks, Jim! Lots of food and little ones running around.

 

Thanks Jim! Yes that's a cactus, a golden barrel.

 

Safe travels.

 

Stunning colors Clint!

 

ICY SMOOOOTH

 

Thank you. Just trying to keep up with you and @celestino

 

Right, no copycats, please. I'm envious of your week!!

 

Funny how that worked out...

 

My Uncle did a nice thing for me....He and his wife had to move, and he had a collection of my Dad's pipes..he gave me the collection . I don't smoke, but it's a nice way to remember my deceased Dad.

 

Wow! That is really special!

 

I have you to thank for the introduction to GSB. A blade that now makes up the majority of the old cigar box I use to store the blades in.

 

February Focus - German blades DONE! Best of the Best to the Finish!

February 23

Razor - '59 Gillette Ball End Tech
Blade - (2)
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold rinse, Alum, Nivea

The RazoRock TTO has been banished to look shiny. The two nicks from yesterday are still visible today, though not too bad, so the challenge will be to not reopen them. However, with the Gillette Tech and Bic I should be fine. Assuming, of course, that it wasn't the blade's fault. I used the Wolf and MWF today. My Fat is down to the ring of death (sort of like the ring of fat in another place on me) but there is plenty left before I need to switch to a new puck. I soaked the soap as always, did an extra shake on the brush and started loading. About halfway through it seemed like it wasn't working as well as it usually does. Normally, though, I use a boar instead of a badger so I just gave it some more load time then lathered. It was a bit thin. I added just a bit of water to the brush and it seemed to make the problem slightly worse. Not enough to abort the process but not the usual lather I'm used to with Mitchell's. Still slick, though, so no reason to worry. I hope.

First pass with the Tech and Bic was what I was looking for. Smooth and effective. I was able to stretch the skin past yesterday's problems and finish the WTG no problem. Lathered again, and yes, still thin but I think workable. Went XTG for the second pass with G-slides on the neck for a nice DFS finish. No nicks, old or new, or any other problems. That's what a shave with a Bic blade is supposed to feel like. Diagnosis of crappy razor yesterday confirmed.

As to the lather, I think the main problem is just not enough surface area left to load efficiently with. The hole in the middle is only about nickel sized, but clearly the brush isn''t picking up enough load to produce the usual lather. I either need to load longer or relegate the remaining puck to a baggie until I have more to add to it. My Tabac puck is still days, weeks, months, from ringing out. Once it does I may keep what's left of the Fat and mix the two together. Something to consider.

Have a great Tuesday! It's my one day off this week. Have to do some shopping. Then hopefully a nap. And a beer. Maybe some vodka.

 

Absolutely beautiful picture Clint! My backyard has nasty browns everywhere, certainly nothing with that kind of color remaining (or even the nice "cold" pictures that @Douglas Carey supplies).