March '16 - 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix and Discussion Thread

Happy belated birthday! Hope it was a great one!

 

March 2016 Focus--Gillette Tech

March 3-4

Razor: Gillette Tech
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Maggard 24mm Synthetic
Soap: Stirling Gin and Tonic and Stirling MITA
Post: Cold water rinse, Alum block, Fine L'Orange Noir


So yesterday I did my usual two pass shave again. It was only one day's growth so I was hoping for better than the first shave. WTG on cheeks, XTG on chin and neck for the first pass. Got good reduction on the first pass, but noticed part way through that the audible feedback was not nearly as good as earlier, so I think I lost the optimum angle. It really does not take much to be off the sweet spot, but off a little the razor does not cause any problems. No irritation, but again I did notice that feedback change. (Thanks again to Adam and Clint for the tips on turning off all noise and listening for the feedback, it really has made a world of difference in getting and keeping the angle on a new razor!). Second pass ATG everywhere. Still no irritation, held the angle better. After touch-up along the jaw and the Adam's apple, I ended the second day with DFS again.

Today I decided since there has been absolutely no irritation the first two days I would go for three passes. WTG, XTG, and then ATG. It was a single day's growth again so the GSB had some to get through but not too much. The shave went very well, with each pass ending with noticeable reduction in the beard. After the ATG pass I had much less touch-up to do than I had the previous two days. So did the touch-up along the jaw and noticed a little irritation there for the first time with this razor. Finished touch-up and did my cold water splash. Still not BBS because of a couple areas near the chin and on the neck. Definitely a better shave than yesterday though as far as closeness. However, the alum did have a slight hit when I put it to my right jaw. I think I lost angle in a bit of a hurry to get through the touch-up. The irritation was not much, but the alum let me know there was some. In the end, it was better than DFS, so probably a DFS+ or near BBS shave. Tomorrow I will be able to really take my time in the morning since I have nothing to do until 10. Going to put a new GSB in the razor and set off to see how three passes while taking my time will treat me.

 

I'm soaking 2 brushes today. A new VDH boar brush and my Semogue. I'll be lathering them both with VDH luxury. I don't want to ruin the shave with a brand new brush so I'll be lathering up at first with the VDH then setting it to the side overnight. I'll be lathering up every other pass with the semogue.

Evahs shave 2
Astra SP shave 2
Nivia Sensitive Cooling ASB

I'll be back with full shave report in an hour or 2.

 

Day 64- 90 Day intro to SR
4 March 2016



Frederick Reynolds 5/8
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Jabonman Ylang-ylang
Alum
Kroger Arctic Blue AS
​

Probably the next to last day with this soap and razor. Four really nice shaves. Thanks Adam, once again for the chance to try! This blade is going to stay in my rotation permanently. Done early today, headed out to dinner and NBA with Mrs. Samurai. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have great afternoon!
​

 

Razor: Gillette Super Speed Flare Tip 1955
Blade: Wilkinson (5)
Brush: WDC-3 Silvertip Olivewood Handle 24/67
Soap: Eufros Tierra Humeda (Wet Land)
A/S: Pinuad Musk
Same setup as yesterday. Flare tip is an excellent razor. DFS today. Been in meetings all day. Such is life.

 

2 pass shave with the evahs Astra SP combo. The VDH brush was extremely stiff but it will break in. I ended up using it for both passes and drying off the Semogue. I liked the soap alot it lathered well with a nice but mild scent. The razor gave me a few weepers on the first pass XTG but was much more comfortable ATG. I did not touch up at all and ended up with a near BBS on the cheeks and the goatee area but only a CCS on the neck. This razor feels mild and aggressive depending on what part of my face I'm on. I think I need a more aggressive G-slide on my neck to get to an even whole face 2 pass DFS or better. I think I may need a sharper blade as well. I will give it 15 days on the Astra and switch to the GSB after that if it still feels grabby instead of smooth. The first 15 days should show me some improvement if its a technique issue.

 

As far as boars goes it's right up there with the $25 Semogues.

 

Have a great time Chris!

 

Thanks Kerry!

 

I just completed a head shave, used the same setup from this morning with the exception of the razor which I used a Gillette Atra cartridge.
Shaving your head is much like shaving your face, at some point in the shave you need to decide when it's time to stop.
Today, I stopped at 3 passes with minimal touch up. This is the best head shave I've ever had, absolutely no irritation, am I BBS? No. Is my head smooth? Yes. Does my head look great and not like I've lost the battle? Yes.
Learning to know when to stop is a constant struggle for me not only with my face shave but also with my head shave.
Because I'm in the zone and have a great lather and a fantastic shaving tool in hand.
Comfort over irritation..
Kerry

 

Well done Kerry. I've mapped my hair growth on my head to where I now do two passes..wtg, atg, and clean ups. It looks totally smooth but I know it's not and that's good enough for me to avoid irritation especially on the back of my head where the indentation is.

 

its smooth but not cue ball smooth. And I'm okay with that. my trouble spot is the right side of my head up across from my ear. I think I'll try Cornhuskers on my last pass..

 

I use pre shave oil just like I do on my face and it's helped tremendously.

 

Thanks Mark, I wasn't sure where to find it other than online.

 

3/4/16

Gillette Birth Quarter Tech (Y3)
Gillette Platinum Plus (1)
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Mitchell's Wool Fat
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Pinaud Clubman Original



Shaved this morning, but once again late to post.
Next in line for the Birth Quarter Tech is the Gillette Platinum Plus. This is a Brazilian blade I found at the local Walgreens. Nice slick lather from the Fat. Two smooth and comfortable passes with a light touch up after the second with the lather left on my face. A cold water rinse and a lighter than normal touch up brought home the baby. The Clubman stung a little bit today, but less than normal.

A fine long lasting BBS from the Gillette Platinum Plus in my Birth Quarter Tech. It’s been over 12 hours since my shave and I'm still close to a DFS.

I hope everyone had a great Friday and a nice weekend.

 

March into Artist Club Blades

March 4

Razor - Feather SS
Blade - (4)
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold Rinse, Alum, Nivea Original Balm, The Veg

Day four and I felt good going into the shave this morning. Got up a bit earlier than normal, hit the shower a bit earlier and I think I just relaxed a bit more than usual. The Wolf and Tabac were out of this world good. Enough lather on one load to have shaved for a week I think. The only concern was the mark from the slight cut from yesterday's bad set down. Will have to keep that in mind. It's in an area that I can work around, just don't want to reopen it.

First pass WTG was very nice. Good audio, the Kai Mild is still as effective as on day one and with the thick Tabac lather it was slick and smooth. I lightly went over the cut and didn't notice any blood so all good there. Second pass was XTG and I did very well on the right side. Felt very natural working from the nose out to the ear. When I went to the left side I fumbled a bit for some reason. It took a couple of tries to get set right and make a reasonable pass but I finally got there. Had to chill for a second and just let everything relax. I added a partial third pass on the neck, ATG and then went with a mild G-slide action to finish up a couple of spots on the neck. Not nearly as much horizontal angle as with a DE, but enough to polish things off. Finished DFS and very happy with the result.

Alum was a bit harsh on the neck, but I earned that by both ATG and my modified G-slide. Guess it needs a new name. Can't really call it a true Gillette Slide. Pain skid, yeah that works.

Here's to a great Saturday for everyone!

 

Shave Secret PS oil
Strop Shoppe SE
Omega Pro #248
Germania Cutl. Works 6/8
Pinaud Special Reserve

This was my first good tallow shaving soap. My bowl has the remains of two or three samples. I never did order a full sized tub. If you haven't tried a tallow based soap, do it. That old razor is my best shaving straight. It doesn't leave much for a DE touch up. A swipe of alum block after cool water rinse revealed one bite from the square tip just below my moustache, but no complaints when splashing on a handful of Clubman S.R.
A good shave, hope your was as well.

 

I am not sure if there is an official PIF month going on for this year, as I didn't see anything on the home page. Either way, I was planning on doing two PIFs this month. My first PIF is up: http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/upgrade-pif.50170/. Check it out.

 

Day 1 of 30 for my new SE: so I rushed home on lunch because the mail ran late and found my razor waiting. However, the seller did not follow my directions and unscrew the handle so the head was bent a little slanted. Didn't notice it u til after I tried to speed shave. Learned that she WILL bite you without utmost respect. almost completely took the tiny mole off my lip. Took me over 10 to stop the bleeding. But! I got home, slowly took my time and dialed in my angle and it was fantastic.better than any DE shave I've ever had. Avoided my lip but gave 3 pass to my cheeks and chin and became part seal. I'm totally sold on this razor. Its absolutely friggin awesome. I do have a question though. Will after shave always burn? To avoid it, do I need a balm or what?

Edit: bent the head straight at work. Probably part of why it went better

 

That is a good-looking razor. Did you have it restored? Or is it NOS?