NOV 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

Crazy Ivan got lost and walked up there didn't he. Nice to see a working CJB!

 

November 1st SOTD (Shave 1 of this focus)
Three days’ growth
Preshave: Hot Shower
Razor: CJB Blade Handle
Blade: Kai Captian Sharp (1st Shave)
Brush: EverReady 100T with TGN 22mm Synthetic Knot
Soap: Barrister & Mann Bay Rum
Postshave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Pinaud Clubman with M-Bomb added

After seeing a bunch of my 30 day brothers break out the pain sticks today, I thought I would join you. This is the first time I have used a shavette in over six months. Also the first time I have used this brand, CJB, which is made in Korea. It accepts the same blades as the Feather Artist Club Series, Kai Excelsior, Mongoose, and Cobra Razors. My face found feather blades too harsh, until the third or fourth shave. This is my first time using the Kai Captain Sharp, but I am pretty happy with it. Not as harsh as a Feather, but still stupid sharp. Used my synthetic brush today, and will be using it all month. Out of practice for how to get the right amount of water in it, since I don’t soak it. Ended up getting a pretty good lather out of the B&M soap.

Did my first pass very carefully, going North to South. I found the angle on this to be closer to that 30 degree mark, while my straights are usually 10-15 degrees. I focused on my normal pattern of shaving. Rinsed after my first pass, and had a grail shave. DFS on one pass. Since I had such great lather, I didn't want to waste it. I decided to go ahead and do my second pass. What’s the worst that could happen, right?

Started on the base of my neck, and moved up. I should have been focused on just wiping the lather away, as I used a little more pressure than that, like I do with my straights. Note to self: this razor is not as forgiving of pressure as my straights. Ended up with a small flock of weepers on my chin and lower neck. The cold water rinse after the shave stung. So I grabbed the alum and proceed to demonstrate great self-control in avoiding teaching that kind of language to my 3 year old. My wife reminded me that she speaks Spanish, and didn’t want our daughter swearing in that language either. Witch hazel didn’t calm anything down, so I grabbed my clubman and proceeded to light myself up again.

Lots of people have said these razors are less forgiving than a true straight razor. I agree. However, I would grade this an A- for closeness, and a D for irritation.

 

Says the man that shaved part of his head with a pain stick! We need to do something about Ivan, he is getting out of hand.

 

Adam, it will be interesting to follow your progress with the CJB. You have a lot of straight razor experience now, so I bet you find your sweet spot with this razor fairly quickly!

I thought about corking the blade on my Feather AC to calm it down, but I just decided to drag the blade across my lower lip tonight.

 

Honestly, I would call this shave a BBS if my face wasn't on fire right now. Smoothness wise, its one of the best shaves I have had. If I can dial in the pressure, I can see this working very well.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone else improve too. These are not the easiest or most efficient shaving tools. It takes a special kind of crazy to want to master them...

 

Welcome to our entire month! Great to have you along. Pain sticks....great name. I plan on stealing it.

There you go asking the one question that will always answer itself in the worst way possible! Get me out of your head, man, you have too much to live for!

 

Monday, November 2, 2015


B-3 Mongoose with Triad Moku Ti Helix
Feather Pro #4
@clint64 Rubberset 400 with El Druida Manchurian
Sterling Soap Margaritas In The Arctic
Alum, Witch Hazel ++Menthol, Cucumber Melon Whipped Shea Butter
Chilled Proraso Aftershave Lotion


I had a great mentholated shave today. A three pass, eye watering BBS shave. No cuts, no nicks, and no weepers. The El Druida knot whipped up a thick and creamy lather effortlessly. Sterling MITA is a level below their Glacial soaps, yet still very chilling. This gorgeous @clint64 restore has the best knot of my 400s. Last minute change. Grabbed the Floid Blue from the refrigerator by mistake. Spritzed a bunch on before I realized it wasn’t the Proraso. No matter I am so chill and ready to roll for the rest of the day.
Happy Menthol Monday boys & girls. May the chill be with you!

 

Yeah tell me about it. You'd think one beating by Igor would be enough. I'm beginning to think that just reboots him.

 

Whoooooo! November Focus!! In honor of my birthday, I will ONLY be shaving with items that have been PIF'd or given as presents. I wanted to extend a huge thank you to @wristwatchb for this first shave. Everything I used excluding my brush, and soap was a PIF from Charlie.

Pre- AJ Murray pre shave oil
Blade-GSB
Soap- An artisan soap off amazon called Himalaya?
Razor-Gillete Slim (3)
Brush- Classic Best Badger
After- WH & Maca Root Razor relief

Was weary of the soap as I stumbled upon it trying to round up to 35$ for free shipping, I got it on clearance for next to nothing. But too my surprise the lather exploded in a rich, creamy lather that definitely held. The scent is extremely subtle and really all you smell is the soap. The GSB paired with Slim glided easily along the thick lather, and literally mowed down my 3 days growth. I continued with a WTG/XTG/ATG/ATG only on the neck. I proceeded to get the BEST shave of my life. Overall irritation A+ Overall closeness A. I would call it a DFS++. Extremely ecstatic with my results and cannot wait for tomorrow's shave.

 

This poor guy got carried away shaving with a pain stick:

 

Congrats Seth! You are making great progress!

 

Quick question Seth, do you night shave or shave in the morning?

Back when I was in, I shaved at night, and was smooth all day. Wet shaving is certainly not something I would suggest when you are running late for work..lol.

I kept a backup kit at work, just in case we had open ranks. I would get some funny looks from guys who had no idea what wet shaving was.

 

Seth,
You picked a nice setup for a focus. I agree that GSB in a Slim is a great combination. After 30 days you will be getting best shaves of your life regularly. Have fun!

 

Now that's a SMOOTH shave. Definitely the mystical perfect BBS!

 

I'm back....

No Variation November

1 November 2015



Just got home from watching my fave football team get blown out....but the shave before that was quite nice. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a sterling Monday!
​

 

I hear you. I have the same problem with my Semogue 620 - less lather than I thought I should have. But after this month I should have learned what that thing wants from me

 

With carts I had to morning shave, with DE shaving, I can get away with night shaving

 

Me too. The shaves are of a different caliber...

 

And the crazy thing is, I thought my shaves with carts were phenomenal. It wasn't until the other morning when I fell asleep before shaving and had to pull out the cart before CQ I realized how awful they shave.

 

I miss just a day and already 4 pages wow!

After 3 months of focusing on straights and seeing improvement I decided to something different.... November I will focus on soaps and hard croaps, croaps so hard they are like a soap. I will still be using straights but my DE usage may increase some.

There are some soaps that have been disappointing in performance despite their reputations. These soaps will get another shot at life in my den. First they will be tried against one of my aggressive DE's (I don't use a mild DEs except of Ikon SB), if the pass that test the move on too my most aggressive DEs (think ATT H1, 2011 R41 and Joris), should they pass this test then they will be used with a straight.

Nov 1 focus shave 1

I went with a consistently good performer, Tabac. My first quality soap and a top performer. I am leaving for a 1 day trip and wanted a long lasting BBS. I also took out the kettle and my small Whitehead scuttle. Of course Tabac delivered, four passes smooth as silk. I thought I felt a few staggerers so I decided to clean up with some J-hooking. The lather was great and the Joris was loaded with a Super Iridium on it's second shave. Wow, super BBS but a little bit of stink with the alum block. I guess I went a little too crazy.
Irritation A-, closeness A+

Tabac
Whitehead scuttle
T&H Silver tip
Joris DE with Super Iridium
Lucky Tiger AS
L'Occitane Cade ASB
Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur