May 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic-Discussion Thread

May 5 - shave 3
Prep: Stirling Metha Preshave oil
Soap: Col Conk Lime
Straight: Started with Gemstar DFS Razor #214- blade AJ Jordan, 5/8, Double Hollow Grind, Spike point
Straight: Finished Whipped Dog Sight Unseen Straight - Clover Brand, 5/8, Round
DE Razor: Merkur Progress
DE Blade: Wilkinson Sword (3)
Post: Cold water, alum, Stirling after shave splash, Stirling post shave balm
Growth 2 days

I started the shave with the Gemstar with a bit of trepidation since the arm hair test didn't pop off the hair as seen in @HolyRollah's post earlier in the thread. After one pass - sideburn to jawline, it was going to be a troublesome day with the straight. I quickly turned to the whipped dog clover to finish the straight effort - WTG and XTG - overall, it went through the whiskers much better. In my effort to learn to strop, I probably effected the edge a bit. I ended up with a BBS, but have a little irritation on neck a couple of nicks - hit the stupid chin. Gotta keep telling myself it's progress not perfection. Now to learn to hone (or send it out to @gssixgun for tune up )

Additional notes from today's shave:
1. I really like Col Conk soaps- today was Lime - makes nice, slick lather I melted into my Grumpy mug yesterday. Fitting since bad shaves can make me grumpy.
2. I'm struggling to find a comfortable, confident grip when going ATG on my neck. Any suggestions are welcomed.
3. So thankful to have my original DE - Merkur Progress there to clean up the ATG pass.
4. BBS doesn't mean my face feels good.

 

It just doesn't seem like it makes a difference. I'm not sure how tight you can stretch your skin but it seems very minimal.

 

@Seabs- For me going ATG on the neck, I do either scales folded at a 90 degree angle with two fingers and my thumb on the tang, and my middle finger on the tail, or scales straight out, and first finger down the spine and holding the tang. When I quit focusing on how I was holding it so much, and just looked at how to get the blade to where I needed it, I had a lot more success.

@txskimo- do you use an Alum bar? Seabs mentioned a few days ago rubbing your fingertips on the alum bar before trying to strech your skin. I was skeptical, because streching hadn't done much for me while shaving, but that was a game changer. My fingers were able to hold rather than sliping in the soap.

 

Just holding/pulling the skin taut is all that's required.

 

We don't go too hard on the rules! A strict rule is probably best for a new shaver...but reading your posts are good for new shavers too!

Beautiful restoration to boot!

I am basically using that technique with my injector...it makes it shave very efficiently and with few strokes needed.

 

I keep a towel folded on the edge of the basin to dry my fingertips for the purpose you describe...will try your alum trick!

 

This man grew 15 days worth of beard on Monday. That may be the issue...

 

I think once you get the water/soap ratio figured out it's all gravy!

 

Congrats on achieving Mayhem...braver than I.

 

You're working with a very dense knot but I think you might have loaded enough soap. As you face lather add a little water several times as you continue to face lather. Pretty sure Chris is on track that it's a water/soap ratio. I used MdC daily for March and once I had it dialed in I was able to reduce my load time down a lot. The only negative with MdC is the lack of post shave conditioning but I found a balm cures that problem. I'm sure you'll have it figured out shortly.

 

Brush Focus: Day 4
Brush: Whipped Dog Sliver Tip 2, 24/65
Gillette Super Speed, 1947 Birth Razor.
Gillette Platinum Blade
Bowl: KO Shave
Soap: Jack's Soap
AS: Clubman lime
Old Spice Coffee Mug.

The Whipped Dog brush with marble handle (not much marble) in a fine brush. Has a very weak backbone (I believe this is the correct term) and it is better to use a painting motion. It does hold a lot of lather well and water. It is floppy to my touch, but does the job. Not my go to brush. I like the Clubman Lime A/S. Three passes and a clean up.

 

It really works!

 

Well I'm trying to avoid any "outside" help with the setups. But glycerin is not out of the question as the next week and a half goes by. Once I hit the 16th and can use real soap again I should be fine. Glad you are following along. The only scary part is that the 7 a.m. blade isn't even the worst of the bunch if my research is correct. I still have at least two of the three that are supposed to be worse! Hopefully there won't be any pictures from the ER.

 

He gives it a good go, though. The difference between him and me? He won't use a razor with Williams. Some might say a better sense of self-preservation or just plain smarter.

 

Well something very simple, yet so far effective in changing the quality of the shave was discovered. Water! The lather was good and had been good, or so I thought, for every shave. Apparently a lather I can get a good shave with a DE doesn't necessarily mean it will work with a straight. For the third pass I decided to add more water to the brush while face lathering and the following NS shave was way more comfortable. Now to build upon this success and hopefully this fix helps with problems I'm having.

 

This could be an important lather distinction! I think you're on the verge of yet another breakthrough!

 

Advice - when using Williams skip the razor! Brilliant! Safety First!

 

Well I'm just dumb enough to keep using the razor with it! Another Crazy Ivan moment. I mean, horrible lather, terrible razor, blade that can't cut butter if it's melted.....what could possibly go wrong?

 

Valor over discretion. Like an oligarch. Boss move!

 

Shave number five with the Voskhod blade. Another slippery shave.... no tugging or weepers, but some roughness at the neck, and not quite as close as I like, there. Time to try another blade.
The Voskhod blade is certainly one I really like, so far. Which one for tomorrow, out of the eight left??? I have heard so many good things about the Personna Red (Israel) . The next contestant.... come on down!