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

SOTD January 12, 2015

This is the 11th day of my 30-day adventure to improve my shaving skills using the Mongoose. Preshave consisted of a warm shower and face wash using Cetaphil Daily Skin Cleanser. I used my Kent BK4 brush and face lathered using Mike's Natural Soap and a few drops of glycerin.

I used a new Feather Pro blade today on my two-pass shave - no nicks or irritation! I finished with Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel and unrefined shea butter.

Happy Monday, everyone!

 

SOTD
January 12, 2015

Prep: Hot shower. Axe Shield Face Wash
Razor: RazoRock Stealth Slant
Blade: Astra SP
Brush: L'Occitane Plisson
Lather: Proraso Green
Post: Alum.Thayers Lavender WH.
Aftershave: Proraso Green
This set-up could easily become my daily shave, the post-shave skincare is unbelievable! The Astra SP is a really smooth blade, with the cold weather the Plisson doesn't take long to dry.
Go out and get it!

 

1/12/2015 30 Day - Shave # 12

Prep - Hot Shower
Razor - Mongoose Satin B2
Blade - Kai Mild (5)
Brush - Rubberset 400 with WSP HMW
Lather - Soap Commander Confidence
Post - Witch Hazel and CC Bay Rum AS



Fast approaching the half way mark on the 3o days with the Goose. Nice 2 pass shave with the normal touch ups. Love the Bay Rum on a cold dreary morning.

 

1/12/14 - Shave #7 on the #30DayChallenge

Prep: warm wash and cornhusker's lotion
Lather: Klar Kabinett
Brush: Omega 10066
Razor: Weber PH
Blade: Voskhod (2)
Post: cool rinse and Ogallala Bay Rum

Took down 2 day stubble this morning and I have a near BBS. Perhaps I shouldn't shave 7 days a week. I'm going to consider going every other day, unless I look too much like a skid-row bum in the morning.
I will be using this set up for 30 shaves, not just 30 days.

 

SOTD 12 - BSG:

Prep: Shower, Corn Huskers
Soap: Arko
Blade: 7'oclock SharpEdge (yellow)
Razor: Ball End Tech
Brush: 24mm WD Black Badger
Post: WH , VIBR

1 WTG, 1 ATG With a couple touchups. Really close shave, but a couple of small weapers.

Also the 10 and 11 shaves were completed, very little to report, 1 pass WTG both days.

 

Day 12
my 30-day rule
razor: Ever Ready 1924 SE
blade: Personna GEM teflon coated
brush: Omega 10098
soap: Williams

What the HECK!?! Forget the shaving gremlins... today some bonafide shaving demons breathed flames all over my face!

I may have given in to OCD-level baby-chasing. I am now so "in my own head**," that I do not trust myself to even pick up a razor. Sheesh!

Now I'm scared because my eyelids are jammed and my old man's here. Anyone got a rooster**?

**Bull Durham, anyone?

 

Monday! Day #10 of the 30 day BSG challenge

• Music: Wim Mertens, Receptacle
• Prep: hot washing cloth
• Brush: TGN a grade silvertip badger in Oscar11 handle
• Soap: Cella
• Razor: birth quarter Gillette Slim (@ 4, 5, 6 & 7)
• Blade: Derby #1
• Shave: 3-pass + touch-up
• Post: cold water rinse, Floyd AS

After skipping yesterday ( ) I experienced a nice enough shave. Some irritation on the throat, though. I may have overstretched. Something to take extra care tomorrow! Apart from that: great shave!

Have a great week, gents and ladies!

 

Just a small tip: If anyone is having trouble with irritation or razor burn, try cold water for your next shave.

 

January 12th SOTD (Shave 11 of the challenge)
Prep: Hot shower
Razor & Blade: '63 Gillette Slim and Gillette Platinum
One Day's growth
Second shave on this blade, stropped 30 times per edge on kangaroo
Setting 5 on the razor
Brush & Bowl: Semogue 1460 brush and soup bowl
Soap: Maggard Orange Menthol
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, alum block, Maggard Orange Menthol aftershave
Today's shave was not as smooth as I like. The results came out DFS, but the blade was tugging. I think not having two day's growth makes it much less comfortable for me. Not cuts or weepers, and just a little burn on the neck. I will include a picture next time.

 

Ditto...I am an avowed tap-cold water shaver. My shaves got more comfortable after switching.

 

Day 11 of 30
BSG
30 Day Rule with a Slim


​

J2 Gillette Slim Adjustable
Kroger Israeli Personna
VDH Kit Badger
TSD Lanolin Shave Stick - Barber Shoppe Scent
Today's Great Cheap AS™ is Skin Bracer!

Another shave planned for setting seven! Almost got the hang of this razor!

Back later with the lab report!

 

Sage advice. Slow your roll!!

 

01/12 – Shave 10 with the Weishi

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

• Growth: 1 day
• Prep: Hot shower; Nivia Face Wash; Corn Huskers Lotion
• Lather: Arko – Face lathered
• Brush: Escali Badger
• Razor: Weishi 9306/Microtouch One
• Blade: Derby Extra (2)
• Post: Alum; Dove Men’s Sensitive AS Balm

Today’s Results: I refocused on technique today and it paid off with no nicks or weepers. I also skipped WTG and went for a 2 pass XTG and ATG. While not quite as close as a full 3+ pass shave I could see it being an effective early morning routine.

 

Really? Being a noob I wouldn't have guessed

 

Gents you are doing well! Keep it up!

 

I pulled a muscle in my back over the weekend so the shave focus was more on keeping my body still and braced while I tried to shave. Ended the first week of wet shaving on Saturday and I don't want to ever go back! I nicked my face and used the sryptic pencil. Ouch but effective.

Had to dial the merkur progress back from 4 to 2 on my neck.

 

Yes...

There is an alternate theory that cold water and the alkali soap make the whiskers brittle and easier to "snap off" cleanly with a razor blade. It is also held that warm water softens the skin excessively, leading to deep unintentional exfoliation, exacerbating irritation. I found that backing off on exfoliation and switching to cold water was the biggest technique adjustments I made with regard to alleviating irritation.

 

Chris, how many ml is your bottle?

 

Congrats! Get better!

 

Kerry-
I am away from my hotel...but I believe it's 3 US fl oz...it was sold as part of a TSA compliant carry on travel kit. I have one for WH, one for Clubman and one for Skin Bracer. I will look for a better answer in milliliters when I get back to it.