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

March 9 - Straight Shave 10
Henckels Twin Works #50
PSO, hot shower
JR #40 Brush
Chiseled Face Ghost Town Barber Soap & AS
Alum, Nivea balm

Went a little too aggressive this morning, focusing on good directions for my passes, changing around a little, trying some things. Got a little razor burn. Nothing serious, be fine to shave tomorrow. All part of learning. I am feeling more comfortable with it for sure. Still can't quite get the center of my neck just over my adam's apple smooth, usually a little stubble. Had trouble there with a DE too, but sometimes I got it without quite knowing how. A east-west pass should do it, but can't get that angle so may have to just accept it. All good, still enjoying it! Hope everyone is having a great day!

 

March into Artist Club Blades

March 9

Razor - Feather SS
Blade - (2)
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold Rinse, Alum, Nivea Original Balm, The Veg

Day two with the Captain Original. Confidence is high given the first day's result. Just have to remember to keep the pressure off this thing now with the sharper blade in it. Pressure with a pain stick usually causes bad things to happen but the sharper the blade the more dangerous it becomes. First pass was solid and again, smoooooooooth. Love the feel of this blade. Working down the neck I noticed a bit of harshness but reduced the angle slightly and got the smooth back. With any straight having that ability to rotate all those degrees really keeps you alert, or leads to disaster.

Second pass was XTG and again effective. I can feel a bit of irritation on the neck. Checked and had a DFS. Not a great one but decided to call it a shave. Give it a break to work into the rest of the week.

Can't argue with the result and the alum was again hot on the neck but not as bad as yesterday. Some improvement for sure. Again, with the mild blade I could have gone the extra pass and with less irritation. But, two passes, no blood, some irritation but improving.....I'll call that a success any day.

 

Shave Secret / Arko / Cremo
VDH boar & suribachi bowl
Germania PATHFINDER 6/8
Alum block & Clubman S.E.

Superlathered up a batch of CremArko for slick cushiony long lasting lather. No need for @Norcalnewb Baseball Pattern with this mix. Worked my WTG & ATG pattern. Getting away from a DE clean up is helping me to develop a better straight shave. Still drew a drop of blood near my mustache. It happens. Swipe of the alum and an Indiana Jones handful of Pinaud's Special Edition for an exciting shave! Then as I was tapping the moisture out of the razor, the scales cracked and split free at the wedge. I've been gathering supplies to learn repining, guess it's time.

 

Day 70 - 90 Day Intro to SR
9 March 2016



Ralf Aust 5/8
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Route 66 - Lumberjack
Alum
TSD ISZ AS Splash
Pinaud Citrus Musk
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Jumped back to a heavier blade today, and was treated to great near BBS. NBSP in effect, I may just do that forever. Totally goofed off tonight, hope everyone had a great evening! Will attempt to catch up! And yeah, where's @TomJ89de ? Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a terrific Thursday!
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Evahs
GSB(2)
ARKO
WD 20mm Synthetic
Tabac AS

I have a headache tonight, one of those that makes it hard to see or do anything without shaking. I decided that a shave might make me feel better so I did a single ATG pass all over. I was a little heavy handed and managed a handful of weepers below my jawline and 2 on my mustache area. I also managed a DFS. Just means I'll be able to shave tomorrow. Tabac AS from my Garry's samples. I mostly like it but there is one scent note I don't like. I'll see how quickly that one note fades before I decide if its a keeper. Not bad for only seeing a roughly face shaped blur in the dark. Migraines are terrible. I'm medicating and going to bed earlier then normal now.

 

Straights Focus March 10:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
PAA Deja Fougere
W&B
Stirling Unscented PSB
Wholly Kaw Fougere Bouquet AS

A decent shave this morning, but I had a long night last night with the new baby, so I was fairly tired. I got a one pass that is realistically a SAS, and today I am more than fine with that. Working myself up to head into work, I hope everyone has a good Thursday.

 

Ouch. Rather than tapping my razors, I use a square of TP to dry between the scales, then carefully dry the outside and the blade with a towel.

 

03/10/2016
Wolfman OC with Triad Ti
Feather (3)
Rudy Vey with Shavemac Finest
Jabonman Citircos
Witch Hazel
Fine L’Orange
Whipped Shea Butter


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Another automatic near BBS 2 pass shave with touch ups. It's hard to ask for better than this shave on a work morning during tax season. Finished up with a splash of Fine L'Orange and I am ready for the day. At least this week is nearly over. I hope everyone has a fantastic Thursday.

 

Excellent photo this morning @clint64. Have a good day.

 

I got two straights back from s restoration shop yesterday, and was planning on iseing one for a single pass shave this morning. Checked my face this morning. I got a better shave with the ACME than I thought. About 20 hours post shave, and I am between a CCS and a DFS. Shaving right now would just cause irritation. Good shave problems.

 

SOTD March 10, 2016
March focus shave 9

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Voshkod (3)
Razor: Maggard MR1 with V2 open comb
Brush: Satin Tip 'The Purest' synthetic
Lather: Soap Commander Endurance
Post: Witch hazel splash enhanced Old Spice knock-off, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up



Decent shave again this morning with CCS results. Ended up with a weeper on my neck, and later found a couple of areas I wish I had touched up more. But, that's okay in the long run! It was an enjoyable experience nonetheless. The cold water shaves are working so far. I think I need to add that element in to my focus for this month.

The Endurance scent from Soap Commander is not what I expected. But then I realized that I don't really know what the Shulton spice scent is. I'm familiar with modern-day Old Spice which I know is different. The Endurance smelled kind of like plain ol' soap to me. I asked my wife to smell it and she said the same. It's just a sample, not a whole tub, so perhaps it has lost some of the scent? Not sure, but I was a little disappointed in the overall scent.

Hope you all have a great Thursday!

 

Thank you Doug. It's been a rough week. I'm looking forward to a great weekend.

 

3/10/16
I guess the old wisdom of Feather blades suddenly becoming less effective was proven true on the blade I've been using. Shave #3 yesterday was fantastic. Shave #4 today was a struggle to finish. The blade just seemed to not cut. So I head off to work today with a semi-stubbly face and will live to shave another day. Tomorrow? Derby.

 

March 10 - Straight Shave 11
Henckels Twin Works #50
PSO, hot shower
JR #40 Brush
Chiseled Face Ghost Town Barber Soap & AS
Alum, Nivea balm

Not bad today, not much razor burn. Decent shave. Have a great day all!

 

Shave 6 here at my brothers

ER 1912
MITA

Got some irritation today, the adidas AS burned bad today. I blame stress lol. Its ok. There is always tomorrow!

 

SOTD
March 10, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: iKon ShaveCraft Short Comb
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Tim's Signature Soap
Brush: RazoRock Boar 26x64mm
Post: Thayers Rose Petal WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Folsom & Co. Muir
Wonderful way to start my day. Tim's Signature soap is very nice! A great blend of lavender, pine, tobacco and love. The RR boar is a beauty of a brush. Pulled out the iKon SC Short Comb and I'm very happy I did, smooth yet efficient.
Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try

 

Injector focus
Second day with the PAL on the medium setting an I got a very nice shave. It did take more passes than I am used to to get a BBS. I'm going to dial up the aggressiveness tomorrow to see if I can cut the number of passes. This is a fun razor.
SOTD
Route 66 Retro Spice
Doug Korn brush
PAL Adjustable
Chick blade (2)
Alum
Thayers Witch Hazel
St John's Bay Rum
Have fun!

 

Sometimes I need the hard lesson to learn. Thanks for the tip.
I'm a mess making shaver. Lather and water all over. Me, the sink, the floor. I hate to leave moisture in my metal gear. I don't keep my hair long enough for a blow dryer, but I'm considering one for my razors.

 

Razor: Gillette Super Speed Black Tip (X3) 1952
Blade: Wilkinson (5)
Brush: Jayaruh JR #45 Walnut Honey Comb Handle. Knot is an Ace 24/70mm Synthetic.
Soap: Route 66 Cavendish
A/S: Fine L'Orange

Working up excellent lather with Route 66 soap and JR-45 brush. The Cavendish shave soap is lightly spiced cedar wood mingles with notes of bergamot, bay and fir; nicely balanced with the slightly sweet, warm aroma of Cavendish cut and cured tobacco leaf. Good stuff.

 

I am the same. They call it wet shaving for a reason.
My post shave routine for my razors:

1. Dry my hands, the outside of the scales, and the blade on a towel.
2. Dry the inside of the scales with a square of TP, paying special attention to both sides of the pivot.
3. Strop 10 laps on linen, and 10 laps on leather to fully dry the edge.
4. Put the razor in a place it can dry fully for at least 24 hours.
5. If going into storage, wipe the blade with mineral oil and put in case.