u/Newtothethis's SOTDs for challenge 'Lather Games 2024'

LG day 1

Brush: Dogwood - Badger? Boar?

Lather: Hendrix Classics & Co. - Ladies' Man

Razor: Weck Hair Shaper

I ask the judges to take pity on me, I can't remember what site we use to format and this is all I've got in me.

Edit: Challenge: Never used a shavette before. Or Hendrix soap.

June 2, 2024 – Sunday  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Ever Ready 1912  
• Lather: Black Ship Grooming – High Seas  

It took some light stalking to find something in common with the esteemed Priusaurus. It turns out, he has a family tradition with a Christmas village. So, I broke out the pieces of the Christmas village that I’ve painted with my nieces. The T-Rex is a special tradition as we have been hiding Godzilla and Trex in every nativity we can for the last 15 years. My mom continues to ....disappear them.

https://imgur.com/a/UW6N66I

June 3, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Lather: West Coast Shaving – Pear-Brrr Shoppe  

This version of their soap was from duck fat.

Challenge: https://www.reddit.com/r/Wetshaving/s/hYfYNd0Sbx

I humbly reference last year’s leg day where a few fools used alum on their legs and learned exactly why I don’t use it.

June 4, 2024  

• Brush: Stirling Synthetic  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Lather: D.R. Harris – Rose  

I like rose, my grandmother had a large rose garden and the smell is linked to fond memories of her.

Challenge: I’m a sucker for spearhead soap. My fav discontinued base is Spearhead 20.1E. I’ve been lucky enough to have a few tubs of their experimental stuff and that’s the version I loved most. Current base? Still Spearhead. I’ve got a tub of highland base Black Watch I adore.

June 5, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Gillette Tech  
• Lather: Care Line – Shave Cream  

goo day AND lather in a weird way day don’t mix all that well.

Dad spent a lot of the last year in the hospital, to the point where we have a small pharmacy of tiny toiletries. It’s mass produced and it’s readily available so I went with the finest of hospital shaving cream. It smells like Irish spring and baby powder and dribbles out of the cam in the saddest way.

Now for the challenge of lathering. I don’t normally lather goo but it was time to get weird with it. I normally do a combination of bowl lather and leg lather. I’ve hand lathered, chest lathered, counter lathered and knee lathered. So this year, I hand lathered….just not in my own hand.

OP hand lathered….just not in their own hand.

OP used products available at the hospital. :(

June 6, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Lather: Catie’s Bubbles – Irish Coffee  

Ah, another year with the logistics nightmare that is filming myself in a bubble bath. This year features some really aggressive mosquito bites.

Irish coffee is my go to for drinks scent. I did get a lovely hot apple cider sample but my mom really likes it so it's hers now.

June 7, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Lather: Dr. Jon’s – Lemongrass & Geranium  

Lemongrass and Vetiver are in the same family, therefore it’s close enough.

I shave my legs, it’s ALWAYS one pass.

Gotta love West coast time zone. 11:54. Still the 7th.

June 9, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Lather: Maggard Razors – London Barbershop  

I’ll admit I went for the soap with barbershop in the name. Barbershop scents tend to smell like hospital to me.

Challenge: 22% It was the test my nightmares are made of. One where spelling counts and it ONLY matches on correct spelling. I still can’t write b and d the correct direction.

June 10, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Gravefruit II  

Soap is a collaboration.

Today was pretty terrible. We had put our dog down. The soap name made me giggle in an ironic and morbid sort of way.

Song: my dad liked the gunslinger ballads. We used to sing big iron while we drove up to camp or worked in the yard. When he was in the hospital it was on regular rotation as he napped.

https://youtu.be/Sag7hLly0qg?si=-pwMBJccPqGNn7DX

June 11, 2024

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger
• Razor: Merkur 34C
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli

Scent: features florals. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I love rose.

Challenge. Photography is not my bag, but I went for the pink and orange theme. Used a wood handle brush and a brass handle on the razor.

June 12, 2024 * Brush: Dogwood – Badger   * Razor: Merkur 34C   * Lather: Geo. F. Trumper – Violet  

Today’s soap is Violet Shave Cream. I would love to see more brightly colored soaps. It’s just fun. Cream is in the title, the only thing cute is the color.

Challenge: I present the sample bin. I love samples. The tiny containers with tiny labels bring me much joy. Ive won a couple of sample PIFs and purchased many samples. They all go to the box. Ive gone for a full tub a few times but the vast majority of the games are played out of Sample Box.

June 13, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Lather: Catie’s Bubbles – ’95 Liquid Labels  

Scent: Dupe of Tommy Cologne so I’m told. My brothers first girlfriend wore it. I don’t have sisters so I thought she was awesome.

Challenge: I haven’t felt like doing anything creative lately, so it was nice to break out the colors but drawing/freehand really isn’t my thing.

June 14, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Orange Chill  

Theme: Orange Chill. A nicely mentholated orange shave soap.

Sure there are those who bring out the cryogen. those who put ice in their lather (I like to think most of us learned from previous years), even those who shave in an ice bath.

I offer three words “ankle to hip”. I shaved both legs, ankle to hip. It’s a good thing it’s a summer night.

Challenge. It didn’t show up as well as I wanted it to but I stacked my gear in the water.

June 15, 2024 – I’m tired of death  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Blade: Astra SP (Green)   
• Lather: Spearhead – Experimental 18.1  

Theme: I’ve been saving a sliver is Spearhead Experimental soap because I love it and don’t want to forget it.

Challenge: The best demo of sad pasty lather I could offer is how it built up on the razor.

My dad died 3 days before the games started, it was unexpected and we were very close. I was dreading today. Having it be leg day and getting to distract myself with the antics has been an incredible gift. For all those who did the silly thing and shaved their legs I want you to know it made a difficult day easier.

June 16, 2024 – Making my father proud – but not with this  

• Brush: Century – Pure Bristle  
• Razor: Ever Ready 1912  
• Lather: Proraso – Green Tea & Oat  

Theme: Proraso has been around since before my dad was born and it smells like TV static. Went with an old brush, and old razor and an old mug as well. Mug was my dad’s. He HATED shaving, but he always shaved with a brush and mug set when I was kid. I inherited them (stole them) when I started wet shaving. He had to take up shaving again in the last 7 months as he needed frequent heart biopsy that went through his neck. I made him smell my entire collection to pick the soaps he wanted to use. Stirling Gatlinburg ended up being his choice.

Challenge: I thought somewhere it said leg shavers should shave arms but when I went and looked it didn’t say anything about it. For before and after purposes the right leg is before and the left leg is after. I normally don’t shave my legs daily and menthol day disrupted my careful quadrant rotation I use to keep from getting irritated during the games.

June 17, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Lather: Zingari – The Traditionalist  

Theme: The Traditionalist in Zingai’s vegan base. I think I don’t react well to this one, my shoulder is red and itchy and the part of the leg I shaved tingles.

Challenge. See SOTD picture. Lathered on shoulder. Took awkward shower picture. Shaved leg. Called it a day. The knee is the better surface for lathering. Would be willing to try elbow lather next year.

Other thoughts: the problem with the big bin of samples is that you have to paw through it like a trash panda every day to find the one you are looking for. Or you paw through it to discover if you have something on theme. Next year, instead of den tours the challenge should be to dump your den software into a container and then dig through it to find the next three days of themes. Extra points for those who can and are willing to take tasteful photographic evidence of Scrooge McDucking it through their hoard.

user proposes scrooge mcduck sample challenge

June 18, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Lather: Dr. Jon’s – Flowers in the Dark  

Theme: Dr.Jons is missed. A quality vegan base with excellent gender neutral scents.

Challenge. I avoid that sub for good reason but here goes:

Ended the day in the most masculine of ways…with a 20 minute skincare routine using expensive and specialized products. Used a beautiful dogwood brush to lather this classic vegan base. Don’t worry, for a soap with Flowers in the title and a forward note of lavender there is plenty of woody and earthy undertones to keep from compromising the inherent manliness of wet shaving. All those sniffing my legs later can rest assured this is what lavender for men smells like and will never confuse it with girly lavender. No cuts, just smooth skin as can be expected after years of casually shaving with this mostly enclosed blade originally marketed for its simplicity and safety.

User cuts to the quick with her criticism of the toxic masculinity that exists in many shaving groups.

June 19, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Maggard V3  
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Black Watch  

Theme: according to Etsy spearhead ships from Ohio. And Black Watch is my favorite after their experimental soaps. Spearhead will always have a special place in my heart. They once sold free soap, they only asked that you be new to wetshaving and pay shipping. I loved that little plastic tub of soap.

Challenge: it took me forever to feel like making a meme but I managed it.

June 20, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Maggard V3  
• Lather: Zingari – The Gatherer  

Theme: the Gatherer is a seasonal summer scent, and one of my all time favorites. Easily the best of the Zingari lineup for me. It’s peach, musk, and orange blossom if I recall.

Challenge: I wish we had this challenge while I was up at summer camp, I’ll have to do a shave out on the back 80 acres. But for today, the backyard has to suffice.

June 21, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Maggard V3  
• Lather: Black Ship Grooming – Philip’s Fougere  

Theme: in the name

Challenge: There once was an account called Enndeegee, The judges matched him with scent called fougere.

Now Enndeegee has an appreciation for the fine art of shit posting.

So he runs the no scrub list, And,well, you get the jist.

June 22, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Samhain  

Theme: there is a carved pumpkin on it. It doesn’t get any more autumn than that.

Challenge. Would have loved to, I can make a turtle from a watermelon. But today I drove up to camp and there just wasn’t time. proof of turtle carving abilities

June 23, 2024 picture  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Maggard V3  
• Lather: Abbate y La Mantia – Crumiro  

Theme: smells like cookies

Challenge: I’ve given you church kitchen shave. Prepare for church camp kitchen shave. The problem here is this is a legit, licensed commercial kitchen and I’m not screwing with that by shaving in the food prep or hand washing sinks so I headed over to the scullery . But…would the judges consider the scullery good enough?

Bring in the Airbud rule. I absolutely cannot shave in the food prep sink. There is no rule saying I cant shave in the fridge. So I took a bowl, unzipped my handy zip-off hike pants, and shaved in the fridge.

church camp ~~kitchen~~ wait ~~scullery~~ wait, maybe a fridge shave?

June 24, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Maggard V3  
• Lather: Red House Farm – Lumos  

Theme: This little sample was PIFd to me by u/kind_simian. I was PIFd this glow in the dark soap in its original run when I won the naming contest. I still think it’s a solid name.

Challenge: spearhead. I remember Spearhead’s experimental soaps and I think the sub would be a great place for and exclusive run. Come test us on! Willing guinea pigs abound!

Close second: Southern Witchcrafts. You’ve don it before so we know good things come of it.

No picture. The Internet here is not good enough to successfully upload a pic and I don't have the energy to fight it tonight.

June 26, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Maggard V3  
• Lather: Red House Farm – 9 Days up Nort’  

Theme : the most Christmassy of smells

Challenge: Im at camp. My hat was last seen with my niece days ago. It’s return is not expected. But, I did have swiming shorts. For the purpose of this ridiculous-ness I put them on my head. They are now a hat.

Player is away from home, improvises by turning her shorts into a hat.

June 26, 2024  

• Razor: Maggard V3  
• Lather: Band-Aid – Antiseptic Cleansing Liquid  

Theme: well, someone beat me to sunscreen and I’m not fool enough to shave with bug spray so I raised the first aid kit. I’ve got enough big bites in my legs to actually benefit from it and Antiseptic liquid worked surprisingly well. It provided a little bit of lubrication and I didn’t feel any razor burn so I assume the analgesic is working.

Challenge: Clean my brushes? You mean running them under warm water isn't enough?

June 27, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Maggard V3  
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Desairology  

Theme: Scent notes: Sandalwood, musk, oakmoss, citrus, lavender, vanilla, oud, burnt white sage, burnt palo santo, gardenia

Challenge: I shave my underarms, this necessitates use of the non dominant hand at least once. I know because I’ve tried shaving my right pit with my right hand it doesn’t work.

June 28, 2024  

• Brush: My hand  
• Razor: Bic – Dual blade disposable  
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – After the Rain  

Theme: The Den is wherever I’m shaving. And I happen to be away from home. I thought I grabbed my cheapest setup and instead I made it out with no brush, no razor. Just the one soap.

Challenge: I ended up shaving with an old Bic disposable from the bottom of my dopp kit. It doesn’t get any cheaper than your hand and a Bic.

June 29, 2024  

• Brush: Dogwood – Badger  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Blade: Astra SP (Green)   
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Sandalwood  

Theme: it’s named sandalwood. And I don’t react well to it. My skin feels weird.

Challenge: to be honest, I haven’t read much of the games. Especially the early days just participating was the most I could do. tsr generally made me smile. Mayana was a fun rookie.

June 30, 2024  

• Brush: Simpson Synthetic  
• Razor: Merkur 34C  
• Lather: Geo. F. Trumper – Coconut  

Theme: I’m in the US. Geo is British

Challenge: Merkur is German, Simpson is British. Blade is Astra which Google AI says is from India.

As we say farewell to the lather games id like to thank the organizers for all of their efforts. Where there have been many days that I’ve felt overwhelmed I’m glad I did this silly little shaving game. It’s a little piece of normal (absurdity) at a time where everything feels like it’s a tailspin. I’m looking forward to next year when I can greet the games with more enthusiasm.