Share your Austere August shave of the day for Wednesday!
2023.08.09 SOTD (#UNCHALLENGE shave #9):
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Prep: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleanser
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Brush: AKA Brushworks Amethyst Watchman with 26mm AP Shave Co G5C
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Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable
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Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (5)
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Lather: Seaforth! Sea Ice Lime
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Post Shave: Stirling Mentholated Unscented Witch Hazel and Aloe, Seaforth! Sea Ice Lime Aftershave Splash, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream Extra-Dry
AA Day 9! Did a 3 pass shaves today. Everything went smoothly. I’m a bowl latherer usually, but I decided to try /u/sgrddy’s slurry method. Not bad, honestly. I put a chunk of soap in my bowl, then loaded for 10 seconds. No complaints. I do think I prefer my typical way, but this was a good way to get a quick lather for the morning. I’ll try it again tomorrow.
#UNCHALLENGE
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- Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/AP Shave Co 24mm Titanium Synthetic
- Razor: Weck Sextoblade (Straight Shave 290)
- Blade: Kismet (9)
- Lather: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Soap
- Post Shave: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
- Fragrance: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Eau de Parfum
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
Kismet Blade - Losing My Edge
#Monthofweckoning
I don’t have a lot to say today. During the first pass I thought I detected a little less sharpness in the blade. I slowed down to get a little more feel but this had the effect of giving me an even closer level of BBS . Today’s edge photo indicates that I was just fooling myself. I was tempted not to make an edge photo, but I just had to know.
The most important part of my day, listening to the Lather Games Wrap-up Podcast will have to come later.
The Ninth Day Of Weckoning is upon us
- Brush: Rubberset 400-3 with a 26 mm unbleached Zenith boar knot at 56 mm loft
- Razor: Weck Sextoblade Med Prep
- Blade: Kismet Rostfrei, Polymer beschichtet (15)
- Lather: Barrister and Mann – Oceana
- Post Shave: Ralon – Original
- Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Island Man
Using such a nice and familiar set of hard and software for AA is great for vacation, but I miss the challenge of previous AAs.
I’m thinking I’ll compensate with Sample Straightember: one straight, thirty samples. And I’ll break in a Zenith horse brush.
#Monthofweckoning
I’m thoroughly enjoying this AA. I think the only challenge will be shave comfort in the latter stages. If you are at 15 shaves with your Kismet and not noticing any degradation, then our challenge will be does this blade degrade noticeably in 31 days. ATM, I don’t see degradation as linear, and I expect the blade has planned obsolescence at around 30 days. We’ll see :)
If you believe @Old_Hiker@sub.wetshaving.social and u/VisceralWatch (which I do) they really last much more that 30 shaves. But like you, I’m also eager to find out for myself
You will see that there is no break in with horse brushes!
Have you already chosen your brush?
I’ve only ever used synthetic brushes (currently using a G5C). How do horse brushes compare?
I have two horse brushes, a Zenith extra soft - too soft for my taste - and a Semogue C3 Galahad premium horse - which is my favorite brush. I only know Yaqi synthetics (two 24mm tuxedos and a 26mm timberwolf), so I can’t speak with authority on the general difference.
Horse brushes need less soap than boars, but maybe slightly more than a synthetic of equivalent size. They are easy and quick to lather (maybe a bit less easy than synths).
What I really like - in the Semogue - is the scritch they have on the face, which just isn’t there with the synthetics (at least those I know). The Zenith XS is ultrasoft and has no backbone, maybe it’s similar to a mother lode (but I have never tried one).
I have read somewhere that horse brushes compare more to badgers (which I don’t have) than to synthetics. The advantage of horse brushes is that getting a haircut is part of a horse’s normal beauty routine, so the animals are not harmed.
Hope that helps!
Thanks! I may look into getting one now.
Yes, I’ve chosen the 506U N, and I’ve discovered another federation hiccup. In my answer to you six days ago, I had posted this image
of the brush I had ordered, but the image only shows in Mastodon, not in lemmy.
Ah! The handle is great - I think the bristles will be better than mine.
I will probably join you for Straightember, though I don’t believe I will shave every day.
I have that same handle with an unbleached knot and I love it.
I will probably join you for Straightember
The more, the merrier! 🤗
- Prep: Splash of Cool Water
- Razor: Timeless - Stainless Steel .68 - Open Comb
- Blade: Gillette - Nacet (Marathon) (507)
- Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag (White Label)
- Brush: Zenith - r/wetshaving MOAR BOAR B35/508A XL (32 uses)
- Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag (White Label)
- Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag
Austere August: Day: 9
MRTNG’s Ultra Nightmare Mode
Midnight Stag Challenge䷀ General Notes
Today was about a real-time, fairly quick shave, using the Slurry lather method. Not trying to rush, but trying to not be slow, like a fella might be when getting ready for work or in need of a last-minute shave.
The result: 8 minutes! Setup, 3 passes of lather, then tear down. All in eight minutes.
䷀ Razor and Blade Notes
(Timeless - Stainless Steel .68 - Open Comb ::: Gillette - Nacet - M ‹507 uses›)
Same: First pass has some tugginess to it. But no irritation that lasts longer than a little tuggy stroke. Latter passes feel fine and give a reasonably close shave. 3 pretty quick passes.
Razor and Blade Performance/Comfort Rating: 2 out of 5 (Okay)
䷀ Soap Notes
(Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - White Label)
I just love all the aspects of this scent!
Scent Strength: 6/10, nicely present during shaving.
Lather… Same for the slurry: wet one as pass 1, then built to a mature lather by pass 3. But slick all the way.
Hydration: Perfect (for me)
- 2 sec load with a Very Wet brush
- = 5 passes of lather
Bowl: No Bowl
䷀ Brush Notes
(Zenith - r/wetshaving MOAR BOAR B35/508A XL ‹32 uses›)
Same: Comfortable soft tips that do flex some, but that are supported by a base with strong backbone. As with all young boars, I look forward to the tips splitting with more uses and getting softer with use.
I am generally using a hair dryer to gently treat the tips and age them just a bit faster than normal. But I skipped it this time, because I was short on time.
During the Shave Feel:
Cheeks: Felt blade but comfortable
Neck: Felt blade but comfortable
After the Shave Closeness:
Cheeks: Close Shave
Neck: Several hairs are showing some tip length (still a pretty good shave)
Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet
