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

Razor: Gillette Aristocrat 1947
Blade: Feather Hi Stainless Platinum (6)
Brush: Jayaruh JR #45 Walnut Honey Comb Handle. Knot is an Ace Synthetic.
Soap: Captain's Choice Sandalwood
A/S: Captain's Choice Sandalwood
Okay I'll admit I'm showing off.

 

SOTD March 26, 2016
Schick Saturday

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Chinese Schick
Razor: Schick G1 injector
Brush: Badger
Lather: Country Club for Men Cahaba Blues
Post: Witch hazel splash enhanced with knock-off Old Spice, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, XTG, touch-up



Really close shave with two passes and touch-up while yielding the Schick G1 injector. I really like this little razor. It can lead to a few more nicks or weepers for me, probably due to operator error. I had two little weepers - one on my chin and the other on my neck. However, that's not a big deal in the long run.

I mentioned that a tender area of my neck had been feeling a little stingy after some shaves this week. Today and yesterday I enhanced my witch hazel with some alcohol-based splashes. That has seemed to help that feeling down in that area. It's all sort of odd. I'll have to keep an eye on it. It's just to the right of my Adam's apple and it stings sometimes about 30-45 minutes after the shave. It's feeling better now compared to earlier this week as I type this about 20 minutes after shaving.

My wife, son, and West Highland Terrier are heading out for a Spring Break vacation today. I hope you all have a great weekend and a Happy Easter!

 

Great photo and Old Spice collection Doug. I would show off that collection as well.

 

Thanks so much Clint. I appreciate your kind words.

 

I had a similar week. I hope we both have a headache free week next week.

 

Special thanks to Clint (@clint64) for sending me the G1 injector a little while back. I was apprehensive of it at first but now have really come to enjoy it. I'm not planning on going full-out and exclusive SE, but I do like the variety. This is just another example of the fine and generous people who populate TSD!

 

Excellent picture Clint.

 

I shave my left side of my face with my left hand, right side with right hand. I could shave my face with either if I had to.

 

SOTD
March 26, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: Gillette Super Speed Flare Tip E1
Blade: Ladas
Lather: Mikes Natural Coconut
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft Disruptor
Post: Thayers Rose Petal WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Folsom & Co. Capri
I was going to use a different soap but when I took a whiff of Mikes Coconut I changed my mind. Fabulous soap! I bought just the soap not the soap and tin, I had a container to use, this soap is fresh and soft. No irritation at all from my 3 pass shave using the Super Speed. Finished up with a healthy splash of Capri.
Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try

 

That's what I hope to learn but I can't do anything with my left hand. You know what they say...practice, practice, practice.

 

Amazing collection but there appears to be too much weight on that shelf. I'll pm my address to help you out .

 

I'm a lefty raised in a right handed world, from the beginning of time I was told/taught that I had to write with my right hand, the school desk are designed for right handed kids. I had to adapt, keep at it, it will come.

 

Perry, I am so happy that you are enjoying the razor. SE razors have a way of sneaking up on you. Before you know it you'll have a den full of various SE razors.

 

Thank you Doug. I can't fully express how much I enjoyed this morning's set up.

 

Injector Focus
It's official, I'm an Injector fan. I now have over 30 days in a row with a variety of injector razors and am getting consistently nice shaves. This setup is one of my favorites.
SOTD
Route 66 Sweeney Todd
Vie-Long horsehair brush
Bunny V3 with Notso comb
Chick blade (2)
Alum
Thayer's Witch Hazel
Pinaud Special Reserve AS
Have a great weekend!

 

I shaved twice since my last shave report.

CJB
Kai regular(2)
Tabac shave stick
WD 20mm Synthetic
Tabac AS

I did a 1 1/2 pass shave WTG with XTG both directions on my neck. I ended with a DFS and only 2 bumps that got sliced off with no pain and plenty of blood. No burn from the AS except on those sliced off bumps.

Shave 2
CJB
Kai regular (3)
VdH deluxe
Semogue 1438
Nivea Sensitive cooling AS balm

I did a quick 1 1/2 pass like I did last time. No blood or irritation. I'm off in a few minutes to orientation for my new job. I wanted a low scent AS and I ended with a DFS and a light scent. The Kai regular blade is very sharp and I almost can't imagine how a sharper more aggressive blade will feel.

 

March 26

B2 Mongoose
Feather Super Pro (5), Portland Razor Company Hydra quarter hollow 6/8" straight razor
Semogue 830 boar
Route 66 Lumberjack and Jabonman Eufros mix
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Fine L'Orange Noir
Drygulch Leatherworks 2.5" Barber's Strop with Latigo

Dark Side Alert

This was my first shave using the PRC Hydra straight razor. I performed 20 laps on nylon and 20 on leather using my wonderful Drygulch strop and then went to it. I did two WTG passes everywhere except right under my sideburns and my upper lip (except for 3 passes on my chin), and then I used my Goose for a clean-up WTG/ATG pass. I had one very small weeper on my chin, but that was it. The Alum was quiet, and I have a DFS+ shave. First impressions with the straight:

• I laid my strop flat on the bar in the kitchen and went at it very slowly. I also stropped the blade after my shave to make sure the edge was good and dry. Adam's strop is the perfect size, but nothing about stropping feels natural to me. This will take practice. And yes, I nicked that beautiful strop in a couple of very small places. I'm sure I used too much pressure.
• I used the NBSP lathering method. I shaved slowly and the lather would dry out, so this helped tremendously. (I forget what NBSP means, but I know it refers to Bama Samurai doing the Polka while shaving.)
• Finding the correct blade angle was fairly easy. I'd say it was maybe 30 degrees vs. 15 degrees using a Pain Stick.
• The blade is nowhere near as sharp as a Feather blade, so the shave felt altogether different. It makes me appreciate gradual beard reduction using multiple passes more than when I use a DE
• The weight of the razor and feel of the blade is good. I like the 6/8" wedge, and I had no problem shaving with either hand.
• Shaving my chin was no problem. I went slow and easy and did 3 passes.
• Shaving my upper lip was a big problem. Lots of pulling. I finally gave up - and gave in to use the Goose for a clean up pass - and will try again tomorrow.
• For some reason, laying the razor under my sideburns and cutting the lower edge didn't feel like a natural movement. My shave was going so well otherwise that I saved these two areas for another day.
• This was my first time using a folder (my Pain Stick is a kamisori), so that will take some practice before it feels natural in my hand.
• The water was turned off during the shave. I just wiped the lather off the blade to keep the blade and the scales as dry as possible. This worked fine.
• All things considered, it was a good first experience.
• I'm very glad I have you all to learn from.

I learned a great deal in just one shave. I will give the straight another try tomorrow.

Happy Easter!

 

Congrats Charlie. You will have it mastered in short order.

 

Hello Clint, and thanks for the encouragement! I will save the straight for the weekends.

 

This is how it's done! Congrats, Charlie! Just take your time, and let it happen! In reality, it took about 50 shaves to get settled in. I am so glad you finally tried!