NOV 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

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.

 

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

 

Very nice! Charlie Danger (@wristwatchb) is a super cool dude!

 

Charlie is an awesome person. The more I'm on this forum, the more I just sit back in awe at the amount of kindness a here.

 

Nov 2 focus shave 2

I was visiting Jeju Island, it is a tourist island just south of the southern tip of the Korean peninsula. My travel razor is an Ikon SB with a feather blade. It is the on razor on the mild that works for me. It only works with Feathers but it usually delivers a great shave. I decided to bring D.R. Harris Marlborough shave stick. D.R. Harris soaps work just OK at home and bit inconsistent. There is something about the water in Jeju, I always great lather, this time was no exception. The later was slick with cushion and performed great. Three passes and BBS, no irritation at all. Not often I can get BBS in 3 passes. Not as long lasting as yesterdays BBS but wonderful.

Irritation A+, closeness A

D.R. Harris Marlborough shave stick
Whipped Dog 24mm Silver tip
Ikon SB with Feather
Alcoolato Glasical AS
L'Occitane Cade ASB
Geurlain Habit Rouge Extrait (The Extrait is really special)

 

JR, I always get better shaves when I have enough growth. I recommend waiting. I have to shave every day and there is enough growth for a straight shave but when I need to go out for the evening I will not use a straight and the next morning I will skip the straight again.

 

Well, time for a name change for us. @mrchick , @wristwatchb , @Colonel_K and myself are now officially четверо братьев боли
Or in English....the four brothers of pain.

 

I am updating my Novemeber forecast:

It's gonna be mostly rowdy, with a good chance for pain every day for a while...

 

"Pain Sticks - It takes a special kind of crazy to want to master them..."

Somehow I don't think that would make a good advertising slogan!

 

Mark, is that your new polished B3 Mongoose? Looks fantastic next to the 400. Great photo.