Aug. 26, 2022 - Headless Mammoth Hoggin' Day 26

• Brush: Proraso Professional Boar | Break-in photos
• Razor: Feather Artist Club SR (Kamisori)
• Blade: Schick Proline (26)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Alive - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive - Balm

• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Alive - Eau de Parfum

AA Tags: #RawHoggin #MammothMafia

Solid 3 pass shave today. Today I decided to try a steeper angle with the shavette to see if I could gain a bit of efficiency and it might be placebo but it certainly felt like I was getting a bit closer with each pass. I may have ended up with just slightly more irritation, but that may also be due to the mileage on the blade, who knows.

One thing that I've been thinking about is the idea that the rate at which a brush picks up soap is probably closer to asymptotic and than linear, but I have no way of scientifically measuring it but it makes sense to me. When a brush has no soap on it, the fibers make direct contact with the soap and the friction of the brush should be greater than when a brush is full of soap. If a brush is already saturated with soap, then I would imagine rubbing soap against soap you're less likely to pick up more. Of course this is complicated by the amount of water in the brush and how much pressure you're exerting when you're loading, but for someone like me that loads with a very light touch it has been fairly easy to get the right amount of soap to build the type of lather that I want without feeling like I overloaded.

Now that we're near the end of the month of boar, it's also time to be a bit more objective in evaluating boar brushes now that we're well past the honeymoon period. At the beginning of the month I was curious about how soft the boar would actually get and whether it would actually end up feeling pillowy soft and luxurious, and right now the answer for me is no but that may be because I'm not using a nice Zenith. What it is is a great tool for building excellent lather very efficiently with a little bit of scrub. It will be interesting to see if I end up reaching for my boars at about the same rate as my badgers and synthetics. I tend to reach for synthetics when I want a quick brainless lather that's very easy on the face maybe after a rough shave the previous day and when I want that silky face feel. In the end I'm guessing I'll just pick up a boar when I want some variety and it's different enough to keep in the den.

Aug 26, 2022 - AA: MA-RH-MM - Almond Leather - Day 26

• 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 (26)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Almond Leather - Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Almond Leather - Aftershave

Another good BBS shave. However, I went a little rogue with the buffing and had some irritation.

While I've grown to truly appreciate this entire setup, I am really, really looking forward to using some different stuff.

#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #MammothMafia

Rating: 4/5

Aug. 26, 2022 - Stag Day 26

• Brush: Zenith B26 Retro
• Razor: Merkur 34C
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (26)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

• Muse: Supremacy

Another blessed day full of Stagy greatness. May He bless.

#SubstantialStag #RawHoggin

Stag Spray 26

• Prep: warm shower
• Brush: Semogue 1250
• Razor: Novelty Cutlery Co straight razor
• Lather House of Mammoth - Z
• Post Shave: Equate witch hazel
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - unscented aftershave balm

Headless Horsemen

#RawHoggin #unscented

Austere August 2022 day 26 https://imgur.com/a/1jBo7ZR

Aug. 26, 2022 - Austere August 26- No, Really, Are We There Yet?

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (26)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

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

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom After yesterday's smooth shave I was due for a bit of a letdown. Today, the blade felt a bit on the dull side without feeling tuggy. WTG/XTG was fine but it took some extra effort on the buffing finish to get this into DFS range. Whatever, it's Friday.

#RawHoggin Is there anything left to say about my brush at this point?

#Sidetracked The Viagra Boys (not to be confused with the Vengaboys) have put out some pretty interesting albums over the last several years. I haven't connected with all of them, but their new album Cave World has definitely grown on me since it's been out. However, "Ain't No Thief" from that album is absolutely a standout. They lyrics are hilariously well written. The song has a damn good beat. Yes, you can dance to it (if you want to, of course). This might be one of my top individual songs of the year because it's just awesome- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCYBYf62wns So to u/Teufelskraft and the gang enjoy the dance party.

Have a great day all!

Austere August Day 26

Brush: Rubberset 400-3 w/ Unbleached Zenith 24mm knot set to a 56mm loft 26th use

Razor: Gem MMOC, gen 2

Blade: PTFE (26)

Lather: NO Monoi de Tahiti

Post: NO Monoi de Tahiti Splash

Surprisingly another good shave this morning. Made sure to really push the hydration on my lather and was pleased with how much water the NO base can handle. I am going to try and push my other soap bases further after this month. I think overall I could do a better job if hydrating my lather more across the board. Something to work on next month.

RawHoggin

GemsOfWisdom

Finding Serenity in RawHogginy on the road to the GEMtury Pt. 26

• Prep: Klar Activated Charcoal facial soap
• Brush: Rubberset 400-3 with unbleached 26 mm Zenith knot set at 56 mm loft (26)
• Razor: GEM - Micromatic (open comb, first generation)
• Blade: Personna - GEM PTFE (95)
• 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

I catch myself thinking more and more about September shaves during my AA shaves. I guess it's good that AA is over soon. For example, I've spent a bit of time honing this cute little stainless razor yesterday evening, and I'm looking forward to getting back to improving my open blade skills with it next month. I've been intrigued by stainless steel straights for a while because I constantly worry about moisture with carbon steel blades. This straight allows me to be a bit more relaxed about making sure it's bone dry before putting it away out of reach of all family members. Now I just hope that my nascent honing skills are good enough to make this impulsive purchase worthwhile.

I think it's time to stop calling the results of my shaves with this blade "close to BBS" anymore. It looks clean shaven, but now, 7 hours post shave, my face feels like it could use a second shave of the day. Now usually, I'd just do that, but I timed it so that I'll reach 100 shaves on this blade on the last day of AA and I want to stick to that plan. The brush remains a pleasure to use, and for some reason makes me eager to get the sub exclusive brush.

#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin

Aug. 26, 2022 - Raw Hoggin Day 26

• Prep: Warm water to the face
• Brush: Omega 10098
• Razor: Maggard Razors - V3 Head
• Blade: Voskhod (7)

• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Island Man - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Natural - Balm

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Island Man - Aftershave

Another #RawHoggin shave down. Almost near the end of the challenge and the end of this soap.

It’s Friday y’all, hope you have a good day!

Aug. 26, 2022 - RawHoggin & Taming the MMOC

• Brush: Zenith B37
• Razor: Gem MMOC
• Blade: Gem PTFE (26)

• Lather: Strike Gold Shave - Kennedy

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

• Post Shave: Zingari - Unscented - Balm

RawHoggin

GemsOfWisdom

I can’t believe how bad this blade got so quickly. I tried giving the blade a few palm strops, but that didn’t seem to do anything at all. These next 5 shaves are going to be rough.

I think im going to be able to stretch this soap out 5 days exactly. The middle part on the bottom of the tub is exposed, but the ridges are deeper. I’m glad to get my 5th kill of the year. And with just a little effort I can easily get my 6th before the end of the year.

I don’t know if I will ever kill this splash. I’ve used it almost daily for what seems like a year and it’s still hanging on. I’ll be ready to get rid of it. The Zingari Man balm is almost dead too. I’ll definitely have to buy a replacement along with an unscented recovery splash. Zingari Man kills the post shave game.

Aug. 26, 2022 - AA Day26

• Prep: Shower/Wash with Warm Water
• Brush: Zenith Gray Chubby (B37)
• Razor: Wolfman Razors WR2-SB Razor Head (0. 95mm Blade Gap), WRH7 Handle (90mm Solid)
• Blade: Nacet (26)

• Lather: Catie's Bubbles - Waterlyptus - Soap

• Post Shave: Proraso - Menthol and Eucalyptus - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Osma Alum Block

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

Normal shave today, coming to an end soon for AA! Less than a week remaining! Brush broken in, used a good amount of soap, but enough remaining. Skunk Friday: https://imgur.com/vLoYhrY Tuxy trying to tell me he wants me to go to kitchen for food. He is soooo food motivated, way more than a dog.

RawHoggin

August 26, 2022 - Austere August Ultra-Nightmare Mode

Brush pics for RawHoggin challenge

• Brush: Zenith B10
• Razor: Gem MMOC Gen 2 Ex-Watson
• Blade: Personna PTFE (26)
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Washington's Blend - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Executive Man - Balm

I’m ready for it to be done! It was a good shave, though. See you all tomorrow– brush pics coming this afternoon.

#RawHoggin

#GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 26, 2022 - Austere August Ultra Nightmare ~~RawHoggin~~ Stagpocalypse

• Prep: Midnight Stag liquid soap and bar soap
• Brush: Semogue 1250
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (26)

• 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

Come to find out, I forgot to post a damn picture of my shave and brush Wednesday, taking me out of the running for the Raw Hoggin challenge. Talk about bein damn disappointed in myself for such a simple mistake. Life’s been hectic as hell but that’s no excuse. Shit happens, I suppose. 4 sprays today.

SubstantialStag

GEMsOfWisdom

~~#RawHoggin~~

Aug. 26, 2022

• Prep: Exercise and shower
• Brush: Semogue 1438
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM blue star (26)

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

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

Ok shave today. I hate to say it but today may have even been a good shave. Its possible that my technique is improving and this blade is not quite as terrible as I have been saying. Brush is still great. #RawHoggin #GEMsOfWisdom

https://i.imgur.com/IHuML8I.jpg

August 26, 2022

Brush: Omega 10049

Razor: Rockwell 6S Plate 5

Blade: Astra SP

Lather: House of Mammoth Beloved

Post Shave: House of Mammoth Beloved Splash

Post Shave: House of Mammoth Beloved Balm

#RawHoggin

Aug. 26, 2022 - Are we there yet?? - Austere August Day 26

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

Another day, another Stag/boar/OCMM shave...

#RawHoggin

Using this brush has become second nature to me. It makes me wonder what kind of adjustments I'll have to make when I finally get to start using my other brushes.

#GEMsofWisdom

Yet another smooth, tug free shave. Odd because it seems like it should be going in the other direction. The shaves are not as close as they used to be however. A fresh blade would feel amazing right now I bet.

Brush Day 26

Stag sprays

Aug. 26, 2022 - Glow in the dark Austere August Raw Hoggin’ Challenge

• Brush: Omega 20102
• Razor: Karve Brass SB B
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (9)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Embrace - Soap

• Post Shave: Noble Otter - Monarch - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Zoologist - Koala - EDP

Day 26, Lumos gets the day off #RawHoggin

Aug 26, 2021 – Austere August. Day 26.

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Zenith - B16 24mm Boar
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (26)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Sheep
• Post Shave: Zingari Man – Unscented - Aftershave Balm
• Music: Jack Johnson – Better Together

Today’s shave was good. While I look forward to using my other hardware and software (oh Lord, do I need to use my other software), I’m able to get perfectly good, albeit unsatisfying, shaves with this set-up. In the early days of the month, I didn’t mind the unscented, because my brain was stimulated on the novelty of the MMOC and new boar brush. Now, those are old hat, and I’m just living that unscented life. Sept 1 can’t come soon enough on that aspect.

But today, the MMOC and Zenith were perfectly fine. Nice, close shave and the brush is really, really nice now.

Feeling like taking it easy for today’s #sidetracked music. The sweet, soothing sounds of Jack Johnson with Better Together. Jack is my go-to listen for when I’m working on projects or building anything, like the project I described in this post about hobbies, where I turned an old kerosene water heater into a lamp for my office. Jack Johnson’s music absolutely puts me in a calm, relaxed headspace so I’m able to focus on the task at hand and not get frustrated when something doesn’t go as planned or work the way I want it to (Fun-Fact: There will always be something that doesn’t go as planned). I listened to Jack for 100% of the time it took to build that lamp, restore an old dresser, and paint my toddlers’ nursery before they were born. When it’s time to be productive, and not rush through the process, it’s me and Jack Johnson. Every time.

Tags: #unscented #rawhoggin #GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 26, 2022

• Brush: Grey Chubby - Zenith B37
• Razor: Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM - PTFE Coated Stainless Steel (26)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Z - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Z - Aftershave

Oh, Nigel Thadeus Dade, we hardly knew ye. Perhaps you would have been with us longer were I not compelled to be so unnecessarily wasteful with your soap. Face lather!!! All for a subpar lather, too.

Alright, I wasn't planning to do u/Teufelskraft's #sidetracked thing today, but something happened this morning that only makes sense to talk about in that context.

Weeks ago, I came across this Silvastone - Full Moon Tonight. The vocals give me a kind of speakeasy vibe that I like, if that makes sense. What really caught my ear, though, is that it instantly brought to mind another song, one that I couldn't quite put my finger on, but I could almost hear it while hearing this song.

But I was at a loss, because I was not able to recognize the song that was only vaguely "activated" inside my head, aside from a few bars that may or may not even be right. I resolved that I would just have to wait for it to come up again, and hope that I noticed in the event that that did happen. In the meantime, I wrote down the above song, for reference.

This morning, I came across the note I made to myself, not for the first time since. This time, those same few bars from the mystery song popped into my head. In the weeks since, I don't think I heard whatever song it was. Maybe I had been listening in the wrong places, so I pulled up my Pandora Thumbprint station, thinking it might be more the kind of song that would play there...

Katie Herzig - Hologram was the very first song to play! Never would have guessed; the name doesn't really even have a place in my brain.

Maybe you think I'm crazy, but the "All the ghosts are out, see them dance around through the streets and all over town" sounds just like the "I'm in a love affair without a love song / I'm in the habit of having what I don't want". Enough for my brain to go right to it, anyway, and for me to instantly know that I had found the song well before it even got there. I really thought it would have had the speakeasy thing, too. Oh well, I like the Katie Herzig one far better, anyway.

Now watch me hear a different song in a couple weeks and be like, "Oh, wait, this was the one..."

#GEMsOfWisdom
#RawHoggin
#unscented
#MammothMafia

August 26, 2022

• Brush: Zenith B15 (506 U/L) 27.5mm Boar
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gold Gen2
• Blade: Personna Gem PTFE (26)
• 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. Average 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)

It was difficult for me to rate this as an "average" shave. The whole shaving experience was excellent, but the result was just below what I would call a DFS. Post-shave feel is great, and there's no irritation. Before I got into wetshaving, I would have been happy with this as a daily shave but my standards are much higher now.

Today's edge image is the first from my new microscope. I spent hours with this thing yesterday, and have a way to go on the learning curve before I'm confident with it. Nonetheless, the image is much better than the schlock I've been producing. Here is an album that shows my current GEM blade with the old scope, the same area of the blade with the new scope, and an image of a fresh GEM blade with the new scope.

Aug. 26, 2022 - Austere August Day 26

• Prep: Hot Shower, Stirling Soap Facial Soap
• Brush: Zenith 508A SE 28mm
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gen 1
• Blade: GEM PTFE (26)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Restore - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Restore - Balm

• Post Shave: Zingari - Unscented - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Tom Ford - Grey Vetiver

Day 26 in the books. 5 more shaves until freedom. Wanted to kill Restore, but I don't think that is going to happen. I do have the ring beginning so I am close. Problem is, I don't know if I want to smell this scent for a good six months after this month... I have a couple sets that are new and begging me to use them. Also need to get some Agua Fresca in before the hot weather disappears. AF is the best scent that has come out this year imo, so if you haven't checked it out... you should.

Mandatory Tagging:

#GEMsOfWisdom

#Rawhoggin

#MammothMafia

Day 25 of Austere August! Staggin on!!

• Prep: Water on Face
• Brush: Zenith 2004/B SE
• Razor: Filarmonica Double temple 14
• Lather: Chiseled Face Midnight Stag
• Post Shave: Osma block
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face Midnight Stag Splash
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face Midnight Stag Balm
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face Midnight Stag EdP

Photo

​

Today's shave was very meh, nothing special, nothing bad, basically counting the days left. One of the reasons is because THIS arrived today! So happy, I'm glad I got the polished version, I cannot yet say how it shaves(that will happen in September) but it is a veeeery beautiful razor and looks wise it holds up to my expectations. It is a light razor 75.6 grams, which I enjoy, I say light, but the bronze or SS models are twice as heavy, so yeah, I like light razors.

​

Other than that I got sad today, because I found out that I won't have a Gearhead soap for me.. Bear with me. So I ordered 12 and they came, I sent 5 of them through courier, 3 I gave personally, took one and I have 3 more to give to people personally, so far so good, right? Wrong!!! I am going to the capital for work in about a couple of days and was looking at the soaps, and something was off in my mind, subconsciously that is.... Until it hit me. There were 2 soaps in the box, and I had to give off 3. I checked everything twice, to see who was naughty or nice, and everything came out clean. I turned over the whole room and found nothing, the only possibility is that I lost one when I went on the courier round.... So now I will give mine to the third person and be left with nothing... Quite annoyed, but I guess that's life. One could say "well why don't you order one", and I will reply, cause I don't have any money atm and I'm in a tough spot, if there is any left in stock on the site in about 3 months, I will order some, if not, I guess that's life. So yeah, bummed out today, but I always repeat to myself, there are people that have real life problems, be thankful that you are healthy and your family is healthy, everything else is just minor stuff. I will help with organizing Geartober, but will not participate, the whole thing is quite ironic :D

• #RawHoggin
• #SubstantialStag

Aug. 26, 2022 - AA #RawHoggin day 26

• Brush: Semogue 2000
• Razor: GC84
• Blade: Voskhod (11)

• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Glastonbury - Soap

• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Homecoming - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Stirling bergamot lavender toner

• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. - Barbershop - Eau de Toilette

2022-08-26 - Austere August - Raw Hoggin' Mammoth MMOC

Prep: Warm Shower

Brush: Semogue Torga - C5

Razor: GEM MMOC version 2

Blade: GEM Stainless (26)

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/3S31H6h

Another smooth shave, almost there :)

#GEMsOfWisdom

#RawHoggin

#MammothMafia

Aug. 26, 2022 ~ Austere August ~ Lather-Face

• Prep: Cold water
• Brush: Ever-Ready 200 - Zenith 27mm unbleached boar knot
• Razor: GEM MICROMATIC OPEN COMB 2nd gen
• Blade: PERSONNA GEM SS PTFE(26)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Unscented - Soap
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Incorporeal - Aftershave (Alcohol-Free)

Countdown ... 5

Only 3.81gr of soap was used yesterday so I had to load soap mindless and cover my face with creamed lather. Now, I can see the soap's ring of death.

Now it's a real #unscented shave, without pig stink.

#RawHoggin

I've made some pretty photos of bristles and hope I have more time to write up about hair breaking tomorrow. All brown strands are broken, there're some thicker black ones broken and some that have begun to break in, which makes me think that it will need more than 31 shaves to break fully.

PigEvolution 1 2

#GEMsOfWisdom

I'm amazed at how wonderful performs the micromatic with a GEMPTFE blade with 26 shaves, it has lost some cut keenness but it continues to be smooth and gives close shaves.

26 August 2022 - Austere August

• Prep: splash of warm water
• Brush: Zenith B33
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird Ti
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (26)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo - Balm

#RawHoggin

#MammothMafia

Aug. 26, 2022 - AA - Day 26

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Zenith Boar - Short & Scrubby
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM Blade (26)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Ferox - Soap
• After Shave: Fine Accoutrements - L'Orange Noir - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Nivea - Sensitive Post Shave Balm - Aftershave

The brush is amazing for face lathering now. It's getting softer and creating a great lather. The razor and blade cut through 2 passes with no issues. Slight burns when applying aftershave and the balm cooled things but i started getting some burn when i came out. Forgot to apply sunscreen. which might have caused the burn.

Tags: #GemsOfWisdom #RawHoggin

Aug. 26, 2022

• Brush: Zenith B36 "Copper Scrubby!" 28x50mm Boar
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM SS (26)

• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Soap

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

• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Fougère Gothique - Eau de Parfum

• Passes: WTG, XTG

• Coffee: Colombia, Bruselas, Huila - v: Caturra - p: 36hr cold ferment, washed twice
• Music: Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um
• August 2022 SOTD Photo Album

#GEMsOfWisdom / #RawHoggin

I've officially run out of steam.

I'm still getting good shaves out of the MMOC, but it's far from my favorite razor, and I'd prefer shaving with something milder for a while. (For example, my MMOC-minus-the-harshness Peerless.) And I'm really sick of this Lime soap. It's a fresh, natural lime scent, but it's starting to make my stomach turn a little after twenty-six face lathers in a row, and I'll be putting this aside for a while after the end of the month.

Hang in there everybody—just a few more shaves.

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	202.8	0.5	70 swirls
8/21	202.8	202.0	0.8	60 swirls
8/22	202.0	200.5	1.5	60 swirls
8/23	200.5	199.2	1.3	60 swirls
8/24	199.2	197.9	1.3	65 swirls
8/25	197.9	196.3	1.6	80 swirls
8/26	196.3	◊	◊	80 swirls

⁂

#sidetracked u/Teufelskraft

"Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" is one of the first jazz melodies I learned to play on saxophone...poorly. Same goes for "Stardust." My saxophone career was never destined for greatness, and ended unceremoniously towards the end of college, but I still listen to a lot of jazz at home (especially while I'm reading or getting some work done).

By the way, if you're just getting started with Mingus, you can't go wrong with either Mingus Ah Um or Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus, but the former is one of the many essential releases that made 1959 a famously good year for jazz.

YouTube: Charles Mingus - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

August 26th, 2022

Prep: Warm water

Razor: Gem MMOC

Blade: Gem Blue Star (26)

Brush: Omega Model 13564 23mm boar

Soap: LA Shaving Soap Co. Black Void

Post: Noble Otter Bare

Comfort: 6/10

Smoothness: 7/10

5 second load.

2 pass shave XTG/ATG.

Rerun of yesterday.

GEMsOfWisdom

unscented

RawHoggin

August 26th

• Brush: Zenith Boar - 505NK 27mm
• Razor: GEM - MMOC
• Blade: Gem PTFE (26)
• Lather - Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Soap
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Splash
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Edp

#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag

Edp video

August 26th, 2022 - 🎵Oh, I, oh, I’m still Alive🎵

• Prep: Warm water

• Brush: Zenith B36 “Copper Scrubby!”

• Razor: GEM MMOC Gen 2

• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (26)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Alive

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive Splash

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive Balm

#MammothMafia

#RawHoggin

#GEMsOfWisdom

*Before the Shave

*After the Shave

*Side view before

For some reason, got a bit of Pearl Jam stuck in my head today. Not a problem, just looking at my set for AA kind of triggered it today. “Black” is among my favorites of theirs. Rick Beato did a “What Makes This Song Great” for it. I really like the song though for the lyrics. It is truly a great break up song.

The shave today started very rough. After an early shave yesterday, I had an afternoon one today, so about 30+ hours elapsed between shave. First pass very tuggy on the face, struggled on the neck too. Lather was good though, probably loaded too much soap, but I was able to get a well hydrated lather today. It really depends on how much water I shake out before loading. Second pass was better, it is the initial full stubble that is giving me problems in the first pass. Maybe I should just skip the first one and go straight to the second.

The brush handle patina is really difficult to get in the pics with my phone. Depending on the light, I get glimpses of purple, blue, and green iridescence. On the picture today can see it a little where the bathroom light is reflecting off the handle. I will probably leave the handle out to check on how the color is coming along, but I’ll mostly use other brushes next month.

Aug. 26, 2022

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: Semogue 1460 Boar Brush 21mm
• Razor: Razorock GameChanger .84
• Blade: Gillette Nacet (26)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Alive - Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Almond Leather - Balm

Tags:

#RawHoggin

#MammothMafia

Aug. 26, 2022 - Oveja Eléctrica 26

• Prep: Proraso Green Preshave
• Brush: Zenith 28mm Boar (2piece) #RawHoggin
• Razor: Kai Kasho Western Style Shavette
• Blade: Kai Captain Pink Mild (45)

• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Electric Sheep - Soap

• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Electric Sheep - Aftershave

I get easily now to a creamy and very nice lather, that I enjoy to paint around my face, but that is too dry for a straight. Some slight irrigation on the chin, and I somehow managed to get a weaper. Who would have thought that this is even possible?

Otherwise, something for #sidetracked. What would suit better than some reminiscing about the good old simple times in those days of finishing austerity. This feeling is beautifully captured in this song.

I particularly like the following at the end:

Okay then, wanna hear, I just wanna tell you a little story this little story

That my daddy used to tell me he was a king as well I was born, probably about 68 years ago over by

That tree over there yeh And i remember things changed a lot in those

Days, in Madagascar it wasnt so commercial, you know, There wasnt all the fuss bout who's got the latest tree

And what leaves Are you wearing and who's got

The latest fur on their back you know, Those days it was just me and a couple of the others you

Know, doing the jungle boogie you know,

Jungle boogie... Jungle boogie

#stillalive

#truepath

#originalkingjulian

AA D26: Latest Shave ever

• Prep: CeraVe hydrating foaming oil cleanser, cold water
• Brush: Tadé NOS vintage boar 22 mm
• Razor: KAI Captain Standard CAP-J7 kamisori shavette
• Blade: KAI Captain Titan Mild Protouch MG
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - shaving soap
• Post-Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave
• additional care: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - ASB
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Valley of Ashes - EDP
• AA tags: #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag

My latest SOTD ever, but bear with me: my young colleague M. and me paid our favourite older colleague S. a visit. S. is over sixty, but gets along with us young whippersnappers extremely well. M. got drunk AF though, and since my dad was out of the question thanks to the Covid situation with my mom, I stayed sober and drove him back to his place. Fun times.

As soon as I got back home and slipped into something comfortable, I put my brush in the soaking mug and cleaned my face. New CeraVe oil cleanser is freaking awesome btw.

Mandatory mugshot of the Tadé boar. It'll be one of my nicest brushes after all this is wrapped up, sadly it'll be reserved for 2-3 soaps max due to the smell. But a good one nonetheless.

Sidetracked
Carpenter Brut - Beware the Beast

T'was my soundtrack for the drive to S. and back home today. Leather Teeth is a short and sweet synthwave album with lots of great rock elements. This song? A rare occurrence of synthwave with vocals and actual lyrics. It's overly dramatic and kitschy, but much like other things that are, it grows on you. At first, you smile a bit about it. Next time, you're screaming the lyrics along while driving on a lone road after midnight just to get home in time for a good shave to wind down. So, sidetracked crew: enjoy this kitschy banger and beware of the beasts inside your hearts!

Aug. 26, 2022 - Austere August Day 26

• 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 (26)

• 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
•Shave 21
•Shave 22
•Shave 23
•Shave 24
•Shave 25
•Shave 26

Thoughts for the day:
Some loaner gear landed today just in time to make this last days all the more difficult... I will not surrender. I will not semaj...

Mandatory Taggage:

#GemsOfWisdom

#RawHoggin

#MammothMafia

Aug. 26, 2022 - AA Day 26

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Zenith B34
• Razor: MMOC (Gen 2)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (26)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Aftershave

Shave today was great. Went for a bike ride with my daughter and then a quick 2 mile run so I was good and hot and Sonder synthetic really cooled me down. I love using this soap.

MMOC was smoother than expected. I decided not to flip the blade and just play it out, come what may, and it was smoother than it has been in a while. I'm not sure what that's about, but it was great.

The Zenith is just cruising along. I don't really know how much more it can break in, but I am excited to see how it lathers when I get to use it in the superior GUTL lathering method. Pic 1 Pic 2

Sonder thought of the day: Today (and every Friday) is my day off. This was my last Friday with my eldest daughter being home. She starts kindergarten next week and I feel awful about it. I have no doubt that I'm going to cry as she's dropped off and am going to be very excited to have her back home. She did 4k last year and it was half days, but, there's something about whole days that are daunting. While I'm struggling with her leaving, she can't wait. So - Sonder - I'm trying to take her perspective as a bright kid who is eager to learn and be in school. All summer long we've read books, she's written and learned to spell, she's colored, she's crafted, we've spent time riding bikes and wrestling (because what are dads for if not rough housing?), we've sincerely enjoined each others company. We've had a great summer, and she's ready, even if I'm not. When I told her I was going to miss her when she was at school she reminded me that it'll be alright because I'll be a work and she'll be at school so since we're both doing things we won't need to miss each other. Kids are people, too. And she has good perspective. I'm still gonna miss her, though.

Have a great evening, all.

#mammothmafia

#RawHoggin

#GEMsOfWisdom

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. 26, 2022 - Austere August - Raw Hoggin' MMOC Ultra Nightmare Mode

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Zenith Boar - B37 - Gray Chubby #RawHoggin
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gen2 #GEMsOfWisdom
• Blade: GEM (26)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Margaritas in the Arctic - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Glacial Margaritas in the Arctic - Aftershave

Day 26 - Keeping it breif since this is my first Friday night with the fam since being away for a couple weeks. Good 2 passer with nothing new to report.

The Brush: The brush continues to feel awesome. #RawHoggin

Brush Picture Pre-shave: Side Top

Brush Picture Post-shave: Side Top

The Razor A smooth, 2 pass shave with no cuts, nicks or irritation. #GEMsOfWisdom

Days since last blood: 9

The Soap and Aftershave Making my way through this soap quickly. I'm definitely ready to change things up and so is the wife. Apparently, she's tired of the smell. Looking foward to the end. I haven't been weighing my soap since the begining, but /u/OnionMiasma has me curious. I had 157.3g remaining. Apparently an empty tub of Stirling is 83g leaving me with 74.3g of soap (2.62 oz). Seems like a lot less soap left.

Day 26 Puck Picture

August 26, 2022

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Burma Shave Boar 🐗
• Razor: Kai Kasho Kamisori
• Blade: Feather ProGuard 26th use
• Lather: Stirling Sheep
• Postshave: Stirling Barbershop splash and Nivea Balm
• Fragrance: Halloween Man

Shave went fine today was tired and not really in the mood so I did a quick two pass WTG and ATG passes with touch ups. Only 5 more days left.

Tags: #AAAA, #RawHoggin, #Headless horsemen, and u/Marquis90

Aug. 26, 2022 - AA Day 26

• Prep: Warm shower
• Brush: AP400B XL Handle (AP ShaveCo) - 28mm Maggard Boar Knot
• Razor: GEM MMOC - Gen 1
• Blade: GEM PTFE (95)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

Great shave that needed a little bit of cleanup again to get BBS.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Friday!

Stag Spray 26 #GEMSofWisdom #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag

August 26th, 2022: FoF++

• Prep: warm shower with Stag bar

• Brush: Vintage Rubberset 400-3 with 24mm unbleached Zenith knot

• Razor: MMOC

• Blade: GEM PTFE (26)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post-Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

• Post-Shave: Chiseled Face - Natural - Balm

• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - EdP

This blade still bad, but Fuck off Friday good.

Stag sprays of the day!

#SubstantialStag

#RawHoggin

#UNCHALLENGE

August 26, 2022 - AA Day 26

• Brush: Zenith B34 (break-in photo album)

• Razor: Dubl Duck 5/8 Satinedge

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Z - Soap

• Post Shave: Zingari - Unscented - Balm

Alright maybe we're on to something again now that all the problem spots are cleared up. Great shave tonight with no issues at all. I think for these last 5 shaves I'm going to do my best to listen to the feedback the razor is giving me and not push it further than it's capable of at this point. Just keep aiming for comfortable DFS with 2 passes and probably avoid chasing BBS adding in the third pass.

Challenge Hashtags: #unscented #RawHoggin

Stag Headlessly Hoggin' August Day 26

• Prep: Hot shower with Midnight Stag Soap.

• Brush: Zenith B33

• Razor: Cloud Shavette

• Blade: Cloud whatever that blade it is (31)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag

• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Sego balm

• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag

Hail Stag!

-#Stagposting

-#SubstantialStag

-#RawHoggin⁸

Aug. 26, 2022 - AA Day 26

• Brush: ShaveForge 28mm Boar, 3d Printed Handle #RawHoggin
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb #GEMsOfWisdom
• Blade: GEM Stainless (26)

• 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

I had another run-in with bees today. I'm becoming convinced it's the SSL. Out of nowhere this honey bee was super aggressive and was repeatedly dive bombing my infant daughter and I as I went to buckle her in the car.

Fortunately, we managed to get out unscathed.

Another good 2 pass shave. I resurrected my brush by re-setting the knot in what remains of the handle. It only needs to make it 5 more shaves.

Aug. 26, 2022 - AA 26

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: Semogue 1305 Pure Bristle 22mm
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (32)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Balm

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

Da Break in album with SOTD in title.

Despite the late night post I actually shaved about 15 hours ago in the morning. From late night last night to the morning today, was mostly going through the motions. #GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #MammothMafia

Aug. 26, 2022

• Brush: Maggard 28mm Boar
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (26)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Balm

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

You deny the darkness in your soul! You deny your power!

Boar Break In Album

Stag Spray

#RawHoggin

#SubstantialStag

#GemsOfWisdom

#UNCHALLENGE

Aug. 26, 2022 - Day 26: this stuff is on fire!

• Prep: Warm water wash
• Brush: Zenith B33 Copper Boar Brush
• Razor: Gem MMOC GEN 2
• Blade: Persona GEM PTFE Coated (26)

• 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

To be fair the software is excellent and the hardware well it’s alright. It’s growing on me. I do not know how the grand masters can possibly have near 100 shaves on a single blade, but i am still learning.

The house of mammoth performance has been excellent all month. So much so that I purchased 2 soaps and another splash from HoM. I am excited to try the new HoM scent Voices!

Brush break-in album #rawhoggin #mammothmafia #GEMSofWisdom

Aug. 26, 2022 - 26.08.22 - Austere August #RawHoggin

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Omega 10048
• Razor: Henson Ti22++
• Blade: Gillette SuperSharp (2)

• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Daemon

• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Daemon Splash

A great shave today, I've grown to be rather fond of Daemon over the month.

RawHoggin

Aug. 27, 2022

• Brush: Grey Chubby - Zenith B37
• Razor: Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM - PTFE Coated Stainless Steel (27)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Z - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Z - Aftershave

I'll be surprised if I don't break through the bottom tomorrow. If not, it'll definitely be Monday. Against the light, you can see the ring and lines of text on the sticker on the bottom of the jar. Not only that, but another little melanoma-lookin' spot has surfaced. Don't worry, Nigel, we'll get that removed tout de suite.

Four days left, right guys? Why do we do this to ourselves? Four more days until a fresh blade. Four more days and I no longer need to lather like a troglodyte. Come the 1st, I'll see how this brush fares with a civilized lather.

Oh, and four more days until scents! Did I forget that shaving used to involve wonderful smells? That can't be a good sign...

#GEMsOfWisdom
#RawHoggin
#unscented
#MammothMafia