July 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Rockwell 6S/R5 Plate/Ladas (2)
Whipped Dog 30mm High Mountain
B&M Seville
Thayers
Fine American Blend


Went with the R5 Plate today. BBS in 2 passes. Finished off with Thayers and Fine American Blend. Great stuff. Hope everyone is having a great Sunday.

 

In the Good Old Shavertime!!

July 10
Razor - 1962 Gillette Slim
Blade - (2)
Soap - Tabac
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Post - Alum and the Veg

Final day before I dive headfirst into blades. Yeah, sounds like a SAW trap. Decided to give the Slim a test run just to make sure I am a bit more familiar with the weight and feel. I reclaimed my Voskhod from the Bomb Pop Razor to have a fresher blade to try the razor with. Chose Tabac as the last soap I'll smell before six days of Arko. I don't mind Arko, but I will miss my favs. That's what Sundays are for now...a break.

Great lather and I set the Slim on 5. The blade gap on that setting is .032". First pass was an absolute fantastic pass. The Slim is a bit heavier than most of my razors due to the extra mechanics. The head is a bit heavier than the handle and the balance it provides is awesome. Just have to let the head to the work. Second pass was as good or better, XTG, and a few tiny spots of cleanup brought the baby home. I had two of these razors a few months ago and decided I'd never benefit from an adjustable. Well, now I see why that was some seriously short-term and flawed thinking.

Alum to check irritation and it was basically nonexistent. Seriously fine shave and I'm looking forward to starting tomorrow and seeing how all of the blades respond and perform.

FYI - I'll be posting here daily with results, as well as on SOTD. However, SOTD will be a very short version, the post here will include a few more details, and the full report will be on my BLOG

 

That sounds like what was happening, I will adjust for the next try. Thanks for the advice.

 

Can't wait to read all about it in here and your Blog!

 

It's SR Sunday, so you know what that means....

SRS
7/10/16

Pre: Nivea face wash
SR: Antonio Tadross
Razor: Schick L1
Blade: Chick
Brush: TGN Finest
Soap: Lo Haiku
Post: cold water rinse, Alum, witch hazel, Nivea sensitive aftershave balm, The Veg.

I mentioned this earlier about dedicating Sundays to my straight razor, so this is my first SR Sunday. I'm not saying I wont use a SR on other days, I'm just going to use my SR each Sunday to get better with it. I'm practicing my skin stretching and using my left hand with my other razors even if I'm not using a SR. Tonight I got a really good shave with two passes with the SR and minimum clean up with the Schick, not even a full pass with the Schick. I did draw a little blood from a mole on my right cheek up high, it stopped fairly quickly with a swipe from my alum block, there you go Mr. Freeze. I also got 1 dime size spot of irritation according to the alum on the right side of my neck. I did get a BBS shave despite all of that, now onto the report. I made a wet lather and made sure it was slick for my first pass WTG, starting on my left cheek as that's my weakest hand to use. I concentrated on my angles and moved onto the right side and got great reduction and heard the razor as it sliced the stubble off my face. For my second pass I went XTG, and got good reduction again according to the sound my razor made as it sliced through the remaining stubble. I did minimal clean up ATG and was done to a great BBS shave. I rinsed my face off with cold water and applied the alum feeling the sting on my mole and the spot of irritation but other than that it was quite. I rinsed off again and applied the witch hazel patting my face with it, then applied the aftershave balm fanning it with a hand towel till it was soaked in and dry. Next came the Veg and it tingled to say hi, I'm working as I felt the skin on my face tighten up. I'm hoping to get better with my SR and not have to do any clean up in the future with another razor. Till then, I hope all of you had a Great shave today!

 

One note I just thought of I must say to be fair and honest, I do have a moustache and goatee so I am not shaving there.

 

All the best looking guys have goatees.

 

Is being much better than a Tiger something to brag about? I mean, rusted pieces of broken hoes are better than Tiger.

 

Take it easy... We don't want our crew messing around with broken hoes.

 

I'm.... I'm.... I'm not even touching that comment. Goodnight

 

Very nice work. Just keep on doing it. Most of us allowed "training wheels" our first 30 shaves. No shame in that game whatsoever.

Also @ob1page on this point

So, I suggest just take it real easy and practice solid angles and grip, with no hesitation. Straight razor usually chooses to punish indecision and tentative strokes with cuts. Always shave deliberately and patiently. Assuming your edge is good, just try to wipe the lather off, confidently. There's a great difference between "shaving" and "trying to avoid injury whilst using a straight razor." You'll know what that difference feels like very soon. Patience pays off.

Good lather
Keen edge
Solid skin stretch
Two spine width angle
Deliberate strokes
Focus on process over outcome

Good technique lasts a lifetime.



Have fun!

 

Good Man. You should grab a plate of cookies before bed.

 

+1000

 

Hey, I laid it down there. Somebody has to pick it up eventually.

 

I/3 of July Focus completed

Barrister & Mann Ferox and Omega #248 Boar
Gold Bug 4/8 / Cattaraugus B-hone / Drygulch #43 strop
Clean up with Flare Tip & Rapira SS / alum / The Veg


Final day of Focus one of three for July. Revisiting my big Omega and finding it to be much softer than I recall. Makes me long for the days when I was just breaking it in. Of the many soaps on my shopping list B&M is right up there. This sample I've almost used up is discontinued. Ferox of the White Label variety isn't sweet, more savory. Mixing up a wet lather it lays down plenty of glide for a straight, and enough for a DE clean up round, too. No noise from the alum, no need for moisturizer. Straight to The Veg for a smooth finish.
Ahhhh...

 

Classy strop! @Drygulch Leatherworks is good stuff. Straight to the Veg pretty much says it all...

 

Wait, how do you know what my early romantic life was like?

 

The tiger was slightly better than the beer can kamisori. Not sharper but sharpish longer.

 

Focus.

 

You ought to go the chipped obsidian traditional Neanderthal dry shave route.

What's the worst that could happen? Besides tetanus?

We await your full report.