u/sahenders's SOTDs for challenge 'Raw Hoggin 2024'

u/sahenders submitted 31 SOTDS.
  1. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-01 13:22:06-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 1 - Shepherds of Stirling: Varen

    I had everything setup this morning to join the Mammoth Mafia for another AA, but after u/hugbckt's call to join Shepherds of Stirling yesterday, I changed my mind at the last minute. A month of Varen and the Mutton base in support of a 4-H charity and a cool new flair was just too good an opportunity to pass up.

    I've managed to take this razor with a Gillette Platinum blade to 23 shaves before, so I'll see if I can push past that number for all 31 days this month.

    For u/EldrormR's Raw Hoggin' challenge, this new Zenith boar brush is unbleached, which is new for me, and the stank on this knot is potent. Right now the knot feels good. However, it's not very dense, so hopefully it won't become floppy during the break-in.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

    Tub Weight: 201g

  2. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-01 23:10:31-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 2 - Fougère Friday

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  3. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-03 07:26:09-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 3 - Saturday Retreat

    Really nice 🍀🐑Shepherd of Stirling🐑🍀 shave today with Varen and Retreat.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  4. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-04 09:57:46-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 4 - Between Two Ferns

    Two incroyable fougère scents. However, in spite the strong scent from Varen, the stank on this brush is getting worse, not better!

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  5. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-05 00:06:35-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 5 - Monday in the Shire

    Shire is such a beautiful scent! It was almost going to be an AA trickhole with Shire, and 🍀🐑Shepherd of Stirling🐑🍀changed all that. Luckily, I'm still able to use Shire for today.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  6. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-06 03:01:37-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 6 - 🍎🍏

    I was in the mood for some apple post-shave scents, and they worked surprisingly well with Varen.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  7. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-06 23:00:59-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 7 - ✈️ Logbook ✈️

    ✌️

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  8. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-07 23:37:38-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 8 - Lavendursday

    The brush is really coming into its own: great splay and just enough backbone. I think due to its low density, it's not so much of a lather hog.

    Two wonderful lavender scents accompanied Varen today, and the compliments have followed.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

    Weekly Tub Check: 192g (-9g)

  9. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-08 23:37:50-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 9 - 🫐💙 Blugère+Varen 💚 🌿

    Happy Fougère Friday!

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  10. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-10 22:50:03-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 10

    Almost forgot to post 😬

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  11. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-11 15:30:05-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 11

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  12. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-12 13:10:41-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 12 - Varmonía

    Excellent combo ✌️

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  13. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-13 21:39:42-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 13 - Picture Day

    I took some inspiration from u/Priusaurus for today's shave. It also reminded me that I need to use Picture Day more often.

    The boar stank is hanging on to this knot, but at least it's breaking in nicely.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  14. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-14 01:39:16-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 14

    Heather and SSL pair together very well, so I wanted to see if Varen worked with them also. 👍

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  15. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-15 15:09:57-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 15 - Vareflora

    Passiflora didn't work as well with Varen as I would have liked. It's still a great Summer scent though.

    I'm starting to get a little worried that this blade won't make it to the end of the month.

    I'm accidentally on theme today considering the French connection with Fougères, the Dutch connection with Varen, and Napoleon had decreed Holland part of the French Empire by 1810.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

    Weekly Tub Check: 184g (∆ -8g)

  16. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-15 23:09:03-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 16 - A Contemplative Shave

    Happy Fougère Friday!

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  17. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-17 22:47:48-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 17 - Varen + Moos = 💚

    ✌️

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  18. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-18 21:47:01-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 18

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  19. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-19 03:09:13-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 19 - Beloved

    Beloved is incredible, and being a strong, lavender-forward scent, it pairs nicely with Varen.

    If this wasn't AA, I would have already binned this blade. For the time being, I'm going to keep going with it.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  20. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-20 12:18:15-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 20 - Tea Tuesday

    Cheshire++

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  21. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-20 23:02:39-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 21 - Westman Wednesday

    Subtle lavender with bright citrus notes, warm vanilla, and woody base notes, (Desas)sossego is an understated and welcoming scent.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  22. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-22 05:14:12-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 22 - Trouble in Paradise

    Well this blade is now testing my technique and pressure management. I managed a DFS with no irritation, but the blade is definitely past its prime.

    Just when I think the boar stank is subsiding, it comes back with a vengeance. Are there trapped pockets of stench hiding in this knot? What is going on?

    The line up today was pleasant. Trouble Maker and Fougère Gothique are both earthy, smokey, and excellent.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

    Weekly Tub Check: 176g (∆ -8)

  23. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-23 13:19:28-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 23 - Fougère Friday

    Happy Friday!

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  24. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-24 05:07:20-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 24

    I'm finding a middle ground between closeness and comfort to hopefully finish out the month with this blade.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  25. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-25 14:52:53-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 25 - The Final Countdown

    The last week of AA is here.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  26. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-26 07:07:21-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 26 - Uitwaaien

    There's a bit of a chill in the air this morning, and Uitwaaien felt like a good choice to pair with Varen.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  27. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-26 23:39:12-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 27 - Barrbarr

    Another cool morning, and pairing with BarrBarr was an excellent choice.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  28. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-28 02:31:57-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 28 - Witchcrafts Wednesday

    I guess it's been awhile since I've used Nemeta because, in my mind, I was worried that Varen would overpower it, but that was not the case.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  29. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-29 14:40:15-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 29 - Lavendursday

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

    Weekly Tub Check: 168g (∆ -8g)

  30. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-30 00:38:38-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 30 - Fougère Friday

    I had to get in a pairing with Cerberus Fougère before the end of the month, and it did not disappoint.

    One more day with this blade, and then I can bin it. I'm looking forward to using a fresh blade again.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

  31. u/sahenders posted on 2024-08-31 22:53:23-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

    AA24 - Day 31 - Final Day

    Hopefully, I managed to earn the 🍀🐑Shepherd of Stirling🐑🍀 badge using Varen for the entire month. Same razor, same soap, and same brush in Extreme Mode, plus the same blade challenge from Ultra Nightmare mode.

    Varen was not a difficult scent to use for the month. In fact, I appreciate it's complexity more now than when I started. Mutton is a fantastic, premium base as well.

    This brush has progressed nicely, but I still don't think it's fully broken in. After a month of use, the boar stench is barely noticeable. I believe I'll stick to bleached boar knots in the future.

    This is the longest I've pushed a DE blade, and I'm not inclined to do it again anytime soon. I'm glad that I managed to finish out the month with it. I had to adapt my technique for the last week in order to still get close and comfortable shaves.

    With the familiarity of this setup, I also managed to reduce the time of my routine by an average of five minutes. This was a personal challenge for the month that I was trying to achieve.

    Brush Break-In Progress Album

    Final Tub Check: 163g
    Overall Usage: 38g
    Average Per Day: 1.2g