OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

10/22/2015
Razor – Wolfman OC with Triad Helix SS
Blade – Feather (1)
Brush – Romera Olivewood Synthetic
Lather – MdC Fougere
Post - Witch Hazel & Fine Platinum



I have been running behind all morning so this mornings shave was a little rushed. I just went with a 2 pass shave, XTG & ATG, followed by a small touch up and I ended up with about my normal work day results. Finished up with a splash of Fine Platinum. Hope everyone has a great Thursday.

 

Congrats on reaching 2,000! And remember, shenanigans are good!

 

Does that mean you can stop shaving in the woods?

 

But who is who?

 

30 day focus - Day 22
Fat Boy set to 9
Sputnik Blade
MDC Face Lathered with a touch of TOBS ALMOND
3 passes

 

I'm the good looking one. Duh!

 

New blade?

 

SOTD
October 22, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Gillette British Rocket
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Dr. Jon's Aphrodite
Brush: CK Switchback 400 24mm Suave #1 Synthetic Knot
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Myrsol F./Extra
Smooth shave. The Gillette British Rocket is an aggressive razor, I really enjoy this razor. Dr. Jon's has a nice product, check it out. I added teflon tape to the threads of my Switchback 400, I got rid of that o-ring..
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE

 

Great photo. How would compare the British Rocket to your Aristocrat?

 

October 22, 2015

OC October - This month I'll introduce myself to OC razors.
Gillette New LC
Schick Type C1 OC
Standard Safety Razor OC
Gillette Goodwill

Morning shave
Hot Shower
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Manna
Brush: Brush: Omega 31025 Scarlatti Boar
Razor: Standard Safety Razor OC (Germany)
Blade: Voskhod (1)
TSD Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Saponificio Varesino Manna



Two-pass shave.

I’ve had very nice shaves this week with this razor and my 7 o’clock Blues. The Voskod blade today was no different. Good reduction on the 1st pass (XTG) and a clean sweep on the 2nd pass (ATG).

Cheers!
RT

 

No shave this morning because my daughter had to be at school extra early, so no report. I will shave tonight.

I do have a question though. I have seen several people comment on buying from vendors who support this site, including @RaZorBurn123 and others. Is there a list somewhere of all the supporting vendors? I have looked and just am not finding it for some reason. I am planning to venture out into other soaps that I have not tried and would love it if at the same time I can support this site. Thanks!

 

You might try looking through the Vendors Corner here to start. http://theshaveden.com/forums/forums/vendors-corner.45/

Maybe someone can get you a consolidated list.

 

Looks like you are getting into more different soaps. What do you think about the Saponificio Varesino Manna?

 

Of course, how stupid of me.

 

Thanks. I saw where the vendors who had postings in that section were the "approved vendors." I did not know if that was different from the "supporting vendors." Also a list I would think would make a beneficial sticky at the top of the vendor section or somewhere so people can buy from someone that supports this site in some way.

 

Ah, nice observation Clint!

You're right, as I try new razors I tend to fall back to Arko (my indoctrination standard) just to have a base from which to judge new hardware or if I feel I've tripped up on technique. Odd that by doing that, it seems to help me return to my happy place (shaving technique).

But enough of the tangent.

Yes I'm hoping that RAD is finally satisfied (for awhile) and I'm tiptoeing into soaps. I've accumulated a few that I see guys using (Stirling, Cattie's, MWF, and of course TSD) but also venturing into some that tweak my ancestral DNA - Italian soaps - Proraso, Cella and and a few artisans. Haven't tried them all yet but will in time.

So the SV Manna. My Sicilian roots got to me on this one. It is not an inexpensive soap.
I had read a fair bit about this one, attracted by the comments about the unique scent and natural ingredients. I actually found it to be least expensive by going through their website and ordering the "Promo Bundle" of the soap with wooden bowl. (US retailers post a significant markup.)

Scent - So I've used it a couple times and really like the scent. I've got a pretty decent nose for scents but this one is difficult to generalize. Best of all for me, it's subtle. I'd describe it first as a subtle floral, but the manna (from the bark of a flowering ash tree in Sicily) must be the ingredient that (to me) adds an earthiness to the scent that keeps the floral notes from being too sweet. Again, it is very subtle overall.

Usability - This is a hard, triple-milled soap, my first, so it's tough for me to figure out immediately. I load a barely wet boar brush and face lather. (I'm tempted to next try to just rub the puck on my face.) My initial use left my skin feeling somewhat dry, so today I really added more and more water gradually and took 2 -3 minutes to work it on the initial lathering. It really helped.

Three hours later, my skin feel is still smooth and supple no greasy feel at all. I will continue to experiment to get this lather right.

Hope this helps.
Cheers!
RT

 

@wmbjr the link Clint posted is the place to go. I've used of course The Shave Den Shop and Gingers Garden and The Soap Exchange

 

Thanks for taking the time to write your thoughts on the soap. I understand about RAD. Whenever, I think I have it under control it rears its ugly head. At least I keep getting out bid on the bay, so at least I haven't bought any more razors.

 

They are both the same