May 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic-Discussion Thread

Those are pretty strops! Its hard to tell without touching what kind of leather they are. I haven't seen any leather other than Cordovan referred to as Shell. I have an old Shell strop that isn't in as nice of shape as yours, but when I compare it with the Shell Cordovan leather I have purchased, its obvious they are similar. I only know of one tannery in the US that still produces Cordovan, but there may be others in Europe and Russia.

 

Great pictures and information Kevin. Even though I'm back on DE's for the month I'm taking lots of notes from this month as I plan to return to straights in the not too distant future. I will definitely be back to the CJB and then on to a true kamisori style so the strop information especially is good stuff! Great to have you following along this month.

 

May 10 - shave 6
Prep: Stirling Metha Preshave oil
Soap: Col Conk lime with 3 drops of M bomb (thanks TSD store!)
Straight: Whipped Dog Sight Unseen Straight - Clover Brand, 5/8, Round
Strop: Gemstar Bench Strop x 30
DE Razor: Merkur Progress
DE Blade: Wilkinson Sword (6)
Post: Cold water, alum, Stirling Barbershop AF, Stirling post shave balm
Growth 1.5 days

Tomorrow morning is going to be busy with my swim workout at 5am, then getting the kids off to school, dropping my car off at the shop for major engine repair, and then getting to work for a 9am sales meeting, I figured I'd get my straight in tonight. I've fallen into a grove using the Whipped Dog for the full straight experience yesterday and wanted to continue that good progress.

Enjoyed a nice mothers day with my dad and mom coming over - while bbq'ing in the backyard, pop's and I started talking about shaving and I asked if he ever used a straight. His response was unexpected. He said yes - his first ever shave in his teens was with his fathers straight. First pass was great, from SB to JL. 2nd stroke, he started at the JL and rather than move the blade down his jawline, he went across. And pointed to a 1" long scar on his jawline. He DIDN'T have the collective knowledge of the den working for him!

I planned a 2 pass straight shave wtg and xtg. Then, I decided that I was going to try and complete a full pass with my dominant left hand. I ended up going both WTG and XTG - one for each side. Switching to a three finger grip was the best move so far. I have more control over the blade. Funny how on my first pass I avoid my chin but as the shave progresses, I go back to it with more confidence.

With only using the DE for ATG post straights, I'm getting much more life out of the blades. I could have squeezed another 2 or 3 shaves out of the Wilkinson But the boy wanted a shave like dad tonight as well. So I pull the blade and shaved him up!

If someone could respond, post shave included cold water splash, alum rub, and stirling aftershave immediately after the shave. I ended up having to wait 20 minutes or so before I put the postshave balm on and was only reminded because my face felt like it was tightening up. Does it make a difference when you put a post shave balm or lotion on post shave?

Thanks Gents!

No blade present!

BBS finish?

 

5/11/15 - Badger brush focus - Today I used the TGN finest brush I received from @HoosierTrooper last month. I also switched up to using the TSD wheat shaving cream as it seems to me in the short amount of time I've used badgers that they do better with creams than with hard soaps. Today I needed to add more cream as my lather was a little thin. I really like the softness of this brush, but it is a little floppy with the fan knot. I'll keep after it and see if I can make it behave the way I would like.

 

May 11th , SOTD (Shave 6 of this focus)
Two days’ growth
Prep: Hot Shower
Razor: Wade and Butcher 5/8 Square point (pre- 1890)
Strop: Chromexcel Horsehide- Didn’t use before shave, but did strop after to dry the edge
DE Razor: 1969 Gillette Black Handle SuperSpeed (O1) Anodized Aluminum handle
DE Blade: Shark- (4th shave on blade)
Soap: Barrister & Mann's Lime, Lavender, & Cedarwood w/ TSD M-Bomb
Brush: Omega Boar 10066
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Pinaud Clubman w/ TSD M-Bomb

So my other straight razor was beginning to tug a little bit, and I decided to try and freshen it up on a finishing stone. Did a sideburn to jawline shave test with it. Now it tugs even more, without the benefit of removing many whiskers. Apparently my enthusiasm has exceeded my abilities, at least for now. This is why I had a second razor honed, right?
This razor is also a Wade & Butcher Sheffield, but is pre 1890. Also square tip and about a 5/8. It is a little longer and heavier than my other razor. It was my first purchase for wet shaving, and I paid way too much for it on the Bay. It has worm eaten horn scales, but the blade is in pretty good shape. Today I wiped the oil off the blade from when it was honed, and started shaving. No tugging at all. Did a N/S pass, and all whiskers were mowed down. Lathered back up for a S/N pass, and had no problems until I got to my chin. Managed to nick myself a few times, but completed the pass. At this point, I had a DFS with a few spots that I wasn’t happy with. I know exactly how to get the spots on my neck with a DE, but haven’t quite figured them out with a straight yet. Same with the area between the bars on my horseshoe mustache. Cleaned those up, and ended up with almost a BBS.
Alum had some bite, but not horrible. The menthol in the soap felt good while I was shaving. My three post shaves seem to be the right combination to keep my face from being red for most of the day.

 

Me too. Happy Monday!

 

05/11/2015
Razor – Mongoose B2 with Jürgen Hempel Ti
Blade –Feather Super Pro (13)
Brush –Shavemac Silvertip D01
Lather – Strop Shoppe Baker Street
Post - Witch Hazel and Floid Vigoroso Sample



Fantastic near BBS 2 pass shave with touch ups. Had to work a little more with the touch ups. I think this blade is just about done. Hoping to squeeze on more shave out of it to make an even 2 weeks. Finished up with the normal witch hazel followed by some Floid Vigoroso from the sampler pack. Hope everyone has a great week this week.

 

Day #2 of 3 using the Shark blade. Felt kind of rough. WTG, XTG, ATG was too much.

As I mentioned in another thread, a Labrador licking your face really soothes razor burn. This probably is not cost-effective for most new shavers, but if you have a Labrador available you might try it.

 

Sorry, it was the Shark model.

I used the Sharp previously. It was OK, I had to use more pressure to do the work. OTOH, there were not weepers or cuts. Meh.

The Shark feels much sharper. I must be attentive using it and it feels rough. The very sharp BIC also felt rough. It may be my technique or the skin is sensitive for very sharp blades.

 

Aggressive Apri...errrr May? - Day 28 (5/11/15)



Prep: Hot shower
Soap: Arko
Brush: Omega 13522
Razor: Cadet OC
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Post: Witch Hazel, Nivea Sensitive Balm
Scent: Tommy Bahama Very Cool

Same shave as Saturday just not quite as good. But close.

 

Day#10 of 30-day Focus
Third consecutive day using the Otto. Standard procedure early this morning— brush soaking in sink of cold water while I shower, razor gets 30 laps on linen, 50 on horsehide, no preshave balm. Three-pass shave planned.
Hairy Situation: One challenge I have faced daily these past six months (as others with mustaches do) is efficiently and carefully trimming/shaving around both my expanding 'stache and soul patch.
Shown here about 3 months ago. Both have grown larger, covering more face real estate.
I find this task slightly easier with a straight than with a DE razor—and FAR easier than when I was using a cartridge razor years ago. A square point also allows a clean trim edge—but one must be wary as it is sharp. I fold back the mustache ends to trim beneath and around the upper lip/corner of the mouth. Trimming around the nostrils (area above the mustache) requires a steady hand and repeated downward strokes.

BEFORE I grew the mustache, shaving the upper lip was a far easier task. It required a minimum of two passes; 3 passes if I was feeling bold. The first stroke (downstroke) is a no brainer. The second stroke (either towards the nose or away from the nose) is a bit trickier. The last stroke, if necessary, is a riskier upwards stroke (often referred to a 'the fool's pass') from mouth-to-nose direction. The pass requires holding the razor with two hands by the spine with the edge facing upward; stretching the upper lip (by drawing the mouth downward) and carefully shaving with repeated upward strokes on the upper lip towards the nostrils. Some master this stroke easily. Others struggle with it. I had some difficulty getting comfortable with this stroke and usually avoided it. Two passes did the job. Point is moot now since I no longer shave the upper lip…..

 

30 Day Rule with a Schick!!


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The Weekend Razor Roundup!

Thurs 7 May - Sun 10 May

Thursday was day seven on the Chinese Schick...still smooth.
Friday (8) was an afternoon 2 Pass BFS.
Saturday (9), another 2Pass.
Sunday (10) was back in Colorado!

This weekend I was on a quick trip to let Mrs Samurai have a little fun! We flew out last Thursday on a 6pm flight to Grand Rapids, Michigan. After a night's rest, we took a leisurely drive Friday to Traverse City to visit Mrs Samurai's childhood best friend (along with her husband and kids). We spent Friday (87F outside) along the shore and in the older areas of Traverse, walking the streets, talking, enjoying the beautiful surroundings. Dinner that night was a place called "The Little Fleet", a collection of food truck vendors that congregate on Front Street each weekend. Lengua tacos taste way better when you're sitting next to Lake Michigan!

Saturday morning, the girls went for some nail/spa stuff...so the boys hit Nolan's Tobacconist in downtown Traverse. They are a great shop, if you dig fine tobacco, and have a truly impressive walk-in humidor. After some lunch at a cool Oaxacan style restaurant, we headed back to the house and got the 4 adults ready to drive back to Grand Rapids for dinner and Hall & Oates at Van Andel Arena. Mrs Samurai had a great weekend...and we flew back early Sunday to catch most of Mother's Day back here on the range in Colorado.

Back to the shaving... I ended up unintentionally going minimalist. I neglected to bring Veg or any AS beyond Alum. This ended up not mattering much, it seems Alum alone and a dab of moisturizer (after the Alum dried) were just fine. Once again I also noted the soft water on my trip. The water at my home in Colorado is hard enough to take the paint off of a car. All of my lathering techniques are centered around the presence of hard water. I found my normal brush load with Proraso was too much soap for the soft water. I did however notice how soft and clean my skin felt after the shaves. As far as shaving while traveling, injectors seem to be the easiest for me... The only thing I missed was some Veg.

Will do day eleven on blade one tonight!

Happy Monday!
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The Fool's pass was cringe-inducing.

 

I think I know the secret to Williams. Is it "rub the puck on your face"?



@CyanideMetal

 

The last time I can remember shaving was the Sunday before last. I'm sure it's been sooner than that but I could really use a day off work. Tonight I'm going to force myself to shave no matter how tired I am when I get home which could turn out good or really bad. I guess that's as close as I'll get to mayhem this month lol

 

Cool story about your father! ....and....Those straight shaves take at least 25-30 years off your appearance! Nice!

 

Brush Focus: Day 11
Brush: Frank Shave Brush Beechwood Best Badger,22/55
Gillette Super Speed, A3 Flare Tip (1955)
Gillette Platinum Blade (1)
Bowl: KO Shave
Soap: Jack's Soap
AS: Lucky Tiger
Old Spice Coffee Mug.

Although this brush is supposed to be the same as yesterday's Frank Shave Brush it is totally different. Once again I had to sand it down and apply two coats of polyurethane. This brush has lost hair since day one. It was no better today, still loosing hair. Scritch a little bit, but not bad. The brush has to be continually loaded during the shaving process, plus water add also. If it wasn't for a good razor and blade this shave would have been a disaster. Amazing how two brushes that are supposed to be the same can be so different. This brush goes to the back of the bus and won't get used again. Life is just to short.

 

Blade Focus Day 11:

Homemade PS Oil
Vie-long Horsehair Brush
Stirling Frozen Tundra
EJ Chatsworth Barley
Trig Silver Edge
Stirling Unscented PSB
Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill AS

Day 3 of the Trig and glad it is the last. Just not a smooth shave and today not too close either. The best part of the shave was Menthol Monday, which is always refreshing. I'll pick a new blade for the morning.

 

MAYhem & Mercy
May 11, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Tweezerman Badger
Soap - Williams (I am really tired of this) Mug Shave Soap
Razor - Soyuz 1
Blade - (1)
Post - Alum, Nivea Replenishing Post Shave Balm

Onward and forward with MAYhem. After yesterday's return to sanity it was tough to load up the Soyuz 1 today. What was tougher was getting the Williams back in action. The thin lather and the smell just didn't get me off to a good start this morning. Not that it was any worse than normal, nor even really bad since it lasted through each pass, just not the kind of lather I enjoy at ALL. (Sigh) Oh well, suck it up, put on your big boy panties and let's shave.

The Sharp blade, another entry from Samah Razor Products in Bangladesh, has sometimes been referred to as the worst blade available. It does have new packaging...I'll get a pic of that for tomorrow....but same blade as before. Now, in fairness, my BBS from late yesterday morning set the stage for success for almost any blade and razor. It's hard not to get a solid DFS when you start at a near CCS. Alas, the Sharp only got me to a near, well maybe just barely there DFS. I suspect tomorrow's shave will reveal an incredibly dull and rough blade but I'll withhold judgement until then. I could be I was just miffed over the Williams on my face today.

On one interesting note that looks forward to next week I soaked and rinsed the Bigelow out of my Vie LOng 12705. The tips now have a nice menthol scent, the rest of the brush will still gag a maggot. So it's an Arko lather and soak overnight tonight to try and drive out some more of the fun. The bristles are great though. Lots of backbone and yet soft. Looking forward to getting it ready to go! Hope you all had a great, and Williams free, Monday!

 

Is it possible to shave too close, I mean without cutting yourself... I'm finding that my straights wtg, xtg and de atg is uber close - closer than any cartridge or de only shave. Almost like my entire face is mildly ingrown.
Thanks,
Eric