Aug. 8, 2022 - Austere August 8th

• Prep: Cool shower
• Brush: Semogue 610 Boar
• Razor: OCMM Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (8)

• Lather: Noble Otter - Firefighter - Soap

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

• Post Shave: Zingari Man Cooling Recovery Splash

#GEMsofWisdom Somewhat shave-related GEM of Wisdom- Don't ever invite u/j33pguy13 to play a game of Jenga. You will lose. That man has some serious precarious stacking skills. If you haven't been following his SOTD pics, you really should. That man is doing more with Stag than the average person can.

#RawHoggin My brush on Day 8 pre-soak- https://imgur.com/a/KusZVLO . And then my brush post-shave- https://imgur.com/a/KpT6Xrh It's not eating lather any more and is getting softer by the day. What more could you ask for?

#Sidetracked While there are plenty of amazing albums on the heavy side of the spectrum that will be in my Top Ten for 2022, my #1 album for this year is Denzel Curry's Melt My Eyez See Your Future. It is an absolutely stellar hiphop album that is getting constant spins in my musical rotation. I like my hiphop to have really creative beats and this album has plenty. I want to hear an artist that can flow in original ways and Denzel Curry absolutely does that. This album is a big leap from his last album ZUU, which was a big and bombastic album (and sounds great bumping from the car and contains this banger- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3hj4vkRkaw) that also nailed the Miami sound. To me, Melt My Eyez has a lot of parallels to when Guru of Gang Starr did his Jazzmatazz projects. This is a chiller album but with sneaky depth. I'll start the week by giving you one of the songs Denzel did for KEXP's live series a few months ago because it's just too damn hard to pick just one song from this album- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73izf7uf5lo . u/Teufelskraft and gang enjoy this one.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Finding Serenity in RawHogginy on the road to the GEMtury Pt. 8

• Prep: Klar Activated Charcoal facial soap
• Brush: Rubberset 400-3 with unbleached 26 mm Zenith knot set at 56 mm loft (8)
• Razor: GEM - Micromatic (open comb, first generation)
• Blade: Personna - GEM PTFE (77)
• 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

Today is Djunior's return to daycare after summer break, and he has joined a new group (he has graduated from the little explorer group and is now a little adventurer), so there has been a significant amount of drama at handover. It struck me how as parents of a toddler, my wife and I were looking forward to this day so much, and how guilty I feel knowing that he'll now have a difficult few days getting used to new teachers, kids, routines, etc. Ugh!

#GEMsOfWisdom I've jumped back into my usual daily rhythm of morning shaves, and it's a bliss to be the first one awake, and taking some time with my routine. The MMOC with the 77-use blade by now reminds me of u/VisceralWatch baby-proof Wolfie. Not in blade feel, the MMOC still has that in spades, but in how I can swish it around my face with reckless abandon without any ill effect. That being said, I am starting to look forward to using a new blade, to feel that effortless smooth glide through stubble that a only fresh coated blade gives you. Now here's the rub; as an open-blade newbie, I was planning to use only straights and shavettes for Sample September, with the possible exception of MicroMatic Mammoth Monday Formation Flights. Now I'm wondering whether I'd rather use just my most comfortable safety razors for a while. We'll see.

I feel like I'm cheating with the #RawHoggin challenge, this brush rather inoffensive in scent already and was super comfy from day one.

August 8, 2022: Monday, A Day for Stag

• Prep: warm splash of water
• Brush: Yaqi Sagrada Familia Tuxedo 24 mm
• Razor: GEM OCMM (gen 2)
• Blade: GEM Stainless (9)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

First day of two spritzes! Week two of AA and I'm just so proud of the Staginians. The rest of you should try Stag or admit you love it.

Have a rad day!

Day 8, 2 spritzes

. #GEMsOfWisdom

August 8, 2022

• Brush: Zenith 506U XSE
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM SS PTFE (42)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Sheep
• Post Shave: Lucky Tiger
• Post Shave: Olay Complete
• Post Shave: Chatillon Lux - unscented skin salve

A good shave to start a new work week. I am loving this brush and soap.

#GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 8, 2022 - Mammoth Monday MMOC AA madness

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Omega Pro 48 Boar brush 28mm
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (8)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Hygge - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Hygge - Aftershave

Another easy shave this morning. Too bad I DQ'd myself from the raw hoggin' as the brush basically smells like Hygge at this point, only the occasional faint whiff of pig stink, but barely. MMOC performing just fine for now. And Hygge... Still magical. A very inviting warm comforting scent. Glad this was my choice for the month.

May this week bring success to you both in shaving conquests and life conquests. How deep.

#GEMsOfWisdom

#MammothMafia

Austere August Day 8

Brush: Rubberset 400-3 w/ Unbleached Zenith 24mm knot set to a 56mm loft 8th use

Razor: Gem MMOC, gen 2

Blade: PTFE (8)

Lather: NO Monoi de Tahiti

Post: NO Monoi de Tahiti Splash

3 pass BBS. The brush is at the development plateau where all the changes are so small I cannot see or feel them, but I know they are happening.

RawHoggin

GemsOfWisdom

Aug. 8, 2022 - Austere August Ultra Nightmare RawHoggin Stagpocalypse

• Prep: Midnight Stag liquid soap and bar soap
• Brush: Semogue 1250
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (8)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Balm

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

It was nice to shave at home again today. It WAS NOT, however, nice to unpack all of the things I brought with us this mornin. Dear God, does it really take all of that, Jim? Short answer: yes. It’s the month of Stag. This is the month that a random population of weirdos that obsess over shaving and everyone they come into contact with become mesmerized by one of the best scents ever. Disagree? Well, you can be wrong. It’s ok. No one’s perfect. Just like I only sprayed 4 sprays today because the upvotes just weren’t there. And that’s ok. This time.

SubstantialStag

GEMsOfWisdom

RawHoggin

August 8 2022

• Brush: Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC (Gen 1)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (11)
• 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 - Restore

It was nice to contrast the darkness of Mood Indigo with the bright honey of Restore. Simple three passes, the blade is well into smooth but still very sharp phase. Back to the office after a week's vacation today, boo.

#MammothMafia

#GEMSofWisdom

Aug. 8, 2022

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: AP Shave Co 24MM SYNBAD
• Razor: GEM - Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM - PTFE (8)
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Bare Siero - Soap

2 pass shave with a 30 second load. I forgot about my post shave as my mind drifted onto work. I don't think skipping a post shave is apart of any of the side contest I'm in.

GEMsOfWisdom

unscented

Aug 8, 2022 - AA: MA-RH-MM - Almond Leather - Day 8

• 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 (8)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Almond Leather - Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Almond Leather - Aftershave

Today's shave did not go as expected. The lather started out well, the first pass seemed good, but during applying the lather for the second pass, I could tell something was wrong. I'm not sure if I was just overconfident during the initial pass, but I could feel my skin was pretty raw upon building up the lather for the second pass. Even though the boar is softer now, it's still not soft enough to prevent additional brush burn.

My concern now is that the blade may also be dulling a lot faster than I would have liked due to poor technique. I had some tugging yesterday and today. I may try palm stropping the blade to see if that helps at all for tomorrow.

#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #MammothMafia

Brush Break-in Progress

#sidetracked
Tame Impala's It Feels Like We Only Go Backwards came to mind today based on the poor shave.

Rating: 3/5

Aug. 8, 2022

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: Semogue 1438
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM blue star (8)

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

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

Good shave today brush and razor are both working very well. This blade is actually still getting better I had a great close shave today as I say that I spotted one tiny bloody spot on my neck that I had not noticed earlier, sneaky. The brush seems to be coming along slowly it feels nice and seems to hold a good amount of soap. #RawHoggin #GEMsOfWisdom

https://i.imgur.com/z7GM6iD.jpg

Aug. 8, 2022

• Brush: Grey Chubby - Zenith B37
• Razor: Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM - PTFE Coated Stainless Steel (8)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Z - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Z - Aftershave

Oh, man, it's the 8th? You know what that means: It's International Cat Day! Here's an Artemis to brighten your morning!

I decided to include another element that I've been using this August: unscented deodorant! Sure, it's consistent with the unscented challenge, but also, I imagine most of us here generally use some kind of unscented deodorant-type product, because a lot of the scented varieties could easily overpower the scents and fragrances that we so enjoy.

I'm pretty ready for this cough thing to be done. It's progressing through apparent stages, which hopefully means it'll subside soon.

I'm also ready to be done with this face-lathering farce. I'm convinced that anyone who says they prefer this is lying. Either that or mentally deficient.

#sidetracked /u/Teufelskraft
I happened to throw on an A Perfect Circle shirt today. That is a shirt that I've had for something around 20 years, having gotten it when I was in high school. In the spirit thereof, ~~The Outsider~~ The Noose from their second album is just one of their many great songs that take me back. It took me a little while to pick that one out after listening to so many just now. Mer de Noms and Thirteenth Step both fall under the general category of albums in which every song is memorable and fantastic, not a one being off.

That Maynard James Keenan really knew how to work teen-angst, huh? I'm not hugely familiar with his entire catalog (I'm not even familiar with anything A Perfect Circle after the second album), but A Perfect Circle was kind of a reverse introduction to earlier Tool. Angsty stuff, that. Oh, I just remembered I even saw Tool in concert way back, too. Huh.

#GEMsOfWisdom
#RawHoggin
#unscented
#MammothMafia

Aug. 8, 2022 - Keep calm and Stag on - Austere August Day 8

• Brush: RazoRock 506CK / 26mm boar
• Razor: GEM OCMM
• Blade: GEM PTFE (8)
• 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

Everything is just clicking right now and I'm getting some great shaves. I'm trying not to pay attention to the drawer full of other soaps and shelves lined with razors and brushes, but I know they're getting restless.

#RawHoggin

I'm really starting to enjoy this brush which is something I don't think I've ever said about a boar brush. I came into this with the boar-- mentality just wanting to challenge myself with something different to re-ignite my thrill for the hobby. I'd say it's working temporarily.

#GEMsofWisdom

Another smooth, close, and comfortable shave. Not much else to note today. I'm getting good with this thing!

Brush album

Stag sprays

Aug. 7, 2022 - Eighth Day

• Prep: Quick splash of water
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (8)

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

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

#RawHoggin

Very decent lather today, felt a bit heavy for the first pass but there was plenty for the follow on lathers. Again I think I could get a little more lather into initially. Brush is treating me very well still.

#GEMsOfWisdom

Decent shave today no nicks or heat thus far. Less of the tugging that I felt yesterday so continuing on learning more about this razor that I am enjoying very much thus far.

August 8, 2022 - Austere August Ultra-Nightmare Mode

Brush pics for RawHoggin challenge

• Brush: Zenith B10
• Razor: Gem MMOC Gen 2 Ex-Watson
• Blade: Personna PTFE (8)
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - Washington's Blend - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Executive Man - Balm

I guess I’ll post in the newbie questions, since I’m a boar newbie: I can’t for the life of me get much lather for the second pass unless I squeeze out the brush after the first. Is this normal for boar? Is it just because I only have 8 uses on it? I can load load load, and the first pass is great, but the brush just doesn’t retain much soap going into a second pass. My 22mm synthetic does better.

Back to work today. I teach community college, and my summer break is at an end. Students come back on 8/15.

#RawHoggin

#GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 8, 2022 - AA Day 8 - A visitor has arrived

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Zenith B34
• Razor: MMOC (Gen 2)
• Blade: GEM PTFE (8)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Aftershave

Did the ol' night shave morning shave 1-2 punch last night into this morning. Brush was still a little damp yet from last night but performed beautifully. Here's the side profile. Overall I'd call it an excellent shave once again. A 2.5 or so passer: with the grain, across/against the grain, and then buffing the rest; probably about 80% BBS and the rest is darn fine. I'll take that to start the day.

Not much to say about the brush today that hasn't already been said - she's a beaut. MMOC, too, enjoying it. Blade performed well, no tugging again, and, maybe for the first time all month - no blood! I'll take it.

Sonder is a great way to start or finish the day - the cooling post shower while making my morning cup of coffee helped wake me up this morning, although I'm still dragging a bit. We were up too late last night, I was woken in the night to help my son pee, and then up early this morning. Such is parenting, I guess. I'll sleep when I'm dead, or something like that. More likely I die from lack of sleep, but, potato potahto.

I did have a cool visitor this morning in the bathroom. At first I thought it was a crushed spider, but when I got closer it moved a little and it turns out it's a Reduvius personatus or "masked hunter" that belongs to the assassin bug family - it camouflages itself with dust and kills a bunch of other bugs. Joke was on him, this morning, because he got assassinated. I'm just hard like that I guess.

Sonder thought of the day: Everyone wants to be liked and investing just a little bit into a conversation, putting your phone in your pocket, and paying attention to your coworker or friend or neighbor or whoever can make a huge difference. People know when we're distracted and not paying attention. There's the whole movement to see yourself as the main character in your story, and, I get that. But - what if we're not the main character? What if our lives are meant to be spent serving and loving other people and making them feel valued? Looking outward instead of inward is hard. It's easy to only be interested in how every conversation ties back to myself instead of asking questions about how the other person is doing and sincerely showing interest in their life; but if I do it, it's better. I've had to practice and learn and practice and remind and practice some more and I still stink at it, but contemplating Sonder helps. People have so much to offer in their stories, and if we take time to really listen to them, we end up in way better situations with way better relationships. So - that's what I'm working on today.

Have a great day, all!

#mammothmafia

#RawHoggin

#GEMsOfWisdom

#sidetracked u/Teufelskraft

Today's side track track is the reprise to The Greatest Showman theme song. I so wish I had seen this in theaters, but it didn't happen. We were a bit late to the game watching it, but it's a movie that my wife and I both really enjoy and, even more importantly, all of my kids love it. The music throughout, as you know, is so well done: high energy, great beats, entertaining, and fun! Is it the greatest plot ever? Probably not. Is the music really as good as I think? Probably not. But do I love it anyway? Heck yes. All I have to do is play music from the Greatest Showman on our smart speaker and the kids are dancing and stomping and squealing around the living room. It's a blast. There are other songs throughout the movie that I like more, but this one is the most high energy and it's great. The opening is cool, too, but, hate me for this if you want; Zac Efron is so dang talented it's ridiculous. I have never seen a High School Musical movie, so that doesn't ruin him for me. Anyway - there you have it. As a bonus, The Other Side is also amazing on this soundtrack. Enjoy!

Aug. 8, 2022 - Austere August Day 8

• 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 (8)

• 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
•Shave 7
•Shave 8

Thoughts for the day:
Smell wasn't offensive today; I don't think I'm out of the stank woods yet, but we're getting there and that is definitely encouraging.

The knot is loving Tusk and so is my face. Both are uncannily soft as we round the corner into the second week. Similar results to last year, which led me to wonder how many potential skin benefits we leave on the table switching bases every day... Just a thought, tho. I'm still mad fickle. 😅

Gem is in it's sweet spot. 💎❤️

Mandatory Taggage:

#GemsOfWisdom

#RawHoggin

#MammothMafia

A Mammoth Micromatic Raw Hoggin’ August

Brush Progress

• Brush: Zenith B26 #RawHoggin
• Razor: GEM MMOC #GEMsOfWisdom
• Blade: GEM (8)
• Lather: House if Mammoth - Hygge in Tusk
• Post Shave: Hygge Splash & Balm
• Fragrance: Hygge EDP #MammothMafia

Team, I’ve learned the language of the MMOC, the only missing piece is using this blade for the rest of the month.

Is this brush becoming softer? It can’t be. Can it?

Day 1 Prep Video

RawHoggin Unboxing Pics

MammothMafia

August 8, 2022

• Brush: Zenith B15 (506 U/L) 27.5mm Boar
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gold Gen2
• Blade: Personna Gem PTFE (8)
• 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)

So, another great shave. I almost rated this an excellent shave but there are areas that aren't as close as they could be. Nonetheless, again, comfortable, close, no issues.

If you're occasionally looking at the edge photos I'm making, compare today's edge photo to this one of my $20 Gold Dollar straight razor. Which would you prefer to use?

OK, the Gold Dollar edge is not the shave ready, factory edge. I've wailed on this. It's an edge that went through a series of water stones, and then a series of loaded strops. Definitely not a Jnat edge. The Jnats that I have are really too soft for razor sharpening. You could achieve the same pristine result with a series of inexpensive lapping films as u/djundjila does (I believe). Razors are quite easy to sharpen because the spine acts as your guide. What's not so easy, and what takes a bit of experience, is fixing geometry problems. This Gold Dollar was completely out of wack when I got it. The reason you see such a large bevel in the photo has to do with me thinning the spine (on both sides) to take the razor's sharpening angle down from the 18+° range to the 15+° degree range. That's a serious amount of metal removed, but the shaving performance improvement was dramatic (for me).

The actual GEM blade edge does not show significant change from yesterday. Again, I've examined the both sides and have taken a photo that is representative of what I see.

I'm not noticing much change in the brush at this point. I'm sure change will be subtle and that there will be a day when I take note of how good this brush has become.

Aug. 8, 2022 - AA - Day 8

• Prep: Hot shower
• Brush: Zenith Boar - Short & Scrubby
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM Blade (8)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - Ferox - Soap
• After: Fine Accoutrements - L'Orange Noir - Aftershave
• Post: Nivea - Sensitive Post Shave Balm - Aftershave

2 pass face shave and using light touch to shave so that it can last all 30 shaves. Brush is doing a bit better after a week. Soap is performing good. Little burn when applying aftershave and the balm helped to finish things off. Good start to the day and the week.

Tags: #GemsOfWisdom #RawHoggin

Aug. 8, 2022 - AA Day 8

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: Semogue 1305
• Razor: GEM Open Comb Micromatic
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (8)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

SubstantialStag

GEMSofWisdom

Going back to the angles from the weekend, today I used both the conventional GEM angle on one side and the slightly increased angle on the other. Again, I noticed a tendency to apply more pressure with the GEM angle and I tried to give a lighter touch. Comfort-wise I noticed little difference between the two sides, however, on my second pass, with is more like a diagonal to the grain in some places, there could have been the slightest beginnings of tugging, though it was more like feeling the blade cut through the coarse whiskers. I get a distinct, needle-like feeling when a blade is bad enough to tug and it was not that. What was noticeable was the cleanness of the shave from side to side. The shavette angle, as I will call it, gave me an ever-so-slightly better shave.

I want to shift gears and talk about the brush for a bit for you raw-hoggers. Last year I bitched a lot about the Semogue 1305. So much that I was ready to be done with it after I got the Zenith B33. Now the Semogue wasn’t brand new when I started AA last year. It just hadn’t been a brush I was super in love with. I thought giving it a whole month would, like the spirit of AA suggests, help me get to know it better. Don’t give up on those boars. I’m getting fantastic lathers from the 1305 this year. I really think the key is GUTL. Starting out with a drier brush and keeping that drier base of protolather to build on have made me very happy so far this month. But that brush… very comfortable and pleasant to lather on my face. Last year I struggled to have enough lather and this year it’s the total opposite, and I’m essentially using the same amount of soap as I typically do. My SOTD photo is what’s leftover from my shave today.

Keep raw-Hoggin’!

Spraying it, baby!

20220808 - Austerity Day 8

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

Todays shave felt bad, the blade is getting tuggy, very tuggy and uncomfortable.

I took the decision to clean the razor down, strop the blade (not on a belt you fucking chuds) and flip it around like some W_E pleb.

see how it goes tomorrow.

“Think of the life you have lived until now as over and, as a dead man, see what’s left as a bonus and live it according to Nature. Love the hand that fate deals you and play it as your own, for what could be more fitting?” – Marcus Aurelius

Aug 8, 2021 – Austere August. Day 8.

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Zenith - B16 24mm Boar
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (8)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Sheep
• Post Shave: Zingari Man – Unscented - Aftershave Balm
• Music: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Impression That I Get

Happy Monday fellow wetshavers! Hope everyone is doing well heading into our second week of Austere August. I continue on my unscented, MMOC, with a new boar brush daily journey. Today’s shave went well. Once again, no nicks, not cuts, no fuss, and no muss. Built up a nice, slick lather and had a nice, smooth, unscented shave.

Every day the stank of the boar gets less and less. I’m starting to wonder if using an unscented soap is slowing down the unstankification of the new brush. Where if I was using scented soaps, the brush would pick up those scents and lose the wet pig scent faster. I suppose the only way to figure that out would be to break in the same boar brush again and this time use scented soaps. And while this journey has been fun, I think it’ll be a while before I go down this road again.

For today’s #sidetracked music selection, I’m going with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Impression That I Get. Few songs can bring me back to the late 90s like this one can. After I shared the band Lawrence’s music two days ago, I had it in my mind to share this one next. Both heavily feature brass instruments and are really upbeat. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are one of the many, many one-hit wonders the world has seen and I really have to wonder (no pun intended) what that is like. These guys started as a band in 1983, had this MASSIVE hit in 1997, then continued on for another 25 years without coming close the same mainstream success. Gotta be a weird feeling. When I searched for this song on youtube, I watched some (somewhat) recent live performances and the lead singer, Dicky Barrett, almost looks bored performing it. And I can’t say I blame him! Every show and festival they play, this is the one they close it down with, day after day, show after show, most of the people there know you for this one song. Gotta be really, really strange. In early 2022, the Bosstones finally hung it up and retired just shy of 40 years making music and dancing together. (Sidetracked-sidenote: They had a member of the band who's only job was to dance and he killed it. What a great gig that must've been!) Upon doing some limited research for this post, I saw that Dicky Barrett was also Jimmy Kimmel Live’s announcer from 2004-2022 and apparently a big anti-vaxxer, performing at a Defeat the Mandate rally earlier this year. It’s speculated it’s that stance that cost him his announcer job at Kimmel and caused the band to break up. No clue if that’s true or not. It’s probably not a bad thing though, they were probably all tired of playing this damn song over and over again, but what do I know... That’s just the impression that I get.

Tags: #unscented #rawhoggin #GEMsOfWisdom

August 8th

• Brush: Zenith Boar - 505NK 27mm
• Razor: GEM - MMOC
• Blade: Gem PTFE (8)
• Lather - Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Soap
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Splash
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Edp

#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag

Edp video

Another day of Stag another day of an unhappy wife, the worst thing of Austere August has to be the building pile of Mail Calls. Getting hard to get inventive with the SOTD pics so need to up my game.

Aug. 8, 2022

• Brush: Zenith B36 "Copper Scrubby!" 28x50mm Boar
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM (8)

• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Soap

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

• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux - 1904

• Passes: WTG, XTG

• Coffee: Peru. Panchia, Tabaconas, Cajamarca - v: Yellow Caturra & Typica - p: Washed
• Music: Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
• August 2022 SOTD Photo Album

#GEMsOfWisdom / #RawHoggin

I don't know how exactly I managed to break my rolling monthly Imgur post (Multiple uploading devices? Too many uploads? Concurrent conflicting uploads? Too big of images? Wild mis-clicks? Skynet?), but my original August log disappeared as of this morning, so I started over with an abridged set of SOTD images from my phone. Hopefully that's not a problem for our venerable judges and my dear readers.

I think I've already found my rhythm for the month. 40 swirls of soap is working out well (enough soap for a two-pass lather, but not too much to make hydrating that lather challenging). This knot is slowly breaking in, though it still has a way to go. This GEM blade is comfortable now, though I noticed that the MMOC benefits from a bit less cap-riding than I recall. I set it flush and then back off a degree or two. That's the sweet-spot for me. I don't remember if I picked up on that last August when I used the same razor.

Soap consumption was up a bit from yesterday, despite the same number of swirls. I suppose dampness of brush and pressure are also factors, but I don't know how to be more precise with those.

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

⁂

#sidetracked u/Teufelskraft

I was apprehensive to even bring up Bob Dylan this month. What do you say that hasn't already been said? On top of that, Dylan is a songwriter I respect and admire more than I enjoy, and I just don't think to listen to his music often.

I do have a soft spot for two very different recordings: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan and Blood on the Tracks. Despite being very different productions, both albums feature a stellar, heartbreaking ballad, and the stiff-shouldered resentments of "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" have always felt emotionally and thematically antecedent to my favorite Dylan song: "If You See Her, Say Hello." In that early-career track, our protagonist leaves "babe." In "If You See Her, Say Hello," it's the opposite situation, and "she left that night". "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" communicates the raw sting of a fresh breakup, inflamed by resentment, bitterness, and unkind blame, while the latter is a wistful lament, fondly remembering better days. I think they're a fitting double-feature.

• YouTube: Bob Dylan - "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"
• YouTube: Bob Dylan - "If You See Her, Say Hello"

Aug. 8, 2022 - Austere August

• Prep: Warm water
• Brush: Ever-Ready 200 - Zenith 27mm unbleached boar knot
• Razor: GEM MICROMATIC OPEN COMB 2nd gen
• Blade: PERSONNA GEM SS PTFE(8)
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Unscented - Soap
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Incorporeal - Aftershave (Alcohol Free)

Busy Monday, I had to rush with the shave, nothing remarkable except that I tried to flip the blade (I had used it in the same position the past week) but I couldn't do it, seem that it's bend or I don't know but I can't flip it. I will try tomorrow.

PigEvolution 1 2

#unscented #RawHoggin #GEMsOfWisdom

SOTD Aug 08, 2022

• Brush: APShaveCo 24mm Tuxedo

• Razor: GEM MMOC - 1st Gen

• Blade: Personna GEM Stainless (8)

• Lather: Ariana and Evans - Peach & Cognac

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

Great shave again today, solid 2 passes as usual. I feel like I’m starting to get into the rhythm of this shave and it’s nice.

#GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 8, 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 (8)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Margaritas in the Arctic - Soap
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Glacial Margaritas in the Arctic - Aftershave

Day 8 was a nice shave and similar to yesterday. Not much new to report.

The Brush: Brush felt about the same as yesterday and at this point I could probably use it with my eyes closed. .#RawHoggin

Brush Picture Pre-shave: Side Top

Brush Picture Post-shave: Side Top

The Razor Another routine shave with the GEM (can’t believe I’m already calling shaves with the GEM routine) and no nicks, cuts or irritation. #GEMsOfWisdom

Days since last blood: 3

The Soap and Aftershave The soap continues to perform like a champ and I’m really appreciating the cooling with the hot and humid weather here in Turkey.

Day 8 Puck Picture

August 8th, 2022

Prep: Warm water

Razor: Gem MMOC

Blade: Gem Blue Star (8)

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.

Good lather today for an easy shave. Blade is still going but I anticipate the second half of the month to be difficult with it. Brush is starting to splay out a bit.

GEMsOfWisdom

unscented

RawHoggin

Aug. 8, 2022 - AA Day 8

• Brush: ShaveForge 28mm Boar, 3d Printed Handle #RawHoggin
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb #GEMsOfWisdom
• Blade: GEM Stainless (8)

• 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

Taking a cue from /u/J33pguy13 and /u/Imblasted, I stacked up my SOTD shot, though I've a fraction of their stacking talent.

I feel like I'm in the sweet spot of the month. The brush has softened up nicely and is no longer scratching the shit out of my face, and the blade is still sharp enough to do a good job. As we go through the month the brush will get better and better, and the razor will get worse and worse.

Today's shave, a two-passer, resulted in a SAS. Still some stubble on my neck, I find it harder to get a really close shave with the MMOC than my DE razors. I need to focus on that.

Only used 1g of soap again. The extreme usage has settled down.

August 8th, 2022 - Wisdom of Hoggin Raw Mammoth GEMs

• Prep: Warm water

• Brush: Zenith B36 “Copper Scrubby!”

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

• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (otto)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Alive

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive Splash

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive Balm

#MammothMafia

#RawHoggin

#GEMsOfWisdom

Hog before and After Shave 8

After 8 shaves, the GEM is now going pretty well. I didn’t have any irritation today even with a third pass atg. The brush is getting easier to splay, but damn if it isn’t a hungry and thirsty beast. I added a bit more soap to load today. When I started lathering up, I got that yogurt consistency. I added water splashing it on my face and dipping the brush in the mug. Finally ended up with a good lather. First two passes went by without issue, so added a third to my face, but not the neck. I got very close to bbs. The aftershave splash was not stingy, and applied the balm for a bit of moisturizing.

Overall, best shave so far this month. I hope they all go this well.

Aug. 8, 2022 - RawHoggin & Taming the MMOC

• Brush: Zenith B37
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: Gem PTFE (8)

• Lather: Strike Gold Shave - Kennedy

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

• Post Shave: Zingari - Unscented - Balm

RawHoggin

GemsOfWisdom

I have a habit of doing a quick few towel strops at the end of my shave, just to help dry the brush (idk if this actually does anything but it’s a habit). Luckily I’ve avoided that so far this month. There’s been several times that I’ve almost done it out of habit, but stopped myself so I don’t catch that DQ… Speaking of, do we have a count of the people left standing after 1 week?

The MMOC is still feeling good. Somehow I keep ending up with a weeper, but it’s still a good shave.

I blind bought Strike Gold Shave - Kennedy because I saw a bunch of good reviews on the scent, and because it is a less popular company and I thought it’d be cool to try them out. Well I scent ended up being a bust for me. I have no clue how to describe this scent. All I know is I think about root beer when I smell it. So I used it once right after I got it, and once for second chance Day during the LG. So when I was deciding what to use for AA, I made my decision based on what soap I wanted to kill, or at least put a big dent in and Kennedy seemed like a good candidate. This soap came in 5 ounces, so I knew I wouldn’t kill it within the month. However, I knew I was RawHoggin a greedy, soap thirsty 28mm chubby boar. As I’ve mentioned several times this month, I have been loading this soap like an absolute mad man. Not only to use up this soap, but also because it’s necessary to get a good lather with this thirsty boar.

So what have I discovered using this soap after using it for a week? It’s a fantastic base. It makes a great lather that is super easy to whip up. Some bases are finicky with how much water is needed when. Not this one. Add some water and get that drippy lather. It’s one of the easiest bases I’ve ever worked with. If you see a soap that looks interesting from Strike Gold Shave, pull the trigger, it’s great. So no, I don’t really care for the scent. But the performance is great.

Aug 08, 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 (8)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive Balm

• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Sonder EdP

Every day tags: #MammothMafia #GEMsofWisdom

I haven’t really reported a lot about my shaves so far so here it is: House of Mammoth is good. MMOC is ok.

Joking aside, I am super happy with my choice for software. Sonder is incredible as I already knew but the HoM aftershave balm is incredible! I am not a fan of alcohol splashes so I’m super happy that they offer a balm to complement their soaps.

The MMOC has surpassed my expectations on how close of a shave i can get with it, even with only two passes! It is taking some getting use to and I’m figuring out that a slightly steeper angle helps out but it’s still far from a smooth feeling while shaving. This razor demands respect and it’s getting it from me! I haven’t cut myself (yet) but have gotten some irritation from not having the right angle.

Aug. 8, 2022 - AA Day 08

• Prep: Warm shower
• Brush: AP400B XL Handle (AP ShaveCo) - 28mm Maggard Boar Knot
• Razor: GEM MMOC - Gen 1
• Blade: GEM PTFE (77)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

Pretty uneventful 3 pass shave with no real changes over the past couple days.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Monday!

Stag Spray 8 #GEMSofWisdom #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag

Aug. 8, 2022 - Austere August Day 8

• Prep: Hot Shower, Stirling Soap Facial Soap
• Brush: Zenith 508A SE 28mm
• Razor: GEM Micromatic OC Gen 1
• Blade: GEM PTFE (8)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Restore - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Restore - Balm

• Post Shave: Zingari - Unscented - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Tom Ford - Grey Vetiver

Day 8 of AA was a decent shave. A little rushed this morning as Mondays tend to be, but still had time to enjoy a nice two pass shave. The boar is breaking in lovely. MMOC is still going strong and smooth. Restore is still rosey.

Mandatory Tagging:

#GEMsOfWisdom

#Rawhoggin

#MammothMafia

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

Prep: Warm Shower
Brush: Semogue Torga - C5
Razor: GEM MMOC version 2
Blade: GEM Stainless (8)
Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Soap
Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Aftershave
Fragrance: Issey Miyake -L'eau d'Issey pour Homme

A smooth shave today, it's all good. The brush is getting to be very nice.

https://imgur.com/a/3UAv1hc

#GEMsOfWisdom

#RawHoggin

#MammothMafia

Aug. 8, 2022 - Day Eight: Let us Aviate!!!

• Prep: Warm water wash
• Brush: Zenith B33 Copper Boar Brush
• Razor: GEM MicroMatic Open Comb
• Blade: Persona GEM PTFE Coated (8)

• 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

Today is a day to celebrate! I have been “stuck” at a job that I liked at the beginning but have really not been enjoying. I gave proper notice and left with well wishes and an invitation back if I need it. In a couple days I’ll start my “new” job. I have worked for them before and it will be temporary. It’s been a long road and I’m only like a third of the way there, maybe halfway.

I tried to load 2 grams of soap and it just would not accept the soap. The lather turned out great. The shave was alright. I went for a full 3 pass shave. I normally just do 2 passes, XTG and ATG. I am going to try a 2 pass WTG and XTG. As always the HoM recovery supplies were able to calm down my skin after the bit uncomfortable shave.

Here is a special album from today. I could not be sure which picture I really wanted to use so here they are!

Brush break-in album #rawhoggin #mammothmafia #GEMSofWisdom

edit: fix a link

Aug 8, 2022 Trickhole Stag + MMOC + RawHog - Moving Edition

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Dogwood Unbleached Boar
• Razor: MMOC MM24
• Blade: GEM (9)
• Lather: Chiseled Face Grooming Midnight Stag
• Post Shave:Chiseled Face Grooming Midnight Stag Balm
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face Grooming Midnight Stag

Stagging it up 2x

#GEMsOfWisdom

#RawHoggin

Cheers

Aug. 8, 2022 - AA 8

• Prep: Cold Water Splash
• Brush: Semogue 1305 Pure Bristle 22mm
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gen 2
• Blade: GEM PTFE (14)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Soap

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder - Balm

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

Break in album. SOTD in title.

Again overloading the soap to add a little cushion. Paint strokes pretty chill, and still swirling hard to break this fucker in. Dare I say today wasn’t scratchy? I won’t call it soft, but it seemed a noticeable breaking point if you will. This blade though, oof. Even if my angle was magically perfect and my technique flawless, I think I’d still be running into a little bit of a struggle with this blade. #GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #MammothMafia

Aug. 8, 2022

• Brush: Maggard 28mm Boar
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (8)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Balm

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

Rough day for double sprays. Woke up with a headache. Powered through though. The Stag provides to those in need.

Boar Break In Album

Stag Spray

#RawHoggin

#SubstantialStag

#GemsOfWisdom

#UNCHALLENGE