2024: New Year Resolution

I was watching Dave's Dave in KY shave video this morning and I really found some good personal advice therein. I'd encourage anyone with the time to take a peek:

https://damnfineshave.com/showthread.php...#pid523173

The point I took away is that a lot of folks rush to find the next best thing (I know I am guilty). Therein, I tend to give whatever products that are in my face now, very little 'learning time'. So, some of my shaves have suffered over the years. As Dave mentioned, it's like I want my money to make it work, without the hours of work I should put in.

Now, I'm not suggesting that folks need to relearn to shave or anything. Heck, I don't think I need to, either. But, my personal thoughts are there has to be something, some product or techniques, we might not have given a fair shake. For me, the first thing that comes to mind is the Gillette tech. I'd guess that I've put on a few dozen shaves on various Techs... all spaced out over years. They've never lasted in my lineup more than a few shaves at a time - (almost) never back to back. They always end up on the BST or a PIF post.

So, instead of trying some insane 'no purchase in 2024' or some sort of use one soap til it's gone challenge, for my 2024 betterment, I am going to use a Gillette Tech for the whole Month of January to force myself to get familiar with it.

I've been traditional shaving since 2018, so I have had plenty of discussions over the years... I'm almost certain my problem is time, muscle memory, and form: paying attention and keeping the very narrow cutting angle the techs are (I was told) known for. So, if this is correct, I'll actually be doing myself a favor learning to hone my technique, while I master the (elusive to me) Tech. (Or I'll waste a month, but at least I will be able to say I really put in the time and tried?)

We have just over a month until 1/1/2024. Anyone else interested, feel free to post what you will do to better your shave, master some tool, or learn whatever ... this seems quite open form, by design. Hopefully someone will join me in a different new year challenge.

(Forgot to post: Id imagine this will make BPman happy, as he's told me for years the Tech is a great razor and won't cost you much. Time to get on board with that thinking.)

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Not sure I could do a whole month with just 1 razor or any other product. But I do a shave of the week wherein I use the same set up for the entire week. Gives me a chance to get to know these products better and expand my horizons so to speak. As for a No Bay 2024.....Nope, tried that before and, although I have a ton of stuff, there's always something that tempts me and I fail.

Not sure I could do a whole month with just 1 razor or any other product. But I do a shave of the week wherein I use the same set up for the entire week. Gives me a chance to get to know these products better and expand my horizons so to speak. As for a No Bay 2024.....Nope, tried that before and, although I have a ton of stuff, there's always something that tempts me and I fail.

Exactly. I've done it a few times, including the smaller cousin: no buy until months end. Always ends badly for me, as well.

Just to clarify, maybe folks want to do something for 2 weeks or 2 months or whatever. I'm just posting what I'm doing and why. I figure it might inspire others to do their own thing, even if it's not nearly the same idea, time, etc. (aka, You do what works for you).

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I try to do 6-7 days with the same setup, but lately have been mixing it up a lot. Come DecemBoar 1, I am aiming at sticking with the same boar for at least 4 days and thus rotate through my 4 brushes. Come January, I hope to be back to a fixed setup for the week. But as Dave stated in the video, technique is the key.

I try to do 6-7 days with the same setup, but lately have been mixing it up a lot. Come DecemBoar 1, I am aiming at sticking with the same boar for at least 4 days and thus rotate through my 4 brushes. Come January, I hope to be back to a fixed setup for the week. But as Dave stated in the video, technique is the key.

Awesome Eric. Definitely a good idea to do a handful of days in a row with the Boar. Otherwise, they get dry, angry, and extra thirsty. Only a few days left!

Just to clarify... I wasn't suggesting anyone else use a razor or what not for a month straight. Just asking if anyone was planning on doing anything at all in the name of improvement for January... like a resolution. Mine happens to be to conquer the Tech, but others could be anything. Like, I believe Eric wants to get back to a fixed week of shaves... same tools?

We now return you to your regularly scheduled forum.

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Nice post, mrdoug! This approach sounds reasonable, at least based on my experience. When I first started my shave odyssey, I had one razor, one type of blade, one brush, and two soaps. My first few weeks were awkward. My shaves left me sore and ragged. But after a while I learned to scrape my face without doing much damage. Life was grand.

Then I joined a few online forums and discovered just how much wonderful shaving stuff there is in the world. I indulged heartily. But it seemed that the more stuff I tried, the more I suffered from irritations of various sorts. I remember telling my wife's dermatologist about using a different soap every day. She winced.

So maybe I was better off with just a simple, consistent set up. To find out, I'll join you after my fashion. Just like I did back in the old days, I'll stick with two soaps and just one razor. A few years back I got a Tatara Masamune. It looked really cool and it's named after a samurai and it was made in Portugal and the handle reminds me of a golf ball that's gone through a sausage machine. Lots to love here. What's more, it was supposed to be close and mild. But after a few uses, I found it to be too heavy. So it went into my box of unloved razors. Then the other day, on a whim I pulled it out again. I've now had three splendid shaves with it, and I'm ready to rack up some more. I may have do a little weight lifting to brawn up my shaving muscles, but for me, 2024 starts now.

Okay, after 3 shaves with a Silver Blue blade, I think and feel that I need to switch it out. I haven't used this blade (brand) in at least a year or more. My recollection (when it was my go to blade) is that the first shave was always a little rough. Now I am post-third shave and I am still getting some irritation. And I am using the Henson, which gave me a two great initial shaves with a German Personna Red. I wanted to stick with the razor/blade combo for at least a week, but now my face is saying, Please, stop!

Okay, after 3 shaves with a Silver Blue blade, I think and feel that I need to switch it out. I haven't used this blade (brand) in at least a year or more. My recollection (when it was my go to blade) is that the first shave was always a little rough. Now I am post-third shave and I am still getting some irritation. And I am using the Henson, which gave me a two great initial shaves with a German Personna Red. I wanted to stick with the razor/blade combo for at least a week, but now my face is saying, Please, stop!

Yikes. Well, you won't hear an argument from me. My typical Comfort coated shaves are 2 and done. I seem to be able to go 3-4 (only 3 good shaves this week) with the German Reds. So, 7 shaves on a blade is crazy, to me.

Besides... let's say you pay $20 for a pack of blades. That's 20¢ a blade. After 3 shaves you've spent 6.6666 cents a shave. If you push it to 4 shaves, you save a bit over 1 penny. A PENNY! I think your comfort is worth a bit more than that Eric. Toss the blades and continue to enjoy every shave, that's my advice.

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Okay, after 3 shaves with a Silver Blue blade, I think and feel that I need to switch it out. I haven't used this blade (brand) in at least a year or more. My recollection (when it was my go to blade) is that the first shave was always a little rough. Now I am post-third shave and I am still getting some irritation. And I am using the Henson, which gave me a two great initial shaves with a German Personna Red. I wanted to stick with the razor/blade combo for at least a week, but now my face is saying, Please, stop!

Yikes. Well, you won't hear an argument from me. My typical Comfort coated shaves are 2 and done. I seem to be able to go 3-4 (only 3 good shaves this week) with the German Reds. So, 7 shaves on a blade is crazy, to me.

Besides... let's say you pay $20 for a pack of blades. That's 20¢ a blade. After 3 shaves you've spent 6.6666 cents a shave. If you push it to 4 shaves, you save a bit over 1 penny. A PENNY! I think your comfort is worth a bit more than that Eric. Toss the blades and continue to enjoy every shave, that's my advice.

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Just as a point of reference (and humor), you need to take a Gillette Fusion5 cartridge to approximately 56 shaves (Yikes!) to get the same value as 3 shaves on that $20 pack of blades above. Lol.

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I actually started something like this in 2023. I decided early in the year to focus on getting rid of soaps I had from our early days of competitive acquisitions to compare.
I started with a tub of Sandalwood Proraso and finished it completely. Then an artisan competitor that I couldn't quit finish. I got tired of the scent and the mediocre performance so I tossed it. In between just a few shaves here and there with one of ours and a long stint with Simply Purple. Now, I've been working through a tub of our Sandalwood for the last 2 months.
Only 2 brushes used. A Teton boar and a tuxedo knot synthetic.
2 razors. A Razorock GC and a Merkur 34C.
I'll keep this right though 2024.

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