July 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

I agree. I have gotten more comfortable shaves from a less than great honing job on a straight razor. This was more of an exercise of "could I do this" rather than "should I do this." I was pretty impressed with the low amount of blood, even if I did get nine weepers on my chin.

 

Careful...this statement is nearly signature line material.

 

Shavettes (proper) mimic the SR experience, but are not the same as you note.

Confession:

After learning SR technique, shavette is growing on me. I may be TSD's first full use shavette user here soon!

All that being said, if someone is considering SR versus Shavette, SR is definitely easier, safer, and more forgiving than a shavette. However, after a couple weeks of practice, shavette is yielding irritation free bbs on par with any straight I've tried.

And for the record, straights are way cooler to handle and photograph than shavettes.

 

This is the same area of my face that tells me exactly how well a straight is honed. The whiskers there are very coarse. It's also the first place to get irritated. Th light weight of the popcicle sticks and staples razor required pressure not to skip there. After a rinse and alum, they all stopped bleeding. I'm still calling it a success.

 

In the Good Old Shavertime!!

July 6

Razor - '46-'47 Aristocrat
Blade - (4?)
Soap - Tabac
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Post - Alum and the Veg

Wednesday/Monday right on schedule and back to hovering by the mailbox everyday. Still on the Aristocrat and Voskhod. I think it's the fourth day on the blade. Kind of lost track with Cinco de Julio yesterday. Doesn't matter, it's still shaving like a champ and producing great shaves. Two passes with touchup today to a near BBS. One more pass would have done it but no reason to push it. Save a pass for tomorrow as this blade is on center stage until the project gets underway.

Nice to have Tabac as the soap today. Lather was excellent and the scent was a nice wake up call. The Veg for the finish and off to start a new period at work. Last period of the second quarter and things are rocking there. It has to be the Veg. Just has to!

 

No shave for me today, I spent the morning fixing a leak in my water supply line, then did a few odd jobs, and finally took my 15 year old son to his bowling league night. He did pretty well tonight. A 3 game series of 611 for a 204 average. A lot better bowler than I was at 15.

 

I agree with you it absolutely has to be The Veg!

 

Last time I bowled league I was in my late 30s and I didn't carry a 204 average!

 

A generous offer but I am sure they will be confiscated in customs.

 

I'm sure the doctors use tongue depressors.

 

Yes but I don't know that word in Korean.

 

혀 억압자
hyeo eog-abja

There you go.

 

He's one of those wacky 2 handed bowlers, so when he gets near the pocket, the pins practically explode. Of course when he misses the pocket he leaves some ungodly looking spares.

 

Yeah I'm familiar with those. The spares, not the strikes.

 

I appreciate your efforts on my behalf. I will attempt this stunt shaving the next time I am back in the US. Or after my next physical exam. Thank you for the Korean lesson.

 

Who needs to know the word? You go for a checkup, and while your waiting for the doctor to come in you stick a handful in your pocket.

 

Just trying to be helpful.

 

SOTD
7/6/16

Pre: Shower, Nivea face wash, Noxema w/tee tree oil, home made preshave oil
Razor: Gillette Fatboy (3)
Blade: Sharp Star
Brush: TGN Finest
Soap: WSP Formula T Bay Rum
Post: cold water rinse, Maggard alum, witch hazel, Gillette aftershave balm, The Veg

Tonight was 100% better than yesterday as far as comfort goes. Yesterday I had to be really careful about riding the cap and keeping my angle just right with that 1918 Gillette old style open comb. Tonight was just a shear pleasure with the Fatboy and Sharp Star blade, and I pampered myself and my skin with an elaborate preshave before starting. I was once again rewarded with a BBS shave that I have missed while trying some new razors. First pass was WTG and it was great reduction and pretty close, so close I could have stopped there and called it a CCS but onto the next pass. Pass two was XTG and again with pretty good reduction and again I could have stopped there and called it a DFS, I love this blade. Third and fourth pass I decided to go with a combination of ATG and XTG, for the third pass I went one way and the fourth the other way. I was riding the cap with so little pressure on all passes I hardly felt the blade cutting at all, but I could feel and see it in the mirror. After I was done my face was once again BBS without any irritation that I could see. I rinsed off with cold water and enjoyed it soothing my skin so I decided to go all out with the post shave. I reached for the alum and got just the slightest warm feeling as I rubbed it all over my face and then rinsed it off again with cold water. I applied a splash of witch hazel and patted into my skin and waited for that to dry as I cleaned up my brush and razor. I next applied the Gillette aftershave balm , and as I waited for that to dry cleaning up my sink I then applied the glorious The Veg. I was thrilled with my shave tonight and maybe in a day or two I will try the Auto Strop razor. hope everyone has or has had a wonderful shave today!

 

Day 4 and 5 Detox

Day 4 Detox shave was a Feather DX with Arko. I did just 3 passes and just one weeper which is good for pain stick shave. I am still have some improvement to get before I can be satisfied. There was some burn and with just 3 passes it was a solid DFS. Think about if I want to shave today or not. If I do it will be the pain stick again.

Irritation B+ Closeness B+ Smoothness A- Sharpness A+

 

혀 억압자
hyeo eog-abja