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

Nice. I plan to try a lot different blades after the 30 day just to see what does and doesn't work. I'll try out the super max platinum.

 

I am not speaking from shaving experience here, but from working with sharp knives for a hobby. I have knives on my workbench that will cut through a one inch thick piece of glued together leather with very little pressure on one pass. I also have about 14 different strops I use to maintain the edges. The first couple of laps on a strop will generally just remove what ever surface gunk is on the edge. When I strop my leatherwork knives, it is to get the oils and build up off the blade first, then to polish the blade. Stropping takes microscopic little folds of metal and straightens them out, which makes the edge glide through things bettter.

Strops won't sharpen a dull edge, but they do help maintain an already sharp edge, or work as the final steps in a sharpening process. I didn't think the palm stropping was enough to do anything other than get the gunk off the edge. The little strop that I made seems to be easier to use, and I can put more pressure on the blade without worrying if I am going to turn it too fast and slice my hand open. My laps are very quick, and very fast with the razor blade. I do 30 per edge because that is where I stopped counting the first time, and it seems to work much better than palm stropping.

I told the kangaroo I was going to use my leather knife on him if he moved.

 

I really do look forward to it and thought maybe I was just weird lol

 

01/13 – Day 13 of the 30 Day Rule - Shave #11 with the Weishi

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

• Growth: 1 day
• Prep: Hot shower; Corn Huskers Lotion
• Lather: Arko – Face lathered
• Brush: Escali Badger
• Razor: Weishi 9306/Microtouch One
• Blade: Derby Extra (3)
• Post: Alum; Dove Men’s Sensitive AS Balm

Today’s Results: Today was a two pass WTG-XTG/ATG. This was a very smooth shave. No cuts, weepers, or irritation. I am starting to see the value of Derby being a blade I could use daily as long as I don’t chase – or expect – a BBS.

 

So let me get this straight. Are you trying to say it's actually possible to see shaving as something that is done for a specific purpose without it having to be the perfect nirvana moment every morning? It's ok to shave to look good and be presentable and leave it at that? You, sir, are a heretic!

 

Shave number 16 was quite a change-up. For S**ts and giggles, I decided to get rid of my Goatee, and just leave the cookie duster. I have had a bunch of practice shaving the neck and cheeks, but the chin??? The skin was VERY tender, and I had some minor weepers. The WH looked after most of the leakage, but the chin feels quite irritated. I'll bet this is as much technique as it is tender area that has been unshaved for about 5 years. I will be checking out the videos again, to get a better idea about how to shave the chin area. The rest of the face is still DFS bordering on BBS. Now I have to get used to more skin staring back at me in the mirror

 

Day 11 - Thirty Days with Merkur 34c (Jan 1-Feb 4 [No shave on Saturdays]) BSG 1-13-2015

Hot Shower and Prep - Nivea Men Sensitive Skin Face Wash, & Wm. Neumann & Co. Peppermint Leaf Bar Soap
Razor Merkur 34c
Blade Astra SP (5)
Brush - Plisson Synthetic
Lather - Poraso Green
Post - Warm & cool water rinse, WH, RazoRock Problem Solver Lime AS, Gold Bond Ultimate Men's Essential Lotion

Two passes N-S & S-N then just a few touches and experimented for with the angles on my neck - Disappointing shave. Face was OK the neck was not. Will do two passes tomorrow but with WTG and ATG.

Due to another thread from today, I played around with the Photo Lab app

 

Planned Shave for January 14, 2015

This will be the 13th day of my 30-day adventure to improve my shaving skills using the Mongoose. Preshave will consist of a warm shower and face wash using Cetaphil Daily Skin Cleanser. I will use my Kent BK4 brush and face lather using Mike's Natural Soap and a few drops of glycerin.

This will be the third shave on the Feather Pro blade on a two-pass plus touch-up shave. I expect the blade to perform at its best - plenty sharp and comfortable at the same time. My goal is to achieve a close shave with no nicks or irritation! As usual, I plan to finish with Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel and unrefined shea butter.

I can't wait for Wednesday morning! How about you?

 

37k over Omaha! I love TSD so much I read it on airplanes! 70 min until we touch the ground in CO. Looking forward to my normal hard water and 15% humidity...the visit with Mrs Samurai's family went well, all three of us headed back!

Back later with a post shave lab report! Gentlemen, have a lovely evening...

 

I am sure I won't be! Added to "try in 2015" list!

 

Day 12
Prep: Hot shower
Brush: Van Der Hagen (the one from the premium kit)
Soap: Van Der Hagen Luxury
Blade: Hill Country (rebranded Personna)
Razor: Edwin Jagger DE89
Post: Nivea Original, Old Spice

I tried something a little different tonight. I focused on a section of my head and didn't move on until I was satisfied. It turned out pretty good and made me focus a lot more on spots I was previously missing. Best shave to date minus having my wife ask what takes me so long it the bathroom....I guess only women can take their time in that room.

Also I might have to jump ship on this challenge. My soap is running out and while I could just go buy another puck I already have another Van Der Hagen puck sitting in the cabinet it's just the Deluxe line. Not sure if that counts as changing soaps but I would say so.

 

I vote you use the puck you have and consider it just one minor variable in the challenge. It's all about learning and you may find something of value about the difference in the soaps.

 

I hope you will stick around for the duration of the challenge. I'm running out of Mike's Natural Soap, so I will switch over to MWF. I'm keeping everything else in my routine the same. I still think it affords us both an opportunity to learn...and have fun in the process.

Besides, I want to see if your Bride will tolerate you monopolizing the bathroom for another 18 days.

 

Just change soaps and continue. Give you something new to learn during the process.

 

Lol I really don't know why it's a big deal. She was watching a movie at the time so it's not like I was interfering with her taking a shower or anything.

I'll stick around even if I change soaps, hell this little bit of soap might last me but I highly doubt it.

 

As much as I strive for nirvana sometimes I gotta get my lazy butt out of the house in a hurry!

 

These are my observations, I am not speaking for @GDCarrington about his guidelines, but rather please read my thoughts below. This is merely is what I learned from following his guidelines to the letter.

I hope that you and all the others develop great technique so that shaving (blades and soap) and its cousin, vintage collecting, are enjoyed to the fullest. That hope is my only agenda, each individual must choose their own way. Hybrid rules and all. It's the spirit of focus on technique and holding variables constant that is important.

Buying more soap is not necessary or a specified circumstance under the BSG. You can and should continue either way...the 30 Day Rule is designed to put your focus on the technique and not be constantly trying to adapt to changing lather and blade type daily. It is also designed to slow down the accumulation of gear and soap. Simply going from luxury soap for half the time and deluxe for the rest does not defeat this exercise in any way, and maybe the deluxe will be better for you than luxury. I have read that some guys prefer deluxe VDH to luxury. Either way, stay in the game for thirty days. You will develop great technique and be able to appreciate the cool razors and fine DE blades you may buy later, not to mention the soaps! Technique trumps tools...Good technique maximizes enjoyment. So again, either way, stick around and share your thoughts on learning a modern classic razor. If you master the EJ DE89 with any soap and blade, you will be a happy shaver.

And I love alcohol AS and strong menthol. It's not weird at all.

 

Day 11 Lab summary...I did a two pass after arriving home. Still on dial seven. Finished at 1150 pm...so I have not missed one yet...too tired to write more...

Lots to catch up on around here. Happy Wednesday!

 

It is changing gear in the purest sense, but this particular exercise group has allowed minor changes and modifications to the rule and I see this as a minor change.

I will stress, however, that this is also the reason why I state to stock up on all products you will use to last the entire 3o days before starting the exercise. The real focus is to eliminate all variables so you truly worry about technique and not, did the changing of soap performance cause a set back? This is especially true for some soaps that are harder to master, or if you have never used the soap before. The accumulation issue is irrelevant from the learning process, but is simply a by product of concerning one self with technique development over switching and swapping of gear.

 

January 14th SOTD (Shave 12 of the challenge)
Prep: Hot shower
Razor & Blade: '63 Gillette Slim and Gillette Platinum
Two Day's growth
First 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

Holy crap, the baby showed up! This razor has gotten easier to use, but I have been chasing a smooth comfortable shave more than anything. Today the first pass, N to S, WTG on face, was perfectly smooth, no tugging at all. Second pass, S to N, ATG on face had some tugging, but nothing bad at all. I was holding the razor very lightly with three fingers, and just put a little more pressure on it to get rid of the chatter. Did third pass on neck, ATG/XTG, and some buffing around my Adam's Apple, chin and jaw line. My wife is out of town, so no one was waiting for me to get out, so I took a little more time buffing. Feedback from the Alum block told me to calm down a little, but my chin is as smooth as my cheeks, same with my neck. That never happens! We will see how it feels in a few hours.