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

Nice photo work today!

 

I got such a kick out if visualizing BBS as a parabolic function approaching a limit at an asymptote! Thanks for the giggles today!

 

Sometimes counterintuitive holds...that's why we do 30 Day rules!

 

Nice work...you want smooth consistent results! We will await a full report!

 

Thanks guys for the info. I just placed an order for the Alum and I already have an appointment for my annual physical first of Feb. I will bring up my issue then.

 

SOTD January 10, 2015

This is the ninth day of my 30-day adventure to improve my shaving skills using the Mongoose. Preshave consisted of a warm shower using Cetaphil face wash. I used my Kent BK4 brush and face lathered using Mike's Natural Soap and a few drops of glycerin.

The Feather blade (considered by some to be a Gem of a blade) on day six easily mowed through my stubble. This was the week's first three-pass plus touch-up shave - no nicks or irritation! All but the most discriminating babies would be jealous of my smooth skin! I finished with Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel, unrefined shea butter, and a splash of Clubman.

It's Saturday! Gotta go...the cartoons will be on soon!

 

Congratulations Clint! You seem to have dialed in your technique with the Mongoose! My experience has been quite similar.

 

What's this?!? Just drag it through an old wine cork?

First I've heard of that. Cool!

 

Shave 6 of 30 day BSG

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

Had planned to go to the Roffler Shop here in town this weekend for a straight razor shave. It didn't work out this weekend. So I got to get in shave 6 of my 30 rule. I added some corn huskers to the preshave (smells like a hospital room) it is slick stuff. Felt like I was rubbing astroglide on my face lol. It really seemed to help with the shave. Also, as a guy that generally has not used AS in my adult life I decided to pick up some Clubman. I liked the smell. I can see myself adding AS's as we go on this journey for sure. I had a really nice shave today after about 4 days of growth. I did 3 full passes and chased the baby with spot work. Felt the burn from the alum afterwards too lol!!!! I'm noticing last few shaves that the proraso gets kind of for lack of a better term kind of gummy on first pass. Maybe I'm taking too much time lathering my face and its drying underneath? No weepers though and my angle is staying true. The fact that I'm now not trying to find the angle each time is making this much more enjoyable. I did not achieve BBS but got a DFS for sure. Have a great weekend Gents!!!

 

1/9/15 - BSG - RESET Day 5

Prep - Hot Shower, towel soak
Brush - Omega 48
Soap - Proraso Green
Razor - '46/'47 Aristocrat
Blade - Voskhod (2)
Post - Pinaud Clubman

Day 5 of the reset, 10 of the original 30. Another good shave, better on the neck area after two passes, just an ATG there to clean up and I was set for the day. Trying to get to a 2 pass DFS all over in the next few days.

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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, Captains Choice Bay Run

I have not had time to post the last couple days. Today's shave was a three pass for two days growth. It was my best shave with this razor not even a hint of irritation with the alum block. I definitely won't need three pass's tomorrow. I'm really liking this razor and blade combo.

 

While I still love my LC New and have used it for months at a clip in the past, I have had enough with it this time. My preference has been for a more mild razor recently and I am heading back to the Weber PH Bulldog tomorrow. Everything else will remain the same, but my face isn't happy with even a minor bit of razor burn in this sub-arctic weather. Good luck with your 30 days.

 

@wristwatchb I'm truly amazed at how easy the Mongoose is to use. It's nice that 2 or 3 of us are getting to know the razor at the same time.

 

I'm trying to spend the least amount of money on extra stuff this month but yall are making me really want to try bay rum. For me old spice is hard to beat just because that's what my grandpaw used and he always let me have some growing up.

 

Make sure your brush and face are both sufficiently wet when starting! Congrats on your angles, once you figure that out, things improve rapidly!

 

Old Spice is the only one I am not allowed, per Mrs. Samurai! Use OS if you can!

 

The first time you rinse the alum off with cold water your face will feel like like it never has before. It's great lol.

 

01/10 – Day 8 with the Weishi

Objective: Survive a month using low end entry level products.

• Growth: 1 day
• Prep: Hot shower; Corn Huskers Lotion AKA the poor man's Astroglide HAHAHAHA
• Lather: Arko – Face lathered
• Brush: Escali Badger
• Razor: Weishi 9306/Microtouch One
• Blade: Derby Extra (1)
• Post: Alum; Dove Men’s Sensitive AS Balm

Today’s Results: Using the Weishi is becoming almost like second nature now. The only thing that holds this setup back is the lack of really close shaves. After the 30 days is up I plan on using the Weishi with a few other blade types. Voskhod, Astra SP, Personna Lab Blue, and maybe a few others. I keep wanting to blame the Derby blades but maybe it’s just this very mild razor.

Anyway, real nice shave today. Everything went smooth. No weepers, cuts, or irritation. I mixed up the AS and used the Dove today - real nice buttery cream feel to it. Sorry but no picture again today as it’s been a bit hectic lately. Will try better the next time.

 

There is a drawback in so much as you could lose a shave or two depending upon the blade. SE blades tend to have a longer life than DEs due to the thiokness of the blade so some people feel it is worth it.

 

Day 8 Lab Report - 30 Day Rule with a Slim BSG

I spent another shave with the razor on 6. I got an acceptable 2+ DFS, but the line where neck meets jaw is sore again. I am thinking of taking the razor up to setting seven for the neck tomorrow, and seeing if more aggressive blade plus less pressure solves it. The irritation clears up an hour or two after the shave, and there is no redness or inflammation, but it's just not quite right. The TSD iced Floid did feel great on the neck today. Also making lather this week has been harder than usual, the water is different...basically just an average shave. Blah.