Post 'Saturday Austere August SOTD Thread - Aug 31, 2024' of challenge 'Friodom Riders 2024'

SOTD 31-Aug-24

• Brush: Zenith - Unbleached Bristle 506U
• Razor: Henckels - Friodur 17
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Beloved
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Beloved AS
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Beloved Balm
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Beloved EDP

That was a thoroughly enjoyable AA, despite the self injury midway through.

The brush has been a pleasure to use and develop. I had expected, with this being an untreated boar, that I was going to be in for a rough ride and a slow development. Luckily though no such thing happened. After the first few days of lather hogging it got into the swing of it and has gone from strength to strength. I'm now left with a very soft brush with good backbone that whips up an amazing lather, this will continue to be used in the rotation. There's still some room for development but I am thoroughly pleased.

Using this Friodur throughout has been a joy. The stigma around stainless straights, certainly for well made ones, is unwarranted. The blade has excellent edge retention and takes down the whiskers with the best of them. This has only encouraged me further to try and get that elusive 14!

Mammoth was an excellent choice for your month, the performance is undeniable and the scent is great. Sure, I'm after something else for a change now, perhaps something with a bit more punch, but I still wouldn't hesitate to replace this when I eventually see the bottom.

Hope everyone has a great final shave and a grand day!

Cheers

Marc

Tags
$MammothMafia24
$Honemeisterschaft
$FriodomRiders
$RawHoggin

Brush and Software Progress Final
Zenith Unboxing, Day 1, Day 31
Soap Day 1 vs 31 - I really should have weighed this thing, ah well, next year.

Aug. 31, 2024
Brush: Zenith B36 Copper 28mmx50mm Boar
Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 451 5/8 Stainless Full Hollow Square Point
Lather: House of Mammoth - Alive - Soap
Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive - Aftershave

Straight shave thirty-one and this one feels like a bit of Lather Games crept into Austere August. I have to leave for the airport by 4 AM this morning, so I believe that a 3:23 AM shave may be my earliest ever. Three passes this morning to send the month off right. I’m super smooth and not bleeding, so I’ll call this victory.

I have absolutely loved this month. I had never used a straight before Aug 1 and was honestly always a little intimidated by them, but I’d say after a month straight (see what I did there) of using one, it’s verging on becoming comfortable.

And the brush is a dream now. Soft and finally done eating lather, so I didn’t have to reload at all.

Alive was the first House of Mammoth soap I ever bought, and it was pleasant to spend a month with it. I never tired of it and enjoyed using it each day.

Tags: $FriodomRiders $headless $RawHoggin $MammothMafia24

Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

August 31, 2024

• Prep: House of Mammoth Embrace Doppio Bath Soap
• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts 26mm APSC Pure Bliss
• Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 17 15/16
• Edge: u/whosgotthepudding (42)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Kryptonite - Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Kryptonite - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Spearhead - Sea Spice Lime - Eau de Toilette

My144th SR shave to wrap up Headless Friodom Mammoth Riders 2024. 42 uses on this pretty sweet JNAT edge by Pudding. Still keen enough to give a BBS shave. My stropping got up to 30 on flax, 40 on leather. I started off much lower but went more on draw feel than count. That's something I picked up along the way to keep myself from understropping and having a rough shave. Worked out, but wtfdik. I also stopped stropping immediately after shaving and started just drying it off with a cloth. Did this contribute to my success? Probably not, but it saved me time which meant I was more conscientious when I did get around to stropping.

The Frio 17 retains it's place as one of my favorite razors. It really is just about perfect. Stainless has been great for daily use. YMMV, of course. This held a shaving edge quite well, but I frankly have no other point of reference as I've never pushed a carbon blade this far. Maybe next year. For now, this is going to get cleaned up, packed up, and shipped out for some "science," and some new scales.

The knot hasn't won me over, but I've learned it well enough and it's loosened up a bit. Once it's actually loaded and hydrated, its fine, but the journey to get there is less enjoyable for me. I imagine the folks who will try this after will enjoy it more than I have over the past month. Some knots are like that. I'm going to change it out when it comes back. I may end up going back to a Synbad or soft tux for the lulz.

The software was great, tbh. This is the first year I didn't get tired of any of it. While I didn't weigh or really do much metrics wise this year, it's really because I didn't think I'd need to again... I also had much less time, as evidenced by my posts this month. I will say I think my soap consumption was up, just based on excess lather in the knot after my 3 passes.

Here's to tomorrow's shave of whatever the fuck you want. You've earned it. 🍻💚🦣

Final Posts from Previous Years:
•AA 2023
•AA 2022
•AA 2021

$MammothMafia24
$FriodomRiders
$headless
$Discord

August 31, 2024

• Brush: Zenith 507u xse unbleached boar
• Razor: Friodur 72 1/2
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder Splash

$RawHoggin $FriodomRiders $HoneMeisterschaft $MammothMafia24

We made it to the last shave for August. I definitely need more practice honing, but happy that I didn’t make the razor worse. Straight technique has gotten more comfortable, but wouldn’t consider it mastered or even a good journeyman in the skill. Maybe rank myself as advanced novice. Sonderhas been a joy to shave with for the month. I was surprised I didn’t kill the tub. I tried to pick up the sandalwood more. The citrus and vanilla like notes are right on top, but the sandalwood takes longer to emerge. I’m thinking if there is another sandalwood theme day, use the splash with my selection. The brush has been stubbornly slow to break in to a level similar to my other Zeniths. I took a picture with it next to my Semogue 1800, SOC, Moar Boar, and Copper Scrubby. The 1800 was kind of soft day one. I think that’s because it is not as dense a knot as the others. If I break it in more fully, it will be a soft pouf of a brush. The Copper Scrubby and Moar Boar have a similar number of split bristles, but the raw Zenith seems to be stiffer from the start. Lots of black bristles are scattered throughout the knot. I will let this brush dry completely over several days before going back to it. I think my Yaqi Cashmere will rotate into the den for a while. I’ll add in a badger too so I can have some extra variety.

Small album to be added when I upload it to imgur.

Here it is.

Day 31/31 of Looking for Serenity in Austerity

• Brush: Semogue Owner's Club (cherry wood and boar) (31)
• Razor: Zwilling J. A. Henckels Friodur 50 (7/8", hollow ground, stainless steel, masonic deco) (14)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Roman Spice
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Roman Spice
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Roman Spice

Last day of Austerity, starting tomorrow, the entire shave den is fair game once again ♥

Another Austere August in the can. This was my fourth and it flew by, and I'm looking forward to looking at how the challenges I participated in panned out.

$FriodomRiders $HoneMeisterschaft $RawHoggin

Austere August - Day 31 - Shelving the Fridodur

• Brush: Ever-Ready 200 - GDMG Black Boar 27mm
• Razor: Zwilling J.A. Henckels - Friodur 14
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder (Aftershave Splash)
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Sonder Edp

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The Black Boar knot goes to the trash.

Welcome the September diversity.

.#NoStrop day #13

$Honemeisterschaft
$FriodomRiders
$MammothMafia24
$RawHoggin

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August 31, 2024

• Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar

• Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point

• Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap

• Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
• Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop

Edge Condition Album

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Well, that's it. I was very surprised by how well this edge lasted all month. I think most of it is due to the wear resistance of the steel, and a little of it has to do with preparation of the edge and with my shaving technique.

Wonderful month! Congrats to all who took part! I look forward to reading all of the summaries.

Here is the final microscope photo.

Austere August Day 31 - The ~~Headless~~ Friodom Riders

• Brush: Summer Break Soaps “Stanton” w/ V8 Tip

• Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur #17

• Lather: MacDuffs Soap Co. Wild Rose Country

• Post Shave: MacDuffs Soap Co. Wild Rose Country

Last shave of the month so figured I needed to add a picture for this one. Absolutely excellent shave this evening with no complaints at all and was a great way to end AA. I definitely made an effort to ensure this tub was gone on the last day, but honestly might have only seen about 3-4 shaves out of it otherwise. Either way a kill is a kill so I definitely feel good to see one go down. Now to decide on freedom to choose tomorrow or give my face a rest over the long holiday weekend.

$FriodomRiders $honemeisterschaft $discord

August 31, 2024 * Preshave: Hot Shower
Brush: Chisel & Hound “Rob’s Finest” Boar 25mm X 56mm
Razor: Henckels Friodur 451 No Stain
Edge: Pudding (31)
Lather: House of Mammoth Everett
Post Shave: House of Mammoth Everett Splash
Post Shave: House of Mammoth Everett EDP

It's done. Brush pics in Album.

This month has been full of learning. I can now competently and confidently shave with a straight razor. That's sick. And a skill not a lot of people have. I don't know a single person outside you lot who know how. It'll be my new "fun fact" in those silly meet you games.

And, at one point this month I was considering buying a very expensive and nice new Raido or Raido Kamisori. And I still might. It's been really a good month.

All that said, do you know what shaves closer, smoother, and quicker than a straight? Virtually every single DE razor I have ever used, even the ones I didn't like.

So. Yeah. I'm very much looking forward to getting back to my Yates tomorrow and using something that isn't so dang sweet (though I do still like Everett).

Cheers, folks.

$MammothMafia24

$RawHoggin

$headless

$FriodomRiders

$discord