Post 'Thursday Lather Games SOTD Thread - Jul 27, 2023' of challenge 'SOTD photo scavenger hunt'

LGSOTD 27-July

• Brush: Chisel and Hound - 'Finned' V14 #SHD  
• Razor: Charcoal Goods - Everyday
• Blade: Wizamet - Super Iridium
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps – Homecoming   
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Homecoming AS

This is my first set of Summer Break Soaps, having never tried them before this was certainly an interesting day to try and do it. First up, the smell is bloody amazing. I've only got a couple of lavender soaps but this is beyond anything else I have. If there are darker scents available I can see myself getting more if they are just as good. 

My intent here was to show you a bit of my adopted homeland in North Wales, alas the climate here most days isn't exactly conducive to a comfortable outdoor shave, and today was no bloody exception. Now, had the challenge been yesterday it would have been fantastic, clear blue skies and warm. Unfortunately this was what my journey was like to my chosen shave spot!. I had wanted to go to Dolbadarn Castle but settled for lake side.

After arriving at my destination I took off into the woods bordering Lake Padarn, managed to find a relatively secluded spot so I think this will do along with a brief 360, half just to check I was alone.  

Went to work with the lather, slapped it on and snapped a pic. Though I forgot the mirror at least I had taken a pic and realised the lather was crap, I'm not in a bad mood, that's just my face and it's chucking it down. So added a bit more water and went to work. What I've now come to realise is that it's incredibly difficult to shave with a wet phone in selfie mode, couldn't get the damn thing to take a photo until the end and couldn't get the vid rolling. 

Though entertaining it wasn't the most enjoyable of outings on this particular day, I think it would have been fantastic on a sunny day.  At least I had a smooth finish and I smelt amazing. I'll be back here with my team for kayakng and paddle boarding tomorrow anyway. 

/u/Enndeegee look I think I actually used the PhotoContest tags correctly for once, about time. Admittedly not particularly difficult considering the necessity of the outdoor challenge but I'll take it. 

Hope everyone has an enjoyable outdoor adventure today! 

Cheers

Marc

#ROTY  #PhotoContest

Congratulations 🎉 you've been selected for the best photo contest 😊

Reason: good use of water

July 27, 2023 – Lather games day 27 – AKA Acid rain shave

• Brush: Maggard 2 band Badger
• Razor: Blackland Blackbird Ti
• Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1)
• Lather: Mickey Lee Soapworks – Jefferson Square
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Beloved balm
• Fragrance: Ferragamo – F by Ferragamo Black

I am glad I have one Mickey Lee soap. Unobtanium is fun. Lavender is calming. Shaving outside in the rain is not. I think it worked out alright. If you want to waste 5+ minutes of your life, you be the judge. Now that I am back inside and in dry clothes, all is good. I bid you an awesome day. Hope it’s not raining wherever you may be.

#PhotoContest

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Kuai Taper w/ V18 Fanchurian 26mm

• Razor: Muhle Rocca R94

• Blade: Bic Chrome Platinum

• Lather: Mickey Lee Soapworks - Jefferson Square

• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Lavanille

• Fragrance: Imaginary Authors - Telegrama

Today's Theme: Lavendursday - Jefferson Square, Lavanille, and Telegrama all prominently feature different flavors of lavender. Jefferson Square is an earthy, potpourri lavender. Lavanille is that creamy, Mousse de Saxe-laden lavender we all know and love. And Telegrama is a fresh, clean lavender that kind of reminds me of liquid fabric softener.

Today's Challenge: Shave Outside Day - As you'll see in the picture below, I set up and shaved outside on my backyard patio. I decided that just because I'm outside doesn't mean I have to shave like Bear Grylls, so I set up a nice little table and chair with my scuttle, water bowl, and shaving gear. I used my phone's selfie camera for a mirror and recorded a video so that the screen wouldn't turn off. If anyone wants to watch a 10 minute video of a random shirtless schlub of a man shaving quietly while the neighbor dogs bark, well, here you go. Djudges, don't say I didn't warn you, you didn't have to watch the video. There is no punchline. There is no secret message. It's just for anyone who really wants to watch me shave quietly outside.

My theme for today's shave: Lavender

I really enjoy lavender scents, so today was a really nice way to explore three different takes on lavender. I know, I could have done the feet juice frag for my fragrance, but I haven't used Telegrama before and I already know that I love Lavender, Interrupted. MLS Jefferson Square was a smush sent from /u/j33pguy13 and it was a very nice scent and soap. Lathered up well, and the scent opened up as I built the lather. The scent is very much like a potpourri bouquet - earthy, fragrant, but not sharp or creamy. Lavanille is that creamy lavender we're all well familiar with. Slight sharpness on the open, creamy on the drydown. Now Telegrama is a scent I've been excited to check out, and now I'm sad I was too late to get on the Noble Otter Telegrama soap/splash train. It's a really nice floral lavender that's just easy on the nose and very lovely.

No music today, I wanted to just enjoy being outside and relax a little. #photocontest #FOF #ROTY

July 27, 2023 – Lavender 3 ways.

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Badger
• Razor: Valet Autostrop #selfsharpening
• Blade: Feather (SE) (1)
• Lather: Spieck – Lavender
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Bergamot Lavender
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann – Lavender Interrupted

You know given Will’s marketing maybe that title was a poor choice. Or a epic one? You be the judge.

Final loaner razor from u/Chronnoisseur420 to get some points. From here on out it’s u/j33pguy13’s CFL pass around (except Friday and Sunday when I need my English tech.) So I gues it’s tech on out except Saturday when I use the CFL…. Then, somehow we’re at AA… Wild how fast this went. Gonna blow off the first week of AA to test the CFL a bit more before I send it back. I’m both relieved and sad we’re reaching the end of our LG time.

Back to the valet. This thing is wild and over engineered, and it took me 10 minutes to figure out how to load it. (the blade goes on the top which flips over?) I guess if you strop disposable blades maybe it’s useful? Dunno. I borrowed it so I could hit 8/10 hardware points. This is where I stop on that because I’m out of time. (note to anyone counting, I’m counting ahead. This makes 6/10. the CFL hits CNC and Rainbow, for 8).

For the challenge. Did I ever mention I live on a corner lot? With a backyard that faces the street? This is basically shaving in public, with a nosy neighbor in that house above me who contently looks out her window at anything going on. Only difference is I can’t get thrown out of my house. Or rather, I don’t think my wife will throw me out. She’s already left for work. 20% chance my neighbor calls the cops on me. I waited to shave until after kid drop off to give me time to do this uninterrupted. Downside is it’s already 85 out. But hey shave sister ain’t that mister mister? Ah yes, that can keep me cool and moisten my stubble while I shave since this is well after showering. Got my gear ready outside, including a baby Yoda travel mirror I borrowed from my wife.

Start shaving, if I dump soapy water all over the brand-new patio, I will be thrown out by the wife. So, I have a cup to rinse my razor in. But as I lather, I stick my face in the mister to get more water. Then alternate the brush in. It works…not bad. Get a decently wet lather. OK this razor is…odd, and I can’t really stretch my skin. Boy that’s a lot of blade feel, but I can muddle through pass one. Suddenly! Sounds…oh shit, the nosy neighbor has opened her garage. Crap, she’s coming out….more sounds.. WHEW, her and her husband are having a spat trying to get in the car (nothing serious, he’s been hurt and not letting her help him get in.) They are distracted and not noticing me.* I can get done if I hurry. But once they pull out of the garage I’m busted. Best case I have to talk to them. Worst case I have to explain myself. Stick my face in the mister mister…oh crap, it’s not strong enough to get the lather off! Crap my hands are too slippery to turn off the hose and unhook Mister Mister. Quick, wet hands, rub face clean, pass 2. This pass hurts, I can’t see what I’m doing in the mirror, I’m XTG, WTG, and ATG all at once. Try to rise the razor in Mister Mister…it doesn’t work. Glad I brought the cup, but cup water is getting soapy. Make it happen, finish shave. Stick head in mister mister. Still not rinsing. HOW ARE MY SHORTS WETTER THAN MY FACE. Fine, whatever, hurriedly walk in with soapy, but socially acceptable shaved face. I did shave outside. Challenge complete, no neigbor questions. Once inside rinse off, change shirts (eff it it’s hot, soaked shorts are actually not bad.) Notice I’m bleeding in several spots. Whelp styptic time. Apply balm. Apply Frag. Roll into home office late.

Today’s #fof is pretty straight forward, Lavender everywhere. Which is good, I love Lavender. First post shave I bought: Bergamot Lavender. But I’ll go a bit deeper here with the theme and expound on types. The spieck Lavender strikes me as a more woody Lavender. This transitions nicely to the bergamot Lavender, which mixes with the citrus in the bergamot in the most fantastic way. The we move to the polar opposite of the spectrum: Lavender Interrupted. Lavender interrupted is sweet to the point I get vanilla first, and a punch of it. But it dries down to a sweeter Lavender. I want to stop and thank u/unitesstatesghost here for this sample. I was skeptical of Lavender Interrupted. I don’t like lavinille, which is nominally where Will starts here, it smells musty to me. So I didn’t jump on it. But she threw this in a PIF box to me and I’m glad because it’s nothing like lavinille. It defintely dries down more woody, but that just makes this FOF a full circle! Go me!

On to #photocontest, since we’re shaving outside, here’s an entry in holes. Specifically the hole left over from my old deck after removing the piers. It’s appropriate since I’m shaving on the patio that replaced it. I filled it in after this photo finally (one more to do done!)

Last 3 shaves remaining #ROTY folks. Who’s gonna finish strong?

*So occasionally they do notice when I do weird things and it ends not great. Which is why I’m glad I dodged it this time. About 8 years ago, I grew 4 hop vines off my back patio. She asked if I was growing pot. “Yes, I grow pot right out in the open!” When I explained it was hops, she inquired as to whether I was bootlegging because she didn’t know homebrewing was legal. When I brough home my first deer’s head to get the antlers off and did that in the back yard…yeah you can imagine how well that went over. Fun fact for u/AirBudruler I didn’t know it at the time, but I was saved from trouble by the Air Bud Rule. “Ain’t no rule that says you can’t perform cranial surgery on a deer head in your own backyard.” (As long as you legally hunted it and properly dispose of the remains, and I did both.)

Not big enough to shit in a ditch alas

Jul. 27, 2023 - Flowers!

• Prep: CeraVe - Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Brush: Summer Break Soaps Grant w/AP Shaveco G5C #FAUXFUR

• Razor: Merkur 34c

• Blade: Personna P74

• Lather: Shannon's Soaps - Lavender Lemongrass

• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Reserve Lavender Splash

• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Beloved

When I first started wetshaving I was very hesitant of floral scents and avoided pretty much everything with floral scents. Over the past couple years my opinion has changed a bit and now really enjoy some floral scents! I wouldn’t normally use a sus soap like Shannon’s but 30 brands on theme is difficult without branching out a little. Either this soap has way too much frag in it or I have a sensitivity to lemongrass because my face is a little tingly today. Thankfully got to round out the shave with two wonderful Lavender central scents in Reserve Lavender and Beloved.

For todays challenge I had a dilemma in front of me. I typically shave all natural but since I have neighbors this led me to a decision to make. Either shave outside or put on clothes. I chose the latter, threw on some shorts, walked past my wife looking at me like this and set up on the back porch. I had a great view of our 75+ feet of cut flower garden to enjoy during the shave!

Todays #photocontest theme is another no brainer of #flowers

July 27, 2023

• Brush: TerraFirma Soapery Deep Blue - Oumo Best 3 Color Synthetic 28mm
• Razor: EldormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM PTFE
• Lather: The Holy Black – Lavender Creeper Soap
• Post Shave: Maol Grooming – Wilde Flowers
• Fragrance: Prada – Luna Rossa
• Music: Taylor Swift - Lavender Haze

I love the scent of lavender. I love it in my cleaning products. I love it in my coffee. And I even like to grind some up occasionally and sniff it to give me the boost I need to get through the day. I’m always happy to shave with it! It seems to be somewhat divisive within the community, but I enjoy it. Maybe I should ask Doritos how many people need to commit to buying a Lavender flavored chip for them to make them… ANYWAYS…

A few days ago, during the challenge about hydrating lathers and I started to second guess myself a little bit. Am I adding enough water to my lathers? I like to think that, generally speaking, my lathers are pretty balanced, but what if I added moar water? Would I get a better shave? Would the lather be slicker? Today seemed like a good day to test out that hypothesis (I know, this is sounding sciency and science day seems like a lifetime ago). Shaving outside would allow me to add so, so, so, much water. But I would need an assistant. Then I saw him. The perfect little guy to help me make sure my lather stayed adequately hydrated during the shave. I gathered my shaving supplies for the day.... And… Hold onto your butts... See the results for yourself:

Video of today’s outside shave

So, while the expression may be, “if your lather ain't nearly drippin', then you must be trippin’”, I think I found the point where it becomes too much drippage. My faithful assistant had turned against me and his constant barrage of water was too much for the lather to handle. Each pass, hell each stroke, was a race against time, as my little buddy diligently did his best to keep my lather (and everything else in his line of sight) very well hydrated! Even took the opportunity to inadvertently bloom the soap. Fortunately, I was using my MM24 which mows through whiskers like nobody’s business, and it is perfectly balanced with the old MMOC handle. Such a great razor (more on that later). At the end of the day, I determined that my regular lather is plenty hydrated enough and this much water does not do much to improve the quality of the shave. Hypothesis that I need MOAR water proven wrong.

The scents I selected today were all lavender because, well, it’s LAVENDER DAY! Lavender Creeper is a nice, mentholated Lavender Scent – the menthol is very nice of a hot, summer’s day. Wilde Flowers is floral and very lavender heavy - there are supposedly other scent notes in Wilde Flowers, but my sus-nose only picks up lavender. And finally, to close out today’s #FOF, Luna Rossa is lavender-centric with a little bit of mint. This is a perfect scent for an outside summer shave.

For the #photocontest: The Law. Welcome to the lobby of the Massachusetts State Police Museum and Learning Center. Want to learn how to become a MA State Trooper or just learn about the history of the longest running State Police Organization in the country? This is the place to go!

For today’s interview, I have someone who is no stranger to this sub. The man who made the razor I used today. He’s a man that has enabled us and pushed us out of our comfort zones with MMOCs, Boar Brushes, and now a Wagaiaouzet thingy. He’s currently working his way through a Martin de Candre brain bowl and using NOTHING else until all 230 grams (8.11 ounces) of it is gone. He needs no introduction, but he got one anyway. I’m really happy to have u/EldormR join me for today’s interview. Thank you so much, Eld, for agreeing to participate, and for being such a positive influence on r/wetshaving!

10 Questions with… EldormR Industries

1) Many people shave with vintage razors and some even wish they were better. But few people create a new razor from two old ones. What made you want to combine the powers of the 1924 Shovelhead and the MMOC? Did you expect that anyone else would want to buy one, or was the original MM24 simply for yourself?

I loved the quality of shave I would get from the 1924, but hated the tiny handle that it came on. It made the maneuvering tough and uncomfortable for me. I wished there was a way I could change it, but never really spent much time thinking about it.

It wasn't until I found a broken MMOC in a razor lot I picked up that I found my solution. When I got that MMOC, I decided to take it apart to see how the internal mechanics worked. After absolutely destroying it in the process, gotta learn somehow, i realized that I could modify an "intact" MMOC handle to fit the 1924 head.

I started off by just making one for myself, then a few more for some friends to try and get feedback. After word and a few pics/reviews got out, people started reaching out to me to make more of them. I never really had any idea they would be so popular and am humbled by their reception from the sub.

2) How many MM24s have you made? Ever think of adding a serial number to them to keep track of your creations in the wild?

Unless I missed recording one or two, I've made 39 and shipped out to 5 countries. I've thought about doing serial numbering, but never pulled the trigger on actually starting it.

3) What other Frankenrazors are you currently tinkering with or dreaming of?

I'm long overdue on a promise for a friend for a Gem G-bar handle with a 1924 head.

4) Someone is about to take over the world – would you rather it be aliens or robots?

Aliens, hands down.

5) I didn’t try a boar until last Austere August, thanks to your Raw Hoggin Challenge and I know I’m not alone. Before your challenge I was almost intimidated by them based on what other people said about them. So, thank you for running that. What is your favorite boar brush?

My favorite boar brush has to be my Zenith Moar Boar sub brush. That 31mm Hog is fantastic. Before that came along, I would reach for my Rubberset 400-3 with a 26mm Zenith knot I refurbished or my Zenith B36 (28mm x 50mm) Scrubby. I've tried a lot of other manufacturers, but Zenith has always been my favorite.

(INTERVIEW CONTINUED IN THE REPLY)

2023-07-27 Don't Get Assaulted Day

• Brush: Omega 343178 Synthetic #FAUXFUR #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Treet Starline
• Lather: Shannon's Soaps - Lavender Lemongrass
• Post Shave: St. James of London - Lavender & Geranium
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux - Admiral

Free disclaimer:
I have no desire to get into whether certain soap-makers deserve the hate they get around here. Parasitic business practices are pretty deserving. Being an anti-vax psychopath is also pretty damn deserving, so I have not and am unlikely to ever purchase anything from Shannon's Soaps. I think this sample came from The Gentle Shave when I got my brush for Raw Hoggin' last year, after which I smushed it in this tin where it has since waited.
Also, the Treet razor was a freebie thrown in with a WSC order.

Lavendursday: The soap is indeed lavender-forward, alongside lemongrass.

Relevant Post-Shave and Fragrance: The Lavender & Geranium obviously matches the Lavender scent.
Meanwhile, Admiral both features and is prominent (to my nose, at least up front) in lemongrass, the other main element of the soap.

#FOF It's lavender. It's lemongrass. 'Nuff said.

At the time of receiving this sample, I was pretty pleased; I had just used the lemongrass-prominent Port-au-Prince on Desert Island Day, and I was ever a fan of lavender. I'm kind of over lavender. Have I ditched it for jasmine, much like Yukon Cornelius' change of heart vis-a-vis precious metals? Lavender is fine, but it's been done! To be fair, this paricular soap mixes things up with lemongrass, which strikes me as a counter-intuitive combination, but it's not terrible.

Moving on to St. James Lavender & Geranium aftershave, the most remarkable thing about it is that it's a gel. It's a bit unusual, but my unverified assumption is that it, like balm, makes an effort to be more hydrating than alcohol-based splashes. Meanwhile, it unsurprisingly introduces another floral note to the mix. I'm not really familiar with geranium, but it pushes harder into floral than I think I care for. I think it's the geranium that ended up lingering around all day, too, reminding me that I do not care for it.

Challenge Accepted: So stepping into the pure liquid agony that is the outdoors isn't enough anymore, is it? Hard to say; you guys forgot to define "nearby"! I went ahead and assumed that my weird little "yard" doesn't qualify for the challenge; I don't mean to argue that point, but as a thought experiment: If I move to the other side of the outside wall, does the wall of the building still count as "nearby", thus meaning that I'm not "outside"?
To avoid the question, I packed up a big ol' bag of water and headed to a nearby park. I mean, it's several hundred feet away, but it's still "nearby", so you figure it out.
Yes, "park." Rocks and dirt.

Obviously, I went before sunrise—because the fucking sun—which was, strictly speaking, when the park was open. There 's a sign that says it's closed from dusk 'til dawn, and dawn had begun, hence open.

I shaved in Pei Wei, and I shaved in a parking lot in Oro Valley. Neither of those were as unnerving as this situation I found myself in this morning. At this hour, your general passerby isn't going to be a person you want to get near. That is, there's a decent chance that it'll be a vagrant whose brain is in a, uh, altered state. Now, I don't carry very often—partly because I don't feel the need that so many stereotypical Americans do, and partly because I like form-fitting clothing, so I don't tend to have anywhere to put one—but I armed myself this morning.

There was one old man who passed me by who seemed nice enough, but I have no idea what that woman who snuck into the above photo was up to. In any case, I got a couple of passes in.

#photocontest
Photo: Flowers
Those are lavender buds.

Sus soap, but great composition and lighting.

July 27, 2023 – LG 27: Laventhrusday

• Brush: Maggard 24mm 2 Band Badger
• Razor: Karve CB
• Blade: Personna Super Stainless (3)
• Lather: Mickey Lee Soapworks – Jefferson Square
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming/Chatillon Lux – Champs de Lavande
• Post Shave: Dr. Jon’s – Flowers in the Dark
• Post Shave: Imaginary Authors – Telegrama
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Reserve Lavender
• Post Shave: Declaration Grooming – Semicolon
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Prom King
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Lavanille
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Tuesday
• Post Shave: Mickey Lee Soapworks – Jefferson Square
• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann – Reserve Lavender

Lavender is legit, I love it. We all know u/velocipedic did a cool lavender shootout on r/wetshaving, but who the fuck has time to read all that. In todays video I managed his multi-years work in u/wallygator88 fashion in about 5 minutes. I went Between Two ~~Ferns~~ Lavender style, making for a great lavender surrounded set up shave.

Quick #FOF. MLS Jefferson square is a quite bright and green lavender to my nose. It’s strong and sharp, and quite true to putting one’s nose in an actual plant. Champs is a bit spicy and herbaceous, bordering on that medicinal quality, likely the eucalyptus. It has an earthiness quality, and brings in some rosemary as well. To me, reserve lavender is one of the OGs that got me to go down the artisan rabbit hole. It’s classy and sophisticated, a bit “cologne like,” but has layers that leave one always going for another whiff. I’ve never smelled the Caldey Island Lavender it’s based on, but it Reserve Lavender will always have a place in my den.

For my #PHOTOCONTEST, went with flowers, duh.

Edit to add: posted pretty late yesterday and today, but can enter a PIF here if interested in getting some remote learning and helping out a good cause, I’ll tally it all up tomorrow and figure it out this weekend.

Edit 2: Oh, and I’m wearing reserve lavender hair pomade today too. Also, while at work MsChronn sent me this, as I leave a tech in the shower she uses for legs and tell her to use whatever soap she wants. Lavender family today, but I was the mastermind behind my brilliant photo.

soap brands 27/30, post shave 27/30, frag 27/30, post/frag linked 27/30, software sponsors 13/13, hardware sponsors 2/2, razor hashtags 11/15, brush hashtags 10/15, photo contest 27/30, daily challenges 24/25, special challenges 3/5

Fantastic shot all around.