FFFMM (Fixed Four For March Madness) 2023 Edition

[Invicta]

Final shave of FFfMM;
Soap: Proraso Sandalwood
Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable
Blade: Rapira Super Stainless #11
Brush: Simpson Commodore X3

 

[ironfingers]

Date: March 31, 2023.
Shave: 16.
Shaving Brush: Semogue 820 Boar Bristle.
Shaving Cream: O'Melhor Classico.
Razor: Rockwell 6S in Red with base plate 3.
Blade: Gillette Nacet Blade 6, shave 1, side 1 & 2.
Preshave Wash: Hot Water, Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser.
Lathering: Bowl lather.
Shave: Pass 1 WTG, Pass 2 XTG, Pass 3 ATG, cleanup pass.
Post Shave: Cold Water splash, Alum Block.
Aftershave: Dickinson's Witch Hazel, Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue.
End Result: Comfortable, close shave. Probably the most comfortable in this FFFMM. Almost zero feedback from both the alum block and the aftershave.

That concludes this years FFFMM for me. It was awesome and thoroughly enjoyed it. Sine 4 equipments were fixed, I tried to use different aftershaves. Still repeated some, especially the Old Spice Wolfthorn. And there are some I haven't used. The next time I'll probably not pick the base plate 3. It's quite mild. Not as bad as Merkur 34C but still I could use a more aggressive base plate. Maybe 4 if I decided to use Gillette Nacet or Feather. If I chose a milder blade then maybe 5 or 6.

 

[couch_potato]

Last one in March.

• Muhle R89 + RR HD handle
• PermaSharp
• Cella Red
• Omega 10098

Not a bad 4 to go for at any time

Enjoy the weekend!

 

[Schnitzel52]

FFFMM Day 31
Gillette New SC
Bic Chrome Platinum (6)
PAA Peregrino
Pre de Provence 63
Same time next year?

 

[ChrisPL68]

 

[thombrogan]

FFFMM

Last night’s luxury shave
GEM Micromatic Open Comb
Personna GEM PTFE (1)
Damp washcloth aka “shave binky”
Simpson Wee Scot 13mm badger brush
Pre-shave: hot shower followed by a minute or so of waterboarding with shave binky
Lather: Wickhams 1912 Club Cola Soap, face-lathered
Aftershave: Ulm Nom
Post-shave: face wash with shave binky
Post-shave: Mentholated Equate Moisturizer

Happy Razor Fun Time Lightning struck twice and struck better the second time! Whooo!

Like Tuesday night’s shave, a single, very light ATG pass glided effortlessly over my face and neck. What made it even better was the first-use GEM blade also glided through the whiskers on my upper lip! No weepers, no BBS, no razor burn, no taking so long the lather needed more water added. As said moments ago: Whooo!

Not looking as forward to changing up my kit as I was just a few days ago, but am looking forward to tonight’s final FFFMM shave.

 

[Jayson74]

3-31-23 Friday
FFFMM 19/31

Razor: Merkur Progress (3-3-3)
Blade: Treet platinum(3)
Soap: Mudder Focker face lather
Brush: RR Bruce
Pre: Shower
Post: Witchhazel-Clubman

3 passes left me with DFS++.

Be well
Jay

 

[Cal]

FFFMM 2023 SOTD

Brush: Shavemac "Kleiner Bayer" 14/42 Silvertip D01 2-Band
Soap: Clubman
Razor: Gillette NEW Flat Bottom GT
Blade: Gillette 7o'clock Black (17)
ASL: Clubman VIBR

A superb shave.

This month, due to playing around with face contortions, I've improved my technique on the adam's apple and chin areas. Every little helps. And the repotting of my Clubman soap into one of my favorite tubs has helped me get back to my favorite "three-second loading" time.


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Chan Eil Whiskers]

My Fixed Four is over. I'm glad to have participated, shared it with you, and learned from you, and from my experience.

What did I learn using the exact same gear (not just the 4 required items) for a month?

Here's the list.

1. I learned that it's important to pick the right gear for a Fixed. I already knew it, but my understanding of that fact deepened.
2. My skills with the ATT X1 improved, and they were already very good. Very cool!
3. There is always room for improvement.
4. My kit for the month was entire made up of stellar gear. I made excellent choices.
5. I can tolerate alum, leaving it on, not rinsing it off, applying balm on top of it, but do I need it? I'm not sure, but it's nice to have a lot more experience with the product.
6. A good Fixed Four is hard, but a Fixed is always instructive.
7. This is at least my 7th month-long Fixed Four. I made it through this Fixed with less difficulty than any of the previous Fixed Fours I've done. More patience? Better gear selection?

I have very much enjoyed everyone's participation, posts, and especially photos.

I want to again thank Cal @Cal for turning me on to the Fixed Four. Actually Cal twisted my arm the first time I did a Fixed. I'm prone to wanting and even craving variety, but Cal was right. I needed to do a Fixed Four, and I need to continue doing one on occasion.

The Fixed Four is Cal's marvelous invention for which he deserves my thanks, and yours.

Thank you, Cal!

Happy shaves,

Jim

 

[Raven Koenes]

SOTD:
Razor: Fatip Noce OC
Blade: New Lord Platinum (13)
Brush: Omega Evo Ovale
Cream: Old Spice Original
Aftershave: Old Spice Original

I threw in one more shave to finish on the 31st. So, it was lucky 13 shave on the New Lord Platinum. My whole lineup has been the bee's knees. I'm going to miss it. I have the new Fatip Acciaio Inox blades to try out and review. I'm going with my Fatip Grande Cr. My Grande in nickel used to be my favorite, but the chrome Grande aligns the first time, every time. I'll mix it up with MdC Vetyver. I might as well continue with things I know and love when going with an unknown. That will give me some comfort as I leave FFFMM. If I've learned anything this time around is to appreciate comfort. My shave was brilliant.

Thank you, Cal, for hosting FFFMM once again. You are all that and a bag of chips!

 

[hopper_64]

FFFMM shave #23 - Final shave of the month

Eversharp Hydro-magic ’500’
Schick Injector (18)
Omega EVO 2.0
Mitchell's Wool Fat
Nivea Sensitive Cool

Cheers!

 

[NotBloomingAL]

FFFMM - Shave #25

The Final Shave

Razor: RazoRock Lupo .95 SB
Blade: Dorco Titan (8th Use)
Brush: AP Shave Co. Aluminum Layered Comfort handle w/Mühle STF 25mm @~55mm
Soap: Unscented With Beeswax by Stirling Soap Co.



Post-Shave:
Stirling's Black Cherry Aftershave Splash w/Menthol
Stirling's Post Shave Balm (unscented w/menthol)

Three Pass Shave

The 8th use blade was a bit rough this shave. But I pressed on knowing it was the last shave of the FFFMM -- taking extra care, hoping the shave would turn out fine. To my surprise, the shave was nearly flawless. I had no nicks, weepers, or irritation. But the Black Cherry splash did find a couple of sensitive areas, a spot on my neck and the area just under my nostrils. But the sting quickly faded into the menthol blast. It turned out to be a darn fine shave, DFS+.

This FFFMM proved to me that the Lupo .95 SB is a great daily shaver paired with a Dorco Titan blade (YMMV). This month has been a lot of fun. Thank you @Cal for putting this together. Great shaves to all.

 

[GlazedBoker]

FFFMM 3/31/23, Shave No.#20

Fixed 4 Set up:
Rockwell T2 SS-Bic Chrome Platinum-APShaveCo. 28mm Silksmoke Winter-Rockwell shave cream Barbershop
Optional Gear:
Nivea Vitalizing a/s Lotion-Burberry Hero eau de toilette

Another really good shave to close out the Fixed 4 For March. I’ve always appreciated this event as it always comes down to technique and the ever truthful edict of Keep It Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.). Well, for me that is the case and I can’t speak for everyone else. Some will know if not most and that is that optimal hardware/software is not necessarily guaranteeing nor is it the key to a successful shave day in, day out. I believe that 75% of one’s shave routine is encompassed by technique, muscle memory and the willingness to be consistent throughout each and every shave. The other 25% is all about the gear in hand. These Fixed 4 Events always seem to confirm that for me. Learning and confirming is never boring in my book. Thanks to @Cal for always hosting this make or break event. It’s one of the few events that I mark off on the shave calendar that I truly look forward too. Also like to thank everyone that participated and posted some marvelous pics of their shave gear. Fist pump to all who pushed through and persevered until the end.

Great shaves to all….

 

[thombrogan]

FFFMM

Tonight’s luxury shave
GEM Micromatic Open Comb
Personna GEM PTFE (2)
Damp washcloth aka “shave binky”
Simpson Wee Scot 13mm badger brush
Pre-shave: hot shower followed by a minute or so of waterboarding with shave binky
Lather: Wickhams 1912 Club Cola Soap, face-lathered
Aftershave: Ulm Nom
Post-shave: face wash with shave binky
Post-shave: Mentholated Equate Moisturizer

31 shaves done this month. My single ATG pass had a lot of touch ups on the neck and jawline. Aftershave felt on jawline. Still, a very light touch and the blade glided everywhere — even the the whiskers on the upper lip were shaved effortlessly.

Yhank you for hosting his event, @Cal Despite learning, I had fun. Cheers!

 

[Tirvine]

March may be over, but the razor ATT Windsor with mild copper plate), blade (Personna Lab Blue), brush (Kent BK4 on all even days, black handled BKB4 on odd days), and soap (MdC, Vetyver this year) remain unchanged. However, to acknowledge a new month, I shifted from 4711 to Eau Sauvage for my aftershave splash.