The Eighth Day Of Weckoning is upon us

• Brush: Rubberset 400-3 with a 26 mm unbleached Zenith boar knot at 56 mm loft
• Razor: Weck Sextoblade Med Prep
• Blade: Kismet Rostfrei, Polymer beschichtet (14)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Oceana
• Post Shave: Ralon – Original
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Island Man

I enjoyed just gently wiping the stubble of my face with the super smooth Kismet blade. This Weckoning is going great.

#Monthofweckoning

2023.08.08 SOTD (#UNCHALLENGE shave #8):

• Prep: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleanser

• Brush: AKA Brushworks Amethyst Watchman with 26mm AP Shave Co G5C

• Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable

• Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (4)

• Lather: Seaforth! Sea Ice Lime

• Post Shave: Stirling Mentholated Unscented Witch Hazel and Aloe, Seaforth! Sea Ice Lime Aftershave Splash, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream Extra-Dry

AA Day 8! Quick 2 pass to start the day. Went better than my last couple shaves, mainly because I stopped being lazy and stayed with my growth pattern.

#UNCHALLENGE

August 8, 2023

• Brush: Muninn Woodworks w/AP Shave Co 24mm Titanium Synthetic
• Razor: Weck Sextoblade (Straight Shave 289)
• Blade: Kismet (8)
• Lather: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Soap
• Post Shave: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
• Fragrance: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Eau de Parfum  

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Kismet Blade - Losing My Edge
#Monthofweckoning

I've been following @sgrdddy@sub.wetshaving.social's slurry lather videos with interest. The slurry lather he makes is very reminiscent of my early one-pass shave lathers many years ago. It also reminds me of the one-pass shaves I used to do with bar soap, though bar soap lather needs to be applied in the area you intend to shave immediately because a full-face bar soap lather dries too quickly.

The point of this comment is to show that someone who is moderately competent at face lathering (me) doesn't necessarily suffer from the problems that sgrdddy suggests exist with face lathering. I think my normal shaving pace is pretty time-efficient, and I generally have more than enough lather for 3 passes.

My discussion is intended as a contrast to slurry lathering which is a method that I think is completely valid. I think the slurry lather method is quicker, but does not provide as much enjoyment of the quality of the soap base (skin food, etc.), nor the scent. Obviously IMHO.

I timed my shave today. My brush loading time was 10 seconds. I loaded directly from the puck with a damp, not wet, brush.

After loading, I put down the brush, and took lather paste (aka protolather) from the puck and built my pre-shave. For this, I smear lather paste on face, add water with my hands and work this mixture into the beard. I add water until this pre-shave mixture is a very wet, very slick emulsion.

With the loaded brush I built a thick lather by splaying the brush and scrubbing the face, and adding water by dipping brush tips into a mug of water. I work at this until the lather is almost to the hydration I want, then I paint in water; again by dipping brush tips not dropping water into the brush. Total time into the shave was a little over 2 minutes after lather for the first pass was complete. (It takes much longer for me to describe this.)

The first pass was completed in after 7 minutes had passed.

I used the same lathering procedure for the second pass, starting with what remained in the brush. No tub loading. The entire 2-pass shave was complete, including aftershave and EdP in 14 minutes and about 30 seconds (rounding down).

Here's the brush. It's a little hard to tell from the pic, but there's easily enough lather for a third pass and perhaps a fourth still available.

I'm not certain if this discussion is worthwhile. Feel free to ignore it.

I added another photo to the blade edge album today.

August 8, 2023

• Preshave: Cold Water
• Brush: Zenith 506U XS Horse 🐎
• Razor: Edwin Jagger DE89
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (9)
• Lather: The Goodfellas Smile Amber Fougère
• Post Shave: Old Spice After Shave

I'm wondering whether I've a slight reaction to the soap - my skin continues to be dry and tense, and I get a slight itch and warmth during the shave. I still like the scent though, and I like the way soap and aftershave complement each other.

Otherwise, nothing new under the sun.

Have a good night!

• Prep: Splash of Cool Water
• Razor: Timeless - Stainless Steel .68 - Open Comb
• Blade: Gillette - Nacet (Marathon) (506)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag (White Label)
• Brush: Zenith - r/wetshaving MOAR BOAR B35/508A XL (31 uses)
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag (White Label)
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag

Austere August: Day: 8
MRTNG's Ultra Nightmare Mode
Midnight Stag Challenge

Gear Pic :: Video

䷀ General Notes

Slurry again, just to continue to gain experience with it. I also talk about a lather style that I know a friend Greg uses.

䷀ Razor and Blade Notes

(Timeless - Stainless Steel .68 - Open Comb ::: Gillette - Nacet - M ‹506 uses›)

Same: First pass has some tugginess to it. But no irritation that lasts longer than a little tuggy stroke. Latter passes feel fine and give a reasonably close shave. 5 pretty quick passes.

Razor and Blade Performance/Comfort Rating: 2 out of 5 (Okay)

䷀ Soap Notes

(Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - White Label)

I just love all the aspects of this scent!

Scent Strength: 6/10, nicely present during shaving.

Lather... Slurry lather again and it did very well. Just 6 swirls, and still too much lather.

Bowl: No Bowl

䷀ Brush Notes

(Zenith - r/wetshaving MOAR BOAR B35/508A XL ‹31 uses›)

Same: Comfortable soft tips that do flex some, but that are supported by a base with strong backbone. As with all young boars, I look forward to the tips splitting with more uses and getting softer with use. I am generally using a hair dryer to gently treat the tips and age them just a bit faster than normal.

During the Shave Feel:
  Cheeks: Felt blade but comfortable
  Neck: Felt blade but comfortable
After the Shave Closeness:
  Cheeks: Close Shave
  Neck: Several hairs are showing some tip length (still a pretty good shave)

Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet