Post 'Tuesday Austere August SOTD Thread - Aug 06, 2024' of challenge 'Shepherds of Stirling 2024'

AA24 - Day 6 - 🍎🍏

• Brush: Zenith Multi-Color (2006 XSE) 21mm Unbleached Boar Knot
• Razor: Aylsworth Razors Drakkant Plus
• Blade: Gillette Platinum [6]
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen - Soap (Mutton Tallow)
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Teacher's Pet - Aftershave

• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Alive - Eau de Parfum

• Tags: $ShepherdsofStirling $RawHoggin $Discord

I was in the mood for some apple post-shave scents, and they worked surprisingly well with Varen.

Brush Break-In Progress Album

2024-08-06 🐑

• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Port au Prince
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Alighieri
• Razor: Wolfman Razors - Guerrilla
• Brush: Yaqi Metal Timberwolf

I know, in my brain, that a ram is just a male sheep in the same way that a buck is a male deer and that the male of any fowl is a... rooster.

Even so, the way that rams have been represented make my brain want to think that a ram is a separate kind of animal.

$ShepherdsofStirling

August 6, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Grizzly Bay - Dark Magic - 26mm TNS Shoat Boar
• Razor: Blackland - Sabre
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen Soap
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Picture Day Splash
• Tags: $ShepherdsofStirling $RawHoggin $Discord

This daily set-up is damn delightful. Every day the brush gets a little better.

Down On The Farm For AA - Day 6

• Brush: Omega 81151
• Razor: Merkur 37C
• Blade: Rapira Platinum Lux (6)
• Lather: Stirling - Scots Pine Sheep
• Post Shave: Stirling - Baker Street splash
• Post Shave: Stirling - Glacial unscented AS balm

$BarnyardChallenge shave live from the Colonnade Hotel in Boston this morning. I don't usually schlep a full size shave set up with me, but since it's AA, I didn't have a choice. Thankfully, I had one last use of the sample splash left so I was able to save a little space. The brush continues its smooth break in with before and after pics here. The mutton base continues to kick ass and the shaves continue to be sublime. Not much more I could ask for.

Today's $BarnyardChallenge shave musical inspiration is this classic from Black Sheep.

I guess I should think about cleaning the pool now that I'm home. Or maybe consider something wholly unproductive on this vacation Tuesday. Try to enjoy your day and remember to be kind to one another.

$RawHoggin $ShepherdsofStirling

August 06 2024

• Brush: Omega 13732 24mm
• Razor: Solingen Best Silver Steel 6/8 (Straight shave #103)
• Lather: Stirling - Varen
• Post Shave: Stirling - Varen
• Fragrance: Ineke Perfumes - Idyllwild

Brush progress album

Blade feels great. I think I've hit a plateau with my straight technique, where I'm able to get a comfortable shave but still have some trouble areas (like right under my nose, and my chin). Still, I'm happy to have the opportunity to keep working on it this month.

$headless

$RawHoggin

$ShepherdsofStirling

Aug. 6, 2024
Brush: Plisson L’Occitane
Razor: Gem Damaskeene
Blade: Personna GEM Stainless PTFE [2]
Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Scots Pine Sheep - Soap
Post Shave: Stetson - Original - Aftershave
Post Shave: Duke Cannon - Daily Defense Face Lotion
Fragrance:* Stetson - Original

First time using this Gem in quite a few years. In fact, I totally forgot I owned it until recently finding it hidden away while organizing the other week. Cleaned it up last night and popped a blade in for the morning.

I was running behind this morning, so I rushed in order to look presentable for work. Even with rushing, there were no nicks, weepers, or really any irritation afterwards. I’ve really only used a Gem 1912 for the last 5 - 7 years, so having my technique with these razors down definitely allows me to rush more and not get irritation compared to using a DE. May stick with this razor for the rest of the week!

$ShepherdsofStirling

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

August 6, 2024

• Brush: Maggard 24mm Tuxedo Synthetic
• Razor: Merkur 34C HD
• Blade: Wilkinson Sword Classic (5)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Port-Au-Prince - Soap
• Post Shave: London Razors - Mountain Laurel - Aftershave

$Discord
$ShepherdsofStirling
Progress Album

The 34C feels nice. Very similar to the Era level 3 which I've been using.

So far, after 6 shaves, I've been using an average of 2.6 grams of soap per shave. At this rate, I predict I'll have plenty of soap to make it through the month, but won't be surprised if the bottom of the tub starts peeking through at some point.

August 06, 2024

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Brush: Omega 10098 27mm Boar
• Razor: The Holy Black SR-71 Slant
• Blade: Astra Superior Platinum
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Sheep
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Unscented Witch Hazel & Aloe
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Unscented Post Shave Balm

I actually had a good shave with the slant razor, miracles do happen. Boar brush split ends coming in super nice too.

$RawHoggin

$ShepherdsofStirling

$Discord

August 6, 2024 – Tubdate #1

• Brush: Semogue Torga C5
• Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley B plate Aluminum/Maggard Handle
• Blade: Wizamet (6)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Varen
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Orbit

Weighed out my soap for the first time since starting AA, seems about right to do it every five days. 10 grams down, five shaves in before tonight equals 2 grams per shave, 2-3 healthy passes per shave seems pretty good. All while breaking in a new boar. We’ll see how this develops over the month but hot damn, not sure what the empty tub weighs but all in all that’s looking at 100 shaves per tub of the finest mutton base I know. Color me impressed. I may load with a bit more abandon now. But I do love the thrill of austerity. Cheers homies!

$RawHoggin

$ShepherdsofStirling

Austere August 6, 2024

• Prep: Warm Washcloth
• Brush: Omega Boar 10098 🐗
• Razor: Ikon Shavecraft Tek
• Blade: BIC Chrome Platinum
• Soap: Stirling Sheep 🐑
• Post: Shannon's Haymarket Vetiver and Nivea Sensitive Cool Balm

$ShepherdsofStirling