Aug. 1, 2022 - The start of the thing

• Prep: Quick splash of water
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (1)

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

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

Late shave for me tonight to try to sneak in before the deadline. I forgot my new in the box boar brush for the #RawHoggin challenge at home while on vacation, but my wife mentioned that we would be flying in today, so I did a short two-pass shave this morning then another tonight with my AA set up.

Thanks to u/EldrormR for setting me up with this razor and some blades to get started. I am pretty much going into this blind about the best or proper technique to use this razor. It didn't go so poorly today but I didn't try to push it too far.

The brush on the other hand was a handful, I think it might be a bit before I am able to get some decent lathers out of this. After a 9 minute soak and a quick wetting of the face I loaded what I felt was about twice of what I would usually use for a badger shave (probably about 4x of what I use for my usual tux synthetic) but after getting started I could tell that wasn't going to be enough for this first lather attempt. I went back two more times after trying to build anything of volume. It just felt like the brush was devouring all thee suds, which I think is kind of normal for a "raw" brush. I wasn't happy with the result, a very thin lather on my face but it did the trick okay.

The brush right out of the box already feels much softer on my skin then no matter what I tried and many lathers with my starter omega boar, that is still (hopefully) on its way to Serbia, goo luck with that one u/duki92. It was tough to do anything other than painting strokes as the bristles were still pretty stiff. I know it will get better as the month goes on. I am looking forward to more shaves with this set up to dial in the perfect lather.

The shave itself was uneventful. I just tried to use my normal DE weight and angle and it didn't seem to bite me anywhere. I am feeling some heat on my cheeks as I write this up, but I understand that also might be from the new brush.

I am loving this scent of the soap, I hope I still do by the end of the month.

Tagging u/EldrormR and u/Semaj3000. #RawHoggin #GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 2, 2022 - Day Two

• Prep: Quick splash of water
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (2)

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

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

RawHoggin

Brush was a little better today, but I still way underloaded and really only got one good pass and one very thin lather. This was enough again for tonight's shave as I am trying to ease back into morning shave starting tomorrow, back to work after a week off. I am encouraged that other people are reporting that it takes much more soap to build lathers at the early stages of the brushes life but it will hopefully back off in due time.

GEMsOfWisdom

The razor handled pretty well again today, yielding a very smooth shave even with the two passes that I did. I am having some issues right under my nose, it seems like the corner is more protected that what I might be used to in other DE blades and I am really having to buff to get up under my nostrils. I will hold judgement until I get some better lathers, but so far so good.

SSL is great, I am happy again with the choice.

edit adding the tags down here to avoid the formatting: #RawHoggin #GEMsOfWisdom

Aug. 3, 2022 - Day three

• Prep: Warm shower w/ B&M Diamond Bath Bar
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (3)

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

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

#RawHoggin

Taking some advice to load "like I hate it" I had enough lather to last for three passes. I think I can still do a better job of getting enough water into the first one to create a bit more volume without being sticky. I did a shower shave and short changed the soak to only about 3 minutes, but it didn't seem to make a huge difference at this point. I am very happy thus far with how the brush feels, and I am looking forward to further breaking it in

#GEMsOfWisdom

I pushed things a little further today, still operating on less than a full days stubble. I did a WTG then an ATG pass on my cheeks and jaw line. Probably a little too aggressive on my lower neck and in the concave portion of my chin and I saw a few red spots, but now feeling around I am very happy at the closeness. I have been trying to keep the head of the razor in more contact with the skin, but this is of course harder in my various problem areas.

Aug. 4, 2022 - Day Four

• Prep: Warm shower w/ B&M Diamond Bath Bar
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (4)

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

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

Good shave today overall.

#RawHoggin

Loaded not quite as much as I did yesterday and it came up a little short. I got to three passes but the last one was awful thin and the first wasn't hydrated enough. The brush has been causing zero irritation to date, and very little stinkyness either. I am happy overall, I think just need to dial in the load and initial lather a bit more, but understand that it still might be a moving target with how new this brush is.

#GEMsOfWisdom

Today was my first true three pass shave, pretty normal results so far. Not a lot of irritation, one small nick in the fold between my bottom lip and chin. I guess one "gem" that I picked up on was not until I really looked at the razor today I didn't notice that the corners of the blade are protected by little guards that cover that portion of the blade. So that explains a bit why I was having little luck using my normal pattern of buffing with that part of a DE razor around my nose and corners of my mouth. Once I see that, and adjusting a little bit more inward on the blade I was able to touch up those areas a bit better.

Aug. 5, 2022 - Day Five - the Friday

• Prep: Warm shower w/ B&M Diamond Bath Bar
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (5)

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

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

#RawHoggin

Was fairly happy with the lather today, loaded for about 40 seconds and that was plenty for three passes. I was able to get more water into the first pass, but wasted a fair bit of lather down my hand and onto the walls with that effort. Second and third lathers were thinner but plenty serviceable. I still think there is more work to go here, but I feel that I am able to rate the razor performance without the lather being the main culprit.

#GEMsOfWisdom

Not a lot in the way of insights today. It was a decent three pass shave no nicks that I noticed and not much irritation after cleaning up. Paying more attention to the areas of the blade edge that cut let me get those tight areas and I am closer to a BBS shave that I am with other razors so I think I am on the right track for employment.

#TonicTalk

I am usually one to mix some balm in with my splashes to provide some healing goodness back into my face, but have been skipping that this month so far just to try out how well this Seaforth tonic handles and I have to say that I am very impressed. Sure you can say that the which hazel is doing its thing, but there is more going on with this that I get with other similar products. I am still happy with this software choice, all around. Have a good weekend all!

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.

Aug. 7, 2022 - Seventh on Sunday

• Prep: Quick splash of water
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (7)

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

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

#RawHoggin

Didn't lather up during the shower today so still working on the proper load and build times for that scenario. Ended up being a little thin on the third pass, but managed okay all the same. I didn't have quite as much extra lather than yesterday, so likely I just need to load a bit more.

#GEMsOfWisdom

Today was the first time I felt some tugging on the first WTG pass. Part of me is very worried about what that means for this blade for the rest of the month, but the slightly more experienced part of me who has been working on pushing my DE blades past double digits more knows that I can still get plenty of good shaves out of this, there will be better days ahead and I just need to keep working on the variables that are under my control, namely the lather and razor technique. I know that I still have a lot to learn about this razor, I am enjoying it so far. It seems very efficient in that I feel like I am getting closer shaves than my favored Karve CB using the same 2.5 pass approach.

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.

Aug. 9, 2022 - Day Nine

• Prep: Warm shower w/ B&M Diamond Bath Bar
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (9)

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

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

#RawHoggin

Pretty good lather today, I think at least for shave in the shower days I am dialing in how much I need to load much better.

#GEMsOfWisdom

I am starting to feel more tugs with this setup, but I'm committed to soldiering on and keep working on whisker reduction on each pass and be willing to do more passes if required. Well except for today when my partner said she needed to take a shower as well and could I kindly hurry up and get out, so I was left with an abbreviated third pass missing a few rough spots. But that is okay, more to improve on tomorrow.

Aug. 10, 2022 - The Tenth

• 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

Good lather today, brush was pretty wet when I went to load, so it was kind of messy. The result was fine and I had plenty for all three passes.

#GEMsOfWisdom

Not much new to say, tried to keep a light touch and was paid off without any irritation.

Aug. 11, 2022 - Elevensies

• Prep: Warm shower w/ B&M Diamond Bath Bar
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (11)

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

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

#RawHoggin

Decent lather today, a bit sick so out of things this morning meant I only soaked for 1-2 minutes, but brush still treated my face just fine.

#GEMsOfWisdom

In a bit of a hurry I tried a technique that I saw someone had accidentally pioneered utilizing a two pass WTG to ATG, it was fine but I am already feeling my stubble in the afternoon and my problem areas near my chin all day.

Aug. 12, 2022 - Dirty Dozen

• Prep: Quick splash of water
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (12)

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

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

#RawHoggin

#GEMsOfWisdom

Late shave today to keep the AA streak going. Not a lot to say it was, I am still feeling sick.

Aug. 13, 2022 - Lucky Thirteen

• Prep: Quick splash of water
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (13)

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

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

#RawHoggin

#GEMsOfWisdom

Another late entry, I shaved earlier but only remembered to post as I was about to lie down. On the up swing with my head cold, but still feel crappy.

Aug. 14, 2022 - Sunday Shave

• Prep: Quick splash of water
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (14)

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

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

#RawHoggin

Decent lather, I still underloaded, but was fine for what I was trying to do today. Brush still feels great.

#GEMsOfWisdom

A lighter two pass shave in the middle of the day trying to get back on schedule. Not much to note.

Aug. 15, 2022 - Halfway

• Prep: Warm shower w/ B&M Diamond Bath Bar
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (15)

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

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

#RawHoggin

Great lather today, just the right amount of loading for an already wet face in the shower. I always dial this version first and it take a bit longer to do one out of the shower.

#GEMsOfWisdom

Great, normal three pass shave on not quite a full day's growth. No irritation, very happy with the result.

Aug. 16, 2022 - Sixteen Shaves

• Prep: Warm shower w/ Duke Bath Bar
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (16)

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

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

#RawHoggin

Good lather again today, my shower lather routine is very solid.

#GEMsOfWisdom

No complaints on the shave, I took my time around the areas I usually leave stubble and spent a few more very light passes on them and have been very happy with the result without any irritation.

Aug. 17, 2022 - It's Wednesday

• Prep: Warm shower w/ Duke bath bar
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (17)

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

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

#RawHoggin

Decent lather post shower today, no complaints getting the hand of the loading. Still probably could be a little more patient in slicking down the initial lather as I think this help spreads some of the soap better to the brush for later passes.

#GEMsOfWisdom

Again another drama-free shave. The blade is defiantly not as good when first starting, but it still works well enough for a shave I have been very happy with.

Aug. 18, 2022 - Busy Thursday

• Prep: Warm shower w/ Duke Bath Bar
• Brush: Copper Zenith B28
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (18)

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

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

#RawHoggin

Another great lather, loaded more and had plenty of left over for all my desired passes

#GEMsOfWisdom

I tired to change things up for some reason and tried an ATG pass on the concave part of my chin below my mouth that was unhappy with that with some redness and bumps post shave. Back to my old reliable technique, I think, for the next few days.