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

I know exactly what you mean by pressure. I found the same thing when I started. I was too tentative. I also found that I had a loose grip on the razor, which contributed to the problem. I think I was so focused on not using pressure, that my grip got very light, too. I found that when held the razor more firmly (not a death grip, but firm), I had more control and the blade didn't skip as much.

 

I notice the pre bite feels ng, and can stop what I am doing most of the time. Avoid heavily mentholated soaps, as they can numb your face to that warning.

 

SOTD March 1, 2016
March focus shave 1

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Personna lab blue (1)
Razor: Maggard MR1 handle with V2 open comb
Brush: Trader Joe's synthetic
Lather: Proraso White shaving soap
Post: Witch hazel splash, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up

Efficient CCS this morning with a restoration of faith. Two of the last three shaves were subpar and yesterday's in particular left me with some irritation of my neck and a bad nick under my nose. That was using a Schick G1 injector. I like the G1 a lot but it needs some more time for training! So I went back to the Maggard razor today.

I forgot how much I enjoy Proraso White! I used it a lot during the month of January when I was first starting out with DE shaving. I put it away last month to use some other soaps, but today was a reminder of how much I enjoy it.

The Trader Joe's brush is a little stiff compared to my other synthetic. I'm going to use it more this month to try and figure out its quirks. It went behaved quite well today and I loaded up lots of soap that turned into nice, thick, cushiony lather. I could have done five more passes with the leftovers in the brush.

The V2OC from Maggard is continuing to win me over. It is efficient and easy to handle. Paired with a Personna blade is a winning combination.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

 

03/01/2016
Wolfman OC with Triad SS
Feather (3)
Shavemac Silvertip D01
Soap Commander Renewal Shave Stick
Witch Hazel
Fine L’Orange
Whipped Shea Butter


​

Overall a very good shave this morning. The Silvertip D01 is just about my limit in terms of backbone and scritch. This thing puts many boar brushes to shame on backbone and the scritch is even more noticeable when using a shave stick. Anyway the SC Renewal whipped up a into a great lather. It never stops amazing me how much a soap adds or takes away from a shave. Today was much better just because for me Soap Commander is that much better than Catie's Bubble. YMMV. After completing a normal 3 pass shave, I was so close to a BBS that I decided to chase the baby which is something I usually avoid on work days. With very little effort, I ended up with a BBS shave with no irritation. Finished up with a splash of Fine L'Orange and I am ready for the work day. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

 

Hmm, that sounds like I could be doing that as well, I will pay attention to grip next shave.

Oh, for sure I am staying away from the menthol. Cryogen at least, makes my face numb for at least an hour. I need all the feedback I can get!

 

I plan March for my tech until my 1912 SE gets here then that's all I'm going to use until I master it. I will also only be using my 24 mm synthetic Stirling brush ans my MITA. Only bowl lathered. I am prepared to learn!

 

Day 1 of the blade trials. I chose to use a Gillette Silver Blue blade in the Fatboy that I am trying as part of a pass around. Initial setting of 5 on the razor and the GSB was smooth and effective. I ended up moving the razor setting to 6 for passes 2 and 3 and the results were good. One more day in this razor and then the blade goes back to the Blackbird.

 

I'm going to like this Injector focus. I'm smooooth
SOTD
Travel kit shave
Arko
AoS Pure Badger
Schick E-2
Chick blade (2)
MK Sport Cologne
Have fun!

View from my hotel room

 

Nice view!

 

Thanks. San Diego is a beautiful place.

 

""Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction." Albert Einstein

I home schooled 4 children, and have taught wood working in a shop. To reduce a subject to it's basic simple understandable components is a skill. Note my signature below. You did well.

 

SOTD
March 1, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: Gillette Super Speed Flare Tip E1
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: The Strop Shoppe LE Solsetio
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft Disruptor
Post: Thayers Rose Petal WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Pitralon Pure
Beautiful. Actually amazing. Yes I'm so late to the Strop Shoppe party I almost missed it. Solsetio is a beautiful spearmint, eucalyptus and almond scent, not overpowering just right. This soap is slick, and provides plenty of cushion. The skincare is out of this world!! WOW!
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE!

 

No, we mean that Whipped Dog has decent cheap razors for learning.

 

Well- played, Doug! I am focusing on lather and strops again too, good luck!

 

My favorite straight is a Whipped Dog razor. My strop is whipped dog too.

 

Day 1 of my 30 day rule.


Oh synthetic brush how I hate to love you and love to hate you sometimes. Not sure if I am regressing to noob status lather wise or if its because Catie's Bubbles is a super soft/croap like soap or what but getting the lather right took longer then the actual shave. Loaded my brush for 30 seconds or so and picked up too much soap so when I started to face lather it was super dry...added a touch more water and suds started pouring of the brush...too wet... 5 mins later or so I finally got the lather useable. Slapped a new Lab Blue in the Fatboy and cranked it to 6 for my first pass. Kept a steep angle on the cheeks and around the goatee and got some good beard reduction for my first pass. Worked down to the neck and boy did things get awkward. Between the hair I keep on my chin and what needs to be shaved I struggled finding the perfect angle for a WTG pass so I tempted fate and just did an ATG pass. Slight irritation but DFS on the neck so I was done there as I got lucky and no point in pushing my luck. 2nd pass was XTG on my cheeks on setting 4 for a DFS with no irritation and I stopped there as I felt like it was a decent enough shave for the day. Going to try a lower 1st pass setting for WTG tomorrow and a higher setting for XTG in hope of getting slightly closer then I did today. Still trying to think of a way to tackle my neck WTG comfortably without having to just do ATG as my neck is fairly sensitive but I seem to have a hard time finding the right angle with the Fatboy. Any tips are appreciated.

 

I have to the leave most of the home schooling to my wife. I commend you on doing that, I know it is a lot of work.

 

I'd like to congratulate our February Newbie Give-Away winner @ob1page
And recognize @Boojum1 @LuvWetShavin @phillpsych for donating to the NGA!! Thank you!

Kerry

 

Lather can be tricky, but it sounds like you're working it out. What do you mean by steep angle? That's the opposite of what most of us use. A tip for the neck is to place your off hand on your collarbone and pull down as you work the neck. It will tighten things up. I use XTG at most on my neck. The neck is one of those things, that in reality, if it looks clean shaven on a Tuesday...it is good to go! As far as settings go, I like to have the XTG/ATG second pass set one number higher than my first pass. (My haters on this, @Rufus T. and @wmbjr , will be along to confuse you shortly ) Just for clarity, larger numbers mean increased blade gap and exposure versus lower numbers. You're doing just fine it seems, just focus on angle and ideal pressure. Nice work!

 

Another great month for the new guys!

Congrats to our winner and thanks to our sponsoring members! Thank you for making TSD all that it is!