JUNE 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

The more I think I have a handle on this shaving thing..... It is day seven of the Derby Extra ( remember, that blade I was not sure I liked, and was ready to toss earlier.?) Well I got a two pass BBS shave, and am really looking forward to day eight tomorrow, it was such a great shave. I used the Body Shop Maca Root, WD silvertip, TSD witch hazel with Russian Leather , and TSD signature scent AS. I shaved at 14:30 yesterday afternoon, as I had an appointment, and it is now TEN hours later, and I hardly have any regrowth..... This is certainly a contender for top blade, and no wonder it is in the top ten try a blade pack.

 

Cold water shave focus day 10:

Homemade PS Oil
Vie-long Horsehair Brush
Pacific Shaving Co Caffeinated SC
Gillette Slim
Stirling Unscented PSB
Barbasol Pacific Rush AS

The Pacific Shaving Co cream seems to get better every time I use it. Nice, slick shave this morning. The cold water just made it better, and Barbasol put the bow on top.

 

06/10/2015
Razor – Gillette Red & Black New Deluxe
Blade – Feather (3)
Brush – Rudy Vey with TGN Finest
Lather – B&M Latha
Post - Witch Hazel and Floid Amber Sample



I am really enjoying this week with the New Deluxe. Another fantastic 3 pass shave. This razor is very smooth but efficient. The B&M Latha is a very easy soap to use. The lather is super slick and provides more than enough protection. The post shave feel is actually very good as well. Truly a value. Finished off with witch hazel and a splash of Floid Amber from the sample pack.

 

Day 4 of 5; 30-Day JUNE Rule
Fourth day using the smiley Rodger and one thing I've noticed: I find it requires more strokes with this razor over the same area to achieve the same level of overall smoothness I get with a straight-edge (non-smiling) blade. It requires leaning initially on the nose for the first stroke, rotating to mid-blade next stroke, finishing with a heel stroke, all because the the pronounced curve. It takes longer to shave, and post shave, I am finding way too many missed spots. Grrrr…One more day to get my technique down….

 

June 10, 2015

30 Day RULE - “Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Lather, Rinse….”

Morning Hot Shower
Prep: Pre-Shave Oil - The Art of Shaving
Soap: Arko
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Gillette Tech “Fat Handle”
Blade: Gillette Wilkinson Sword Stainless (India)
After Shave: Proraso Aftershave Splash Green

Second shave since changing from a 3-pass to a 2-pass shave. (WTG, XTG )
I changed due to a skin reaction - was getting razor bumps for the first time in my life.

Yesterday on my first 2-pass shave, I was anxious to see how much the quality of my shave would change and it was noticeable - not nearly as close.

Today the shave was a much different experience, much closer and satisfying. On hindsight, I’ll critique myself by admitting I may have been too focused yesterday on the quality of the shave while I was shaving - and perhaps slacked on technique . Today, completely focused on technique - a much better shave than yesterday.

Will continue the 2-pass for the rest of the week and maybe skip one day altogether this weekend. I’ll also skip touch-up in order to better gauge my technique on the basic passes.

Cheers!
RT

 

Congrats on your progress. Just keep focusing on the technique and before you even realize all your shaves will be very good with some being much better than that.

 

Razor: Gillette Redtip, (A-3) 1955
Blade: Gillette, Platinum (7)
Brush: Fendrihen Silvertip Faux Ebony Handle, 22/49
Bowl: Wooden
Soap: Saint Charles Shave Soap, Pumpkin
Mug: Soak my brush in the Old Spice coffee mug for about a minute.
A/S: Autumn Factory, Pumpkin

This soap whipped into a great lather with a good smell of Pumpkin. Three passes with a clean up around the chin. Could have made another three passes. This focus has been a real eye opener for me. I have learned how to make an excellent lather, and that wasn't my intent at the beginning of this months focus. The Autumn Factory Pumpkin A/S was an outstanding finish. I was going to take a break from the 30 Focus this month and I'm very happy I didn't. Also should add @Omaney for selling me the Gillette Rd Tip. It is a great razor, big thanks @Omaney.

 

June 10 - Shave 7
Prep: Nivia
Brush: Omega 48
Preshave: Stirling Mentha Preshave oil
Soap: TSD Lanolin Bay Rum
Razor: Flea Market special - wedgish blade, 5/8"
Growth: 1 day
Post: Cold water splash, Clubman, Alum
Passes: WTG, XTG, WTG

First time with this Glen honed wedge. Overall, it was very smooth, but I miss "hearing" the sound of my blade. I have spent 6 weeks with a full hollow or extra hollow blade so going with a wedge is definitely a change! the shave itself was ok. Just a couple of nicks on my neck. I love that I've become confident enough to use one dominate hand for neck passes. Although my WTG passes are with alternating hands.

Very close to a bbs, but settling for a dfs today! SETTLING - HA! This is the good life isn't it!?!

Alum told me that I may have had a bit too much pressure on the blade, but felt decent enough afterward.

 

Day 9 - 10 May 2015

30 Day Rule with a Cadet OC!


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Today was day three on the Derby, and things went really well. I am now focusing on trying to do exactly the same routine each day, from lather to stroke pattern. I have the 2 Pass down pretty well and am satisfied that Derby is actually an ok blade in an aggressive razor. The Williams is still a bit of work, but I think I am getting somewhere with that too. I think I am going to reuse the blade for the fourth day, this particular one is treating me well, and see about maybe a day five. I am sticking with Florida Water for a while too. But the Veg will make a reappearance soon!

Have a great Thursday!
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You're a welcomed addition to the den @Rufus T.

 

World Tournament of Blades - Russia vs. the World!!
June 10, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - MWF
Razor - Razo Rock TTO
Blade - (1)
Post - Alum, Nivea Balm

This late posting is getting to be a habit. Created by busier days in summer along with the need to take some time to evaluate results without using the snap judgement heat of the moment method. Today was especially one of those days. The Kai performed very well on the occasions I've used it so I was looking forward to today.. It's a Japanese stainless, famous for being the "second sharpest" blade after it's Japanese cousin the Feather. They also make some very fine Artist Club blades known for being more forgiving and milder than the Feather. So, I was really looking forward to starting the World round of the tournament with the Kai.

Decided to stick with the RazoRock TTO as I like how it feels and works. Great all brass modern razor a bit more aggressive than a Gillette Aristocrat. Got the Fat out, the Pro 48 and once again got a very nice lather. I keep expecting to fail with the MWF once but so far so good. I'm very picky with it though and always try to follow @mantic 's rules for using it. Good stuff. Great slick lather so let's shave.

First pass was....ummmm.....not too smooth, nor did it seem terribly effective. I know this blade is sharp. I've used it before so I'm confused. Rinse, lather, repeat only XTG. Wow. Can you say uncomfortable....and it hits me...I have a more aggressive razor on a sharp blade and that doesn't always work for me. It also hits me.......SHARP blade. Not Voskhod sharp, not Sharp Star sharp....we're talking SHARP. Explains the building irritation. Ouch. Finished the XTG with just a hint of blood and checked. Seemed almost DFS. Well, DFS face, not quite neck. Time to stop and call it before I do more damage. But wait.....who am I kidding. This is ME shaving here not some rookie, pansy, weak, lily-livered coward who is afraid of a little blood or irritation. Why, I've used some of the worst blades in the worst razors and with the WORST soap (yes, modern Williams I'm talking about you) and survived to shave again. So here we go....neck only.....lather it up good (learning to love MWF) and let's go XTG.....wow seems uncomfortable. Gotta do something else to get that DFS hammered. So what would you do with an aggressive razor, sharp blade, irritated face and growing realization that you're probably taking skin off? Why, do what I do next...let's Gillette Slide. Why not, right? It's only skin, and pain, and frustration and....well you get the picture. Rinse off, cold rinse after the warm one and let's go for the alum. Yeah, I don't even have to say it do I. I managed to take a great blade and razor, mismatch them, and then do everything except buff my neck (well not too much anyway) to make sure I created a true disaster.

For the grading? Well it may be unfair to blame the blade for what I consider incredible operator error but a tournament is a tournament. Sharpnes is a 1. If you want to argue that I suggest you stand on a pile of Kai's and see if you don't change your mind. Smoothness? Wellllllllll.....with this razor I have to go 3. Memory tells me its capable of better but not today. Irritation. Oh baby....it's a 4 and I'm being generous. The fact the cold water rinse after alum cooled it down is all that saved the big 5. And the result? I was going CCS immediately after but decided to let it cool down and recheck when I wasn't jumping up and down so much. Decided a few hours later after constant checking that yes, it really did get DFS....the hard way. That's a 2.

Total - 10. The blade I thought would be one of the best is the worst so far. Again, partly due to gear I'm sure but there you go. Like many things in Japan.....this result was surprising and not quite what you expect.

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Tomorrow - the SuperMax Platinum from India.

 

I've been a bit preoccupied at home so have been behind in reading....but I did notice that Williams is still an issue for you. I'm SHOCKED that such a fine product would be anything but excellent!

 

It was a problem the day I threw down 97¢ and took it home. I just didn't know it.

 

At least you paid half of what I did for mine. Still have it sealed tight in a plastic bag. Thinking of using it somehow on July 4th. Maybe soak it in The Veg and toss on some 91% rubbing alcohol. Lead the fireworks with that.

 

Or burn it with sterno fuel at your sunset barbecue. Mosquitoes won't dig that.

 

I love your live dispatches from the intersection of discretion and valor. Weeping DFS is a new category of shave, invented here tonight.

 

My shave tonight, ( Day eight on the Derby Extra!!!) was another DFS to BBS shave... same process as yesterday. I was wondering why I like this blade so much, and then I read a write-up of the blade, on Connaught, when I did my panic purchase of GEM SE blades..... PTFE, chrome, platinum, Tungsten, ceramic coated... all the things I like on a blade. Now I need to find out how well this works on the Super Adustable......Next month, or August.

 

Awfully kind of you Eric!

As I've said in my Newbie intro in May - I looked at other shaving sites and this one stood out for many reasons. The collegial nature of everyone I have interacted with so far is at the top of that list.

Cheers!
-RT

"I don't want to belong to any club that will accept people like me as a member."
- G. Marx
(With apologies to my avatar and patron saint - I'm glad I joined this one!)

 

Cold water shave focus day 11:

Homemade PS Oil
WD High Mountain Badger 30 mm
TSD Lanolin Egyptian Spice
Gillette Ball end tech
Stirling Unscented PSB
Clubman Vanilla AS

 

Oh my. Great write up. I am surprised as well that the Kai didn't fair better. Thought for sure that might be one of your ringers.