Monday, August 12, 2024: Finally a post!

• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: Edwin Jagger DE89
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum
• Lather: The Goodfellas Smile Amber Fougère
• Postshave: Old Spice After Shave

Despite my lack of SOTD posts, I'm not dead (yet). I had some trouble finding time for posting here, between my relocations and a car breakdown (yay!). I have no idea how many shaves this blade has already seen, but the printing is not yet very washed out, so I would guess less than 20. And good news: no frag burn so far with Amber Fougère!

Have a good evening!

~Shared via emacs & sotd.el~

August 12, 2024

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar

• Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point

• Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap

• Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner

• Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop

Edge Condition Album

Another excellent shave, but I just started to use my "dulling edge" technique.

I normally shave with a very keen edge and my technique for that is to use a very low angle (for cutting efficiency) and very light pressure (to minimize irritation). As the edge dulls, I keep the same low angle but increase pressure on the bevel, and not on the apex. This pressure lowers the bevel and the apex into the area where the whiskers poke through the skin. Raising the spine and directing more pressure into the apex (which is more natural) drives only the apex into that area. For me, this approach does not cut as well and can result in some irritation.

As the blade dulls, I've found that I am more inclined to raise the spine and press harder, and while this feels "right", it does not work as well for me.

Day 12/31 of Looking for Serenity in Austerity

• Brush: Semogue Owner's Club (cherry wood and boar) (12)
• Razor: Zwilling J. A. Henckels Friodur 50 (7/8", hollow ground, stainless steel, masonic deco) (10)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Roman Spice
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Roman Spice
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Roman Spice

Back to work morning shave. My feelings may be mixed today, but the shave was on point. I'm starting to see what people mean when they say that SOCs take long to break in. This brush isn't changing much from shave to shave anymore, and none of the tips have split yet (which I understand to be a major step in the break in process for these).

$FriodomRiders $HoneMeisterschaft $RawHoggin

August 12, 2024

• Brush: Maggard 24mm Synthetic
• Razor: Gillette Tech (Z-4)
• Blade: Derby Premium (4)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Port-Au-Prince - Soap
• Post Shave: Australian Private Reserve - Raconteur - Aftershave

$Discord
$ShepherdsofStirling
Progress Album

I thought I was done with any science in regards to rinsing/not rinsing, but u/saintbandicoot pulled me back in. For the record, I'm a rinser. I think leaving lather in the soap tub and then putting the lid on is untoward. The following album contains sequential pictures from today's shave which I'll summarize below. https://imgur.com/a/AoQgJ3G

1. Tub has been sitting for a day with the lid on. Weight = 148.5g
2. Tub has been loaded from, and not yet rinsed. Weight = 145.7g
3. Tub has now been rinsed, with some residual water on the surface. Weight = 145.7g
4. Tub has been resting upside down to "drain"/dry for the duration of the shave. Weight = 145.6g

Although this experiment isn't perfect, I deduce that rinsing removes approximately 0.1 grams of soap. It could be higher or lower based on what's actually being weighed here (soap vs residual water), but I do think it's negligible either way.

AA24 - Day 12 - Varmonía

• Brush: Zenith Multi-Color (2006 XSE) 21mm Unbleached Boar Knot

• Razor: Aylsworth Razors Drakkant Plus

• Blade: Gillette Platinum [12]

• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen - Soap (Mutton Tallow)

• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co./House of Mammoth - Armonía - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Chicago Grooming Co./House of Mammoth - Armonía - Eau de Parfum

• Tags: $ShepherdsofStirling $RawHoggin $Discord

Excellent combo ✌️

Brush Break-In Progress Album

12.08.2024 - Yet another menthol shave

• Prep: cold water
• Brush: vintage yellow bakelite handle w/ 22 mm SynBad knot
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: snapped BIC Chrome Platinum
• Lather: Abbate Y La Mantia - Blu Tobacco
• Post-Shave: Thayer's Original toner; Phytorelax Aftershave scalp cream

-> 1 pass head shave + beard contouring. Good shave.

Today was a damn hot day, even nursing school was cut short due to the high temperatures. So some menthol cool down was in order.

I find Blu Tobacco still very enjoyable. Crazy how fast you can load up even a small diameter synthetic brush with it. No idea what black magic AYLM puts in their hard soap recipe, but I dig it. The small brush used to be an old boar brush of my grandfather, but since the old bristles fell out the SynBad was a pretty good replacement. Due to the small diameter of the hole, me and my dad had to set the new knot with a really high loft - a blessing in disguise, as this makes it great for lathering on my head due to the high amount of splay. Plus it still reminds me of my grandpa, so win-win.

The aftershave cream is btw the same stuff I used to list as "Headshave ASB", but since my last order they finally print an english name on the tube 😅

SLS

• Brush: Boti Laminate brush with motherlode knot
• Razor: Zwilling J. A. Henckels Friodur 17 (NOS, 7/8", hollow ground, stainless steel)
• Lather: Red House Farm – NoScrub r/wetshaving s(cr)ub exclusive
• Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz Tabac Original

I couldn't help but to add an extracurricular Second Luxury Shave™ with the brand new big Frio 17 and the NoScrub.

First of all, with the bear tallow base it is super easy to get a wet and slick lather going. Really great stuff, I'm grateful to grindermonk over on Reddit for sharing it with us! The lavender and sandalwood scent is nice, too.

I picked the big NOS Frio up during my vacation, and I honed it this weekend. Boy is it smooth. This is among the best first impressions I've had with a straight. Really happy I bought it.