No Variation November - A TSD Challenge

My NO Variation Novevember turned into 'Never Obviate Variating' November....

Guess...these days there were just too many temptations lerking in my shave cave....what could I do..? It wasn't my fault I tell you....

 

We need to do a decibel check....So far my money is on the Ever Ready 1924 with any blade....I first shaved with one a few years ago and my wife was walking past the shave cave and heard that butter knife scrapping toast sound....only louder than ever before...She popped her head in to see what was going on...ha,ha,ha
Can you believe that...the razor was so loud she heard it out in the hallway as she was passing and it caught her attention....ha,ha...And the square box like head on the 1924 kind of gives the sound a touch of reverb...it kind of sings...reminds me of a hollow ground str8....

 

Was busy last night and only got to do a 2 pass shave. XTG & ATG. I was not expecting a great shave but i was pleasantly surprised. I got a nice CCS.
I just finished my shave tonight. I was able to get my regular 3 pass in. I got a DFS and for the first time there was no need for touch up under my jaw. Very happy about this. Although i did need touch up on my chin and adams apple area.
I am very pleased with my ER1912. This will be a razor to keep.

Tom

 

Man....I'm an Injector Shaver, born and raised....But! I believe the 40's style Super Speeds are one of the most under rated razors of all time....They were not always so under rated, and they did win the Hearts and Whiskers of many Generations of Shavers....

Todays Shave
Prep: Hot Water Whisker Rinse....maybe 2 minutes
Lather: Arko Stick
Brush: Omega 10029 Baby Pro
Razor: 1952 Gillette Steel Handle Black Tip Super Speed
Blade: Perma-Sharp Super d2
Post: Kroger/Dickenson's Witch Hazel
AS: Aqua Velva Ice Blue and Clubman Vanilla

I shouldn't be...But everytime I use this combo it shocks me on how mild it shaves but how BBS the results are...

 

November 19

Feather Artist Club SS
Feather Professional (3)
Semogue 830
MdC scented
Two passes plus touch-ups
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Fine Platinum

Goals
Further develop my two-pass shave technique by practicing the basics
Break in and get more experience with the Semogue 830
Get more experience with MdC

As I continue to feel more confident with the Feather AC, the "pace" of this shave approached that of a DE shave. I decided to call it a day after two passes (WTG and ATG) with few touch-ups. I'm DFS with no visible irritation, but I have two small weepers on my chin due to overconfidence and youthful exuberance. Alum was quiet. A splash of Fine Platinum, and I'm ready for the day.

Enjoy your Thursday!

 

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Thursday's ​

Dove Men Face Wash
Tabac Shaving Soap
Jayaruh #27 Silver Tip
Gillette Super Adjustable
Astra Super Platinum
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Rose Petal WH
Aqua Velva AS​

The Tabac Shaving Soap face-lathered well with my Jayaruh #27 Silver Tip brush. Two passes with my Gillette Super Adjustable razor and an Astra Super Platinum blade gave me a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, alum block, and a final cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Rose Petal WH and then Aqua Velva after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Nineteenth shave of No Variation NoVember.
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November 19, 2015

No Variation NoVember
This month is perfect for me to learn skills with new-to-me equipment.

Razor: Mongoose B3
Blades: Feather Artist Club Professional (6)
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Manna
Brush: Omega 31025 Scarlatti Boar
AS: Changes at will. Today: Proraso Green



Two-pass shave. (XTG, ATG) Face-lather.
Yesterday: Excellent, clean shave for the second day in a row. Now I need to build muscle, visual, and audio feedback memory.
Today: Lather, rinse, repeat. Lather, rinse, re….

Cheers!
RT

 

This mornings shave was another 3 pass two passes on 4 ATG on 2.5. Using this method or just leaving it on 3 with a Lab Blue blade gives a great irritation free shave. This has been a nice learning experience this month. I've dialed in a new razor and using the new Sterling brush I've gotten pretty good with face lathering something I've struggled with in the past.

 

Day 19 - 19 November 2015

No Variation November!



Utopia 3-piece
Gillette Silver Blue (19!!)
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Proraso Red
Alum
TSD ISZ AS Splash under Pinaud Lilac Vegetal

Have a fabulous Friday!!

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Shave 9

Good shave in spite of a less than rich lather...turned out a little watery... Sad face...I guess I didn't get all the excess water out of the brush...otherwise a good shave day heading into the weekend.

Enjoy the weekend!

 

Friday's

Happy Birthday, Mom. She would have been 89 years old, but lost to cancer in 2005.

Dove Men Face Wash
Tabac Shaving Soap
Jayaruh #27 Silver Tip
Gillette Super Adjustable
Astra Super Platinum
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Rose Petal WH
Aqua Velva AS
​

The Tabac Shaving Soap face-lathered well with my Jayaruh #27 Silver Tip brush. Two passes with my Gillette Super Adjustable razor and an Astra Super Platinum blade gave me a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, alum block, and a final cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Rose Petal WH and then Aqua Velva after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Twentieth shave of No Variation NoVember. Two-thirds through.
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I decidedthat 12 days in a row with the same blade was enough. I was still giving nice shaves but I could feel a reduction in smoothness. Today I loaded a new Feather Professional blade and proceeded to get an extremely nice DFS two pass shave while removing the top of a scar. This blade is so sharp that I hardly felt it. Styptic powder wouldn't stop this one and I had to rely on tissue and pressure. Even with this little error, I was very happy with my shave and am really starting to like this razor.
SOTD
TOBS Grapefruit
Rubberset 400
Feather AC SS
Feather Professional (1)
Chrome Azzaro Legend Cologne
Have a great Friday!

 

Valid conclusions! Thanks for taking part.

 

Planned Day 20 - 20 November 2015

No Variation November!



Utopia 3-piece
Gillette Silver Blue (20!!)
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Proraso Red
Alum
TSD ISZ AS Splash under Pinaud Lilac Vegetal
​

I am planning day twenty on the GSB. Lots of work to be done this afternoon before a night out with Mrs. Samurai. Nice day on the prairie, snow moving in tonight. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado!

Have a great afternoon!

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November 20, 2015
No Variation NoVember
This month is perfect for me to learn skills with new-to-me equipment.

Razor: Mongoose B3
Blades: Feather Artist Club Professional (7)
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Manna
Brush: Omega 31025 Scarlatti Boar
AS: Changes at will. Today: Saponificio Varesino Manna AS



Two-pass shave. (XTG, ATG) Face-lather.

I think I’m reaching a point where my technique application is approaching the level needed to properly use this razor.

What I mean is - the unique attributes of this razor have caused me to seriously adapt my approach in order to apply proper technique. This is mostly due to the weight and size of the razor head.

For instance, the increased width of the shaving head requires me to adjust my line of sight in order to view my shaving angle…because if I am even slightly off with the angle, the scalpel-like Feather Pro slits my skin immediately - most unlike the “early warning system” associated with the coated blades of a DE. In time of course, I will just be able to use the angle of the handle to guide me. But it’s taking time to build that muscle/eye memory.

Another challenge is the razor weight.
Its heft is most welcome on the “down” stroke (WTG/XTG) where gravity works quite nicely to provide all the downward pressure necessary to just hold it against the skin, to where I just have to guide the razor.

However, the ease of that stroke totally flips to something I’m struggling with on the “up” stroke (ATG). On the upstroke, the head weight works against gravity and my fingers/hand, due to the angle of the handle. The required blade/handle angle is such that the head’s weight will make it fall away from my face, unless my fingers/hand apply more muscle to keep it against my skin. The more muscle, the more pressure, the more likelihood of blood! The force necessary is so much different than I am used to applying with DEs or ultra-light injectors. I have found it to be quite off-putting and I am experimenting with different grips on the handle to compensate.

This is what I mean by having to adapt my approach in order to apply proper shaving technique. It’s just taking me longer with the Mongoose than I’ve experience with the dozens of vintage razors I’ve used this past 6 months.

Keep in mind, and don’t get me wrong - this razor provides a fantastic outcome. Five hours after my shave, my skin is still incredibly smooth - as though I’ve just now finished the shave…and growth is minimal the next day. But - the price of that outcome is much more work than I’ve experienced with other razors with nearly similar results.

So for now, the shave outcome will keep me working at this through the end of the month and possibly into a second 30-day focus into December.

Cheers!
RT

 

One question?

 

Another DFS today.
Merkur 39c
Personna reds
WSP T formula
WSP pure badger
Alum
Changed up the aftershave today, the cooler, drier air is finally moving in so I went with TSD Burmese woods milk.
2 passes with very little feedback from the alum. Finally getting the hang of this.

 

No Variation

I received my order of Chick injector blades and have had fantastic shaves two days in a row. I think these blades actually get better after the first day.

 

Just finished another great 3 pass shave.
ER1912
Gem ss (4)
AOS sandalwood shave cream
WD synthetic on my brush 3D
AS Brute
After 14 shaves with the same equipment I can tell you I am going forward to the end of the month. I have several new weapons to try. My ER1912 is definitely a keeper for my rotation. It gives me very good DFS with little effort. Using the same razor also has been giving me much better shaves under my jaw than ever before. This tells me my technique has been wrong trying to shave that area. I now as a standard for that area use a short buffing stroke along with having the razor at an angle Maybe 15 deg max. This really seems to help that area. Zero nicks or weepers all month. This is how it should be.
On a little side note. I am sure everybody already knows this but, the 20 minutes or so spent shaving is really the only true alone time in my day. This along with the shave is something I truly look forward to every other day or every day.

Tom