January 2015 30 Day Rule/30 Day Focus Pic and Discussion Thread- All are Welcome

This photo is entitled, "Life in the Real World." :ahem: It is just your basic example of "Tough Love."

 

Interesting. I just told SWMBO last night that we can't have a cast iron skillet for the same of my health. The aluminum cookware just stings but isn't deadly.

 

30 Day Challenge
5 Month noobie.

Prep: Hot shower Nivea Face Wash
Brush: WD 22mm
Soap: C.O. Bigelow
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Razor: Gillette Ball Tech 1951
Post: Alum Block, Old Spice

Today's shave was a two pass WTG and ATG with touch up under jaw. I found if I shave on consecutive days the traditional three pass causes the alum to bite a little bit. Had a slight sting under the jaw today trying get my problem area. Issue I have there is when I'm done that area feels just as smooth as my cheeks and chin in all directions I feel really good and go to post routine. Then 30 minutes minutes later it does feel near as close as did 30 minutes ago in that one area.

 

January 30 Day Rule, Day 3

Hot shower
Every Man Jack Face Scrub and Pre-Shave
Dermalogica Close Shave Oil

Arko*
Semogue 1305*
Cadet TTO-14*
Voskhod (3)*

Cold Water
Anthony Logistics After Shave Balm

* 30 Day Rule constants. I've decided that pre and post shave products may be variable.

It wasn't the most comfortable shave. Although it was the first one without any weepers since starting on this combo. Surprising, as I have given up on using any previous blades three times, but I wanted to see how long the Voskhod lasted. Today didn't seem any worse than before, but not better either. I'm not sure if it's the aggressiveness of the new razor that I'm not used to, or that Voskhod isn't my blade. Did a two pass with touchups; WTG then XTG and I got a lot of tugging and it just didn't feel smooth. I am trying to refine my technique with this 30 Day Rule, and today I really tried to concentrate on 'riding the cap'. It didn't really make it any more comfortable, but perhaps that is why I have no weepers today. I'm going to skip a day and let my face recover a little, but the next shave will be with a fresh blade. With my previous razors and blades I have always gotten best results on a fresh blade or maybe a second use.

On a positive note, the scent of Arko is growing on me. It's not that I ever disliked it, but it wasn't necessarily a fave. The smell reminds of of the laundromats I'd go to when I spent a summer in China.

 

Day 2 - Thirty Days with Merkur 34c (Jan 1-Feb 4 [No shave on Saturdays]) BSG 1-2-2015​

Hot Shower and Prep - Nivea Men Sensitive Skin Face Wash & Wm. Neumann & Co. Peppermint Leaf Bar Soap
Razor Merkur 34c
Blade Astra SP (2)
Brush - Plisson Synthetic
Lather - Poraso Green
Post - Warm & cool water rinse, WH & RazoRock "Problem Solver" AS splash

2 Pass and a few touch ups mostly on the neck for a DFS + shave. Apparently I had a bump on my chin that the blade had no problem finding this morning. Bled a bit but the styptic took care of it pretty quick. Over all good shave.

 

Day 1

Prep: Hot shower
Brush: Van Der Hagen (the one from the premium kit)
Soap: Van Der Hagen Deluxe
Blade: Hill Country (pretty sure rebranded Personna)
Razor: Edwin Jagger DE89
Post: A lot of Styptic, Nivea Original

Well first day of the challenge and my first day with a safety razor. My face didn't turn out to bad but man did I do a number on my head. A lot of the issue was probably due to nervousness and just over thinking things as well as having a death grip on the razor. I tried taking long passes like I was use to do with disposables which was a horrible idea and things seemed to go smoother once I started taking shorter passes. My lather didn't help at all. Some days the lather seems okay and others it just plain sucks. I would shave my head for a little bit and the lather would just seem to disappear on the other side of my head before I could even get to it. It's going to be a long 30 days but hopefully at the end I can get through a shave without cutting myself to shreds.

 

My head shaves are still a challenge but I have started lathering only sections as I prepare to shave them. Also don't be shy about adding lather as you need. Lots of sickness on small areas seems to avoid drying out or just hurrying to keep up. I have a Merkur 23c on the way for my head razor. Long narrow handle should help me maintain angle without pressure....I hope.
I only shave my head twice a week so it's not part of my 30 day. Feel your pain though and I'm sure you'll get better every day.

 

Day 2 BSG

Prep: Shower, Proraso Pre
Soap: Arko
Blade: 7'oclock SharpEdge (yellow)
Razor: Ball End Tech
Brush: 24mm WD Black Badger
Post: WH , Clubman ClubMend


Fresh blade today as well. This time I only did 2 passes mostly WTG and ATG but a couple problem areas I did XTG instead of ATG. This setup is working really well and I'm getting better shaves that I used to with my straight(I was never particularly skilled with it). I ended up with one weeper on my upper lip but all in all it's a good shave. I may try to alternate between WTG only and WTG/ATG days to let my skin rest a bit, gonna try for a couple days and see what happens. I'm a programmer so no one cares if my shaves are a little scraggly sometimes. I'm only about a month in to shaving again; after a 3-4 year beard adventure.


Also Another, since I didn't post a pic yesterday:



I probably won't be able to post pics super often as I pretty much hate what my phone calls a picture and I'm too lazy to pull out strobes and edit every day. Still I'll give it a go when I can.
***Full disclosure that is not arko lather(It's maggard lilac), my wife wanted some pics of her gear for her knitting forum friends who have started talking about shaving and wanted to show off her gear so we lathered some up. After that I was taking mine and decided to whip some extra in her bowl with my brush. ***

 

Last shave before I start...

 

I can't speak towards the head shave part but I was nervous my first shave - It does get better quick - go slow and no pressure!

 

No SOTD today for me. The snooze button betrayed me today by turning off the alarm every time I hit it.

 

1/2/2015

Shave 3 of 30 BSG

Prep - Hot Shower/Axe Chilled Cooling Face Wash
Razor - Parker 99R
Blade - Wilkinson Swords Classic
Brush - Parker Rosewood Boar Brush
Soap - Proraso Eucalyptus and Menthol Soap
Post - Cold Water Rinse/Crystal Deodorant/Cold Water Rinse/Styptic Pen/Cold Water Rinse/Real Shaving Co. Post Shave Soothing Balm

Something was very different tonight after I lathered up started with my Parker 99R. First pass straight down it seemed as though I was in a zone with proper angle and the blade was taking out every whisker in its path. Then across for 2nd pass again somehow the angle was just right and could hear the whiskers coming down. Was thinking hmmm. So I felt my face and lathered full up for a 3rd pass against the grain. Again, I was hitting it at just the right angle. I was pumped when I finished. I can tell a world of improvement in just a few days. I got a single small nick but nothing bad. Maybe I was just in a zone or maybe I'm picking this up now! Woohoo!! Then I rinsed, squirted a lil of this crystal roll-on on my hands and wiped my face down good. Just as Chris has told me I got some feedback from it. Seems I still need to ease up just a bit on lower neck. Then after about 20 seconds rinsed and applied styptic pen to the nick on my neck. Patted dry, and applied Post Shave Balm I picked up at Rite Aid as I noticed my skin had been sort of dry lately after shaves. Stuff seems to work feels great. I dont think I got a BBS but definitely close and had a great time getting there!!! Have a great night Gents!!!

 

hold the razor like you are holding an open tube of toothpaste. Grip close to the head and use short deliberate strokes...hang in there! It only gets better from here!

Ps...we are using the same blades! Good luck with them, I start up tomorrow!

 

...so far so good!

 

It's day 2 of the 30 day rule for me, and I've already learned something.
Granted, I learned it by accident.
But learning is a good thing no matter how it comes, right?

First, a brief re-cap.

Yesterday's shave was not good.
Rough on the neck.
Chin and cheeks ok, but not very good.
Overall, just not good.

Well I had today off, and I wasn't in a hurry.
I had time to contemplate my shave.

Todays shave:

Warm shower, and face wash with a super soft 100% cotton cloth and Ivory soap.
Razor: Merkur 45
Blade: Derby Extra (2)
Soap: VDH Deluxe
Brush: Omega 49
AS: Thayers witch hazel

I'm the kind of guy that likes to use plenty of soap, and build a good, really thick lather.
Not airy, and not very wet. Just thick. And I don't just paint it on either, I work it
into my beard well. I usually lay it on and work it in for about 1 full minute before I
pick up the razor. Well, today things went differently.
I finished loading my brush with a good, thick, hearty mass of soap, and then
proceeded to drop it right into the sink filled with warm water.

There it was, floating. My good, stiff, thick, luxurious super packed brush full of VDH goodness.
Contaminated.
Water logged.
Soaked.
Way too much water.
Man........... is it going to be another one of those days?

I don't know why, but I just decided to skip the bowl, and take that wet sloppy mess right to my face and start in.
Lord, this is just too wet.
It isn't going to work.
I'll have my face scrubbed raw before this lather ever begins to thicken up again.
Oh well, slather it on as best you can and let's see what happens.

Same razor as yesterday, and in fact, even the same blade that made my neck feel as though it had been gone over
with a cheese grater. But today, something was very, very different.
I could feel the razor. I could feel the safety bar, and I could feel the blade, easily.
It was smooth. Very smooth. In fact, enjoyable.
I slowly finished up my first pass, rinsed well with warm water, and lathered up again with that wet, sloppy brush.

Same thing. Smooth, slick, very comfortable.
I completed my normal 2 pass shave without weeper one.
No cuts, no scraping, just a DFS.

What happened?
Here is what I think I've learned.

The Merkur 45 is a very light plastic razor.
Even so, I don't press on it much while shaving.
Just enough pressure to hold it flat against the skin, so I can barely feel it.
Yesterday, with the super thick yogurt like lather I applied, I couldn't feel the razor!
Thinking back on it, I know I couldn't feel it. I had to press on the razor a good bit....

Today's lather was much wetter and thinner, and I could feel the razor and control it.

So how about you?
Can you easily feel the safety bar of your razor on your skin?
Can you feel the blade gliding along?

I'm going back to the super thick lather tomorrow to see if my theory holds.

Super thick heavy lather + super light plastic razor =



Happy Shaving everybody!!

 

I actually prefer a thinner lather. I enjoy the feel of the bristles on my face and it gets hidden if the lather is too thick. I always use a light to moderate lather. Maybe in time I will move up to thick, but not today.

 

Yeah you slacker. Start the party then show up three days late. I'm drinking one of your beers as punishment.

 

I have to say- this thread is amazing for a newbie observer like myself. It's very cool to see the variety of setups here. Keep up the updates and the pics!

 

I wouldn't be surprised if you aren't right. It makes sense, in theory anyway. I was wondering when you chose the 45 how much difference the lack of weight would make. As for me I do feel the razor on my skin and definitely the blade gliding with the 1918. Even with my usual rotation I get the best shaves when I can feel the blade gliding and get that audible feedback. I never considered the difference in lather texture could change that for better or worse. Keep us posted on your continuing experiments with the theory!