Aug. 31, 2022 - AA Day 31
We'll, that's a wrap. 31 roughly identical shaves. Probably 50/50 divided between two and three pass, with one five passer to finish the month.
That's right, tonight I did WTG, XTG, XTG, ATG, ATG to finish the month. Best shave I've had all month. In fact, I'm certain that day one was the worst.
In review -
Software
I'm sure there are few reading this who are a stranger to Sea Spice Lime, but if you are, you should immediately proceed to Spearheadshaving.com and buy yourself a tub. It's that good. Not only is the scent fantastic, but it is long lasting and brings all the bees to the yard.
The performances is top-notch too- I was recently having a conversation on the sub about another artisan, and the gent I was chatting with listed his top-tier artisans on base quality; I fully believe that Spearhead belongs with the big boys. The slickness and protection this provides is amazing.
I worried about getting sick of the scent, my wife and I were joking yesterday that it was just now starting to happen for both of us... On day 30. However, today I met up with my brother and his wife, and while we were doing the customary hugs, my SIL said, "you smell fantastic. Give your brother some tips." High praise indeed.
I was planning to PIF the soap that was left at the end of my journey, but... What's the point? This is all that's left after tonight's (admittedly ridiculous) shave from a tub that was 90+% full at the start. Luckily, I have a new tub waiting for me at home.
Razor
I was a little leery about using the MMOC for 31 straight days, but I shouldn't have been. It works really well for me, and the blade is still smooth as butter. There are other GEM razors that I prefer, but the MMOC is a worthy addition to my den. I only nicked myself thrice, and never after day 10.
My blade is still great. I heard /u/semaj3000 and /u/EldrormR lamenting the status of their blades on the podcast, but I've had none of those problems. I think this blade will get the nod for AA23. It very possibly has at least 31 more shaves in it.
Knot
There were some who questioned my choice of the Shave Forge knot, but I have zero complaints. The smell disappeared quickly, and now I'm left with a soft fluffy knot to be proud of. This is definitely going in the rotation, and I have a new respect for boar brushes. I'm typically a bowl latherer, and I don't see that changing, but when I'm in the mood to face lather, this will definitely get the call.
Handle
I thought 3D printing would get me a cheap handle and allow for a very cheap overall yet durable brush.
Nope. Not durable. Going in the trash in favor of a new handle from AP Shave.
Overall
I had a good time doing AA. I really got a chance to try a new brush and spend a lot of focus on my fundamentals. Having said that, I'm excited to try some new things.
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