JUNE 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

I really like the cap on the Arko! Great idea.

 

Actually I took an old push-up deodorant, stuffed Arko into it and took the Arko wrapper and glued it to the container. I'll use it for travel too.

 

Charlie, the Shavemac Silvertip D01 and Finest are still nicer brushes. I like the feel of the badger better but it is hard to complain about the way this synthetic brush makes lather. I like these fibers much better than the TGN synthetic I have. The newer fibers feel more natural and splay more like a badger brush.

 

Heck you fooled me. I like what you did. It looks marketable.

 

An old Brut deodorant container. Truth be told I bought it for its current purpose - I liked the black top too, thought it would look good with the Arko red.

 

It's about managing expectations...lol

 

It looks like a winning idea!

 

Saturday's shave:
Given my desire for a western grind Kamisori and lack of patience I also bought this Robert Williams Purist on another site's BST. It arrived Friday so of course I had to try it out. This is very cool looking razor but it also the scariest razor I ever saw. It feels great in my hands but that French point looks down right unfriendly.

The first two passes went smoothly, the third pass found the French Point digging into my skin several times. A couple of small cuts and weeper or two. Now I remember my bloody first shave with a 2011 R41. The R41 went on to be my favourite DE and lead to trying straights again. So I will perservere and I expect this razor to become a favourite after I have sacrificed enough blood to learn to shave with it.

Proraso Pre Shave
AoS tallow Sandalwood
Rooney 3/2
Robert Williams Purist Kamisori 7/8 1/4 hollow french point
Dry Gulch strop
Alum block to keep my fingers dry
Speick AS
Muhle ASB
MDCI Invasion Barbare

In the pictures that is a hair not a scratch and the other picture the spots are oil. I didn't use the Futur, he just photo bombed the pic.

 

Day 20 - 21 June 2015 (Summer Solstice!)

30 Day Rule Focus with a Cadet OC!


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Is it day 6 on this blade? Well, it matters little, as the shave went pretty well! The shave stick method is still in full effect, and it's going well too. On about 6 June I turned to Mrs Samurai and told her that I only had 24 more days until I could use any other soap....but over the last two weeks the shaves have gotten pretty good. If Williams only smelled better...it might, maybe, somehow get to stay in rotation.

Did the 2 pass thing and got a super close shave, no visible irritation, but the Alum was pretty intense on the jawline. That means time for a fresh Derby. Veg lit me up pretty good, but five hours post shave skin is all better. Hot, dry Father's Day out here! Other that that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Let's have a great week!

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Cool Blade! The last photo really displays the hollow in the blade.

 

I wondered too! It looks cool.

Kerry- got an urge to do a July rule/focus?

 

06/22/2015
Razor – ATT R2 with Triad Helix SS
Blade – Feather (3)
Brush – Olive Wood with TGN Finest Fan
Lather – B&M Seville
Post - Witch Hazel & Fine L’Orange Noir



Another great shave this morning. First time using Fine AS. Initial impressions are it is a very nice AS and I think it I will really enjoy using it.

 

That Kamasori is awesome. It does look a little intimidating, but it would be fun to shave with.

 

June 22nd, SOTD (Shave 13 of this focus)
One days’ growth
Prep: Hot Shower
Razor: Wade & Butcher 5/8 square point (pre 1890) with worm eaten scales
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel Horsehide/ Linen (20 on linen, 50 on leather)
Soap: Barrister & Mann Seville
Brush: Eveready 100T re-knotted with 22mm TGN Synthetic
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue

This is not a pretty razor. There is pitting and some corrosion on the blade, and the scales are discolored and worm eaten horn. It was the first non-cartridge razor I purchased. I paid way too much for it, and I had no idea how to use it. It sat in a drawer for a few years while I learned how to DE shave. After getting it professionally honed, its an amazing shaver. It really sings on the strop and as cutting the whiskers. At some point I may put new scales on this, but I don’t think I will ever try and polish it out.
I did a two pass plus touch up today. Since it had only been 24 hours, I did XTG and ATG passes. A few weepers, but no cuts. DFS plus today, but not quite BBS. B&M soap gives a slick lather, and makes a lot of it with the synthetic brush. Happy Monday all!

 

June 22, 2015

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

Hot Shower
Pre-Shave Oil: Gingers Garden
Soap: Arko
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Gillette Tech “Fat Handle”
Blade: Gillette Wilkinson Sword Stainless (India) (2)
After Shave: Myrsol Agua Limon
After Shave Balm: Gingers Garden



Great 3-pass shave yesterday after a two-day growth, left me with an easy 2-pass today. I’m finding that by not chasing BBS, I’m focusing better on technique and being very content with shaves that are light years beyond past cart shaves, while I continue to hone sharp habits.

Cheers!
-RT

 

Day #2 of 5; 30-Days of June
Second shave with this C-MON. These vintage C-MONS remind me a good deal of the Bresnick Dubl Ducks. Similarly-designed German-made blade shape. I find these style of blades to be very easy to use as they have not only a smooth feel, but also provide good audible feedback. For newcomers to SR shaving, they are a good choice, particular if one can find a round-tipped model.

 

Nice work! I have also noticed that if I focus on "shaving well" rather than "BBS", the results are better!

 

Are you testing a prototype for a soap maker, or one of your creations?

 

Razor: Gillette Aristocrat, 1947, Birth Razor
Blade: Gillette, Platinum (4)
Brush: Semogue 1305 Boar Tri Colored Wood Handle.
Soap: KnockOut Shave Cool Blue
Mug: Soak my brush in the Old Spice coffee mug for about a minute.
A/S: Afta A/S & Sin Conditioner

Much better lather tonight with this soap. I'm using the same approach to each brush soap combination. DFS tonight.

 

I am seeing more and more KO Shave products. What is the scent profile of Cool Blue?