Thursday SOTD Thread - Sep 14, 2023

Sep. 14, 2023

• Brush: Yaqi 26mm Synthetic
• Razor: Karve Overlander
• Blade: Sharp Durablade
• Lather: Spearhead - Black Watch - Soap
• Post Shave: Spearhead - Black Watch - Aftershave

Excellent shave I’ll enjoy black watch all day nice strong scent.

Nutting

• Brush: Zenith 506U N (50/50 horse mane/tail)
• Razor: Böker Abalone
• Lather: Wholly Kaw – Noce di Cocco
• Post Shave: Abbate y La Mantia – Don Josè
• Fragrance: Abbate y La Mantia – Don Josè

Perfect day to break out the Noce di Cocco smush. I should have so sooner, because it has lost almost all scent, oops 🤦 Still, the soap still lathered like a charm, and thanks to my buddy Don Josè, this shave still smelled great, and on theme.

Like I predicted it would happen, I got complacent today and stabbed myself with the spike point of the Abalone. Luckily it was a tiny puncture, and it served a good reminder to respect this barbed beauty.

Sep 14, 2023 - Sample September: FYL

• Brush: Farvour Turn Craft Harvest Moon 27mm Lotus Manchuria (LM-1) Knot
• Razor: Mühle Rocca R94
• Blade: Gillette 7 O’Clock Super Stainless (Green) [5]
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Fake Yellow Light - Soap
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Troll Toll - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Samhain - Eau de Parfum

Nutty scents for #themethursday: sweet almonds, bitter walnuts, warm chestnuts, and smokey hazelnuts.

Rating: 4.5/5

September 14, 2023

• Brush: WSP Stubby 26mm Extra Dense HMW

• Razor: Ralf Aust 5/8 Stainless Full Hollow Spanish Point (Straight Shave 326)

• Lather: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Soap (49)

• Post Shave: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Thayers - Lemon - Toner

• Fragrance: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Eau de Parfum
   

3 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

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Okay, this was a complete surprise. Except for the brush, I used the same setup that I used yesterday where my impression was one of comfort but that the razor's edge did not need to be as sharp. After yesterday's shave I stropped 30 passes on flax linen and 60 passes on leather. I looked at the newly stropped edge last night under the microscope and could not detect change (but a very shallow depth of field provides little information on the effect of stropping). I expected some change in edge-feel today, but not a lot. However, today's shave was significantly more comfortable than yesterday's and sharpness was absolutely perfect for me. This is a terrific edge. Now, is that a result of the Black Arkansas finish, or did I just luck into this?

September 14, 2023

• Brush: Zenith B03-A26 (B2)
• Razor: Fatip Classic Lo Storto
• Blade: Personna Lab Blue (2)
• Lather: WSP - Black Amber Vanille - Soap
• Post Shave: Pinaud - Clubman Special Reserve - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Stirling - Bergamot Lavender - Witch Hazel & Aloe
• Fragrance: Jōvan Musk - EdT

This soap base seemed to work better with a wet boar. I still think the "Rustic" soap base blows, but at least it offers some slickness. I can't believe they charge $25 for this stuff.

Prep: Splash of Cool Water
Razor: Gillette - Aristocrat 16 (UK)
Blade: Gillette - Platinum (7)
Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning
Brush: Declaration Grooming - B13 Dogwood/Briar Hybrid 28mm (21 uses)
Post Shave: Stirling - Mountain Man

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Gear Pic :: Video

䷀ General Notes

As we work with the Slurry Lather method with a high-density badger, I'm going to try a longer soap-load and a wetter brush.

䷀ Razor and Blade Notes

(Gillette - Aristocrat 16 - UK ::: Gillette - Platinum ‹7 uses›)

Wonderful pairing! A bit of blade feel, but it was smooth and controlled. Close cut.

No tugging or irritation.

Razor and Blade Performance/Comfort Rating: 4 out of 5 (Very Good)

䷀ Soap Notes

(Summer Break Soaps - Remote Learning)

Them: Doritos

Scent: nacho cheesy corn tortilla chips is the goal here. I imagine that's a tough challenge. While smelling the dry tub and the wet lather, what comes to me first is a cookie sweet type scent that reminds me of some cinnamon schoolbook cookies from Trader Joes. It's a nice scent, so I don't mind if my brain never switches away from that.

If I know it is supposed to be corn chips, then I can definitely see that in the scent. So that's cool.

But even if I set my brain to try to find a cheesy note in there, I really can't.

I think it might be more realistic with a hint-of-cumin type scent in there, but of course, that could make it hard on skin maybe.

While I may not really get a Doritos scent from it, I think it's a great attempt, and I know that I like shaving with it anyway.

Scent Strength: 4/10, present during shaving.

Lather... Today's try was to load for twice as long as previously done ... 40 swirls. also to make sure there was lots of water in the brush.

I did both of those things, but the slurry did not develop like it does with other brush types. I think the excess water inhibited the loading of the soap from the puck. This brush just has such soft tips.

I went back for another 10 swirls when the brush had less water in it and that was good. I got a more normal slurry then.

I think with this kind of soft-tipped high-density badger, you won't be able to have it hold all the water at the outset. Load from the soap with a merely "wet" brush and not a "very wet" brush. Then add water later, either by dipping tips in a bowl or sprinking from the tap.

With the tweaks i put in on the first pass, the second and third went just fine and normal for a Slurry lather. Super slick and highly protected.

Hydration: Perfect (for me)

• 17 sec load with a Very Wet brush
• = 4 passes of lather

Bowl: No Bowl

䷀ Brush Notes

(Declaration Grooming - B13 Dogwood/Briar Hybrid 28mm ‹21 uses›)

Great brush with soft tips. Don't get to experience it as much with this fast method, but It's superb nonetheless.

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During the Shave Feel:
  Cheeks: Felt blade but comfortable
  Neck: Felt blade but comfortable
After the Shave Closeness:
  Cheeks: Near BBS - About as close as I'll ever get
  Neck: Cut flush to where I just see the tips (above average for me)

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Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet

Mystery Brush Landed!

• Brush: Dogclaration LG 2022 Mystery Brush
• Razor: Wolfman WR2 (1.55 mm SB / 1.25 mm OC)
• Blade: Polsilver (3)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts and Chatillon Lux – La Forêt de Analingus for Excellence in Shitposting
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts and Chatillon Lux – La Forêt de Analingus for Excellence in Shitposting
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts and Chatillon Lux – La Forêt de Analingus for Excellence in Shitposting

My mystery prize from the 2022 Lather Games arrived today, and I'm interrupting Sample Straightember for a second luxury shave with only Lather Games trophies (well, and Polsilver).

The mystery brush has a beautiful Dogwood handle. I don't know which batch the knoot is, but it lathered with incredible ease (I've never before been the first user of a knoot, so I didn't really know what to expect). I'm already loving this brush.

I'm grateful to u/declarationgrooming for coming through with this wonderful prize!