Aug. 29, 2022 - Stag Day 29

• Brush: Zenith B26 Retro
• Razor: Merkur 34C
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (29)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

• Lenny Kravitz: It Ain't Over 'til It's Over

Seeing as I have early mornings the last two days of this event, I thought I'd take this chance share a few thoughts about my experiences with this year's challenges.

First off, Raw Hoggin. This is something I'm super glad I decided to take part in. For literal months I've had my eye on this Retro Zenith brush, like had it open in a tab since like January. I knew I wanted to do it, but for some reason I needed a little push to make the leap, and Auster August was that push. This brush has been a dream. I have very little recollection on breaking in my Semogue, as that was like 7+ years ago where everything about this hobby was new to me, and I wanted to experience the joy of witnessing the evolution from stiff and stinky to soft and lovely. I feel as though this brush made that transition significantly quick, as the funk wore off after only a few days, and the bristles softened up before I even knew it. I'm just curious if the bristles will fan out after a few years like my Semogue, or if it'll stay closer to its original shape. The way I see it, this brush was blessed heavily by our glorious Stag. Speaking of which -

This year's Stag Challenge was probably the easiest year for me thus far. My most difficult was my first year in 2020, as I was required to wear a facial covering at work then. Now, don't get me wrong, I really dig Stag, but back then the combination of the August heat accentuating the fragrance and not being able to escape it due to the facial covering made it really, really cumbersome after a few weeks. I imagine anyone else who had to be in a similar situation with the facial covering alone felt much the same. That said, this year was a breeze in comparison. Last year wasn't bad by any means, but this year I guess my nose has become quite jaded towards the scent, as I hardly notice it some days. Maybe it's because Indiana's August has been quite mild in regards to heat, but nevertheless, my body has become one with the Stag.

Brothers and Sisters of the pale forest, O children of Stag. I hope this has been a most memorable and special Stag Challenge.

#SubstantialStag #RawHoggin

Stag Spray 29

August 29, 2022 – Austere August 29

• Brush: Cayuen Workshop with 30mm Timberwolf Synthetic
• Bowl: Cayuen Workshop – Dark Nebula
• Razor: Winning Razor by Wet Shave Club
• Blade: Gillette Winner Platinum (1)
• Lather: Chiseled Face – Midnight Stag
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face – Midnight Stag
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face – Midnight Stag
• Video: https://i.imgur.com/V7a6nwL.mp4

This is it, men. The final few days of Austere August. Meanwhile, I had another pleasant and efficient finish for a Monday morning.

#AustereAugust #SubstantialStag

Bonus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGV5U6fYzkw ← How To Give The Ultimate Hot Towel Shave – Players Barbershop in Hatboro Pennsylvania

=============================================

#sidetracked u/Teufelskraft :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAoLJ8GbA4Y ← Vienna Philharmonic – Barber: Adagio for Strings, Op.11 (Summer Night Concert 2019)

Here is another pleasant little jaunt into the realm of classical music. This is Samuel Barber's best-known classical work and he was a composer from the early part of the 20th century. This isn't something I listen to regularly but it does have a haunting, dreamy, yet sad aura about it.

As a fun little FYI, this song is the official song of mourning for the United States. You can read a little bit more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adagio_for_Strings

I first came across this composition when I played an award-winning real-time strategy video game some 20 years ago called Homeworld. In that game there was a choral arrangement of this song which was a later adaptation of the original song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyyL_TICbrU

Some modern musicians have done some remixes of it, which you may (or many not?) enjoy here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHDOxREmdrw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1jlOp2lXrk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNEx6bzm0tE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-ACjaomohU

See if this interests you.

August 29th, 2022: THE LAST MONDAY

• Prep: warm shower with Stag bar

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

• Razor: MMOC

• Blade: GEM PTFE (29)

• 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

Final Monday Weigh in:

Week	Soap	Splash	Balm	Frag
08/01	126.74	213.51	154.96	185.18
08/08	122.84	202.99	152.39	182.08
08/15	113.62	195.14	149.81	177.1
08/22	107.2	185.46	146.86	168.65
08/29	100.36	176.14	144.49	157.91

Soap usage was way way lower than I expected this month, not a bad thing but definitely a surprise. This is my first run with a "small" knot (24mm) so I guess that could be part of it, also the CF base is stupid easy to load and build lather.

We only have 2 shaves left folks! So close and yet so far, my skin is ready for a blade that is fresh!!!

Stag sprays of the day!

#SubstantialStag

#RawHoggin

#UNCHALLENGE

Aug. 29, 2022 - Austere August Ultra Nightmare RawHoggin Stagpocalypse

• Prep: Midnight Stag liquid soap and bar soap
• Brush: Semogue 1250
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: GEM PTFE (29)

• 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

The finish line is in sight! Two more shaves and it’ll be another AA in the books. Today’s shave went as well as basically all the others. Think I’m gonna go Headless Horsemen next year because the MMOC isn’t a challenge to me. I haven’t opened the razor or touched the blade except for during the shave and I’m still getting great shaves every time. Hell, I even figured out how to shave my neck without any redness or irritation afterwards! The only difference today was the newest bottle of the Stag EdP is A LOT darker than any of my previous bottles. Smells smokier to me, but I wonder if that’s my mind playing tricks on me. Either way, everything has gone smoothly and I’m pleased. Oh, and only 6 sprays today.

SubstantialStag

GEMsOfWisdom

~~#RawHoggin~~

Aug. 29, 2022

• Prep: Cold Water
• Brush: Semogue Barbear Classico Cerda 22mm
• Razor: Alumigoose
• Blade: Kai Captain Titan Pro Touch MG (29)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

Yeah i should be good for the next 2 days, 4.7g of soap was used today.

-

5 more

-

Have a great week! #SubstantialStag

Aug. 28, 2022 - Stagversary

• Prep: Icecold shower
• Brush: Böker Synthetic

• Razor: Böker Elite Carbon 2.0

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Balm

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Splash

Today is our anniversary. We took a day off and woke up in Germanys wine area. Directly after breakfast we headed to a wine shop to buy two bottles, put it in the little trunk of my bike and drove home. Our knees and butts hurt. Speaking of butts. The wine be bought translates to naked - Butt. Nobody knows why it has the name, but the best rumor is that some guys sneaked to the wine barrels, got drunk and the owner smacked their naked butts as punishment.

At home, I shaved. The razor really needs some rest as I am getting irritations from shaving close. September is always a good month to review all my razors and probably send them to professionals.

#stagandstraight #substantialStag

August 29, 2022

• Brush: Zenith B15 (506 U/L) 27.5mm Boar
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gold Gen2
• Blade: Personna Gem PTFE (29)
• 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)
• SOTD Album

Well, where did that shave come from? It was tuggy, comfortable, and without any feel for the edge, yet I got a "good" shave. For me, this is a quality that is beyond what is workplace acceptable. Life's a mystery.

Earlier today in a comment thread that referenced the Emacs, I had a missed opportunity for a response. Briefly, and you had to "be there", u/djundjila commented,

"And M-x Butterfly!"

The appropriate response (not given - addled brain),

"Desired bit flipped."

This started me thinking not about other missed opportunities, but about opportunities taken. For a long time, I've been influenced by the Louis Pasteur quote, "Chance favors the prepared mind". I really like this concept. I have tried to incorporate it into my outlook, and to be grateful when I've benefitted from it.

Without waffling on much longer here, I'm aware of some opportunities taken that Austere August afforded me:

• A whole month of a shaving setup that I fully enjoy - never actually done that before.
• Focus on face-lathering. I added a step to my face-lathering procedure that gives me a better feel for dialing in hydration, slickness, and cushion.
• In analyzing edge degradation daily, I became aware of a way that I could investigate straight razor honing in an organized, pragmatic way. This has opened up a new project that I'm excited about, and I got a new toy!
• In making daily SOTD photos I got to think visually a little bit each day for a month. This has made me more aware of "found" compositions as I go through my day. Can I say that I'm seeing the world differently because of AA? Ok, probably not.

August 29th

• Brush: Zenith Boar - 505NK 27mm
• Razor: GEM - MMOC
• Blade: Gem PTFE (29)
• Lather - Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Soap
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Splash
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag Edp

#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag

Edp video

Penultimate Eve Day

Aug. 29, 2022 - AA Day 29

• Prep: Shower
• Brush: Semogue 1305
• Razor: GEM Open Comb Micromatic
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (29)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

Hashtags #SubstantialStag #GEMSofWisdom

I don’t think the Semogue is physically capable of taking the life of a tub of soap, at least in grand fashion. I’ll keep trying.

The shave from the GEM is really unbeatable even with a month-old blade. Be mindful of your technique and the razor will treat you well.

More sprays today and a Beatrice the Golden cameo appearance.

Happy shaving 🪒!

AA D29: Stagday is better than Monday

• Prep: cold water splash
• Brush: Tadé NOS vintage boar 22 mm
• Razor: KAI Captain Standard CAP-J7 kamisori shavette
• Blade: KAI Captain Titan Mild Protouch MG
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - shaving soap
• Post-Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave
• additional care: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - ASB
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Valley of Ashes - EDP
• AA tags: #SubstantialStag #RawHoggin

Bleh? Bleh. Somehow powering through it all. I think I'll go with either SSL or Oceana as my first post-AA shave. Either would be great for the start into something new!

Obligatory Tadé boar pic. It's such a great brush by now, but y'all heard this about a hundred times now and are sick and tired of it. Look at these damp, split bristles and form your own opinion.

Not much to say on the kamisori shavette front: I think my left hand barely improved, the only blades I've used are guarded ones soooo... Yeah safety?! I guess I should finally try the Feather Proguard, don't really worry about shelling out money for something if it works for me.

Sidetracked
High on Fire - The Black Plot [NSFW]

Animated video clip again? Check. Metal music? Check. Some of the craziest stuff you'll ever see? Probably. But in all seriousness, High on Fire are awesome. I wish I had seen them back when I had the chance very close to me; sadly I missed that concert. Nevertheless, let's enjoy this gem of a music video.

Aug. 29, 2022 - AA - Sexy Stag Flair Quest Day 29

• Prep: Face wash
• Brush: Semogue 1305
• Razor: Chiseled Face Legacy Ti
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Eau de Parfum

Two more Stags. Picked up a Razorock Game Changer and a few new tubs of soap I absolutely do not need that are jonesing to get used except I might kill my Leviathan first, we'll see. Amazing how much Stag Edp is still left after 75+ sprays. Getting awfully low on soap and splash. The brush has only lost a few bristles and has had no boar stank at all. Have a great night, all!

Week 5, 5 sprays

#SubstantialStag

Day 29 of Austere August! Staggin on!!

• Prep: Water on Face
• Brush: Zenith 2004/B SE
• Razor: Filarmonica Double temple 14
• Lather: Chiseled Face Midnight Stag
• Post Shave: Osma block
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face Midnight Stag Splash
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face Midnight Stag Balm
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face Midnight Stag EdP

photo

Especially now that I got my Basique by Grooming Dept, I can't wait to try some new stuff😁

Shave was great today, had an ultra BBS, but did cut myself kind of bad, but skin heals so I don't care really, also it's with a straigh and those cute are always way cleaner and heal much faster.

• #RawHoggin
• #SubstantialStag

Aug. 29, 2022 - AA Day 29

• Prep: Warm shower
• Brush: AP400B XL Handle (AP ShaveCo) - 28mm Maggard Boar Knot
• Razor: GEM MMOC - Gen 1
• Blade: GEM PTFE (98)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave

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

I am loving everything about this setup still except the blade. It's so hard to get a close enough shave to be happy with. Just another two days though and all will be well.

Hope everyone had a fantastic Monday!

Stag Spray 29 #GEMSofWisdom #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag

Aug. 29, 2022

• Brush: Maggard 28mm Boar
• Razor: GEM MMOC
• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (29)

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Balm

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

It's the final countdown.

Boar Break In Album

Stag Spray

#RawHoggin

#SubstantialStag

#GemsOfWisdom

#UNCHALLENGE