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

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Austere August, Day 31 * Brush: Copper Zenith B36, bleached 28mm x 50mm * Razor: Ern 22 7/8 * Lather: Vintage Williams Tonsorial * Post: Proraso Red Aftershave * Frag: Ethos Mysore Santal

Not the glamorous birthday shave I hoped for, but I finished Austere August strong and, upon rinsing out the mug, realized how close I came to killing my Williams puck. It had a better life span than I expected, especially when being used to break in the scrubbiest of boar brushes.

Thoughts on the month: • I am now quite comfortable with my straight razor and will be branching out into more to see if my improved technique will allow me to enjoy straights I disliked before. • Vintage Williams is a pretty decent soap. It isn't artisan, or fancy, or even scented at this point, but it makes a good slick lather and I'd happily use it again. • My B36 is now in a happy place with soft tips and a good amount of backbone. The patina is unique and it looks good. • I might attempt to learn honing since I now have a straight razor that I gel with.

I can't wait for tomorrow's shave and a return to variety.

Required tags:

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2024-08-31 Austere August Day 31, Final Shave Day of the Month

• Prep: Face wash soap/warm water, and stropping, and stropping
• Brush: Shore Shave - Player Custom with 24mm Blond Boar
• Razor: Ralf Aust - Ralf Aust 5/8" Round Point Straight Razor
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Uitwaaien
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Uitwaaien (Splash)

Last thoughts on Austere August...

On Raw Hoggin:

I broke in a brush. A blond boar on a Shore Shave handle. This boar has become much more enjoyable, no longer eats lather, and while it has softened quite a lot at the tips it still has amongst the most backbone of any brush I own. I like the brush now that it has had some time put into it. I think the handle was a good creative purchase as well. I still love where Bill Reid of Shore Shave concealed his coin in the handle.

On Headless:

This year I really took on Austere August for it's basic premise. Spend time with a part of your collection and really learn it. The challenge of a straight every day was something to really bite into.

I had up to this point made use of a straight only occasionally and was never fully comfortable and always very wary (I actually have a small scar from the first time I ever used a straight).
But, repetition does allow skill to develop. Simply stated I now feel comfortable with a straight and I'm happy with the effort in learning this month. I only had a few days where it looked like I tangled with a grumpy domestic house cat. But those were few and enriching of skills made that "tax" paid worthwhile. I went in with a reasonably good edge that had some use on it that is now in need of some work. I guess my next task would be to buy a gold dollar and stones and learn to hone. I may send this one out for honing though in the meantime.

On Mammoth Mafia:

Mammoth's Uitwaaien was a great pick for a month of shaves. I love a lot of the Mammoth products and selected this particular one because it was a cologne type scent that I thought would work well for a whole month. It did well on that count and my new boar brush certainly is scented by it. But it is now time for other scents and soaps. All that said - I enjoyed the soap for the month and it is not being locked away. It will see a shave from time to time. I almost went with Mammoth's Shire, which I love, but decided on a more cologne type scent as it is more IDK neutral? Anyway, a great soap and I enjoyed using it.

So, I think this Austere August was put to good use for me. I certainly developed more skill with a straight razor.

Or as Stan Lee often said in the Marvel bullpen bulletins:

'nuff said!

Take care and have a good one.

-PZ

$MammothMafia24

$RawHoggin

$headless

August 31, 2024 – AA24 Day 31: The End

• Brush: Omega 50068 Bambino 18mm boar
• Razor: Hartford Cutlery #20 4/8
• Lather: Chiseled Face – Midnight Stag
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face – Midnight Stag
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face – Midnight Stag

It has come to pass that we say goodbye to the Austerity of August and, for me, my bottle of Midnight Stag EdP. After four Augusts, it gave its last full measure of sprays today. The Bambino, aside from seemingly losing a hair every shave, could be the magic brush. A 15-20 second load gives me great lather. I need a new kitchen scale, or I’d collect some usage data to estimate whether or not the Bambino will make a tub of soap last forever. The Hartford has been a worthy blade and, again, thanks to u/gcgallant for the wonderful edge. I’m looking forward to sending you my Bengall.

Good sirs, Knights of Stag, our fight has been fierce, but we’ve slain the beast for another year. I humbly bow with thee as we await the granting of our new titles in the Order.

Have a nice day and kind to one aanother.

$SubstantialStag $headless $Discord

Aug. 31,2024

• Brush: Summer Break Steinauer 26mm Zenith Boar
• Razor: Thiers Issard Evide Sonnant Extra Hollow 6/8
• Blade: Edge By u/whosgotthepudding [41]
• Lather: House Of Mammoth - Indigo - Soap
• Post Shave: House Of Mammoth - Indigo - Aftershave

Day 31!
I’ve leaned a number of things over the last 31 days.
I learned that I can use the same set up for 31 days and it’s made me rethink my purchasing habits.

I learned that I really don’t like breaking in a Boar knot for 31 straight days and after 30 shaves I could see the bottom of a new tub of soap. I averaged 2.5g of soap per shave and that seems a little high. I am 99% sure I will not raw hog in 2025.

I learned that I can use my opposite hand for the first pass. I learned the proper angles for my jaw line and for the month I nicked myself 3 times.

All in all I am happy I participated in AA but I am looking forward to variety.

Here is today’s brush pic

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Brush Progress Album

August 31 2024

• Brush: Omega 13732 24mm
• Razor: Solingen Best Silver Steel 6/8 (Straight shave #128)
• Lather: Stirling - Varen
• Post Shave: Stirling - Varen
• Fragrance: Ineke Perfumes - Idyllwild

Brush progress album

Woohoo! I made it. 31 shaves with the big Solingen, I had a bunch of little nicks but only cut myself somewhat badly once on my face and once on my thumb. I also now have a comfortably broken in souvenir from Vancouver, these cheap Omegas punch above their weight class and are pretty nice brushes. This tub weighed in at 137 grams when I started and is down to 97 now, so I used a little over a gram per shave. No idea how people are using more than that, I was definitely not loading gently and had lather to spare most days. Put a good dent in the splash at least.

Thanks to u/gcgallant for honing my razor for me, and the other organizers of the various challenges. Using the same gear for a month sucks but it’s events like these that make participating in this sub fun. That being said I’m looking forward to grabbing whatever I want from my den again.

$headless

$RawHoggin

$ShepherdsofStirling

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

---

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.

August 31, 2024 - AA Day 31

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: Semogue Torga C5
• Razor: Weck Hair Shaper
• Blade: Kismet (31)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag

Challenges/Tags: $SubstantialStag $RawHoggin $headless $Discord

Stag Spray 31

Another August in the books and could not be happier with the results of this month. Managed to get pretty comfortable with the Weck again this year. I got down to about the same time required for the Weck shave as a normal DE and have really only gotten a few nicks after the first week or so.

This brush broke in nicely but there is something that makes me like it less than the other boars I have. If I had to guess it is the fact that it is the lowest lofted boar I have to date.

8/31/24

• Brush: Farvour Turn Crafts w/ C&H v12 Fanchurian
• Razor: Raido Star Kamisori 8/8, Full Hollow Barber's Notch
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Kryptonite
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Kryptonite Aftershave Splash

$MammothMafia24

$headless

Last day of AA. About 3/4 into the month, I forgot to post my shave in time. I sucked it up. I still shaved daily but didn't bother posting.

Kudos to everyone that finished by MM and Headless. It was awesome to watch so many new straight shavers wrestle with technique, and eventually, start to get it dialed in.

HALF AARSED

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

Photo Album

• Brush: Omega 10098
• Razor: Panhandle Barbershop Company Tonsorial Gem
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Indigo
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Indigo

End is nigh! This month I learned that boar brushes aren't that bad, my soap lasts me forever, and I shouldn't use straight razors at this age because of my acne. I think at least one of the judges forgave me for the one day that I posted on the wrong thread but hopefully theres an appeal system or something for the others, I'll dm them tonight. Today was one of my rare 3 pass straight razor shaves and it feels and looks really nice to be this smooth. I somewhat have tomorrows shave planned but that's only if I even get to shave tomorrow because all my shave stuff (except AA stuff) is at my moms so I would have to stop there and tomorrow I'm busy doing stuff for my brothers birthday. I'll probably use this boar brush as a talc brush because I prefer my badger brushes.

$MammothMafia24 $RawHoggin $headless

August 31st, 2024 - Stagalicious Finale

• Prep: warm shower

• Brush: Vintage Rubberset Double Stamp with TnS HTB

• Razor: J.A. Henckels Zwillingswerk Friodur 17

• Blade: /u/whosgotthepudding edge (31)

• Pre-Shave: Ariana & Evans - Pre-Shave - Serum

• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap

• Post-Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Splash

• Post-Shave: Chiseled Face - Unscented - Balm

• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - EdP

We made it! Final shave is in the books after a 3 hour return drive from seeing my family on the west side of the state. I'll get final brush pics tomorrow, final soap weight, and post my thoughts from the month. Currently my brain is barely functional enough to type this measly write-up and get this post done on time 😅

$SubstantialStag

$Honemeisterschaft

$Headless

$RawHoggin

$Discord