NOV 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

My next order of TSD will be in stick package. They look good in the SOTD Photos.

 

I don't soak the TSD Shave Sticks much. The soap can soft and messy, quickly.

 

I have found certain soaps like Tiki and Strop Shoppe were too soft for me to make work. Tiki was so soft there was no way to load it in the stick. Strop Shoppe I managed to load in the stick but it was still to soft for me use. Soap Commander which is a vegan soap worked great.

Imagine picking up a puck and rubbing on your face. If you think that would be possible, it will probably work in a shave stick.

I know they are about at the limit being to soft without soaking. I find B&M to be about the same.

 

I had a puck of TSD Pumpkin Harvest. It was so soft I was able squash it into an empty stick without any difficulty.

 

I did the same with TSD Signature and Yin Yang. Honestly, I have done it will all mine including MWF. I have not had to grate or melt anything.

 

Awesome! When I used MWF, that's the way I used it. Just grabbed the puck and started rubbing (something tells me that's going to end up in the "Out of Context" thread). Sticks are more practical though.

 

Thanks Vince! I didn’t set out to do these, but the first pass during my shave last Thursday was so close, it was almost as if I had done two passes. I went for it and managed to get the baby. Since then, I’ve tried to duplicate the results of that shave. So far, it’s worked pretty well!

 

Thanks William! There are several things going on. My beard is very light in most places and there are areas where it doesn’t grow at all. So one thing I did was recognize that there was no need to make two passes on my cheeks when one will do. And I know how I need to shave my jaw line during touch up, so why not do it from the get go instead? Even though my first pass is mostly XTG, because of my beard’s grain, sometimes it's really ATG. Lastly, I have the benefit of having a mustache and goatee, so that cuts down on the number of difficult areas I need to shave. It’s a combination of all this and the good instruction I received when learning: “ride the cap” among others.

Having said all that, I'm sure there are some razor/soap/blade combinations I'll use that require a two or even a thee pass shave.

 

Thanks Clint, I couldn’t do it either if my beard was heavy. When I first started shaving every day my wife objected that I didn’t need to do that. The color of my hair is light enough (and my beard patchy enough) that I can get away with shaving every other day, but I figured the quickest way to learn was to do it every day. I’ve just been lucky to have been able to learn from the great group of guys that we have in this thread. My genes are helping me get the BBS, but they’ll keep me from having anything more than a beard goatee and mustache!

 

Strangely enough, I kinda enjoy the scent. The lather came out of nowhere also. I rubbed the stick on my face, began to doubt it, and as soon as the brush hit my face it was like a Lather-Nuke went off.

 

NOVember - NO Variation

November 10

Razor - Feather SS AC Pain Stick
Blade - (2)
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold Water, Alum, Aloe

One of those mornings where I got up, grabbed a cup of coffee, drank about half of it, and went back to bed for another hour. So, when I finally stayed vertical I was a bit behind and not really in the mood to mess with a lot. Decided to do a one pass with the Feather this morning and accept the result. Only issue was a slight catch on the cut near my ear but it didn't even bleed, just felt the snag. Finish was CCS with some serious touch up on the neck, but no blood anywhere and it as off to work. Nice to know I can throw down a "good enough" one pass with the razor now even if it doesn't match a quick two pass with DE. Still functional and we're still on track with NOVember. Hope your Tuesday was good.

 

After using a lightly mentholated AS sent to me by @JR Reyes , I have discovered I crave menthol in my post shave routine. I don't care for it while shaving though. Would Osage rub be a good addition for me?

 

I would say yes. Though I haven't tried it I know a lot of menthol heads who love it!

 

I'm just looking for a great cooling AS with a good scent.

 

I have found that I like to put Osage Rub on after alum for all my shaves. It seems to help prepare my skin for the PSB I use. To me, when used by itself to it was a bit drying, but just before the PSB, it is awesome.

 

Day 10 - 10 November 2015

No Variation November!

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Day 10 on the GSB, and it's still hanging in for day 11. Today went well. I have been super busy and unable to visit the forum as much as usual, but plan on getting caught up later tonight or tomorrow, but I'm tired and there are still chores to be done. Hope everyone is doing well, I haven't started to read yet! Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
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I just used it today myself.

This is not a menthol freak's AS, but it's a good start. For me it's cooling, gives enough of a kick and I haven't met anyone yet who does not like it's subtle scent.

 

November 10, 2015

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

Razor: Mongoose B3
Blades: Feather Artist Club Professional (1)
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Manna
Brush: Omega 31025 Scarlatti Boar
AS: Changes at will. Today: Proraso Green



My first shave since I fractured a couple of my ribs on Sunday night.

Three-pass shave. (WTG,XTG,ATG)
Face-lather.

This shave was a struggle because my body still hurts, certain motion causes extreme pain and the pain meds make me groggy.

All of that adds up to: A great shave!
Go figure.

Must be because of the extra focus and slow pace that it required. Twelve hours later I am still soooo smooth.
I’m still only 6 shaves into the month, but can see that with time, patience and practice - I should be able to develop the skill to make this an everyday razor. The shaves I've gotten have been so good and have come so quickly in the learning curve that I think I'd be remiss not to get this razor into my top rotation, if not at the top.

If it sounds like I'm hesitant, it's because I am. This razor is different than any razor I've used in my short wetshave experience. The weight, size and dimensions make a difference. To me anyway. I'm struggling with the grip, balance point, length, weight, etc., of something so different than I'm used to. Which is one reason that I am just amazed by the great shaves that have come so quickly in spite of all of that.

I’m confident that with time…familiarity will come. I still have two-thirds of the month left.
Cheers!
RT

 

Nov 11 Focus shave 11

Day 3 for the Knize Ten soap and it final test, a straight razor. Due the slight irritation with the R41 I selected a SR that is not aggressive.

The lather seemed good and the first 2 passes felt smooth. The 3rd and my partial 4th pass felt a little rough. The alum test revealed stinging in most place and my faces looked a little red. The shave was a good solid DFS. This is most irritation I have had in a straight shave in 2 months. Sadly it looks like the Knize Ten did not make the grade for SR shaving

Irritation B-, closeness B+

Knize 10 soap
Rooney 3/2 3 band badger
Hart Steel 6/8 round point
Speick AS
Chanel Antaeus ASB
Chanel Antaeus