SteveChuckFrank
Close Enough*
Thanks for the encouraging words guys! I’ll definitely be checking out more member videos. Dave’s really helped me step up my game and make things fun again!
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Steve's Journal: The Saga Continues....
- Thread starter SteveChuckFrank
- Start date
Thanks for popping in! Glad to here the work is going well! I here you say Employee of the Month...what I'm thinking is rolling in the dough!
Don't feel like you have to read everything! If you get behind and you want to catch up...just read the last couple shaves!
All being said...life is more important than a bunch of guys shaving...we will be here when things slow down.
Don't feel like you have to read everything! If you get behind and you want to catch up...just read the last couple shaves!
All being said...life is more important than a bunch of guys shaving...we will be here when things slow down.
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Stop in when you can without worries. We'll keep your journal going
Great to hear a little tweaking of your technique brought such great results! Don't worry about posting really regular. Check in when you can and pick up technique helps where you can. We are probably not going anywhere for a while. (A long while I hope)
Good catch up Reads
SteveChuckFrank
Close Enough*
Hellllloooooooo! Back from a bit of a hiatus, from the journal not shaving! It's been almost 2 whole months since my last check in, although I've been popping in to see what everyone's doing from time to time, and I'm also competing (and somehow doing fairly well) in the College Football Pick 'em thread. I have no idea what I'm doing, but it's fun lol.
I also decided to participate in open comb October. Since I only have one open comb razor, the Fatip Grande, I used that razor all month. I started off with a general fear of the razor lol. I've used it a handful of times previously with mixed results, usually less than pleasant. But, after a month of only using the one razor, I've really been able to improve my experience with it and have learned a few things about my technique and what works with this razor.
I've found that I've been using much too steep of an angle, and that probably applies to all of the razors I've used. I adjusted to a very shallow cap riding angle and it greatly improved the quality of my shave. I'm getting a closer shave as well as a less irritating one. I've also learned that Vokhsod blades work the best for me in the Fatip. I'm pretty impressed with these. The first one lasted me probably 5-6 shaves before I changed it out, and I probably could have gotten a few more out of it if I really wanted to. I then changed to an Astra SP and there was a very noticeable change in quality. Not as close and a lot of irritation again. I used it for 3 shaves to give it a fair chance, then jumped back to a Vokhsod.
I think since OCtober is over today, I'll probably switch back to my Stirling closed comb and try the same approach with that razor. The Stirling used to be my favorite, but with all the improvement I've made this month, the Fatip has taken the lead!
I also made a purchase this month. I went with a matching soap and aftershave set from WSP. Barbershop Formula T and AS. It's close scent wise to Chisled Face GTB but without the smoke/gunpowder. I like it a lot, but the AS isn't very strong so I typically lose the scent within an hour. I'm sure others can smell it but I can't. It's probably the shortest lasting AS I've used so far, but again the scent is good and the splash itself seems to get the job done.
As far as the soap is concerned, the scent is fairly strong but not overpowering (which I like) and the performance is top notch in my book. I'm fairly inexperienced and have only used soaps from a handful of manufacturers, but I would put WSP in the top 3 that I've used so far.
So that's what's going on currently in my little world of shaving. Hopefully my next entry won't take another 2 months to be entered!!!!
I also decided to participate in open comb October. Since I only have one open comb razor, the Fatip Grande, I used that razor all month. I started off with a general fear of the razor lol. I've used it a handful of times previously with mixed results, usually less than pleasant. But, after a month of only using the one razor, I've really been able to improve my experience with it and have learned a few things about my technique and what works with this razor.
I've found that I've been using much too steep of an angle, and that probably applies to all of the razors I've used. I adjusted to a very shallow cap riding angle and it greatly improved the quality of my shave. I'm getting a closer shave as well as a less irritating one. I've also learned that Vokhsod blades work the best for me in the Fatip. I'm pretty impressed with these. The first one lasted me probably 5-6 shaves before I changed it out, and I probably could have gotten a few more out of it if I really wanted to. I then changed to an Astra SP and there was a very noticeable change in quality. Not as close and a lot of irritation again. I used it for 3 shaves to give it a fair chance, then jumped back to a Vokhsod.
I think since OCtober is over today, I'll probably switch back to my Stirling closed comb and try the same approach with that razor. The Stirling used to be my favorite, but with all the improvement I've made this month, the Fatip has taken the lead!
I also made a purchase this month. I went with a matching soap and aftershave set from WSP. Barbershop Formula T and AS. It's close scent wise to Chisled Face GTB but without the smoke/gunpowder. I like it a lot, but the AS isn't very strong so I typically lose the scent within an hour. I'm sure others can smell it but I can't. It's probably the shortest lasting AS I've used so far, but again the scent is good and the splash itself seems to get the job done.
As far as the soap is concerned, the scent is fairly strong but not overpowering (which I like) and the performance is top notch in my book. I'm fairly inexperienced and have only used soaps from a handful of manufacturers, but I would put WSP in the top 3 that I've used so far.
So that's what's going on currently in my little world of shaving. Hopefully my next entry won't take another 2 months to be entered!!!!
Wow! Quite the catch-up! Glad to see you checking in! And yes...you are doing quite well in the college football pickem!
SteveChuckFrank
Close Enough*
Thanks guys! Definitely want to try to get back to checking in regularly!
-Fatip Grande
-Razorock Tech II
-Stirling...bunch of letters for the model name. I always type it wrong lol.
-Razorock TTO
-Gillette Fatboy ('61)- this was my grandfather's but it needs to be serviced so it's out of commission.
-MicroTouch One- I used this once and I think that was enough for me haha. When you
close the razor it doesn't cause the blade to flex so it seems almost impossible
to get a usable angle.
I don't have many razors to choose from KJ, so the torture isn't too bad for me. Current lineup is:
-Fatip Grande
-Razorock Tech II
-Stirling...bunch of letters for the model name. I always type it wrong lol.
-Razorock TTO
-Gillette Fatboy ('61)- this was my grandfather's but it needs to be serviced so it's out of commission.
-MicroTouch One- I used this once and I think that was enough for me haha. When you
close the razor it doesn't cause the blade to flex so it seems almost impossible
to get a usable angle.
SteveChuckFrank
Close Enough*
Almost forgot to post the obligatory acquisition pic!!!!
MilkCrate
"I am a Milk Crate with Dreams"
Almost forgot to post the obligatory acquisition pic!!!!
Great update Steve! Welcome back! Sounds like you have made some really good strides in technique too. I’ve picked up the WSP Gaelic Tweed and really like it. I also received that “Real.Manly.Soap” I haven’t used it yet, I was afraid it would take crap off anyone ?
SteveChuckFrank
Close Enough*
Thanks Tim! I ordered a sampler pack of soaps from WSP a little while back and one of them was Gaelic Tweed. I dont know if the sample was from a bad batch, but it had almost no scent to it at all. In fact the thing it reminded me of most was Dove unscented bar soap.
The Real. Manly. Soap. is pretty good too! The Tobacco scent that came this time is real nice! Very fresh and almost a hint cologne-y.
The Real. Manly. Soap. is pretty good too! The Tobacco scent that came this time is real nice! Very fresh and almost a hint cologne-y.
SteveChuckFrank
Close Enough*
So after watching a few videos in the Member Videos section, I decided to try a new technique tonight.
I’ve been improving in the neck area, but still struggle to get irritation free, and I’ve notice some of you use the “bullfrog” technique. I thought maybe I would give it a go and see if it put me over the hump...it did not ???.
I am on the skinny side, so I don’t have a lot to puff up. I’m also thinking that the skin not being stretched at all made things worse.
I guess I’ll stick to perfecting the J-hook and hope for the best!
I’ve been improving in the neck area, but still struggle to get irritation free, and I’ve notice some of you use the “bullfrog” technique. I thought maybe I would give it a go and see if it put me over the hump...it did not ???.
I am on the skinny side, so I don’t have a lot to puff up. I’m also thinking that the skin not being stretched at all made things worse.
I guess I’ll stick to perfecting the J-hook and hope for the best!