Finding Serenity in RawHogginy on the road to the GEMtury Pt. 6

• Prep: Klar Activated Charcoal facial soap
• Brush: Rubberset 400-3 with unbleached 26 mm Zenith knot set at 56 mm loft (6)
• Razor: GEM - Micromatic (open comb, first generation)
• Blade: Personna - GEM PTFE (75)
• 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

While on vacation, I found it impossible to wake up before Djunior to shave, and I spent the last two weeks as a night shaver. We're back home now, and I've managed to get back to my old (and preferred) morning shave routine, and I'm typing this up while sipping coffee near a still sleeping toddler. Success.

#GEMsOfWisdom: after three quarters of a GEMtury, it's a good time for a quick recap. I started using this blade on 1 last year, and did Austere August with it. At end, it still shaved well, so I kept using it on and off until I reached 69 shaves during Lather Games. After the initial smoothing out of the edge over the first 3 or 4 shaves, this blade has held up surprisingly well and deteriorated at a very slow rate. It's still a mostly smooth shave, but it does tug a bit ATG. Nothing bad, but noticeable.

#RawHoggin: I'm still very happy with how the narrow ferrule keeps a dense tight knot. It's a great way of setting soft tipped boar brushes.

Austere August Day 6

Brush: Rubberset 400-3 w/ Unbleached Zenith 24mm knot set to a 56mm loft 6th use

Razor: Gem MMOC, gen 2

Blade: PTFE (6)

Lather: NO Monoi de Tahiti

Post: NO Monoi de Tahiti Splash

Atill getting a decent amount of stink from the brush when I splay it while building lather. I eas hoping it would have lessened to a greater degree after a week of daily use, but I was wrong. The tips are softening up nicely and it is still only eating the slightest amount of lather.

The blade and razor are in the sweet spot and should stay there for about a week. Personally, after about 18-20 uses, PTFE blades start to become rougher for me. We'll see if using a gen 2 MMOC changes that.

RawHoggin

GemsOfWisdom

Aug 6, 2022 - AA: MA-RH-MM - Almond Leather - Day 6 (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Boar)

• 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 (6)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Almond Leather - Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Almond Leather - Aftershave

Today's shave was close with very minor irritation. It ended with a nick right above the adam's apple—a not-so-gentle reminder to slow down and be a little less careless.

The lather this morning was excellent, even if it took a little longer to get it right. I am really embracing this boar break-in experience.

#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #MammothMafia

#sidetracked
Would anyone say that Tom Waits has a voice of an angel? Probably not, unless maybe a world weary war angel. His growling, downtrodden voice juxtaposed with the sweet lyrics of Picture in a Frame gives the whole song a different feeling.

Rating: 3.5/5

Aug. 6, 2022 - The Cult of AA

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (6)
• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMSofWisdom Another fine non-shaving one- Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. Another morning of WTG/XTG/Cleanup/BBS with minimal aftershave feedback.

#RawHoggin The tips are definitely beginning to split on this brush and today was definitely the first day that I didn't have to work excessively hard to get a lather close to loudmusicboy quality. I'm still not a fan of face lathering but this brush is handling it like a champ- https://imgur.com/a/JqJRYKB

#Sidetracked Many of us can point to an album or two that might have changed our musical lives. I definitely have 2 of them. The Cult released Love in October 1985. Sometime in 1986, I was a high school student up late listening to WVUM, which is the University of Miami's radio station. I loved their metal show and I especially loved their late night alternative shows. One night, the DJ played "She Sells Sanctuary" and I immediately sat up in bed wondering what the hell I had just heard. Fortunately, the DJ backsold it and told the world it was The Cult. The next day, I found my way to Specs Records and bought a cassette and immediately popped it into my Walkman where it stayed for weeks as I listened to it non-stop. I'd never heard anything like it. Ian Astbury's vocals were incredible, especially for that time period in music. Billy Duffy's riffs and the production were also top notch. I became a fanboy of The Cult at the ripe young age of 15. I never got to see them in their prime, but I have seen them a couple of times in more recent years and it's a good trip down memory lane. So, u/Teufelskraft and the gang, let's all take a trip down memory lane on a Saturday? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXAu9e4u_ZU&list=PLHOtuay6mq8I09yWNmSuPgh43Bm94Pr6I

2022-08-06 - Austere August - Raw Hoggin' Mammoth MMOC

Prep: Warm Shower
Brush: Semogue Torga - C5
Razor: GEM MMOC version 2
Blade: GEM Stainless (6)
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/tfilv9s

The brush is looking more broken in all the time. The razor is smooth, a DFS in 2 passes. Have a great day everyone.

#GEMsOfWisdom

#RawHoggin

#MammothMafia

August 6, 2022

• Brush: Zenith 506U XSE
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM SS PTFE (40)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Sheep
• Post Shave: Lucky Tiger
• Post Shave: Olay Complete
• Post Shave: Chatillon Lux - unscented skin salve

Another nice shave with this razor, brush and soap. I can’t talk up this brush and soap enough. The blade is hanging in there too. That is the one component of the combination that I am concerned about going forward through the month. Fifty is the farthest I have ever taken a GEM blade.

#GEMsOfWisdom

August 6, 2022: Super Saturday for Stag

• Prep: warm splash of water
• Brush: Yaqi Sagrada Familia Tuxedo 24 mm
• Razor: GEM OCMM (gen 2)
• Blade: GEM Stainless (7)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

Starting a SCUBA diving class today and excited for it. Just had to break out the Stag (along with every day this month).

Day 6 spritz

. #GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 6, 2022 - Saturday sixth shave

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Omega Pro 48 Boar brush 28mm
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (6)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Hygge - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Hygge - Aftershave

A nice shave today. The blade is in the sweet spot for sure and it was an easy, comfortable 2-passer. Brush break in continues and Hygge still excites me.

Happy Saturday!

#GEMsOfWisdom

#MammothMafia

Aug. 6, 2022 - Austere August Ultra Nightmare RawHoggin Stagpocalypse

• Prep: Midnight Stag liquid soap and bar soap
• Brush: Semogue 1250
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (6)

• 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

Super quick shave today. Had to get ready early and head to my second job before I usually do because we’re heading to St. Louis to watch a Cardinals game. The shave was good but I super rushed to pack it all up and bring it with me. In retrospect, I pray I didn’t forget anyway. 10 sprays today and I kinda already regret it. Not for my own sake but for my patient and his friend that are in this van with me the next several hours. Oops…

SubstantialStag

GEMsOfWisdom

RawHoggin

Aug. 6, 2022

• Brush: Maggard 28mm Boar
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (6)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Balm

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

Another good shave. Continuing to not have enough lather for later passes even though I'm loading the hell out of the brush. I think I might try less soaking next shave. I think this Maggard Boar is pretty treated and maybe it's just getting too soft to pick up enough soap. Have a great weekend!

Boar Break In Album

Stag Spray

#RawHoggin

#SubstantialStag

#GemsOfWisdom

#UNCHALLENGE

August 6, 2022 - Austere August Ultra-Nightmare Mode

Brush pics for RawHoggin challenge

• Brush: Zenith B10
• Razor: Gem MMOC Gen 2 Ex-Watson
• Blade: Personna PTFE (6)
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Washington's Blend - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Executive Man - Balm

Another good shave today. I’m able to get more water into the lather now without it all disappearing. The brush is still not as easy to use as my synthetics, but I’m optimistic, given I’ve only used it 6 times. It’s very soft, and I think it still has many more tips to split, too.

The razor/blade are doing great.

#RawHoggin

#GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 6, 2022

• Brush: Grey Chubby - Zenith B37
• Razor: Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM - PTFE Coated Stainless Steel (6)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Z - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Z - Aftershave

Another day, another negative result on one of those at-home nose-swab tests, telling me the cough that started up the other day is not covid. Just in case anyone in the US who happens to see this happens to be unaware, you can get free tests via USPS, with a limit. I used my last one today and ordered my third (perhaps final) batch a few days ago.

You know what sucks worse than shoving those swab things up your nose-holes? Face-lathering. At least nostril-penetration of this kind is purposeful, though, while face-lathering is at its core an ineffective exercise, except in achieving the worst possible outcome.

I didn't happen to notice the boar stench this time around; maybe it has faded beyond casual detection. A couple hundred years ago, I might have concluded that the boar bore a miasma that resulted in my ailment, which might have been avoided had I not been compelled to concentrate the release of this bad air directly under my nose.

No connection to u/OnionMiasma, of course.

#GEMSofWisdom
#RawHoggin
#unscented
#MammothMafia

Aug. 6, 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 Stainless Steel (6)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Unscented - Soap
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Incorporeal - Aftershave (Alcohol Free)

RawHoggin

There isn't too much to add from yesterday, scent fading, monster lather, visually the knot hasn't changed much.

PigEvolution 1 2

GEMsOfWisdom

Thank you u/gcgallant following your advice I get rid of those pesky hairs under the nose. Being mainly a straight razor shaver I should have figured it out, with the straight is easy because the contact with the blade is direct without the cap of the MMOC.

.#sidetracked

u/Teufelskraft today something from my country, Enrique Morente & Lagarija Nick adapting Leonard Cohen's First We Take Manhattan from the album Omega(1996) flamenco rock fusion.

.#unscented

.#RawHoggin

.#GEMsOfWisdom

August 6, 2022

• Brush: Zenith B15 (506 U/L) 27.5mm Boar
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gold Gen2
• Blade: Personna Gem PTFE (6)
• 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 History
• Blade Orientation (black dots - odd days, red dots - even days)

The brush felt about the same today as it did yesterday. I don't have issues building a lather. I'm doing two passes and building both passes from the brush load. If I could not, I would just get more soap from the tub, so building a lather isn't really an issue. The brush isn't heavenly soft like my badger brushes, but I'm starting to understand that you get an attachment to the break-in process of a boar. We'll see how I feel in 25 days.

I know that I'll continue to enjoy Midnight Stag. Using a single soap for a month is no great sacrifice. I have years of using the same canned goo, and I have many months of experience lathering with bar soap when I was too lazy to go out and buy canned goo. I agree with /u/sgrdddy. The EdP does its own thing. For me, it's a much more detailed scent than the soap or splash, and I enjoy them all.

Finally, let's talk a little about the blade. I found an area of the edge that has two noticeable microchips in it. They're at about 1/4 of the edge length from the left. This is what I expect to happen as the edge is used. If you look, you can see that these microchips occur where grind marks appear to be deep. According to this MIT paper, an edge dulls by chipping away, tiny bits at a time. Because I'm flipping the blade each day, my shaving is essentially fatiguing edge material in both directions. I don't know whether this will increase the rate of chipping or not. I can't discern any edge degradation yet while shaving; though I'm typically sensitive to it. I expect that I'll start to feel it around day 10.

A Mammoth Micromatic Raw Hoggin’ August

Brush Progress

• Brush: Zenith B26 #RawHoggin
• Razor: GEM MMOC #GEMsOfWisdom
• Blade: GEM (6)
• Lather: House if Mammoth - Hygge in Tusk
• Post Shave: Hygge Splash & Balm
• Fragrance: Hygge EDP #MammothMafia

Had to be a fast one this morning, kids stuff all day.

Great result, loving it. Not much to complain about.

Day 1 Prep Video

RawHoggin Unboxing Pics

MammothMafia

Aug. 6, 2022 - AA Day 6

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: Semogue 1305
• Razor: GEM Open Comb Micromatic
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (6)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

SubstantialStag

GEMSofWisdom

Very much a DFS today with the AA setup. A not-too-hurried, but very satisfying shave to face the day. Dialing back the amount of soap to get just enough lather is my next goal, plus I have to conserve until my resupply arrives this coming week. I think I will go with some precise measurements a la u/sgrdaddy and see what I come up with.

Staggin’ it up for Saturday.

Happy shaving 🪒!

Aug. 6, 2022

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: AP Shave Co 24MM SYNBAD
• Razor: GEM - Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM - PTFE (6)

• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Bare Siero - Soap

• Post Shave: Thayers - Unscented - Toner

2 pass shave with a 30 second load. Got some heavy soap scum build up occurring. Some non-GEMs of wisdom: Enter the month of August with only 2 soaps options available (Bare Siero and Arko) and you'll be less worried about missing out on all the smells in your shave den.

GEMsOfWisdom

unscented

Aug. 6, 2022

• Prep: Exercise and shower
• Brush: Semogue 1438
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM blue star (6)

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

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

Good shave today I was extra careful as I have a funeral to attend so I don’t want to look like a mess. The brush feels better every use it seems to be coming along much quicker than the omegas I have. The MMOC is going good the blades still working well but damn that thing gets thirsty for blood sometimes. #RawHoggin #GEMsOfWisdom

https://i.imgur.com/aAj2FWl.jpg

August 6th, 2022 - Raw Hoggin’ the Mammoth GEM

• Prep: Warm water and extra patience

• Brush: Zenith B36 “Copper Scrubby!”

• Razor: GEM (is truly outrageous) MMOC Gen 2

• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (sei)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Alive

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive Splash

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive Balm

#MammothMafia

#RawHoggin

#GEMsOfWisdom

Day 6 Raw Hog Before and After

I really slept in today. Briefly woke up around 8ish, but went back to sleep and finally got up a bit before noon. Lazy day today, just some straightening up of the house. I think I am going to finally finish clearing out some junk from my home office/guest bedroom. It has become the place where clutter gets dumped.

Shaved earlier than normal today. Usually, I shave in the evening after work or after dinner. One advantage to having mostly white facial hair , I don’t get a 5 O’Clock shadow, so I look less scruffy with a day’s growth. Also, sometimes kids ask me if I’m Santa Claus 🎅. Shaving in the evening really frees up some time in the morning when I am getting ready for that long commute downstairs to my home office. Traffic can be pretty rough if the cats think they are underfed and want more food (they aren’t though, usually there is plenty left in their bowls.)

For todays shave, I might be a bit stingy with the soap, but looking at the tub, if I keep loading trying to get InstaYoutube levels of lather, the tub won’t make it to the 31st. I took a small scoop today and really tried to work it up on my face. I did reach a decent amount of well hydrated, but not runny, lather for the first pass. Second pass, not so much. I tried to squeeze out enough, but ended up loading about a pea sized bit of soap to get enough for a pass.

The GEM today really is starting to perform well. The feedback is smoothing out and second pass is feeling quite good. I think the blade has finished with the rough start, and now I hope it will last for the rest of the month or more. One thing I realized, when I mark the blade, I’ve been using a brown Sharpie. Those marks make it look like the blade is rusting in a pattern of dots below the spine.

The Mammoth set is going strong. I wonder which ingredients in the splash are settling at the bottom of the bottle. Got to remember, give it a good shake first. Today, I think my familiarity with the scent has finally let me get the fruit and floral notes up front. I really like this set, and will want to replace it when it is gone, but I need to kill 2-3 tubs before I buy another. Also, I would want a full set of Hygge sometime, but after the order for the 31mm sub exclusive boar brush, the den is closed for new software and hardware.

Happy Saturday everyone.

Aug. 6, 2022 - Stag Hoggin' at camp day 2 - AA Day 6

• Brush: RazoRock 506CK / 26mm boar
• Razor: GEM OCMM
• Blade: GEM PTFE (6)

• 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

Day 2 of Austere August camping. At least today we're at a beach where the internet is working!

#RawHoggin

The brush continues it's softening journey. I swear I've gotten the best lathers from the Stag these last two days. I'm not sure if it's the brush breaking in or the different water.

#GEMsofWisdom

Another smooth shave with the OCMM. No complaints here. I haven't noticed a change in the blade much these last couple shaves. Well see what tomorrow brings.

Let me tell ya, you don't know Stag until you've tasted it. Obviously not intended and not advisable.

Brush day 6

Stag taste test

August 6th, 2022

Prep: Warm water

Razor: Gem MMOC

Blade: Gem Blue Star (6)

Brush: Omega Model 13564 23mm boar

Soap: LA Shaving Soap Co. Black Void

Post: Noble Otter Bare

Comfort: 8/10

Smoothness: 9/10

10 second load.

2 pass shave XTG/ATG.

Less soap and more water this time. Got a few splatters on the mirror but ended up with a much better experience. Also did not rush, which may have helped too. Now off to host a house party and meet the neighbors.

GEMsOfWisdom

unscented

RawHoggin

Aug. 6, 2022

• Brush: Zenith B36 "Copper Scrubby!" 28x50mm Boar
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM (6)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Soap
• Post Shave: Porter's Lotion, WSP - Neroli - After Shave Balm
• Fragrance: American Perfumer - Bloodline - Parfum
• Passes: WTG, XTG
• Coffee: Ethiopia, Sidama, Oromia - v: Ethiopia Heirloom - p: Natural
• Music: Aimee Mann - Bachelor No. 2
• August 2022 SOTD Photo Album: https://imgur.com/a/7shDpdl

#GEMsOfWisdom / #RawHoggin

Yesterday's Another Cut Above style lather worked well for me, so I took the same approach today. Start with pasty soap in the stubble, add water until translucent, and then splay the brush. That last step isn't really an option right now, so I agitate with the tips of this Zenith knot and spent more time swirling the brush on my chin. (Speaking of, here's the knot before and after.)

I tweaked my loading time a bit, and tried reducing it to about 30 seconds (1.5 g). Starting tomorrow, I should start counting the swirls on the puck instead of going by seconds. A single "swirl" is a more precise measurement to use during this month of photo documentation and experimentation. Anyway, this loading time worked well and yielded about the same amount of leftover lather, probably because I didn't lose as much to the floor, mirror, and countertop. It was also easier to hydrate. Turns out I was overloading.

Also, check out how this Zenith handle is transforming! I really like the way copper patinas and this will look better and better the more it ages.

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

⁂

#sidetracked u/Teufelskraft

Where do you begin when choosing a few songs from Aimee Mann's catalogue?

You'd have to start with "Voices Carry," which will forever be 'Til Tuesday's most well known song. Fortunately, Mann eventually out-shined that '80s video hit's long shadow, though it took a three-hour Oscar-winning film and setting up her own record label to do it.

Director Paul Thomas Anderson wrote Magnolia (1999) as "an adaptation of Aimee Mann songs," inspired by her music. It's an exceptionally well-curated soundtrack, and many songs are woven tightly into the plot and scene blocking, including two standouts that were written for the film ("You Do" and "Save Me"). "Deathly" (another favorite of mine), "Driving Sideways", and "You Do" would all appear on Mann's Bachelor No. 2 or, the Last Remains of the Dodo album, also released in 1999, and the first on Mann's SuperEgo label.

Which brings me to the song I'm going to profile here.

The album starts with "Red Vines," a song Mann wrote about Paul Anderson's growing fame. Read literally, it's not particularly kind; Mann sings, "Everyone loves you—why should they not? / And I'm the only one who knows / That Disneyland's about to close." Regardless, the refrain is a surging and hook-driven demand for a singalong. I don't know if it's Mann's unusual and expressive timbre, the guitar riff in the background, or some other detail I can't quite tease out, but I adore this song. It's a heck of way to start an album. Many of Mann's most immediate hooks open her records—I'm partial to "Humpty Dumpty" on 2002's Lost in Space (which features some of her most effective ballads) and "Dear John," which sets the scene for her 2005 concept album The Forgotten Arm (Caroline and boxer John meeting on the cotton-candy scented midway in Richmond). Still, "Red Vines" is the one I return to regularly, sometimes on its own and often with a full play-through of Bachelor No. 2. I love it.

YouTube: Aimee Mann - "Red Vines"

Aug. 6, 2022 - RawHoggin & Taming the MMOC

• Brush: Zenith B37
• Razor: Gem MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: Gem PTFE (6)

• Lather: Strike Gold Shave - Kennedy

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

• Post Shave: Zingari - Unscented - Balm

RawHoggin

GemsOfWisdom

I’m feeling like doodoo today, but I powered through and got my shave in. Little by little this shave is getting better. I don’t feel anymore of those stubborn stiff bristles. I can tell it’s going to gradually get softer and feel even better than it does now. I’m looking forward to it.

The MMOC is feeling great. Between my technique getting better and the blade chilling out a little, it gave a fantastic shave. Monotony doesn’t really bother me, as long as I’m using decent products. So I’m not worried a bit about getting tired out on this gear.

The only thing I’m getting tired of is taking a picture everyday. As you can tell, I’m complete garbage at being a photographer. Gimme some tips on how to be less trash.

20220806 - Austere Fucking August Day 6

Brush: Omega 011842

Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb

Blade: GEM PTFE

Lather: Stirling Soap Company - 🐑 Sheep

Post: Stirling Soap Company - Coniferous toner

Post: DR Harris - Windsor aftershave milk

GeMsOfWiSdOm

Day 6 and the blade is feeling tuggy again. Gonna need an ass stroping.

Aug 06, 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 (6)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive Balm

• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Sonder EdP

Every day tags: #MammothMafia #GEMsofWisdom

#Sidetracked u/Teufelskraft

Fire - Mother’s Finest

Seeing as I have been sharing songs that remind me of my “Second Father” I figured that I should share one for my actual Father!

To say that my parents are straight-laced and on the uptight side would be putting things mildly. Both had struggles while growing up in large families but especially my Dad. His father walked out on my Grandma and her 4 sons when my Dad (the oldest) was a teenager and was remarried very soon after to the woman he was cheating with. Dad instantly became the “Man” of the house and never got to ever let loose. He ended up becoming a Methodist Pastor and has lived a life on the straight and narrow.

But every so often, on a Saturday dedicated to cleaning the house. He would pull out the old giant speakers just like these and absolutely turn it up to 11! His soundtrack of choice was ALWAYS Mother’s Finest! I like to think that he only chose their songs because my Mom absolutely hates their music for whatever reason. As a kid I enjoyed rocking out to their song as it made cleaning the house that much more fun!

I am really enjoying this setup for AA! Sonder and Alive complement each other better than I was expecting! I think that its the basil in the Alive balm that really grounds the entire scent!

I have been continuously surprised with how smooth of a shave I am getting from the MMOC. It is not exactly comfortable to shave with and I am shying away from going for a BBS shave but it ends up being a lot closer then I thought. I’m hoping that this blade gets me through the entire month without any issue. I was successful last year at getting a blade to last the whole month but the MMOC is a whole different beast!

Edit: I’m no good at grammar

August 6th

• Brush: Zenith Boar - 505NK 27mm
• Razor: GEM - MMOC
• Blade: Gem PTFE (6)
• Lather - Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Soap
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Splash
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Edp

#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag

Edp video

Brilliant as I'm writing this the kids are walking around the house wondering where the ell is coming from, they have blamed a local music festival saying they must be burning something.

The knot if starting to get some good bedding in now, using this one has definitely converted me to want to get more Boar knots.

SOTD Aug 06, 2022

• Brush: APShaveCo 24mm Tuxedo

• Razor: GEM MMOC - 1st Gen

• Blade: Personna GEM Stainless (6)

• Lather: Ariana and Evans - Peach & Cognac

• Post Shave: MacDuff’s Soap Co. - Viticulture - Splash

Great shave today, really loving the extra shaving I get to do now since downsizing my facial hair. This MMOC is really growing on me and I feel like I’m starting to understand it.

#GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 6, 2022 - Austere August Day 6

• Prep: Hot Shower, Stirling Soaps Activated Charcoal Facial
• Brush: Zenith 508A SE 28mm
• Razor: GEM Micromatic OC Gen 1
• Blade: GEM PTFE (6)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Restore - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Restore - Balm

• Post Shave: Zingari - Unscented - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Tom Ford - Grey Vetiver

Day 6 under the belt. Good shave today. 5 to 10 uses on a GEM seems to be the best state of the blade IMO. Restore is a nice scent, but I am already jonesing for something else. I am already planning out my September 1st shave. This is going to be a great brush going forward, I am getting fantastic lathers out of it already.

Mandatory Tagging:

#GEMsOfWisdom

#Rawhoggin

#MammothMafia

Aug. 6, 2022 - Austere August Day 6

• 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 (6)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Aftershave

🐗Raw Hoggin' Progress🤮:
•Unused
•Shave 1
•Shave 2
•Shave 3
•Shave 4
•Shave 5
•Shave 6

Thoughts for the day:
Stank was manageable today, but it's not gone... Shave was 🤌.

Mandatory Taggage:

#GemsOfWisdom

#RawHoggin

#MammothMafia

Aug. 6, 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 (6)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Margaritas in the Arctic - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Glacial Margaritas in the Arctic - Aftershave

Day 6 was my first shave from Turkey and there were a few unexpected challenges. First of all, I totally forgot that my dad’s house doesn’t have hot running water so my shaves for the time-being will be with cold water. Also, I’m exhausted from traveling and the shave was a nice refreshing way to remove some of that travel funk. A welcomed shave - nothing spectacular. Also, getting this shave posted was a bit more challenging than anticipated and I’m hoping I can keep it going while I’m out here.

The Brush: As expected, packing a damp brush left my toiletries smelling a little piggish. The brush was still damp when I took it out to use today but other than, nothing completely out of left field. I did notice today that the brush shed no hairs which was a first since I started using the boar. I haven’t been keeping track of hairs lost but I’ve definitely lost a few with every shave so far. The brush is definitely very soft and even with cold water whipped up a nice leather. It’s going to be much trickier shaving here than at home.#RawHoggin

Brush Picture Pre-shave: Side Top

Brush Picture Post-shave: Side Top

The Razor It was nice to be able to take my time with my shave today. It was the first day in the last few where I walked away unscathed from the GEM. Aside from that nothing new to report. A good two pass shave. #GEMsOfWisdom

Days since last blood: 1

The Soap and Aftershave I finally noticed today that I’ve been taking a dent out of the puck. Still confident that there will be plenty for the month of August. Even with the water situation here in Turkey the soap preformed amazingly.

Day 6 Puck Picture

August 6th, 2022: Stag Stack Saturday

• Prep: warm shower with Stag bath bar

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

• Razor: MMOC

• Blade: GEM PTFE (6)

• 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

3 passes as opposed to the rushed single pass yesterday. Felt great to mow everything back down.

/u/imblasted Here's my first attempt.

Stag sprays of the day!

#SubstantialStag

#GemsOfWisdom

#RawHoggin (new side challenge, [tag /u/semaj3000 everyday)

#UNCHALLENGE

Aug. 6, 2022 - AA - Day 6

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Zenith Boar - Short & Scrubby
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM Blade (6)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Ferox - Soap
• After: Fine Accoutrements - L'Orange Noir - Aftershave
• Post: Nivea - Sensitive Post Shave Balm - Aftershave

Mid afternoon shave. Went on a hike and then brunch. Long shower and then 2 pass face shave with little burn when applying the after shave. Nothing the balm couldn’t tame. Now having a good day!

Tags: #GemsOfWisdom #RawHoggin

Aug. 6, 2022 - Day Six - Ahh fiddlesticks! I cannot rhyme this time.

• Prep: Warm water wash
• Brush: Zenith B33 Copper Boar Brush
• Razor: GEM MicroMatic Open Comb
• Blade: Persona GEM PTFE Coated (6)

• 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

Day six, this blade kind of sucks a big bag of sticks. Anyone have any advice on getting this blade to stop tugging? It is actually worse than a DE blade with the same uses.

I am not loving this knot. It’s real scritchy, doesn’t build a lather all that well, and holds water in the base that it won’t mix with the soap. Hey, at least it doesn’t stink anymore. The handle looks pretty cool.

Brush break-in album #rawhoggin #mammothmafia #GEMSofWisdom

Aug. 6, 2022 - AA Day 06

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: AP400B XL Handle (AP ShaveCo) - 28mm Maggard Boar Knot
• Razor: GEM MMOC - Gen 1
• Blade: GEM PTFE (75)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Eau de Parfum

I am still struggling a bit with this whole face lathering. I like the idea and can see why some would like it. I even enjoy spending more time with the brush to face. The lather will not do what I want it to though. All good, I have the rest of the month to continue messing with it. Even with a not so great lather I was able to get a great 3 pass BBS shave with no irritation or nicks.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Saturday!

Stag Spray 6 #GEMSofWisdom #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag

Aug. 6, 2022

• Prep: Splash of cold water
• Brush: Zenith B16 24mm
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM Stainless PTFE (6)

• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Fougère Angelique - Soap

• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Fougère Angelique - Aftershave

I had a wonderful Saturday at the river, followed by a luxurious shave. This boar brush is clearly starting to hit its stride. It's lathering much more easily and getting a bit softer. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this thing handles at the end of the month. #GemsOfWisdom #RawHoggin

Aug 6, 2021 – Austere August. Day 6.

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Zenith - B16 24mm Boar
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (6)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Sheep
• Post Shave: Zingari Man – Unscented - Aftershave Balm
• Music: Mötley Crüe - Kickstart My Heart

I had a really busy day today, so I don’t have time to write much by the way of deep reflections of the MMOC today. A few days in a row of clean, smooth shaves. I’m sure the breaking in of the boar brush (and creating a better lather with it) is helping the process of using an MMOC along. I really have no complaints about the shave itself. I even stopped using Zingari Man’s Rescue Potion today for the first time since AA started. That’s big news and happened much sooner than I expected. On day 1, there was a part of me that thought I’d be using it all month.

I feel like the brush is building a better lather every day and most of the stench is gone. I can still faintly smell it, but I’m guessing within a day or two, it’ll be entirely gone. That’s still the only scent I have in my shave, so there’s a small (very, very small) part of me that will miss the wet pig smell when it’s gone, since that unscented life is with me for 25 more days.

For my #sidetracked music selection, I picked Motley Crue’s Kickstart My Heart. Motley Crue just played at Fenway Park last night and put on a HELL of a show. The crowd was… Interesting… While there were some young people there, I feel like I was one of the youngest people in my section and I’m in my late thirties. I guess that makes sense, given that the band was at its peak of popularity in the 1980s, and at that point, its fans were probably in their mid-twenties. Fast forward 40 years and here we are. The rebels that lived for this music are currently getting ready to retire. Their lead singer, Vince Neil, was showing his age a bit, but they still put on an amazing show on the whole. For those uninitiated, this song was written by the bassist, Nikki Sixx, about being brought back to life after being legally dead thanks to a heroin overdose. After hitting rock bottom 20something years ago, Nikki is trying to be positive force in the world now, and talks opening about his addiction and recovery now, but these guys were the embodiment of Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll back in their heyday. Their autobiography, “The Dirt” is actually a very, very good read and goes into great detail of how they lived their lives. Spoiler alert: They did whatever the hell they wanted, whenever the hell they wanted with little repercussions. It was a different world back then and I wonder if a band like this could rise up and be successful today like The Crue did. Regardless of any individual’s feeling about the shenanigans this band, I don’t think there are many out there that can deny that this is a great high-energy rock song that can really get your blood pumping and put you in the mood to rock and roll!

Tags: #unscented #rawhoggin #GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 6, 2022 - AA Day 6

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Zenith B34
• Razor: MMOC (Gen 2)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (6)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Thayer's Witch Hazel - Lavendar, Osma Alum

Quick shower and shave tonight. A thunderstorm is rolling in with lightning strikes that seem pretty bright and close - I never used to worry about them but lately I have a rough time getting in the shower while there's lightning. I know the chances of dying from it are almost 0, but, you know. There is a chance.

The hair products from yesterday continue to take over the bathroom counter. It's getting scary in there.

So, my brush didn't soak as long as it probably should have, but it still whipped up an easy and creamy and smooth lather that performed beautifully. While it's still not opened up just sitting there, the performance is about as good as any of the brushes I own. It's excellent. Maybe boar is best after all.

Sonder, as I said, was great. Typing these up as my face cools down every day just sublime, especially after a day in the high 80s with humidity so thick that just sitting outside had sweat running down my whole body. Feels so good to wash that off and then rest in the cool of Mammoth Splash. I might need to grab me some of that Permafrost that just dropped, well, after AA anyway. Plus I've got a killer green sub exclusive brush to save my dollas for. It pains me every time I tub load, but it is what it is. I so much prefer the cleanliness of scooping to this mess every time I open it up, but it is what it is. I certainly get enough soap on the bristles for a solid lather this way.

The MMOC performed well tonight. Just a 2 pass shave with a bit of buffing on my chin - I can't stand finishing a shave and having my chin still be prickly. My neck below my jawline, fine. My sideburns, sure. Stache, whatever. But chin - nope. BBS or bust.

Sonder thought of the day: While I understand that everyone is living these vivid lives, it makes certain types of people more challenging to understand. I know that I'm selfish - getting married showed me that, and then having kids showed it even more. But, people like the car salesman that called me yesterday. Just, scummy. Starting the call by pseudo-offering me a vehicle that's not available, only to later tell me that I can't buy it because it's a customer order that's sitting and waiting to be picked up. Then offering to let me test drive one of their vendor's vehicles since they don't have any stock before I place the order. Then, when I mentioned I may end up going used if the used market bubble bursts, he offers me a vehicle that will cost within 5k of the price of the new vehicle I'm looking at, but with 95k miles on it. People, just don't be sleezy. In the age of the internet and transparent prices, I can't understand why salesmen still behave like this. It's not my first interaction with this dealer and after the first time I said I'd never buy from them again (and I won't), so it's not altogether surprising, but I just wonder how people get there. Is it selfishness? I'll do literally anything I can to make a few dollars? Is it high pressure from management? If so, why do people work for scummy dealerships/managers? I recognized that I'm extremely fortunate to do a job I love with people I love, and that it's probably not the norm, so perhaps I'm showing my ingnorance here - but just have an ounce of human decency, don't scam people, and it feels like you're going to be a lot more successful in the long term. This dealership sold me one (terrible) truck 5 years ago. That's the only sale they'll ever have from me. Not only that, but I've told anyone in the market about my experience. So they've lost other potential buyers. For what? So - how do people end up like this? And what do I do with it? How do I show kindness and empathy while recognizing that too many people are still out to take advantage of whoever they can to make a buck. It's not an excuse to say that I should treat them poorly, certainly not. But - complicated, anyway. As we all are.

Anyway - that's a random rant, I guess, but I'm trying to look at life from the other side in all this and it's not always easy.

Have a good night, all.

#sidetracked u/Teufelskraft

For my first sidetracked song I choose the Theme song from "Lost". Every time I play this, I feel deep nostalgia. Sad that it's over, happy that I experienced, and a deep longing to re-watch Lost for the first time. It was the first TV series that my wife and I really got into, and we were both young (20) and in college and had the foolishness and the free time to dive in, staying up until 2 or 3 am to watch "just one more!" and experiencing so many twists and turns and so much character development together. I know I'll get hate for this, but Lost is by far my favorite TV series of all time and the score is seriously amazing. So many riffs on the same little tune (I don't know music terms), and certain songs/chord groups (?) played at specific types of moments. Just so powerful for communicating the significance of a scene or something that's happening in a relationship. I'd like to be able to have this stuff on as background music to study while preparing for this or reading, but it just makes me feel to much that I can't focus on what I'm trying to accomplish, but that's what makes it so significant. Any music that has the ability to take me completely out of the present and back to an experience, especially a shared experience, is just a powerful and unique thing. This song from Lost (along with many others from the score) accomplish that for me.

Other tags: #mammothmafia #RawHoggin #GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 6, 2022 - AA Day 6

• Brush: ShaveForge 28mm Boar, 3d Printed Handle #RawHoggin
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb #GEMsOfWisdom
• Blade: GEM Stainless (6)

• 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

Another rushed evening shave because of family stuff. Today we celebrated the baby's first birthday.

As such I barely got a shave in. I'll have stats tomorrow on soap usage. The actual shave itself was fine, and the brush is getting pretty deace at this point.

Only two passes today, trying to give my face a little break, my neck is a bit angry.

Aug. 6, 2022 - Day Six

• Prep: Warm shower w/ B&M Diamond Bath Bar
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (6)

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

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

#RawHoggin

Today I was very happy with my lather. I loaded more than yesterday, probably closer to 30 seconds. I had a bunch of proto-lather dripping off the brush and all around that I collected up in the puck, which might be kinds of cheating but it made having enough for the later passes much easier. Brush feels great, not really that much change since the first day, besides not hogging all the soap, but the look and feel of the tips I fell haven't changed much in these first six days.

#GEMsOfWisdom

Shave this morning was good, I did a normal 2.5 pass shave and was happy the the shave I got out. No irritation but I didd notice some red spots on my cheeks in areas I might have gotten a little too aggressive with on that last clean up pass.

August 6 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (9)
• 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 - Mood Indigo

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

Aug. 6, 2022 - AA 6

• Prep: Water Splash
• Brush: Semogue 1305 Pure Bristle 22mm
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (12)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Balm

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

Progress album. SOTD pic in title.

Still same same. Nothing really insightful this evening. I’m doubting this blade coupled with my technique will make it to end of month. Perhaps I’ll just continue torturing myself in the name of camaraderie with my fellow internet shave friends. I did see a few split hairs today when looking more closely. #GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #MammothMafia

Aug 6, 2022 Trickhole Stag + MMOC + RawHog

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Dogwood Unbleached Boar
• Razor: MMOC MM24
• Blade: GEM (7)
• Lather: Chiseled Face Grooming Midnight Stag
• Post Shave:Chiseled Face Grooming Midnight Stag Balm
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face Grooming Midnight Stag

Stagging it up

#GEMsOfWisdom

#RawHoggin

Cheers