Aug. 20, 2022 - AA Day 20

• Brush: ShaveForge 28mm Boar, 3d Printed Handle #RawHoggin
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb #GEMsOfWisdom
• Blade: GEM Stainless (20)

• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime - Soap

• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime - Eau de Toilette

Had some extra time before my 5:00 Uber to the airport, so I got in a relaxing shave first.

Everything working well, much better than the rushed shave last night.

One interesting thing to note, the SSL seems to attract bees. I've never had a problem before, but I was stung 4 tubes yesterday while on a boat or at the pool. They left everyone else alone, and were just swarming me.

August 20, 2022: Venti isn't large

• Prep: warm splash of water
• Brush: Yaqi Sagrada Familia Tuxedo 24 mm
• Razor: GEM OCMM (gen 2)
• Blade: GEM Stainless (21)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Eau de Parfum

A lazy day yesterday and I'm back at work. Finally not posting late like a lazy POS. Stag on, friends!

Day 20, 3 spritzes

. #GEMsOfWisdom

August 20 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (23)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo splash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth/Declaration Grooming -

Pushed the hydration again and was rewarded; I wouldn’t say Tusk is super thirsty but it can take a decent amount of water. Very slick today and the blade has been trouble-free so far. Cerberus is the jam.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

August 20, 2022

• Brush: Zenith 506U XSE
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM SS PTFE (54)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Sheep
• Post Shave: Lucky Tiger
• Post Shave: Olay Complete
• Post Shave: Chatillon Lux - unscented skin salve

Riding the AA wave until the end. Starting off the weekend with a nice lazy shave. Busy day ahead of me. I am a bit behind on yard work.

#GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 20, 2022 - Austere August 20- Raw GEMs and Wise Hogs

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (20)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom Who has two thumbs and is ready for Tabac Tuesday? This guy. Day 20 and the blade is going strong. Haven't taken a GEM blade beyond 20 shaves so into the unknown we go tomorrow.

#RawHoggin Brush is all good. Small but mighty in the face lather department.

#Sidetracked Undeath's It's Time...To Rise from the Grave is one of the best death metal albums of the year. It hits like a ton of bricks and is filled with sick riffs. So here's my bloody contribution to a Saturday, "Rise From The Grave" to piss off the neighbors- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23umtsJ3A7A

Off to teach an aerial yoga class. Have a great day all!

Aug. 20, 2022 - RawHoggin & Taming the MMOC

• Brush: Zenith B37
• Razor: Gem MMOC
• Blade: Gem PTFE (20)

• Lather: Strike Gold Shave - Kennedy

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Stirling Blu - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari - Unscented - Balm

RawHoggin

GemsOfWisdom

Got to sleep in an extra hour today, which I guess was negated by the fact that I stayed up 2 hours later than normal. Oops.

This brush has turned into an excellent daily driver. All the tips have split and I no longer have the occasional scritchy bristle. I can foresee it getting regular use post-AA.

I think I have found a magic blade, there hasn’t been any noticeable deterioration since about 10 shaves. It’s still perfectly smooth and giving clean shaves. I might keep rocking it past AA. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

Austere August Day 20

Brush: Rubberset 400-3 w/ Unbleached Zenith 24mm knot set to a 56mm loft 20th use

Razor: Gem MMOC, gen 2

Blade: PTFE (20)

Lather: NO Monoi de Tahiti

Post: NO Monoi de Tahiti Splash

Got most of the hair off my face. This blade sucks. The end.

RawHoggin

GemsOfWisdom

Aug. 20, 2022 - AA Day 20

• Prep: Hot water
• Brush: Semogue 1305
• Razor: GEM Open Comb Micromatic
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (20)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Eau de Parfum

SubstantialStag

GEMSofWisdom

Definitely some tugging and generalized irritation from the blade feel on my neck, which is my usual location of sensitivity. I also go XTG both ways in two passes, so I know the blade is wearing when I get resistance on the first XTG pass. Technique can definitely overcome blade limitations, as we can all learn from hanging around this place. Not a huge concern since I still get zero burn from the aftershave.

Our cause is noble! Push on til the end!

Sprays

August 20, 2022 - Austere August Ultra-Nightmare Mode

Brush pics for RawHoggin challenge

• Brush: Zenith B10
• Razor: Gem MMOC Gen 2 Ex-Watson
• Blade: Personna PTFE (20)
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Washington's Blend - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Executive Man - Balm

The brush is still doing great. The blade has lost a bit of edge, though, so I find my technique is heavier and my face is more sensitive after. I’ll flip the blade before tomorrow and try to have a lighter touch. Brush pic incoming soon.

#RawHoggin

#GEMsOfWisdom

😔 while I’m still participating, I totally forgot to make a post yesterday after my shave .

A Mammoth Micromatic Raw Hoggin’ August

Brush Progress

• Brush: Zenith B26 #RawHoggin
• Razor: GEM MMOC #GEMsOfWisdom
• Blade: GEM (10)
• Lather: House if Mammoth - Hygge in Tusk
• Post Shave: Hygge Splash & Balm
• Fragrance: Hygge EDP #MammothMafia

Day 1 Prep Video

RawHoggin Unboxing Pics

MammothMafia

Aug. 20, 2022 - Taking life by the antlers - Austere August Day 20

• Brush: RazoRock 506CK / 26mm boar
• Razor: GEM OCMM (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (20)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Zingari - Rescue Potion - Serum

• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Eau de Parfum

20 days straight off the same shave. I went longer with Beaudelaire a couple years ago but ran out of soap by day 26 or so. That's not gonna happen this time so it will be the longest streak of shaving daily with the same thing that I've ever done.

#RawHoggin

The thing I used to hate about boars the most was that second and third pass lathers we're always thin. This brush started out like that but it's not an issue anymore. I'm still excited to see how it lathers other soaps.

#GEMsofWisdom

tugging intensifies

Still a nice shave in the end.

Brush day 20

Stag sprays

August 20, 2022

• Brush: Zenith B15 (506 U/L) 27.5mm Boar
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gold Gen2
• Blade: Personna Gem PTFE (20)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap
• Post Shave: Thayers - Lemon - Toner
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Eau de Parfum  

2 passes. Face lather. Good shave.

• Challenges: #GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag
• Brush Top (before use) - Brush History
• Fragrance Video
• Blade Edge (before use) - Edge Histiory
• Blade Orientation (black dots - odd days, red dots - even days)

Every day, the edge on this blade gets a tiny bit rougher. Though I suspect it will get to a point where changes are imperceptible, I'm still noticing degradation. I'm adapting to this, but not enjoying it particularly. Today's edge condition photo is very similar to the last few; the edge is no longer straight across the image. There's a sense of toothiness.

I was fooled by this razor. I know these are brass and sometimes chrome plated. When I received it, I was convinced that the cap was so shiny it had to be gold plating, and apparently there were Ads back in the day offering the razor in "gold". This could be "gold color", not the element Au. A few days ago I noticed some tarnishing. Gold doesn't tarnish. I'm an idiot. After AA, I'll change the razor's description to MMOC Brass Gen2, and I think I'll force a patina on it. I like the look of u/J33pGuy13's MMOC.

Aug. 20, 2022

• Brush: Zenith B36 "Copper Scrubby!" 28x50mm Boar
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM SS (20)

• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Soap

• Post Shave: Porter's Lotion, WSP - Neroli - Cooling Aftershave Balm

• Fragrance: Olympic Orchids - Dev #1: Foreplay

• Passes: WTG, XTG

• Coffee: Peru. Panchia, Tabaconas, Cajamarca - v: Yellow Caturra & Typica - p: Washed
• Music: Otis Redding - The Dock of the Bay
• August 2022 SOTD Photo Album

#GEMsOfWisdom / #RawHoggin

This Zenith knot continues to soften at the tips, ever so slowly, making lathering easier and easier. I also loaded an extra ten swirls now that the knot doesn't seem to eat any extra soap I offer it. That load yielded enough lather for at least three passes.

Looking at my measurement table, I'm on track to use another 17 grams of soap or so. This Stirling Lime puck was lightly used when I started Austere August and weighed in at about 236 grams of soap. I could easily get another hundred shaves out of it using any 26mm brush, regardless of knot fiber or density. That solution to my soap problems can't arrive soon enough!

Date	Soap Before (g)	Soap After (g)	Usage (g)	Loading
8/1	235.5	232.5	3	◊
8/2	232.5	228.0	4.5	◊
8/3	228.0	227.0	1	◊
8/4	227.0	223.3	3.7	◊
8/5	223.3	220.3	3	40 seconds
8/6	220.3	218.8	1.5	30 seconds
8/7	218.8	217.9	0.9	40 swirls
8/8	217.9	216.5	1.4	40 swirls
8/9	216.5	215.9	0.6	40 swirls
8/10	215.9	215.6	0.3	50 swirls
8/11	215.6	213.9	1.7	60 swirls
8/12	214.7	213.0	1.7	60 swirls
8/13	213.0	211.5	1.5	60 swirls
8/14	211.5	210.5	1	60 swirls
8/15	210.5	209.0	1.5	60 swirls
8/16	209.0	207.2	1.8	60 swirls
8/17	207.2	205.9	1.3	~62 swirls
8/18	205.9	204.4	1.5	60 swirls
8/19	204.4	203.3	1.1	60 swirls
8/20	203.3	◊	◊	70 swirls

⁂

#sidetracked u/Teufelskraft

Today's song is very much not a hidden gem. "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" has been a classic as long as I've been aware of radio stations playing music for the masses, and is famous not just for it's exceptional whistle-bility, but also for reaching the top of the charts after the death of its co-writer and performer, Otis Redding. I've read that Redding considered the song unfinished, and there's a certain rawness to "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" that makes it timeless. The recording sounds a bit like an early take, the whistle solo suggests a pro-on-their-day-off casualness, and the ending fades out in a way I've always found abrupt and unsatisfying. "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" feels like a snapshot of a moment; Redding's tragic death in in 1967 meant it had to be published as is. I think that vague sense of the song being incomplete, in flux, and experimental is what makes it so impactful—perfect in its imperfection.

YouTube: Otis Redding - "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay"

Aug. 20, 2022

• Prep: Exercise and shower
• Brush: Semogue 1438
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM blue star (20)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Thé Noir et Vanille - Soap

• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Thé Noir et Vanille - Aftershave

Ok shave today. The blades really no worse or better than usual I keep flipping it and I’m getting through. The brush is pretty great to use now its getting soft. I am getting excited for AA to end so I can try some of my new toys. #RawHoggin #GEMsOfWisdom

https://i.imgur.com/ZwGHk1M.jpg

Aug. 20, 2022 - Austere August

• Prep: Cold water
• Brush: Ever-Ready 200 - Zenith 27mm unbleached boar knot
• Razor: GEM MICROMATIC OPEN COMB 2nd gen
• Blade: PERSONNA GEM SS PTFE(20)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Unscented - Soap
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Incorporeal - Aftershave (Alcohol-Free)

Tonight I was going to have dinner with friends but after a quick test, the cold from a few days ago has revealed itself as a covid infection so I'll stay at home.

#unscented #RawHoggin

PigEvolution 1 2

#GEMsOfWisdom

Good shave without too many incidents, a couple of nicks because of some pimples that the blade has beheaded.

2022-08-20 - Austere August - Raw Hoggin' Mammoth MMOC

Prep: Warm Shower
Brush: Semogue Torga - C5
Razor: GEM MMOC version 2
Blade: GEM Stainless (20)
Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Soap
Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Aftershave
Fragrance: Issey Miyake -L'eau d'Issey pour Homme

https://imgur.com/a/Sa3Q7JM

20 shaves in the books, on the home stretch. Everything is still working great.

#GEMsOfWisdom

#RawHoggin

#MammothMafia

Aug. 20, 2022 - twenty days

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Omega Pro 48 Boar brush 28mm
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (20)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Hygge - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Hygge - Aftershave

So the second pass hurt. And I certainly felt the burn from the aftershave splash today. This means to me that the blade is on the decline at this point. I know I can hang on for another 11 shaves, but it might hurt. Ah, the things some people do for ridiculous internet shaving contests...

At least this brush will finish the month being fully broken in and soft and delightful on the face. Maybe won't touch the MMOC for another year. At this point I am very much looking forward to using a DE razor. Any one will do.

#GEMsOfWisdom

#MammothMafia

August 20th, 2022 - Is it September yet?

• Prep: Warm water

• Brush: Zenith B36 “Copper Scrubby!”

• Razor: GEM MMOC Gen 2

• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (19)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Alive

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive Splash

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive Balm

#MammothMafia

#RawHoggin

#GEMsOfWisdom

Before shave 20 and After 20

20 shaves in so far. I can not fathom how u/djundjila has reached 89. I paid ~$0.23US per blade. I don’t think I will get past 31 on my blade, but at under $0.01 per shave for blades, heck of a deal, and cheaper than my 7 O’Clock Yellow which I get about $0.015 per shave. With that math, I should get more GEM razors right (like the Micromatic Bullet Tip I keep seeing on eBay)? To go with my several year supply of soap (yes, I have a problem). Alas, I told my wife I would refrain from buying new razors or other shaving things until maybe Xmas or possibly next spring. Except for the group 31mm boar brush. I told her I committed to that before my spending freeze. She did buy me some more Thayers because she had a $5 off offer from Target, but that was her choice.

Ok enough math and budget talk and on to todays shave. The blade is definitely on the downward slope now. It had a nice peak zone of about 10 shaves after the breaking in of the blade. Yesterday, I had irritation on my sideburn area. Today, first pass felt very tuggy. The blade is losing its glide. Mindful of the irritation, I kept pressure as light as I could, and no buffing or touch ups. I tried to follow the instructions to keep the cap to my face, but little bit angled up felt less tuggy. Feedback is getting crunchier, especially under my chin. End shave was ok, but I’d rate it a 3 out of 5.

The hog is really starting to get there at least. I can get a good splay on my face, and it pumps out a good lather. The handle patina has really started to darken this last week. The most is closest to the knot. I can find areas that are a dark bronze with red and purple accents. The copper handle is going to look great in another few months as the shiny copper areas start to develop. Lots of tips still left to split to get all the way broken in, but even with the firm backbone, it isn’t too rough.

The other good part of the shave is the set from House of Mammoth. I was worried I might get more irritation and redness on my face today, but the splash didn’t burn too much, and the menthol is feeling great right now. The balm works very well and doesn’t leave behind a greasy feeling. I think I am about 1/3 through the soap. Overall, the set is the highlight of the shave.

Aug 20, 2021 – Austere August. Day 20.

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Zenith - B16 24mm Boar
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (20)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Sheep
• Post Shave: Zingari Man – Unscented - Aftershave Balm
• Music: Zac Clark - Love You Later

Every day, I get a little more excited for Austere August to end and seeing the dates starting with a 2 is a big step in the right direction. The things I thought would be the hardest: MMOC, new Boar Brush, and using the same blade every single day are not the hardest part of this for me. Sure, I’d like to change those things up, just for the sake of mixing things up, but I’m now very comfortable with all those… But the thing that is killing me is u/rocketk455’s damn unscented challenge. I miss the scents way more than I ever thought I would. Shaving has become a ritual for me. Something that I enjoy. And part of that ritual is determining the scent, based on how I’m feeling that day, unscrewing the tub, and inhaling a big whiff before I start to load the brush. And of course, smelling my aftershave of choice for hours after the shave and having my wife comment “You smell nice today!”

It’s been a long 20 days without that and while I know I can go another 11, this part is way harder than I thought it would be. The chance to win something awesome from him is (hopefully) worth a little piece of me dying every shave.

Today’s shave itself was good (provided you ignore the how soul-crushing 20 days of unscented life is). The MMOC shaved great and the boar brush was good as well. I was never a face-latherer before this, but I’m starting to wonder if I prefer face lathering to bowl/scuttle. Gonna be interesting to go back and see how AA has impacted my shave routine once September rolls around.

Today’s #sidetracked music selection is my man Zac Clark. Dude looks a little like a homeless person and literally lived in his van for most of last year, driving around the country, playing his music. He needs more attention, because his music is awesome and he seems like a very interesting human. Right before the pandemic, my wife and I saw my play to a crowd of maybe 30 people in the upstairs old, run-down theater venue in Rhode Island and it seemed like half of the audience was his family, and it was awesome. Instead of using his own piano, he opted to use the theater’s own organ “because it has more character”, and he was right. Zac’s music is laid back, almost-folk-piano-rock, and he preaches love and kindness through his beautiful voice. Give it a listen and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Tags: #unscented #rawhoggin #GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 20, 2022 - Artemis Day

• Brush: Grey Chubby - Zenith B37
• Razor: Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM - PTFE Coated Stainless Steel (20)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Z - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Z - Aftershave

This day last year was my final day of a short-lived stint working for a particular bottled-water company, which I'll call... Niue. Sure, Niue Water, after an island nation in the south Pacific.

I hesitate to say that my job at Niue Water was the worst job I ever had, but that's just because superlative statements are cheap, so I tend to avoid them if I mean to be taken seriously.

Side note, would it surprise you to learn that a company of that size handles their beverage distribution entirely in Excel? I sure as shit was surprised. Manually-prepared Excel spreadsheets, every day. Blew my mind. And how do people within the company share data with one another? Screenshots of those Excel spreadsheets. Sadly, there was no underlying explanation other than mind-bogglingly rampant technical illiteracy. This is not to say that I categorically expect everyone to have a certain level of technical literacy, but if your job involves handling, tracking, manipulating, then internally sharing said data for further such use, you better at least recognize that an image of a spreadsheet is fucking worthless. Side side note: I quickly learned that Niue's purported workplace culture of "teamwork" could be represented with the words "That's not my job, it's someone else's problem."

I did do a lot to make things more efficient, at least for things over which I had direct influence. I automated a lot of my recurring stuff (things previously done by one of my three bosses, things that I was hired to take off of her plate because the whole department was largely short-handed), adding in some well-received improvements. By the encouragement and express instruction of Boss Two and my bosses' boss, I pushed for read-only access to our own databases, at least until Boss Three contradicted the encouragement with a curt "stop asking."

What made it really terrible, though, was Boss One. Being that the main reason I was there was to take on some of her stuff, I had to rely on her for most aspects of my job. Questions while I'm learning? Ask Boss One. New situation I've never seen before? Ask Boss One. Boss One says I'm taking on new work and provides no further information on what I'm expected to do? Ask Boss One. Boss One says, "You're here to help me, not the other way around! No one even likes you!" Cool. Mature. I didn't even make that second part up; that was a real thing that was said to me when I tried to get what I needed in order to do my job.

This is the part where I compare face-lathering to the job at Niue or to Boss One, right? Not today. Niue Water is awful, and even the water itself is gross swill that they try to justify being so overpriced by putting it in a stupid square bottle. "Fantastic" pistachios, too; same company. "Fantastic" my ass.

So last year on this day, I walked out and left that cunt to deal with all her own work, with none of the automation and none of the improvements. I later found out that Boss Two, who himself had been at the company only a few months before I came on, also quit later in the same month; it filled me with joy to learn that they were surely left in even greater disarray when he left.

Anyway, that brings me to what I really wanted to talk about: When I left that day, I went to pick up my cat and bring her to her forever home. Today is Artemis' Artemis Day! The broad strokes (more story and kitten pics here) are that she had been living outside, and then had kittens in a shed/garage before my landlord brought them all to their office until such a time as the kittens could be adopted. The last of the kittens was taken to their respective home, so I brought home Artemis to live inside with me!

What else? Oh, yeah, the blade isn't shaving all that great after nearly three weeks of use, but it's also been that way for a while, I think. Just ten more days until a fresh blade.

#GEMsOfWisdom
#RawHoggin
#unscented
#MammothMafia

Finding Serenity in RawHogginy on the road to the GEMtury Pt. 20

• Prep: Klar Activated Charcoal facial soap
• Brush: Rubberset 400-3 with unbleached 26 mm Zenith knot set at 56 mm loft (20)
• Razor: GEM - Micromatic (open comb, first generation)
• Blade: Personna - GEM PTFE (89)
• Soaking Mug: Seaforth! - Scotch Heather - shaving mug
• Bath Soap: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime - bath soap
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Ice Lime - Soap
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime - Eau de Toilette

#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin

Today was the second day tracking the Austere August challenges with a functional Djudge Portal and I'm relieved that, so far, no bugs have appeared.

I've had a very enjoyable shave today, but I'm running out of things to say about the setup. There's really no discernable day-to-day change in the blade's condition anymore, and the brush feels broken in and sheriff's like Sea Ice Lime. This AA is on easy mode.

August 20th

• Brush: Zenith Boar - 505NK 27mm
• Razor: GEM - MMOC
• Blade: Gem PTFE (20)
• Lather - Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Soap
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Splash
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Edp

#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag

Edp video

Aug. 20, 2022 - Austere August - Raw Hoggin' MMOC Ultra Nightmare Mode

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Zenith Boar - B37 - Gray Chubby #RawHoggin
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gen2 #GEMsOfWisdom
• Blade: GEM (20)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Margaritas in the Arctic - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Glacial Margaritas in the Arctic - Aftershave

Day 20 - Today was a quick an unceremoniously quick 2 pass shave. Last full day in Turkey with my father and I really wanted to maximize every bit of it. Nothing new to report - brush, razor and soap all performed great.

The Brush: Nothing new to report. #RawHoggin

Brush Picture Pre-shave: Side Top

Brush Picture Post-shave: Side Top

The Razor Nice, routine 2 pass shave with no injuries. #GEMsOfWisdom

Days since last blood: 2

The Soap and Aftershave I am starting to quickly get tired of MITA however, the methanol keeps it pleasant.

Day 20 Puck Picture

Aug 20, 2022 - AA: MA-RH-MM - Almond Leather - Day 20

• Prep: Warm Water Wash
• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: Zenith Cobalt Blue 28mm Boar Knot (505BC SE)
• Razor: GEM Open Comb Micromatic (2nd Gen.)
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (20)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Almond Leather - Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Almond Leather - Aftershave

Quick shave for today, and I almost forgot to post it.

#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #MammothMafia

Rating: 3.5/5

Aug. 20, 2022

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: AP Shave Co 24MM SYNBAD
• Razor: GEM - Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM - PTFE (20)

• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Bare Siero - Soap

• Post Shave: Thayers - Unscented - Toner

2 pass shave with a 30 second load.

GEMsOfWisdom

unscented

Aug 20, 2022 - Getting Sidetracked while searching for the Wisdom of a Mammoth

• Prep: Hot shower and CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Brush: Maggard Green Handle 2 Band Badger 24mm

• Razor: GEM - MMOC

• Blade: Personna GEM Stainless (20)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive Balm

• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Sonder EdP

Every day tags: #MammothMafia #GEMsofWisdom

Aug. 20, 2022 - Austere August Day 20

• Prep: House of Mammoth Almond Leather Bath Soap
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Mire 26mm Zenith Unbleached Boar
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb Gen 1
• Blade: GEM PTFE (20)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Aftershave

🐗Raw Hoggin' Progress🤮:
•Unused
•Shave 1 through 7
•Shave 8
•Shave 9
•Shave 10
•Shave 11
•Shave 12
•Shave 13
•Shave 14
•Shave 15
•Shave 16
•Shave 17
•Shave 18
•Shave 19
•Shave 20

Thoughts for the day:
11 more shaves to go. Holding fast.

Mandatory Taggage:

#GemsOfWisdom

#RawHoggin

#MammothMafia

August 20th, 2022

Prep: Warm water

Razor: Gem MMOC

Blade: Gem Blue Star (20)

Brush: Omega Model 13564 23mm boar

Soap: LA Shaving Soap Co. Black Void

Post: Noble Otter Bare

Comfort: 7/10

Smoothness: 7/10

7 second load.

2 pass shave XTG/ATG.

Another rushed shave. Been a busy month, but this shaving method isn't too time consuming either.

GEMsOfWisdom

unscented

RawHoggin

Aug. 20, 2022 - Austere August Day 20

• Prep: Hot Shower, Stirling Soaps Activated Charcoal Facial
• Brush: Zenith 508A SE 28mm
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gen 1
• Blade: GEM PTFE (20)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Restore - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Restore - Balm

• Post Shave: Zingari - Unscented - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Tom Ford - Grey Vetiver

Day 20. Closing in on the final stretch of this horrid month. Everything is still working great, honestly surprised my blade hasn’t shown at least a little sign of wear. Now to figure out what knot to put in my impulse handle purchase…

Mandatory Tagging:

#GEMsOfWisdom

#Rawhoggin

#MammothMafia

Aug. 20, 2022 - AA - Day 22

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Zenith Boar - Short & Scrubby
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM Blade (20)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Ferox - Soap
• After Shave: Fine Accoutrements - L'Orange Noir - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Nivea - Sensitive Post Shave Balm - Aftershave

the brush it starting to get better each day. I have started to use more water when loading the brush and getting better lather. 2 pass quick face shave and the blade is still cutting. Slight burns with aftershave and the balm to sooth things.

Tags: #GemsOfWisdom #RawHoggin

Aug. 20, 2022 - AA Day 20

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Zenith B34
• Razor: MMOC (Gen 2)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (20)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux - Admiral - Eau de Toilette

Today's SOTD is brought to you courtesy of the first 5k I ran and the bows and lip gloss my daughters continue to leave on the counter every day. Felt pretty good about the run - PR'd my 5k time by 13 seconds with a time of 27:15. I've picked up running quite a bit more the last couple years and ramped up miles even more this Summer and have enjoyed it. Still mix it up with a variety of workouts, but, running is growing on me.

Anyway - the Zenith pic 1 pic 2 was photographed wet tonight as I forgot to take pictures of it pre-shave. It's been a long (but good) day. I thought as I lathered my face today that this boar, at 35 bucks, feels as good as any badger that I've used consistently. The gelousy that's waiting in the wings may beat it, I only got to use it once prior to AA, but for now this might be the softest brush in my den. I know this is the whole point of AA and the fine gentlemen running the challenges are aware of it, but, boars break in beautifully (and even surprisingly quickly) with no help. The hardest part for me this whole time has been not drying it on a towel post shave - I haven't done it - but, I almost do every time, even 20 days later.

MMOC was great. Shaved early yesterday and pretty late today so it was about as long as my growth ever gets these days and it mowed it right down with no problems. Full 3 pass shave with darn near BBS results.

Sonder - great again. Paired it with some Admiral and away we go.

Sonder thought of the day: We went to a car show today that was a fundraiser for my daughter's equine therapy lessons and while there we saw and interacted with a whole lot of people - some I knew and others I didn't. Anyway - this one very old guy (70s or 80s) stuck with me. He was sitting there in his VW bus and we just chat for a few minutes and man, if I could have hung around and heard that guys stories, I would have done it all day. The VW was set up with a full "bed" in the back and two seats in the front and he could have lived in that thing at some point for all I know. Sonder made me pause with him, even if I didn't get to ask about any of his life adventures - he was happy to show my kids the van and no, it wasn't a creepy "free candy" van. Anyway, there are so many vibrant lives all around and I'm kicking myself for not asking that guy ANY questions. Next time. Live and learn, right?

Pay attention, people - there are amazing life stories all around you - just ask.

Have a great night.

#mammothmafia

#RawHoggin

#GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 20, 2022 - AA Day 20

• Prep: Warm shower
• Brush: AP400B XL Handle (AP ShaveCo) - 28mm Maggard Boar Knot
• Razor: GEM MMOC - Gen 1
• Blade: GEM PTFE (89)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Eau de Parfum

I am finding myself more and more curious how this brush is going to be with some different bases. Until then everything is still great though!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Saturday!

Stag Spray 20 #GEMSofWisdom #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag

Aug. 20, 2022 - Austere August Ultra Nightmare RawHoggin Stagpocalypse

• Prep: Midnight Stag liquid soap and bar soap
• Brush: Semogue 1250
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (20)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Balm

• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Eau de Parfum

It’s been a helluva day. I didn’t go to bed until after 5 this morning because I was babying the grill outside all night. My wife took an order to cater for a class reunion and I felt obligated to assist. So I smoked 4 Boston butts, marinated and grilled about 15 pounds of chicken breasts, and prepared various other dishes to finish today. Woke up around 9:30, visited my grandmother who’s in the hospital right now, and got back to work. We finished all the food and got it delivered and set up, ate supper ourselves, and was just about to go to bed when I realized I didn’t shave this morning. I’ll be damned if I miss a single day, so I HAD to shave! I only sprayed one spray tonight and didn’t film it because I’m only wearing my boxers and nobody wants to see that.

SubstantialStag

GEMsOfWisdom

RawHoggin

Aug. 20, 2022 - Day 20: longest day ever

• Prep: Warm water wash
• Brush: Zenith B33 Copper Boar Brush
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: Persona GEM PTFE Coated (20)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - 福 (Fu Dao) - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - 福 (Fu Dao) - Aftershave

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - 福 (Fu Dao) - Balm

• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - 福 (Fu Dao) - Eau de Parfum

Well I had an alright shave. I am ready for a change of hardware. The software is still great! The brush is getting decent. Still not my favorite brush, but it’s doing alright.

The picture today was a bit risky. The flag knocked over the soap and almost blew everything into the water never to be seen again. A boat wake came through and the EdP started sliding and almost went in the water. Luckily nothing was lost.

Brush break-in album #rawhoggin #mammothmafia #GEMSofWisdom

Aug. 20, 2022 - AA 20

• Prep: Late Night Shower
• Brush: Semogue 1305 Pure Bristle 22mm
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (26)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Balm

• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Seville - Eau de Toilette

break in album and SOTD in title.

Nice post shower shave. Well soaked brush this evening compared to yesterdays lazy, rushed, almost forgotten debacle. #GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #MammothMafia

Aug. 20, 2022

• Brush: Maggard 28mm Boar
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (20)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Balm

• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Eau de Parfum

Much needed lazy weekend. Cheers.

Boar Break In Album

Stag Spray

#RawHoggin

#SubstantialStag

#GemsOfWisdom

#UNCHALLENGE

20220820 Austere August Day 20

Brush: Omega 011842

Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb

Blade: GEM PTFE

Lather: Stirling - Sheep

Post: Stirling - Coniferous toner

Post: DR Harris - Windsor aftershave milk

#GEMSOFWISDOM

Aug 20, 2022 Trickhole Stag + MMOC + RawHog - Setting up in the New House

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Dogwood Unbleached Boar
• Razor: MMOC MM24
• Blade: GEM (20)
• Lather: Chiseled Face Grooming Midnight Stag
• Post Shave:Chiseled Face Grooming Midnight Stag Balm
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face Grooming Midnight Stag

Stagging it up 3x

#GEMsOfWisdom

Cheers