The Fourth Day Of Weckoning is upon us

• Brush: Rubberset 400-3 with a 26 mm unbleached Zenith boar knot at 56 mm loft
• Razor: Weck Sextoblade Med Prep
• Blade: Kismet Rostfrei, Polymer beschichtet (10)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Oceana
• Post Shave: Ralon – Original
• Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. – Island Man

Today is packing day, and we leave for a family beach vacation tomorrow. My Austere August setup starts to feel really topical.

Great shave again, three passes, nice and smooth. Nothing austere here. #AustereCoasting

#Monthofweckoning

August 4, 2023

• Prep: Warm Shower
• Brush: AKA Brushworx- 26mm Boar
• Razor: Weck Hair Shaper
• Blade: Kismet (4)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag

Nothing new to report today. #RawHoggin #Monthofweckoning

Austere August 2023

• Brush: >!REDACTED!<
• Razor: Munnin Woodworks Forest Moss Sextoblade
• Blade: Kismet (4)
• Lather: MdC Vetyver Brain Bowl (Day 100)
• Post: CB V splash

Hit 100 consecutive days with the Brain Bowl amd still enjoying it. I'm hoping I'm about half way through. I grew weak this week and snuck a few deep whiffs of some of my abandoned soaps that were sitting in my den.

Another big week with 7g of usage. The new brush is working great with the Bowl.

Unboxing, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 13,

Week 14

monthofweckoning

August 4, 2023

• Brush: Zenith 508 Moar Boar
• Razor: Weck Sextoblade
• Blade: Kismet hair shaper (88)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Sheep
• Post Shave: Lucky Tiger
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - unscented balm
• Post Shave: Olay Complete

Such a nice shave today. This soap base is so kind to my skin. It isn't harsh at all and doesn't dry my skin out badly like some other soaps. I could so easily use Sheep as my one and only. The unscented route definitely has an appeal to it. Most of the balms I use are unscented.

#Monthofweckoning

2023-08-04 - Day Four

• Prep: Hot Shower
• Razor: Weck Sextoblade
• Blade: Kismet
• Brush: Omega Pro48 (third shave)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - War
• Aftershave: Lucky Tiger Splash
• Balm: Nivea Cooling Balm

Austere August:

• Day: 3MRTNG's Ultra Nightmare Mode
• #RawHoggin - Brush Pics: 1, 2, 3, 4
• #MonthOfWeckening

Dear u/PrideTwo

Today's morning began with the kind of chaos that only #WAR can bring. The harsh sounds of automated alerts, warning of impending doom, disrupted my typical start time, throwing my whole morning ritual into disarray.

As I face this MonthOfWeckenoning, I realize that no one leaves the battle with #WAR unchanged, and I am no exception. The disruption in my routine led to carelessness during my shave with the grain on my neck, below my ear, resulting in the first casualty of this fierce battle. My blood was drawn, marking a poignant reminder of the challenges I must endure. However, this setback only fuels my determination to complete this challenge and emerge victorious. Adjusting the angle of the blade to about halfway between the previous two days, I achieved my closest shave yet, with minimal irritation.

With a sense of urgency, I loaded my brush this morning as if I despised it. The lathering process required more water to generate the required lather, but the result was nothing short of glorious. However, the scent of #WAR has now mingled with my blood, and I fear that it has left an indelible mark upon me, becoming a part of my very being.

Despite the trials, my trusty Omega Pro48 brush remains steadfast. While it performed well, I am starting to consider a new handle for it once this grueling ordeal is over, a tribute to its resilience throughout this battle.

As the fourth day comes to a close, I am reminded of the sacrifices this challenge demands. My journey is not without its share of scars, but each one signifies my commitment to face this battle head-on. Until tomorrow, my journal, I shall continue to navigate this treacherous path with unwavering determination.

Thank you, I hate you!
Sincerely u/Absenth

August 4, 2023

• Brush: AP Shave Co Gold Flakes with Oumo 30mm Boar
• Razor: Diane Hair Shaper – Patent 33095 78145
• Blade: Fromm Hair Shaper Blade (4)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Sheep
• Post Shave: Declaration Ghosting – Unscented Aftershave Liniment

Every day I tell myself this is a new skill and will take time. Good news is I didn’t nick or cut myself at all WTG. Bad news is ATG and XTG wasn’t so good. Also, since I’m so focused on the Weck, I’m not at all paying attention to the lack of good smells in the shave. #Monthofweckoning #RawHoggin #unscented

August 4, 2023

• Brush: Summer Break Soaps 28mm Synthetic
• Razor: Weck Sextoblade
• Blade: Personna Glide-coated Hair Shaper (4)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder
• Post Shave: Stirling - Unscented - Balm
• Fragrance: Kenneth Cole - Reaction

#MammothMafia23
#Monthofweckoning

Passes: (Face) WTG, XTG
Passes: (Neck) WTG, ATG
Cuts: 2 (Running total: 16)

One fewer cut today, but one of the two I did get was a doozy. This was my first day where I had a pass (the first WTG one) with no cuts.

Every day gets less torturous. Looking forward to Sonder helps - I definitely see myself getting less sick of this than I did SSL last August.

August 4, 2023

• Brush: Munnin Woodworks w/AP Shave Co 24mm Titanium Synthetic
• Razor: Weck Sextoblade (Straight Shave 285)
• Blade: Kismet (4)
• Lather: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Soap
• Post Shave: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Aftershave
• Post Shave: Thayers - Cucumber - Toner
• Fragrance: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Eau de Parfum  

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Kismet Blade - Losing My Edge
A #Monthofweckoning

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This is my fifth shave ever with a Weck and Kismet blade. As with my experience yesterday, I'm finding that the blade is very efficient and very comfortable if wielded at a low angle and with light pressure through a slick very hydrated lather.

I'm already taking less time for a 2-pass BBS shave than I would with my best straight razor. I see why so many of the YouTube straight shavers just love this thing. Now, I think that some of the translucent green and red scales on the Hair Shaper versions of the Weck look great, but I can't imagine Weck wielding without scales from u/whosgotthepudding. Aside from looking amazing, they allow for a great grip and have enough weight that the handling of the razor does not feel light and twitchy.

I took another microscope image for the album. Overall, today's edge looks very similar to yesterday, but I see a little more softness at the apex. The microscope has a very shallow depth of field. Areas that are small and have some variation in flatness are very difficult to focus on. I think this is symptomatic of an apex that is becoming less uniform but at a fraction of a micron [note, magnification is 944X]. Also of interest is that the PTFE has worn away a little more. I doubt this matters at this point since we cut hair at the apex, but it is interesting to observe and gives me something to write about.

Aug 4, 2023 - A Wecked Mammoth August

• Prep: CeraVe - Hydrating Facial Cleanser

• Brush: Summer Break Soaps Grant w/Maggard 26mm Boar

• Razor: Weck Sextoblade

• Blade: Kismet Hair Shaper

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Dammusi

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder Balm

• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Sonder

Changed up my grip a little for my second pass and was able to go ATG on my cheeks. Still struggling with even getting a clean XTG pass on my chin and neck but managed to not draw blood today!

Super pleased with my software of the month! Getting to use Dammusi is such a treat! Got it just before the Lather Games started and didn’t fit it into my calendar for that so really enjoying it!

Raw Hoggin album

Daily tags: #RawHoggin #MammothMafia23 #MonthOfWeckoning

August 4, 2023 - Austere August Mafia Hoggin’ Weckoning

• Brush: Semogue SOC Cherry
• Razor: Weck Hair Shaper Glitter Scales
• Blade: Kismet Rostfrei (4)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Sonder
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Sonder Splash
• Daily Tags: #Monthofweckoning #RawHoggin #MammothMafia23
• Passes: Face - wtg/atg Neck - xtg up and down

Today’s Pic

Today I managed to finish work a little early. Instead of having an early shave, decided to run to Costco thinking it wouldn’t be busy at 3:00PM on a Friday. So it is an after dinner shave today. My wife thinks I’m crazy trying to shave with the Weck. She might be right. Cheeks and jaw are mostly problem free, but the neck is where all my coordination goes away. It’s like I mess up my depth perception when shaving there. I was going along cut free, but hit my neck just below my Adam’s Apple and drew some blood. Sonder is still performing well even if I’m not getting as wet a lather as I would in a bowl. Scent wise, I haven’t gotten past lemon and vanilla creme. The SOC is a pretty nice brush, but still very stiff. Definitely getting split ends, but I’d say this brush has the most backbone out of all my brushes.

If I win the Mega Millions, would it still count if I hired a barber to do my shaves? Not going to happen (hiring a barber, I’m totally winning that $billion+ jackpot).

August 4, 2023 – The grind continues

• Brush: Summer Break Soaps “Dundy” Maggard Boar 26mm
• Razor: Marianna #310 Hair Shaper
• Blade: Personna Hair Shaper (4)
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Dammusi
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Dammusi

I don’t quit. That’s a thing about me. It’s probably from the way my dad raised me and how he always told me the things I “should” do and on and on and so I feel this stupid sense of commitment to this dang shaving thing but screw it I’m going to keep going. Because I don’t quit. If you’re thinking about quitting like I was, let Goggins inspire you.

You’ll notice a new addition to the SOTD pic today – a styptic pencil. I’ve never needed this before. Because I’ve never cut my face this many times in my freaking life. And you know what? I didn’t need it tonight, either. A few nicks and a slight scrape of a previous cut was all there was. No new cuts tonight. How? Well, I made my lather wet, then I added more water until it was wetter, and then I did it again. And it was too wet in my book, but, I’ve read some of y’alls advice and maybe it helped. My chin is still a mystery – how anyone gets that thing smooth with a hair shaper is beyond me.

Dundy – I almost feel bad about how nice this knot is already. But, I don’t. If I were using something easy to shave with I’d be sad I didn’t choose a tougher boar, but, given the beating my face takes on a nightly basis, I’m good with the boar being easy, breezy, and beautiful. That handle was made for a boar knot, I’m convinced. It looks so dang good.

There’s much to say about Dammusi, but, tonight I simply say I don’t know how you all doing this Weckoning thing without a Mammoth splash are managing. The slight cooling after effect is sublime after you slice and dice your flesh. If you don’t have a cooling Mammoth splash you need to do yourself a favor and get one.

Monthofweckoning

RawHoggin

MammothMafia23

August 4, 2023 - Day 4 AA

• Brush: Omega Pro 48
• Razor: Weck Med Prep
• Blade: Personna Hair Shaper (4)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - War
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - War
• Post Shave: Zingari Man Sego Balm
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts - Tres Matres EdP

Brush break-in album: Daily Progress

Day 4 - Actually a decent shave tonight overall. It's certainly not my best shave, but can guarantee it won't be my worst of the month. I was able to navigate my mapping a little bit better than I have in the previous few shaves, but I'd say that's likely due to slacking on my open blade usage prior to AA. Slowly getting to the point of being nose blind to the War and it's getting less and less offensive every shave. Unfortunately I'm sure the people around me likely wouldn't say the same, but it's making things tolerable at this point.

Tags: #RawHoggin #monthofweckoning

August 5, 2023

• Brush: Zenith 31mm MOAR BOAR
• Razor: Weck Sextoblade
• Blade: Personna Hair Shaper (4)
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Sonder
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Sonder

WTG pass went awesome today, only blood was from nicking a pimple (which happens with the DE too). No problems with my weird neck spot at all.

The not WTG pass was awful. My hand twitched with blade on skin while going up my cheek for the dreaded "parallel to edge blade motion" so I’ve got a nice, long, red line going across my face. Alum stopped the bleeding pretty quick, so it’s probably just papercut depth, but man was that not fun. Gonna have to avoid that spot for a couple days. Need to try a lot harder to get explicitly XTG on that second pass instead of whatever the hell my hands have been letting me do so far for the next couple days. We're halfway to a decent shave.

Speaking of alum, I used Osma for the first time the other day. It definitely helped with the day after feel of these terrible shaves (doing these at night, so I gotta get through a workday in the meantime). Regular alum would probably do that too, but considering it’s making this slightly less of a nightmare I’ll give Osma the credit.

AA Mileage: 18 miles. No change, rest day today.

Tags: #Monthofweckoning #MammothMafia23

August 4th, 2023 - AA Day 4: Month of War

• Prep: warm water

• Brush: Declaration Grooming Goldmember B6

• Razor: Weck Sextoblade

• Blade: Kismet (5)

• Lather: Barrister and Mann - War - Soap

• Post-Shave: Barrister and Mann - War - Aftershave

• Fragrance: Barrister and Mann - Fougere Gothique - EdP

Hella late night shave because I'm a scrub and put it off till right before bed. 90% sure this splash is gonna stain my pillow case 😒

#Monthofweckoning