Aug. 31, 2022 - Stag Day 31

• Brush: Zenith B26 Retro
• Razor: Merkur 34C
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (31)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

• The Beatles The End

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the Stag you spray.

#SubstantialStag #RawHoggin

Stag Spray 31

August 31, 2022 – Austere August 31

• Brush: Cayuen Workshop with 30mm Timberwolf Synthetic
• Bowl: Cayuen Workshop – Dark Nebula
• Razor: Winning Razor by Wet Shave Club
• Blade: Gillette Winner Platinum (3)
• Lather: Chiseled Face – Midnight Stag
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face – Midnight Stag
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face – Midnight Stag
• Video: https://i.imgur.com/8KBkjt9.mp4

Final Stag shave of Austere August 2022! Take a bow, men! We pushed through it all and we got a BBS finish every day.

#AustereAugust #SubstantialStag

Bonus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YtkC-vfRpg ← Classic Old Time Wet Shave by the Guardian Angel of Route 66 | Seligman AZ

Aug. 30, 2022 - Goodbye Stag

• Prep: Icecold shower
• Brush: Böker Synthetic

• Razor: Böker Elite Carbon 2.0

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Balm

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Splash

That's it. AA is over. Stag is back in my shave den and not in the bathroom like it was all month (we do not shower there anymore so the humidity is low). Did my shaves and technique got better. No, but I did not try much. What I take out of this month is that the Chiseled Face soap base is probably the easiest one to lather on the whole market. While it does not have any special features, it's a damn good soap. Also, precision loading saves a lot of soap and works great with the base. I am happy nobody besides my gf was offended by the stag scent. It's sad I couldn't kill the tub till the end of the month. I plan to kill it at the end of the year. Am I the only one who wants to save at least one shave in case of the next year's lather games? Time to hone my blade!

#stagandstraight #substantialstag

August 31st, 2022: No Mo Staggin'

• Prep: warm shower with Stag bar

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

• Razor: MMOC

• Blade: GEM PTFE (31)

• 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

Fuck this blade! Last time I have to say it but seriously it's finally over! I updated my MMOC album with a new patina pic, I think I need to adjust my technique some as I wore the patina off the wrong part of the top cap 😅

This month was a wicked fucking grind but my appreciation for rotation is back and I don't think it's going anywhere. No more soap marathons this year for me folks, I've had my fill. Miss me with that shit.

When I get home I shall take my last dry boar knot pic, attempt to destag the poor thing, and ceremoniously throw this blade into the bin. Might even crack a beer to celebrate the occasion.

Stag sprays of the day! Legit lost count, way to end the month on a high note.... idiot.

#SubstantialStag

#RawHoggin

#UNCHALLENGE

Aug. 31, 2022

• Prep: Cold Water
• Brush: Semogue Barbear Classico Cerda 22mm
• Razor: Alumigoose
• Blade: Kai Captain Titan Pro Touch MG (31)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

Soap is gone, 5.8g of soap was used today and it looks that i was was off by 1.6g in comparison to the other empty Chiseled Face tub.

-

I'll never use the silk tallow base again in my lifetime, even if it get's reformulated or if Midnight Stag only get's made in this base i'll never try it or buy it again. Not in a million years i'll use it for second chance day for LG or even if i get pay to use it, is not worth it, the worst soap base by far that i have tried in the past 4 years. Glad the month is over and not because of the tediousness of using the same gear the whole month, i really don't mind that but this soap base is so bad that it really made shaving this month a chore.

-

The last 5 of the year and hopefully i can kill this one next year.

-

Have a great day! #SubstantialStag

Aug. 31, 2022 - Austere August Ultra Nightmare RawHoggin Stagpocalypse

• Prep: Midnight Stag liquid soap and bar soap
• Brush: Semogue 1250
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (31)

• 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

This is it. We did it again. This has been the toughest AA for me outside of shaving itself, so it was really nice to have the ritual and stability to help keep me a bit centered. I may have made sure I finished off a few things with this last shave: the liquid soap, bath soap, and beard oil are all officially empty. If I decide to do this again next year, I’ll need to start with brand new stuff. I debated on using an obscene amount of EdP today, but I’m driving my mom and grandmother to a follow up ortho visit 45 minutes away this morning and didn’t want to choke them out. I mean, 12 sprays seemed like a good way to finish strong anyway. After the trials and tribulations (and terrible decisions on my part), it’s been a great month and I’m glad I participated again. There is no one around us untouched by the Stag and that is as it should be.

SubstantialStag

GEMsOfWisdom

~~#RawHoggin~~

August 31, 2022: Thank you for being a Stag

• Prep: warm splash of water
• Brush: Yaqi Sagrada Familia Tuxedo 24 mm
• Razor: GEM OCMM (gen 2)
• Blade: GEM Stainless (32)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

Congratulations to all the citizens of Stag! 2023 we can do the whole year, right?

Thank you to everyone who participated in the SubstantialStag challenge, I'll be making a post regarding the winner and the donation amount in the next few days.

Day 31, 5 spritzes

. #GEMsOfWisdom

August 31, 2022

• Brush: Zenith B15 (506 U/L) 27.5mm Boar
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gold Gen2
• Blade: Personna Gem PTFE (31)
• 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)
• SOTD Album

Fun month! Thanks to those of you who are running the challenges. This adds a lot.

Ok, let's summarize the month:

• MMOC - wonderful. Born in the early 1930's, it's holding up better than I am ( and believe it or not, I was born after the GEM MMOC).
• Midnight Stag Trifecta - wonderful. Enjoyed it all month.
• Zenith boar brush - Awesome. What a surprise! Yeah, you boar aficionados knew this would happen.
• One GEM blade all month - worked out much better than I thought it would. Kudos to those who take it further and to u/djundjila and u/Eructate who achieved GEMtury status this month. I won't be joining your club.
• Microscope photos - not particularly dramatic. Today's is an area of the edge that is particularly bad, but much of the edge looks pretty good. This was fun for me, boring for you.

And ... we're out.

August 31st

• Brush: Zenith Boar - 505NK 27mm
• Razor: GEM - MMOC
• Blade: Gem PTFE (31)
• Lather - Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Soap
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Splash
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Edp

#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag

Edp video

Finally all done and finished up with a 31 Spray Salute

Aug. 31, 2022 - AA - Sexy Stag Flair Quest Finish Line!

• Prep: Face wash
• Brush: Semogue 1305
• Razor: Chiseled Face Legacy Ti
• Blade: Wizamet (1)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Eau de Parfum

The Stag is totally EXHAUSTED. But made it to the finish line!

Got a broken in Boar. Very soft.

Completely dialed in the Legacy.

Learned that every blade works for me pretty much equally.

Smelled like a greasy fire pit every day!

Thought about dousing myself at the finish line, but I really like this scent and don't want to waste it. Gonna set it aside though for a couple months and kill it right after I kill Leviathan. I really, really, really miss my smells. I think I'm gonna do 30 different soaps in 30 days in September, using my favorite 30.

Cheers fellow Austerians!

SPRAYS at the finish line

#SubstantialStag

AA D31: Stagtastic! It's Over!

• Prep: Chiseled Face Midnight Stag bar soap and 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

It's over. We're done. Finally? Well, there's a good amount of take aways for me from seriously doing AA for the first time this year: mainly that natural hair brushes are quite awesome once they got a few uses under their belt. That I love CFGs soap base and alcohol aftershave formula. That Stag and VoA combined is really awful on extremely hot and humid days, especially if you're needing to be in close contact with some people. That trying to organise a side challenge on top of a very stressful work and private life is biting off more than you can chew at once. That I still suck with shavettes and only guarded AC blades save my clumsy ass from cutting myself to pieces.

No joke, I actually had a bit of fun during August too. But overall, I'm not sure if I don't fancy the idea of Februarity Austerity uttered by another member on here more next year.

My nerves are in high stress mode atm because I worry a lot about my first day of nursing school. It was good to just have a autopilot setup for the last day before. September 1st will be just a feel good shave with the new Protouch MG of today's shave. Oh, and the Midnight Stag bar soap from u/Marquis90 reached me just in time for today! Isn't that great? I'll continue using it for a bit.

Sidetracked
Bauhaus - Mask

I think it's about time I share a song by my favourite goth rock band. Mask isn't my favourite of them, but it got me through a very troublesome time in my life. I often listened to it when I felt very depressed and down. Especially the guitar part in the latter part if the song gets me. It's kinda like a relief after lots of suffering... Which fit my situation back then and also kinda could be said about Austere August. It's an interesting experience, but overall I prefer the Lather Games. Nevertheless: thanks everyone who organised a challenge. Thanks to all the sidetracked challenge participants, you're all awesome despite me being kind of lacking as a host. Special respect to those who posted a song or album every single day - you know who you are and you're all awesome. I cherish being part of this community.

Day 31 of Austere August! Staggin OFF!!

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

One last photo with all the items

Oh man I can't believe it's over. I was thinking at some point it would never end😅

Mainly because of my need to diversify the soap and aftershave. The straight razor was not that much of an issue for me, I liked that part. In the end I am very grateful that I took up this challenge and managed to complete it. In the end I have a very nice broken in boar brush that is super soft, I would love to try lathering it in a bowl because I'm sure I'll get better results, I kind of failed on the last shave, I had to reapply soap 2 more time since the initial soap injection into the brush, but hey it happens. I also made a video, and my idea was to see the progress with my lathering skills from day2 till day 31, but it seems I was better at it when I started🤣 of course I was shooting at a friend's house and there were other factors, but the fact is I failed. Will definitely try it with a bowl next time and will be sure to say how it went compared to the face method.

The process of braking in a new boar brush is quite a unique experience and I think only us shaving "hobbyists"(maniacs) can truly appreciate it. I have heard of speeding up the process of breaking in a boar, but if I ever get one more boar I will not break it in, any other way. It's too much fun, just to see the daily changes in softness and backbones prickliness, everything... That's one of the challenges I am most thankful for and happy that I was able to complete, even though maybe I didn't complete it administratively.

As for THE STAG, I definitely scratched that itch because for being my favourite smell I hadn't used it as much as I had wanted to, prior to this challenge. The scent kind of became like a second nature to me, I still love it but it did lose a bit of its magic with such frequent usage so a new soap to try out or just a different o e is most welcome after my 4-5 days break from shaving.

I am falling asleep as I type but will check the comments for this thread tomorrow with great interest, even if it's a bit of a back tracking.

Aaaaand also congrats to everyone else who completed their challenges especially the unscented guys, you are the real heroes to me 😅 As for my challenge I think only u/Marquis90 participated, if I am wrong please correct me, if not congrats to winning😅

• #RawHoggin
• #SubstantialStag

Aug. 31, 2022 - AA Day 31

• Prep: Warm shower
• Brush: AP400B XL Handle (AP ShaveCo) - 28mm Maggard Boar Knot
• Razor: GEM MMOC - Gen 1
• Blade: GEM PTFE (100)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Eau de Parfum

Another August come and gone. Stag is so great and I never get tired of using it. The Raw Hoggin challenge was an absolute treat and I am super grateful for u/EldrormR for creating it. I have broken in a couple of boar brushes, but none like this. I really loved experiencing the full break in process and feeling the difference as the tips split and the knot started to open up. Thank you also to u/djundjila for inspiring me to push this blade to 100 uses! It was such a fun journey and one I can say that I will probably never do again. In all honesty, it was fine until about a week and a half ago. Even then the shave was never uncomfortable. Getting a close enough shave to be happy with was nearly impossible though.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Wednesday and last day of Austere August!

Stag Spray 31 #GEMSofWisdom #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag

Aug. 31, 2022 - AA Day 31

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: Semogue 1305
• Razor: GEM Open Comb Micromatic
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (31)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

SubstantialStag

GEMSofWisdom

That’s it. That’s all she wrote. Today I mindfully adjusted the angle to see the effect of 31 uses. My problem last year was adhering too closely to keeping the blade parallel to my face. Today that got me some pronounced tugging. Last year I really like this razor. This year I love it enough to keep a GEM in the rotation at least once a week.

The Stag is almost dead and I did kill the bottle of aftershave. But I have a fresh set ready to go. I think I want to give Gearhead a try sometime.

Last sprays!

August gets really busy and I didn’t have nearly the time I wanted to read more posts and be interactive with my fellow MMOC Tamers. I’m looking forward to the fall and the Ohio Wet Shavers Meetup. Hope to meet some more of you in October. If you are close enough to visit Maggard’s, you’re close enough to come to the OWSM!

Happy shaving 🪒!

u/EldrormR I think there was a problem posting my yesterday’s shave but I tried to fix it this morning. I don’t know when you do your thing, but I hope I didn’t mess mine up. 🤞🏻

Stag Headlessly Hoggin' August Day 31

• Prep: Hot shower with Midnight Stag Soap.

• Brush: Zenith B33

• Razor: Cloud Shavette

• Blade: Cloud whatever that blade it is (36)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag

• Post Shave: Zingari Man - Sego balm

• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag

Finally, we're over. After 57 stag shaves for this year, we've completed another Staugust. I did got better at using my shavette, and the brush has evolved to a great brush. I look forward to keep using this brush and how it will evolve.

Congratulations to everyone completing the challenge of their choice, and especially to all of my brothers of the order of stag, and even more especially to the first timers.

Finally, for my last trick, I will be doing 40 sprays of stag

Hail Stag!

-#Stagposting

-#SubstantialStag

-#RawHoggin

Aug. 31, 2022

• Brush: Maggard 28mm Boar
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (31)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Balm

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

Wooo. Time for Stag to go back in the vault. June and now August, feels like Stag has permeated my skin and now I am the Stag. Looking forward to fresh scents tomorrow.

Boar Break In Album

Stag Spray

#RawHoggin

#SubstantialStag

#GemsOfWisdom

#UNCHALLENGE