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

Thanks!

 

Day 10 of the #30DayChallenge reset for me, however, in looking at my records (yes I keep a geeky spreadsheet), this is the 25th shave with the Weber and Voskhod blades in the last 90 days. I had no idea I was using that combo that much. It is also the 23rd day in a row for the Klar Kabinett soap. Both are working well. Today took care of 2 days worth of stubble with 3 passes and a little touch up. Posting will continue to be sporadic as grad school courses and regular school prep are taking up quite a bit of my time.

Prep: warm wash and cornhusker's lotion
Brush: Omega 10066
Lather: Klar Kabinett
Razor: Weber PH
Blade: Voskhod (5)
Post: cool rinse and Captain's Choice Cat O' 9 Tails

 

Day 15 Lab Report - 30 DAY RULE with a Slim

Day 15 arrived, and I think I have turned the corner...after degreasing my brush and trying an arm strop on a pesky blade. setting 8 really let theses blades shine. I basically just went back to stroke by stroke fundamentals and was treated to a fine 2 pass+ DFS. Stretching my neck from the collarbone and riding the razor cap a bit more seemed to be the keys.

I am going to attempt to replicate the results tomorrow before I do anymore dial adjustment. About halfway done...15 more shots to master the slim, seems doable now. I was actually beginning to wonder if perhaps I just don't like the Slim, but this 30 Day Rule has forced me to stick with it long enough to get a feel for it.

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Last night (Saturday Night) marked the 2/3rds mark of this 30 day plan. I decided to reduce the amount of Noxzema I was using, from between each pass, to just as a pre shave. I really did not notice any real difference in the result. I ended up with a bit of irritation, on the neck, mainly because I kept on chasing that baby. On the plus side, I had no weepers, and the shave still feels good, some 7 hours later. I started out being leery of the clog pruf, but now, I quite enjoy the shave I get with it. All in all, a great experiment.

 

SOTD
January 18, 2015

Prep: Hot shower. Axe Shield Face Wash
Razor: RazoRock Stealth Slant
Blade: Rapira Swedish Supersteel
Brush: Custom 22/52mm Silvertip KonigShaveDesigns
Lather: MdC
Post: Alum.Thayers Lavender WH.
Aftershave: Canoe
The RRSS will be my daily shaver going forward, occasionally I'll use another razor just for fun. My original goal was to find the right razor and stick with it. I enjoy having different soaps/creams on my face the razor has been the cause of discomfort. No more. The Rapira Swedish Supersteel are fantastic! Pick some up! Great price right now. Canoe? Smells like Clubman.
Go out and get it!

 

1/18/15 - #30DayChallenge reset shave #11

Prep: face wash with some sort of lemony smelling soap I received from @Shotwell in a trade back in the fall. I've used the soap every day to wash my face and it is still going strong. Also applied Cornhusker's Lotion
Lather: Klar Kabinett - 41st lather with this quarter bar grated into a tub
Brush: Omega 10066 - this brush gets better with every use
Razor: Weber PH - nuff said, this just a great razor!
Blade: Voskhod (6)
Post: Ogallala Bay Rum - I am really glad that my wife likes this bay rum because I will replace it when it is empty. She also like the Captain's Choice BR and Cat O' 9 Tails.

Everything simply worked for this shave. DFS for a Sunday morning.

 

1/18/2015 30 Day - Shave # 18

Prep - Hot Shower
Razor - Mongoose Satin B2
Blade - Kai Mild (6)
Brush - Rubberset 400 with WSP HMW
Lather - Soap Commander Confidence
Post - Witch Hazel and CC Sandalwood AS



Looking forward to watching the games and shooting some pool with friends later on today. Very nice shave this morning. Not quite as good as yesterday but better than average. Regular 3 pass shave today with no irritation. Looks like this blade is one its way out now. I'll change it out after tomorrows shave.

 

On the 16th day, I rested. And it was good. Curious how a 2 day growth will pan out tomorrow. I used to shave every other day when I used cartridge razors but switched to every day when I shartrd de'ing because I love the zen of it.

 

1/18/15 - BSG - RESET Day 13

Prep - Hot Shower, towel soak
Brush - Omega 48
Soap - Proraso Green
Razor - '46/'47 Aristocrat
Blade - Voskhod (1)
Post - A/V Ice Blue

Change of pace this morning on the lather. Did my usual Sunday head shave first and bowl lathered some C.O. Bigelow I picked up at the mall Friday. First time using it and wow do I like. Got the head done with the Merkur 23c and decided to experiment with the Proraso tub. Cleaned out the brush and bowl and loaded from the tub, but instead of face lathering I bowl lathered. I was curious to see if I could get the same results as the Bigelow since it's Proraso cream in discguise. The lather was definitely better in the bowl than on my face but I could still tell the difference between soap and cream. Still, it improved the lather to use the bowl so I may work more on that.

New Voskhod seemed a bit rough but settled down nicely. Two passes and.......yep.....still have that issue on my neck. I had tried a different path on the second pass to get it all down to DFS and just missed. Cleaned it up and we'll go again tomorrow. The A/V told me I had been a bit heavy handed but not horribly so. All in all a great way to start a slow Sunday morning.

A little over halfway in the month and I thought I'd display the "orphans" this process has created. They all seem so lonely and sad. All they want is another bowl of lather.

 

Great photo. Enjoy the games today everyone. Go dogs.

 

Shave 12 of 30 day BSG
Shower - Hot Shower
Prep - Warm Water Splash
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

Been lazy posting my shaves this week. The 30 day rule has really worked for me. I'm super confident with the Parker now. I'm getting less and less feedback from the crystal alum. The balm really does a good job of soothing for sure too. No razor burn in a while now. Executed a 2 pass shave WTG & XTG this morning with touchups. I am positive I am going to be a DE lifer now. Thanks for this group idea Chris. Its a blast so far.

 

Day 16 of 30
30 DAY RULE with a Slim
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J2 Gillette Slim Adjustable
Kroger Israeli Personna
VDH Kit Badger
TSD Lanolin Shave Stick - Barber Shoppe Scent
Today's Great Cheap AS™ is Aqua Velva Musk

More setting 8...Back later with a lab report! Happy Sunday, Gents!

 

SOTD for January 18, 2015

This is the 17th day of my 30-day adventure to improve my shaving skills using the Mongoose. I used my current set up and got another great shave with the Feather Pro blade on day seven. I'll start the week with a new blade. Happy Shaves!

 

Day 15 - Thirty Days with Merkur 34c (Jan 1-Feb 4 [No shave on Saturdays]) BSG 1-18-2015

Half Way There!!

Hot Shower and Prep - Neutrogena Men Invigorating Face Wash, - Sadly my Wm. Neumann & Co. Peppermint Leaf Bar Soap is all gone
Razor Merkur 34c
Blade Astra SP (3)
Brush - Plisson Synthetic
Lather - Proraso Green
Post - Warm water rinse, Maggard Razor Alum, wait 30 seconds then cool water rinse, WH, RazoRock Problem Solver Lime AS Splash, Gold Bond Ultimate Men's Essentials

Three Passes WTG, XTG & ATG plus a few touch ups. Achieved a great shave.- pretty much BBS

 

01/18 – Day 18 of the 30 Day Rule - Shave #15 with the Weishi

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

• Growth: 1 day
• Prep: 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: A quick XTG/ATG two pass DFS between games today. I didn’t choke nearly as bad as the cheese eaters. Yeesh!

 

Same old for me, pretty quick evening shave. Not much to report really.

 

Planned SOTD for January 19, 2015

I plan to continue with my current set up, as it is giving me great results. Have a great week, everyone!

 

Day 21 of 30. (Sunday Night ) Another GREAT shave. At first I thought that my neck was not as smooth as it could be, but some 3 hours later, I realize that it is somewhere between DFS and BBS. ( I know...quit playing with your face... you'll go blind!)I am absolutely delighted with this process. Now to figure out which next razor will be my next 30 day program......

 

1/19/2015 30 Day - Shave # 19

Prep - Hot Shower
Razor - Mongoose Satin B2
Blade - Kai Mild (7)
Brush - Rubberset 400 with WSP HMW
Lather - Soap Commander Confidence
Post - Witch Hazel and CC Sandalwood AS



Had a very nice 3 pass shave this morning. Not BBS but as close as I can get on work mornings. I had hoped that the Mongoose with the Kai blade would allow me to get the same results in 2 pass shave. With 19 shaves in, I have come to the realize that this is not going to happen on a consistent basis with the Kai Mild blade. After these 30 days are up, I do plan to try the Feather Pro blades in hope of moving to a two pass shave. The big surprise out of this exercise has been how forgiving this razor has been. No matter what I have done, I've had no nicks or irritation thus far.

 

Day 16 Lab Report - 30 DAY RULE with a Slim

Day 16 was the first day I shaved with any confidence. The Personna blades and setting eight seem to be working well. I was able to get to two pass DFS, alum block was quiet. 12 hours later, the face is still feeling great!

I have decided to try setting nine later today...back later with a report!