NOV 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

Aristocrat Focus Day 6:

Homemade PS Oil
Frank Shaving Pur-Tech
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Deja Fougere
Gillette Aristocrat
Stirling Unscented PSB -- Mentholated
Wholly Kaw Fougere Bouquet AS

A special thanks to @Boojum1 for the brush PIF. The brush provided a great lather this morning and was the start to a fantastic Friday shave. The Fougere scents were both great, and I maintained my discipline for a two pass shave. A nice CCS, but it was extremely pleasurable.

 

November 6th SOTD (Shave 3 of this focus)
Two days’ growth
Preshave: Hot Shower
Razor: Pre WW2 Fat Handled Tech
Blade: Voskhod (first use)
Brush: EverReady 100T with TGN 22mm Synthetic Knot
Soap: Barrister & Mann Lime, Lavender, & Cedarwood
Postshave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Mandom

Have to look nice tomorrow, so taking a few days off from the pain stick and starting my DE use for travel. This is a very mild razor, and one of my favorites to use. I found it in the wild a few years ago for all of $3. Paired with one of the top Russian blades, and a good slick soap, I got a great shave. The WTG pass with a DE isn’t quite as clear cutting as with a straight, but followed with an ATG pass, and some touch up, I got a BBS. I have no problems getting the trouble spots on my neck with a DE. Alum was actually quiet! Topped it off with Mandom, and I am ready for anything today!

 

11/06/2015
Razor – Mongoose B2 with Triad Ti
Blade – Feather Super Pro (1)
Brush – Rubberset 400 #3 with WSP HWM
Lather – Catie’s Bubbles Santal Sensuelle
Post - Witch Hazel and Captain’s Choice Sandalwood



I have been frustrated with the Mongoose and Feather Pro blade combo this week. The combo just seemed to take to much work to achieve the results I desired. So I decided to change to a Super Pro blade for this morning's shave. Now this is what I was looking for in a shave. A fantastic 2 pass with touch ups BBS shave and on a work morning to top it off. Catie's Bubbles was very easy to lather and I like the clean crisp sandalwood scent. Finished off with witch hazel with menthol followed by CC Sandalwood with menthol. Happy Friday everyone.

 

Welcome to the 30day rule/focus thread! We're glad you joined us! It looks like you have some fine gear, I hope this thread helps restore your enjoyment in wetshaving. I know about bad habits, they can be broken.

 

11/6/15

Gillette Super Speed Y3
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #3 with the Gillette Silver Blue in my Birth Quarter Super Speed.
Face lather and 1 pass XTG. Great reduction. Instead of doing a second pass, I used the lather remaining on my face and neck to do a small amount of touch up where I could easily feel stubble. The result was not as nice as yesterday at this point, but pretty close. A near DFS. Did a cold water rinse followed by moderate amount of touch up and caught the baby. The Aqua Velva was milder today.

A wonderful comfortable one pass BBS from the Gillette Silver Blue in my Birth Quarter Super Speed. It felt like I was working a little harder for it during my touch up, but I had no irritation or bleeding, so all is good.

Have a great Friday!

 

Congrats! Im very happy for you.

 

Outstanding!

 

SOTD
November 6, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Grafco-Merkur 3-Piece Open Comb
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Soap Commander Endurance
Brush: CK Switchback 400 24mm #1 Suave Knot
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Royall Spyce
Nice shave. The Grafco-Merkur 3-Piece OC is very efficient, the teeth seem a little shorter on this razor? I like the way it feels in my hand. Soap Commander is good! I don't know why I don't reach for it more often.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE

 

It's a top notch barbershop scent. I've used the MW Barbershop Bath Soap and loved it. You won't be disappointed.

 

Nice set up! The Feather Pro Super gives a super close shave. I'm going with it today for a Date Night Shave.

 

Thanks Mark. It's added to the list. So far the list for MW includes; Barbershop, Bay Rum, Maestrale & Poggio dei Pini. I already have MW Lime and MW Lavender. Are there are any other must have scents on your list from MW?

You are so correct. I was so frustrated earlier this week, I almost listed the Mongoose for sale. However with the blade change, it's back in my top two.

 

+1. The only way I can get a good shave from the Mongoose is with a Super Pro. I don't understand how guys use any other blade and get a good shave. If you like a tobacco leaf scent, MW's Sweet Briar is great.

 

I find with my MdC that a wetter brush works better. I will typically hold the jar (fougure) or brain bowl (lavender) over the sink and give it about a 20sec swirl. At first its quite sloppy/messy with The wet brush but it tightens up quickly and loads the brush fully. It kind of seems wasteful but the stuff lasts forever. Hope that makes sense.

In my case, I found my slim just too mild to provide great 2 pass shaves regardless of setting. The Fatboy I own seems a lot more aggressive on the higher settings but maybe its just my particular razors.

 

I can get a good shave with the Feather Pro but it just requires more work in # of passes and amount of touch ups. With this set up it was a very forgiving razor. However, after spending most of last month with my new Wolfman OC razor, I found it to be just as forgiving and more efficient. So I think I have my two preferred work morning combos dialed in with the Wolfman OC/Feather and the Mongoose/Super Pro

Thanks for the tip on MW Sweet Briar. I have never tried a tobacco scented soap so this is a great suggestion. Mystic Water has turned into one of my favorite soaps.

 

It's that time of year when your beard grows slower, your technique has improved drastically because you've been sticking with the 30 day focus group. Wow! My shaves have been stellar.

 

Could the quality control on the Feather Pros be suspect???

 

I doubt it. More likely, I got used to how efficient the Wolfman OC was with a 3 pass shave and the Mongoose/Feather Pro combo just was not measuring up. It was just required more touch ups to get the same shave. Now I am happy with the Goose again.

Don't worry, the Feather Pro blades will not go to waste. I am going to cut 1 down and give it a go in my G Type injector.

 

Good luck!

 

I bet that wakes up the G Type for sure. What do you think?

 

I like russian just not voskhod. i do prefer chinese blades to japanese and russian both so there may still be a problem with @Bama Samurai's new cartel.