Hello everyone! As is becoming my "thing" I am here to be contradictory once again. Every year there are a collection of side challenges for Austere August that pop up where you have to shave with some specific, challenging razor or scent or whatever. They are awesome challenges but they're also hard and may sometimes lead to a bad month of shaving or, you know, smelling like a car repair shop. While I both honor and respect those who participate in said challenges I think Austere August can also be a chance to discover what it's like for those people who aren't insane and just shave with something that's easy to use and works for them every day of their life.
Thus, I'm activating easy mode. To win the Take the Easy Route Austere August Unchallenging Challenge all you have to do is pick your easiest-to-use set of products and use them all month for all 31 days. That's right, I just want you to enjoy yourself, kick back with some great shaves, and smell like you really want to smell.
Now, this isn't necessarily your favorite set (though it very well could be), this is your easiest-to-use set. This isn't a razor that you get stunning shaves out of but need to keep at a precisely 35.4 degree angle to your face and apply eve less that no pressure or your skin gets sheered off, it's the one where you carry on an entire conversation with yourself in the mirror but don't get a single knick. It's not that super sharp blade that gives you the best shave when you pay full attention, it's the blade that lets you zone out and think about why Air Bud is the greatest film ever without worrying about kicking yourself. It's not your favorite soap, it's the soap that lathers so easy you're practically done the moment it touches your face and performs well enough that you don't need to worry about if you added enough water. The set that's least challenging for you. I originally was going to select an easy-to-use razor/soap combo but I realized that is different for everyone (as evidenced by the answers to my questions on the subject) so instead, it's your choice on everything because that's easy.
The Rules
Here are the rules (mostly cribbed from other rules because that was easiest):
- Must use the same easy set all 31 days (razor, blade, soap, aftershave/edp, whatever else as long as it's the same and makes your shave easier).
- Use the hashtag #UNCHALLENGE at the end of your post. (Thanks, u/djundjila)
- Include a picture of your setup with your first Austere August post.
- SOTD posts must be made by 11:59PM Pacific Time on the day of the shave.
The Prize
Wait, you get to take it easy all month and win a prize? Yup. The winner will receive the synthetic or boar brush of their choice from Paragon Shaving, which is the brush I use when I'm in the mood for easy mode. Of the brushes I've tried my Paragon (I have the synthetic) is still my favorite and kicks up fantastic lathers. So I want you to have an easy brush too. The winner will be picked at random from everyone who completes the challenge.
The Giving
And since we're triggering easy mode for ourselves I think we should help make other things easier, particularly ease of access to reproductive health care. For every person who participates in all 31 days of the Take the Easy Route Austere August Unchallenging Challenge I will donate $10 (up to $300) to Planned Parenthood. You yourself do not have to donate to participate in the challenge but I encourage everyone to do so if you can.
The End
So that's it. Don't go into Austere August for a month of challenging shaves and focus. Kick back, relax, get out your set, and pour yourself a drink because you're shaving so easy you don't even need to be sober (note: Yes, you do. Be Sober).