July 1, 2023 – LG2023 Day One – New To Me & A Slight Hiccup

• Brush: Semogue – TSN 2018 Boar 24mm #OLDWORLD
• Razor: Ali Express – Folding Razor #YTHO
• Blade: Cloud (1)
• Lather: Elysian – Pineapple Ambrosia
• Post Shave: Elysian – Pineapple Ambrosia
• Fragrance: Creed – Aventus

It’s finally here, the most anticipated day in the faced paced high octane world of wetshaving.

I have a bad habit of grabbing items especially soaps and not using them so finding a brand in the den that I haven’t used before wasn’t too hard and this set from Elysian has been glaring at me for a while.

Slightly trickier was today’s challenge of a different style Razor, like most in the hobby I like to try things old and new so I have tried most things but luckily u/USS-SpongeBob sent me a link for what I thought was just a shavette but luckily the blades it takes I have never used before so here we are.

The base from Elysian was decent and better than I thought it would be if I’m honest. The scent I wasn’t as keen on though, the creamy pineapple was just a little Meh for me so back in the trade pile.

I didn’t dare shave my head with this beast as I have tried in the past and it’s just a blood bath, I mistakenly thought I would just give me beard a trim and a tidy up I mean what can go wrong? Well this went wrong OUCH one miss judged stroke and it seems I have cleared a strip of skin away from my face, at least I will probably have a lasting scar to remember the start of LG2023.

I finished of with a plaster and a quick spray of my dying Aventus Decant as its the only thing I could think of with pineapple in the notes, that said I once loved this massively cloned fragrance but now I find it a little underwhelming.

I’m not 100% sure my Brush qualified for the #oldworld because I’m unsure where the knot was made or if you just needed the handle to be made in Europe, if I’m wrong someone give me a poke.

Here’s to everyone having a great games, happy shaves to you all.

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July 2, 2023 – Vegan Day

• Brush: Dogwood Badger
• Razor: Mongoose – Mongoose SE
• Blade: Schick Proline (5)
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts – Arcane Abyss
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts – Arcane Abyss
• Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Arcane Abyss

So Vegan day just so happened to land on the day I was doing the most English thing possible. Watching the cricket, cooking roast beef on the BBQ in the rain so I thought I would capture it in my picture as that must tick a box or two on the Photo Contest.

The software today however was vegan and I would imagine most of the posts today will feature Southern Witchcrafts as for me they are a top tier base and being vegan is just a bonus for many.

This Trickhole (although the brush being a Dogwood Arcane Abyss would make it a matching 4 piece so not sure what that makes it) was from my first PIF (Hosted by the Grand Master Of Stag Himself u/phteven_j ) win shortly after me first LG a couple of years ago. I’m a big aquatic fan and this one is brilliant, and being SW it couldn’t just be your normal run of the mill scent. For me this scent is a warm jumper (sweater for you non uk folk) that you put on after a day at the beach while you are sat around an open fire on the shoreline, it’s has a real warmth to the scent that I really enjoy.

Today’s challenge was a winner, most of us head shavers love a SE and I went with the Mongoose today. It’s big, bulky, not overly pretty (yup we are still talking about the razor) but boy it gives a great shave.

Have a great rest of your weekend guys.

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He mentioned cricket. As an Indian, I am contractually obligated to bring up cricket in any conversation.

[July 3, 2023 – Almonday](https://imgur.com/a/DwvFRwU)

• Brush: Alpha Shaving Co – 26mm Outlaw G5D #FAUXFUR
• Razor: Gnat – Gnat DE Razor #BRASSING #UNICORN
• Blade: Polsilver (2)
• Lather: Valobra – Shave Stick
• Post Shave: Lucky Tiger – Lucky Tiger

I had to get a quick shave in before work today so to be fair the pic probably checks off the wicked Edge section of the Photo Contest and there is a Tiger on the splash bottle so boom that another one done.

I have had this Stick of Valobra in the den just waiting for a prestigious day in order for it to be used and boom in comes Almond Day and a time for it to shine. Now I will say the Almond scent has subbed a little during its time but its still there and to confirm this Website which I’m sure is hugely popular amongst you USA folk do also say its an almond scent incase there is any whispers of DQing this.

Obviously I was running late and also rather embarrassingly I have never used a Soap Stick before, now I knew I should of just rubbed the stick all over my cue ball head but nope instead I stood there rubbing the stick (which is solid as The Rock) into the shave bowl like a demented chimp using a crayon for the first time. This weirdly resulted in not too much soap being in the bowl but with time running out I carried on having made the commitment to a sub par shave and lathered up with with the thin airy lather I had created. What was meant to be a special day with the Valobra Stick turned into basically the shaving equivalent of a drunken limp fumble down the side ally after a night out with us both ultimately feeling a little sad and used.

Now for the Challenge today to honor u/RedMosquitoMM I thought i would try and be clever using a red Handled brush and then I thought well I may not have a Mosquito but I do have my Gnat so I’m saying that’s close enough.

On a side note for u/USS-SpongeBob I added the Unicorn Hashtag for the Gnat but there isn’t much to verify this about from what I believe is the original patent for it from 1918 so I would say this counts but also any information on the Gnat is greatly received.

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July 4, 2023

• Brush: r/wetshaving Zentih MOAR BOAR 31mm #CHONK
• Razor: Stahly – Live Blade
• Blade: Polsilver (6)
• Lather: M & E – Memories
• Post Shave: M & E – Memories
• Fragrance: Lush – Grass

Morning All, Happy Merica Day

So these morning shaves are killing me but its the lesser of two evils as I know from the last few years that the wife will kill me if I spend too long in the evening larking about.

A quick science shave first thing and I thought it would be a good time to roll out the GUTL created by u/merikus

I Have photographed for documentation here

• 6:15am: The GUTL Experiment Begins
• 6:16am: 2 Grams of Soap added to the bowl
• 6:17am: The damp brush which had taken on 6.6 grams of water due to soaking was then swirled in a clockwise rotation until the protolather was formed.
• 6:19am: I moved the brush to my head and continued to created the protolather in an anti-clockwise rotation 17 times
• 6:21am: Moving back to the bowl I added 4ml of room temp water and began a 20 second clockwise rotation, added 3ml more water which was followed by a 15 second anti-clockwise rotation.
• 6:22am: Moving the brush again back to my head a added 4ml of water to the knot and refined the lather getting ready for the first pass before the next crucial step.
• 6:23am: A 25 second clockwise rotation on the brush in the bowl and the lather was ready along with the reserve lather ready for the 2nd pass.
• 6:24am: The Grand Unified Lather stage was completed.

The science part out the way I revved up the Stahly (well turned the handle) and off she went buzzing away like a Love Honey (Google it if not sure) parcel, I'm not sure the vibrating head brings much to the shave but it added a little variety to the shave and as they say that is the Spice Of Life. This base from M&E isn't too shabby but I find can be a tad airy, the scent however is beautiful with notes of sweet freshly cut grass filling the bathroom and this is echoed by the 0.6ml of splash I used in my post shave.

I finished up with Grass by Lush which for obvious reasons compliments this perfectly. Grass starts as the name suggests with a freshly cut grass note which slowly fades down to a musky almost Smokey hay scent, not a scent I wear daily but nice to spritz on a lazy Sunday sometimes.

PHOTOCONTEST

July 5, 2023 – Canned Goop Day

• Brush: Rolls Razor – 19mm Pure Badger #WEDONTNEEDNOSTINKINGBADGERS #RUNT #SMOLL #ANCIENT
• Razor: Gillette – Blue Disposable #RAINBOW
• Lather: Gillette – Sensitive Gel Foam
• Post Shave: Gillette – Wild Rain
• Fragrance: Faberge – Brut Special Reserve

You sadists asked us to use some canned goop today and us poor brits cant even get the cool looking Barbasol from our Supermarkets so I was left with this now redundant paperweight in the form of Gillette Sensitive Foam/Gel/Grot Goop.

I thought I would go whole hog and use the shoddy blue (handy for the rainbow hashtag), now the last time I had a disposable razor touch me I was in a room with a bunch of strangers staring at and then grabbing my precious crown jewels and no this wasn’t on a night out with u/enndeegee (although he is from up north so anything is game but they tend to only breed with first cousins there) thankfully these were trained professionals giving me the snip. As I lay there thinking this was the most undignified thing I had done the Dr thought he was auditioning for Britain’s Got Talent and I was Simon Sodding Cowell just waiting to give him the golden buzzer (or in this case my soon to be purple plums). I sat there just nervously smiling until at last he was done and then we parted ways never to see each other again…. or so I thought until a few months later I was wondering around my local supermarket and who should I bump into but the Comedic genius of a Dr and down the sausage aisle no less, he looked me in the eyes, then at my now seedless old boy then gave me a little chuckle looked at the salami shook my hand before noting the irony of our meeting place and moving on leaving me hoping he was chuckling about the situation rather than my mediocre member.

Back to the featherlight razor and my days was it rubbish to use, the weight or the razor (or rather lack of) and coarseness of my hair made this a near impossible task and I settled for a very patchy shave. I finished up with some old school goodness, Wild Rain and Brut are just great scents that evoke memories of days gone by.

So the daily challenge could also be a way for a few soap artisans to see what’s popular and most requested and then in turn wait for Dodgy Douglas from PAA to steal their ideas anyway.

Firstly the 3 greatest scents known to man already exist

• Diamond
• Fenchurch
• Brut

Nothing I create in my head will ever be better than those for mentioned scents but if I had to hash something together it would have to replicate the scent of my morning cycle into work. Each morning I cycle the same way and there is a certain area where the hedgerow just comes alive with the most wonderful aroma, I’m no gardener but from memory the scent is comprised of Privet, Cowslip, elderflower blossom, and deep purple buddleia, these scents just linger in the morning air and when there has been a hint of rain the scent is just personified to the point slow down just to take it all in.

I just want to talk about that Rolls Razor Brush

July 6, 2023 – Olfactory Overdose Day

• Brush: Wolf Whiskers Badger
• Razor: Coles/Merkur – Slant DE
• Blade: Polsilver (7)
• Lather: Daisho – Rose Triumph
• Post Shave: Daisho – Rose Triumph
• Fragrance: Daisho – Rose Triumph

We all love a little Matchy Matchy don’t we, ever since coming back into the hobby/cult I wanted to make sure everything match. It starts with matching splash, then we move onto a matching frag, then we get worse and we need a brush that ties it all together because god forbid we take a picture and the brush or razor doesn’t match the labels on the software, its not our fault its an affliction and we shouldn’t be blamed for our hoarding.

Rose Triumph is a masterpiece of a scent from Daisho, Rose forward this could of easily been quite a floral feminine scent but with notes of tobacco, Oud, booze, and spices this is actually by his own admission one of Daishos most masculine offerings. The base is one of my favourites out there and the splash just feels great on my skin, the fragrance on the edp lasts for hours and when I normally wear this in the cooler months I can still smell it the next morning on my skin.

Today’s Stacked Challenge

I wanted to create a masterpiece but sadly what you can’t see in this picture is my not very understanding but always put apon wife and my five kids all shouting at me telling me I’m making them late for school/work. I did a double stack then bolted out the door under the muttering of moans from my non supportive family.

I had woken up with great aspirations of some shithousery and getting on u/enndeegee No Scrubs list but sadly everyone is just too damn nice this year so I have yet again let my Northern Monkey friend down. Someone needs needs to start some beef like telling u/Jeffm54321 that alum is pointless and just a way to part a fool from his money, or u/J33pguy13 that Jeeps are just the poor man’s Land Rover.

Lets hope tomorrow brings a little spice

July 7, 2023 – LG2023 Day Seven – Spice

• Brush: Southern Witchcrafts – Samhain 26mm SHD #SHD
• Razor: Gillette – Hybrid Tech #REGUS
• Blade: Polsilver (8)
• Lather: Barrister and Mann – Mélange
• Post Shave: Barrister and Mann – Mélange

I must confess I have never watched or read Dune so I had no idea what a Fremen was until I ran google earlier today so its just luck that I had already dug this set out for the spice day.

Mélange is a funny scent, it is so familiar but I cant put my finger on why, its obviously spicy but I do also get the sense of a hot dry arid desert to the point a deep inhale almost takes my breath away. Everyone knows the B&M base is a banger and to be fair Will could chuck water in a bottle with an atomizer and I would be all over it I’m that big a B&M whore bag.

Some special Hardware used today thanks to u/tonality he put a great bundle and an even better price together I couldn’t resist and this week it landed in the den. I know the Hybrid performance wise isn’t really worth the extra moolah but I have wanted one in the den for an age so I couldn’t resist. The brush was a special one that Courtney turned herself for a Samhain giveaway and honestly my junk picture doesn’t do it any justice u/phteven_j we need some more Courtney handles.

Todays Challenge:

If you listen to my wife I’m a man of fads, she thinks I have too many interests whereas I think she doesn’t have enough. I find between work and kids I don't have the biggest amount of time on my hands so most of my hobbies/interests are things I can do at home.

Wetshaving was my gateway into finding coffee and I guess they two seem to go hand in hand a lot, I never touched coffee until I turned I hit my late 30s and boy what a rabbit hole to fall into. I started with a small little set up convinced I was doing it for money saving reason (where have we heard that before), now I'm watching Lance Hendrick and James Hoffman each week and have got a modest mid range espresso set up along with all the weird accessories I can find.

I have kept tropical fish on and off for probably 25 years and to be fair sometimes its just nice to chill out and sit in front of the tank with a nice brew watching the finned inhabitants go about their daily business.

My other interests kind of co exist as I have always had shall we say a big appetite and I do really enjoy cooking and the last few years more so I’m enjoying getting out on the BBQ cooking for friends and family more recently the Wet Shaving Degenerates in the Discord enabled me into getting a MasterBuilt and that has really propelled my interest. Obviously if you enjoy food too much you may get a little lumpy but being tallish I carried it ok (or so I thought) until I had an epiphany that I needed to do something to ensure I was about for my kids and hopefully their kids. That lead me to hitting the gym now most mornings before work and although I wouldn’t of called it a hobby at first more a form of punishment now I actually really enjoy it and not just the gym as a hobby but the whole new lifestyle I’m forming that goes hand in hand with it.

July 8, 2023 – LG2023 Day Eight

• Brush: Trotter Handcrafts – 26mm T1 SHD
• Razor: Emir – Emir Dual Head
• Blade: Polsilver (9)
• Lather: Maggard Razors – Limes & Bergamot
• Post Shave: Maggard Razors – Limes & Bergamot

So small business Saturday and without Maggards I honestly don’t think I would of been as deep in the wet shaving rabbit hole as I am and I mean that in a truly grateful way.

When I can back into wetshaving after a hiatus it had changed, artisans were not a thing in wet shaving my first time around and if they had I probably wouldn’t of grown the beard that led to my break from the hobby. When I finally accepted I was going a little thing on top and started head shaving I started joining a few FB groups and saw that no more was I tied to the traditional british soaps and creams, there were shiny artisans to try and I was drawn to the labels and the creative scents. I quickly worked out that Maggards was the place to go online to get most of these goodies and even better they helped out us Brits with decent postage price’s. The landscape has changed and there are more stores to choose from now and even us brits have a few decent sites to chose from but I still try to use maggards when I can and they still look after us International folk much better than most. I know the changes of making one of the famous meet ups is pretty much impossible but I was great to see the videos and such from that day and just shows how important Brad and his team are to the community.

Long Live Maggards

I would normally go for London Barbershop from Maggards software line purely as its close the The Kraken from MLSW but this time I thought I would add some refreshing citrus to this warm muggy day we are having.

The software is solid and you know what you are getting and that’s straight up Lime and Bergamot, I’m not sure if other notes are in play but I pretty much just get a full hit of citrus. I dug out the Emir for today’s scrape and I tend to lean towards the OC side of this dual headed beautiful specimen and was yet again gifted with a beautiful smooth shave.

As requested here is my Daily Challenge

July 9, 2023 – LG2023 Day Nine – Coffee Day

• Brush: Omega – IL Rasoio 28mm HD Silvertip
• Razor: Swing – Swing Travel DE
• Blade: Polsilver (10)
• Lather: Bufflehead Soap Co. – North York
• Post Shave: Extro – Caffè

Morning Degenerates

Coffee day was a tough pick for me as I have a few but I went with North York from bufflehead, with notes of Coffee, Vanilla, Barley, and Blood Orange it’s not a straight up death by coffee slap you in the face espresso, more so this is a gentle Latte on a cosy Sunday Morning.

Bufflehead head are another sadly now extinct Soap artisan and you don’t see there stuff traded too often either so I’m happy to still keep a couple of tins in the den.

With today’s task being to shave in the kitchen (I did notice the subtle invitation to use someone else’s kitchen but I’m not that brave) I thought I was just as well to make use of my coffee equipment at the same time.

I soaked the brush with water from my machine while I carefully prepped my coffe Puck but not for drinking this time. Puck prepared I turned my faithful beast on and bathed my soap (in my scuttle) in a wonderful aroma of fresh rich espresso. I’m not sure if it was too much water of the oils in the coffee but I will confess the lather wasn’t the best I have ever produced but I proceeded to slap in on my head regardless. The scent was strong, three wasn’t a chance that any of the original soaps note would break though but I must confess this did smell like a very edible lather.

The hardware today we’re both items I had been searching for a while with the Brush just an Omega but with the IL Rasoio graphics you don’t see these very often at all and other than this one I haven’t seen one for sale in a very long time.

The Swing is a razor I became attracted to because of its disc like case and again although they are sold now and again I didn’t want to sell a kidney to get one so I was happy when a friend offered me this one. The shave is just smooth as you like with the efficiency to match.

All in all another good shave and I hope you all have a good Sunday.

Player brews fresh espresso into his shave bowl and uses it to build his lather for extra coffee goodness.

Player brews fresh espresso into his shave bowl and uses it to build his lather for extra coffee goodness.

July 10, 2023 – LG2023 – Musical Day

• Brush: Grizzly Bay – 30mm SHD
• Razor: Blackland – Vector #CNC
• Blade: Schick Proline (2)
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Boat Drinks
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Boat Drinks

So I must confess I have never listened to a Jimmy Buffett song knowingly in my life, that said someone tipped me off that he did a track called Boat Drinks ( Also JB so here we are using this Summer Banger from Stirling.

It seems summer has already been and gone in the UK now and the rain is here to stay for a while so this fruity, rum, coconut scented shave was a welcome reminder that it is still the Summer Time. We all know the quality of Stirling and for most of us it would of been our first Artisan Soap we used and with a huge soap catalogue and more fresh releases each year they continue to be a staple in my den for many years to come.

I thought I would bring my own sunshine by using this Custom Grizzly Bay Brush, this is one of favorite handles in the den and the chunky almost chubby style handle fits my bear mitts perfectly.

The Vector was my first “Premium” razor and I have used it a lot of the years but more recently it has taken a backseat to all the vintage come into the den but all it takes is one spin out like today and I’m reminded that this is a great razor a one that works so well for headshavers.

I tried to bribe my daughter to draw this picture for me but apparently she doesnt need money for clothes and the threat of homelessness didnt go down particulary well with the wife so here we are with my shoddy Daily Challenge

July 11, 2023 – LG2023 Day Eleven Summer Days

• Brush: Trotter Handcrafts – 26mm T1 SHD
• Razor: Schick – Schick Repeating C2 #ILLFUCKINDOITAGAIN
• Blade: Schick Injector (2)
• Lather: Noble Otter – Monoi de Tahiti
• Post Shave: Noble Otter – Monoi de tahiti

A Tropical feel in the bathroom today with Lime, Ginger, Coconut, and Vanilla wafting around. I really enjoy this scent but its not the top fruity notes for me this is all about the Sandalwood base and how it lingers just enough you keep getting a hint of it in the breeze.

The hardware today is a bit of love and hate (well not quite enjoy) the brush I’m a big fan of, I really like the pours that Paul from TH does, this handle is just a great shape and the colours are pukka.

I pretty much only dug out the Schick for the Hashtag and the fact the colour works well with the soap label, I’m not sure if its just that head stubble is courser than facial stubble but the C2 really does struggle do mow down a days growth.

Daily Challenge:

I went for a brush and razor that brought out the colours in the label, yes I could of used a green background but I did and honestly it was pony so I went with the black so hopefully I get a pass from the Djudges.

July 12, 2023 – LG2023 Day Twelve – Is it AA yet????

• Brush: Dogwood – Jurassic 30mm Monzingo ZT2 #COMPOSITE
• Razor: Karve Overlander
• Blade: Polsilver (1)
• Lather: Chiseled Face – Midnight Stag
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face – Midnight Stag
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face – Midnight Stag

I cant say I ever really look at the ingredients labels on any of my soaps so I had to have a butchers through the collection to find a soap for today but once I found that CF qualified I knew I had to dig Stag out.

This is possibly one of the most disliked scents in my house from the wife and kids to the point im sat in my garage shaving as the wife has friends over and im not to embarasses her with my dirty scents. I was allowed to enter the house for a quick picture before having to showered it all off.

We all know the rep Stag has and yes it’s strong and it’s rumoured to be the scent used in the famous Anchorman Scene but you can’t help with like this Atomic bomb of a scent.

Now for the daily challenge I normally head lather but instead of just a bowl lather today I thought I would do something just for u/jeffm54321 and do a nice double foot lather also a note for u/enndeegee don’t get panicked by the lack of webbing on my toes it’s only you Northerners that carry that gene.

July 13, 2023 – LG2023 Day Thirteen – Hippy Stank

• Brush: Chisel & Hound Badger
• Razor: Alpha Shaving Co – Cu Outlaw Mild
• Blade: Polsilver (2)
• Lather: Hampshire Wool fat – Original Patchouli
• Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac

I literally couldn’t find anything with stinky Patchouli in the notes and the only Incense scent soap was borderline and I didn’t want to risk the DQ from the Djudges so I picked up this little ditty from Hampshire Lanolin after hearing some good reviews.

The scent is pure straight up Patchouli and my bathroom stinks like a boomers bedroom circa 1967, I don’t mind Patchouli when its part of a blend but as a single note im not too keen. I got a really good lather for my first use but I did feel it didn’t have the slickness of other soaps but this could be user error so I will try again at some point. I topped this off with some extra Stank from the old faithful Tabac.

The Cu Outlaw is a beast of a razor and although this is the mild plate I would hate to try an aggressive plate as this is probably my most efficient modern Razor in the den by a long way.

Song choice wise I had thought of going with Largo from The New World Symphony as it reminds me of u/enndeegee and his struggles as a youngling delivering hovis up and down them cobbled streets before school. Instead though I went with a track that I listen to regularly when shaving which is The Rain King from The Counting Crows, I must of listened to this track at least a thousand times and as the rain is pouring outside I could think of no better track and this version where they merge it with Thunder Road is just perfect.

July 14, 2023 – LG2023 Day Fourteen

• Brush: Jannik – 28mm SHD Badger
• Razor: Personna – BBS-0
• Blade: Polsilver (3)
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps – Cannonball!
• Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps – Cannonball!

Some really good choices in the den for this one but I went with Cannonball which is also one of my favorite summer scents.

The scent is unique which with the mass array of scents we have available to us these days is still quite and achievement. The chlorine hits you straight from the tub and then the fruity orange and pineapple just pokes through to tease your nose a little. One of my highlights is synthetic menthol, I just prefer the creeping feeling to the old style menthol we used to get in most soaps.

The brush is from Jannik who you guys will probably know better as Wald Shaving Brushes, this one came from him a while back when I started talking to him in a German FB group, I was amazed at some of the handles he was producing “for fun” and without even having a lathe so I jumped at the chance of grabbing this one when he offered it to me.

The BBS-0 from Personna is often wrongly assumed to be the role model for the Legendary BBS-1 but alas they are not related at all, the BBS-0 is a great razor in its own right and when you get the angle spot on.

Daily Challenge: Nothing to report really a quick against the grain shave, a second with the grain pass followed by a little touch up and we are done for the day.

July 15, 2023 – LG2023 Day Fifteen

• Brush: Brad Sears – 28mm 2 Band Select
• Razor: Berkeley – Custom Shaver Adjustable #DIAL
• Blade: Polsilver (4)
• Lather: Grooming Dept – NYChypre
• Post Shave: Lucido – Splash

I struggled with today’s choice as my mind went blank when it came to finding a Chypre in my den that wasn’t from B&M then I was reminded of NYChypre which I already had in the den.

I admit I picked NYChypre up on its release purely for it’s artwork as the Lilly Of The Valley plant has lots of significance in my family, scent wise it’s obviously floral forward followed by a woody musky dry down.

Hardware wise the Brad Sears is a beautiful ivory resin handle and if memory serves me correct he even uses the same resin that the museums use in order to look as authentic as possible, the knot is like lathering a marshmallow topped cloud over you head it’s just the right amount of backbone.

The Berkeley Custom is a blunderbuss of a razor, it ticks the adjustable dial box and you can even open the handle fully to store blades in. Despite looking a little like a novelty shaver this is an efficient beast, I dialed this into number 4 on the first pass and then back a notch on the second. You get a very close smooth shave and the handle isn’t uncomfortable at all despite it’s bulk.

• Daily Challenge:

I did have good intentions of trying a video even ordering a suction mount for my phone but alas it didn’t arrive (Screw you Amazon Prime) on time and at the end of the day who wants to see this tubby faced baldy shaving his head? So I still get my Challenge points I need to mention my favourite YouTube stars of wetshaving. I will admit the first person that grabbed my attention was Rudds and despite some of the BS I did enjoy he videos to a point. The only guys I watch now are u/VisceralWatch for his love of all thinks vintage, and u/latherhog along with u/iaregerard because they give great unbiased reviews along with adding some interesting topics and guests.

July 16, 2023 – LG2023 Day Sixteen

• Brush: Ever Ready – Vintage ER 200 26mm Boar
• Razor: Fasan – Translucent Slant
• Blade: Polsilver (5)
• Lather: Westman Shaving – Clichê
• Post Shave: Westman Shaving – Clichê

Clichê is Westman Shaving’s take on the ever popular Barbershop and the slight tongue in cheek name is a nod to just how over saturated the Barbershop Market is, I used to have quite a few Barbershop Scents but now I only tend to grab them if they offer something a little different and being a fan of Tiago’s other scents I thought this would be a good addition.

The notes include Eucalyptus, Bergamot, Grapefruit, Vanilla, Tobacco, Leather, Vetiver, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Musk and the result is a slightly sweet but fresh scent with a really nice musky base note that leaves you going back for a sniff almost sub consciously.

The hardware today consists of some vintage delights, the Fasan is a beauty and although I struggle with light razors I can’t help but love this design and please don’t confuse it’s with Dirty Doug From PAAs copy this is the OG Translucent DE.

The brush is my first attempt at a handle restoration, I managed to open it up from a piddly 21mm up to a bore size capable of fitting this 26mm Shoat Knot from Turn n Shave. It’s not the best but it’s decent enough and the colourway is one of my favourites.

• Today’s Challenge

I went and did a few different memes for today so hopefully one to tickle everyone’s fancy here

July 17, 2023 – LG2023 Day Seventeen – Aka Alum Is Pointless Day

• Brush: Semogue – Foro Afeitado 2016 25mm Finest Badger
• Razor: Gillette – 1941 Ranger Tech
• Blade: Polsilver (5)
• Lather: House of Mammoth – Smash
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth – Smash

Collaboration day and a perfect chance to use the collaboration between two of my favourite artisans.

If Barrister And Mann was my first love then House of Mammoth is my is the mistress tempting me to stray. I don’t think Ben can produce anything that I would turn my nose up to and to be fair untill my nose fell stumbled across WAR.

For me Smash is like a slightly wayward wrong side of the tracks brother to the tamer Southern Paradise from DG, with it’s boozy sweetness coming through behind this peach bomb.

Faultless hardware today with the little Semogue (one of my grails) whipping up a perfect lather in the always enjoyable Tusk base, Ranger Tech once again giving a BBS shave with my ever present Stainless Steel Polsilvers.

• Daily Challenge:

I had to really dog through my garage den today to find this alum that I must of bought years ago, is it better than u/jeffm54321 favoured Osam? Almost definitely, will I ever use it? Nope not a chance, I didn’t even use it today. The only thing Alum block is good for is launching at next doors cat as it goes to empty it’s bowels on your roses.

July 18, 2023 – LG2023 Day Eighteen

• Brush: Southern Witchcrafts – Samhain 26mm SHD #SHD
• Razor: Dorko Solingen – SE Wedge
• Blade: Dorko Wedge
• Lather: Declaration Grooming – Lamplight Penance
• Post Shave: Chatillon Lux – Lamplight Penance
• Fragrance: Chatillon Lux – Lamplight Penance

Autumn, Fall, whatever name you prefer its the best season there is period.

My den is stuffed full of fall scents, you have the normal pumpkin scents but also some really creative scents and that’s where Lamp Light Penance falls and what a scent it is.

I picked this set tentatively but in my defense it does come up a lot in best fall scent posts such as HERE I’m hoping u/hawns will be able to confirm and save me the DQ from one of the Djudges.

I know many find this a marmite scent but its so so good, in my head I imagine an old sea Captain sat in his dusty mahogany clad cabin late one evening filling in his log with just his desk lamp flame flickering away, a flagon of rum as a nightcap.

I got lucky with the hardware today as I had already puled out this rare brush poured and turned by Courtney herself as I have touched on in a previous post. The razor is a little bit of a rarity, its a Dorko SE razor that used a specific wedge style blade, I need to get the wedge honed really for a smother shave but it did enough to cut through my beasty stubble.

• ** Daily Challenge**

I honestly have no idea why you would want to see this, but here is some damp as fresh stubble

July 19, 2023 – LG2023 Day Nineteen – Sad Sock Day

• Sock: Superman Knee High W/Cape
• Razor: Strivel – Self Stropping DE
• Blade: Polsilver (6)
• Lather: Solea – D’Amaris
• Post Shave: Solea – D’Amaris

Firstly WTF was in the Djudges minds with this challenge, where you just putting your socks on one day and thought man that would make a good challenge?

Todays shave is pretty much all (Bar the sock) thanks to a couple of friends in Romania and also a good example of how great this hobby is.

I while back I sold a razor to a guy in Romania and we got talking about the hobby and mostly about vintage gear this led to me offering to be his middle man for English eBay, after few parcels I came home one day to a rather large parcel filled to the brim with loads on European wet shave products (including the items I used today) that he had sent me as a gift. I started doing the same service to one of his friends in the hobby, together we chat regularly about not just shaving but life in general and without the hobby these are people I would never of met. The Razor I have used today was a surprise gift from them this Christmas as they know I always on the lookout for odd razors and the Strivel although not the smoothest shave is an odd razor.

It wasn’t until I was talking to my wife a while back (Bare with me as this seems paints her as a mad woman) that it cemented what a great hobby this is, she was quizzing me about why I keep getting parcels. She managed to concoct a scenario in her head where neighbors would see we get parcels and for some reason would narc to the cops, me laughing at her didn’t really help but she genuinely thought I was like a smuggler of some kind like razors and soaps are code for crack. The more I laughed at her the more so got really angry, bare in mind I have never even touched weed (I Know I’m dull) so why she thought I had turned into kingpin is beyond me. Once she calmed down and believed I wasn’t Pablo Escobar and all I was doing was saving some guys multiple foreign postage she looked and asked what I get out of it, she found it hard to believe people would do things for my benefit but that’s what this hobby is all about for me. We all help each other out, you talk to people out may never meet but form a bond over spending stupid money on badger fur, so many people have helped my over the years in the hobby I think its great that we do things with no expectation of anything in return.

Daily Challenge

I went with my Superman sock today as you can see, also I don’t think you can have a sock on your hand and not talk to it like its a glove puppet. It doesn’t really lather up so to speak but just spreads the cream over your head, I was part way through this embarrassing task when my son walked in just looked at me and I could see the respect leave his body as he stood looking at this. Shave done, self respect gone, respect from child gone, sock used abused and tossed on the floor just like when I was a teenager.

User is suspected of drug smuggling HairyWife.

July 20, 2023 – LG2023 Day Twenty – Dupe Day

• Brush: Brad Sears – 28mm 2 Band Estate
• Razor: Neo Ras – Slant
• Blade: Polsilver (7)
• Lather: Chicago Grooming Co. (Formerly Oleo Soapworks) – Dapper Man
• Post Shave: Chicago Grooming Co. (Formerly Oleo Soapworks) – Dapper Man
• Fragrance: Pocket Scents – Bondi Man

Dapper Man is based on Beach Hut Man by Amouage

I bought this one a few years ago without even looking at the notes thinking it would be some sort of sunscreen styled scent but I couldn’t of been more wrong, this is a Minty, Green, Almost Fougere Style scent. On first sniff you get the mint but for me the Ivy quickly comes through and the scent rests with these two notes being the main scents to my nose. I paired this with Bondi Man from pocket scents which is also a dupe of BHM, I do have a decant of the OG Amouage and to be fair to my poor nose this is very very close and even lasts longer I feel.

Daily Challenge:

Honestly I thought yesterday was a rough challenge but today encouraging us to create a piss poor pasty lather is a new low but here you go just look how dry that tub is and how thin and dry that lather is on my poor head. I had to reload for each pass and it was poor, so yes I confirmed as you wanted that I normally do things the correct way.

July 21, 2023 – LG2023 Day Twenty One – Fougere Friday

• Brush: Trotter Handcrafts – 26mm T1 SHD
• Razor: Rotbart – Pineapple
• Blade: Polsilver (8)
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve – Fougère Trois
• Post Shave: Australian Private Reserve – Fougère Trois
• Fragrance: Australian Private Reserve – Fougère Trois

Morning

Fougere Friday at last so I get to break out one of my favorite sets.

Created for APRs Third Anniversary as a nod to the OG Fougere that started it all 1882 Fougere Rolyale, but this isnt a clone at all this is a reimagining if you will and with more notes than a night at the proms they include:

Top Notes : Lavender, Bergamot, Clarysage & Petitgrain.

Heart Notes : Geranium, Heliotrope, Rose, Orchid & Carnation.

Base notes : Oakmoss, Tonka, Musk, Vanilla & Hay.

This is one of the few sets I own that normal muggle folk actually compliment, often they say it smells like a laundry detergent but for me although this is a Fougere the rose almost steals the show.

The razor today I could only find to be know as “The Pineapple” from Rotbart, its not seen all that often and I believe from new it would of been Silver Plated so as you can see its seen better days. The shave from this beast is so efficient its scary, after staying away from OC razors for so long I’m and finding myself adding them more and more to the den.

Daily Challenge

I think I did this correct

Fougere – A Haiku

Bathroom summertime

before soapy fougere drips

on the old mans face

July 22, 2023 – LG2023 Day Twenty Two – Leg Day

• Brush: Wald – A1 Gengar Nimbus
• Razor: EldrormR Industries MM24
• Blade: GEM (4)
• Lather: Catie’s Bubbles – Blugère
• Post Shave: Catie’s Bubbles – Blugère

I’m sure Blugère will be a popular choice today for a few of us and rightly so, a nice blueberry opening with the woody Fougere undertones ticks all the boxes.

Thankfully I got to give my head a rest from shaving today as we focus on some other hairy part of our bodies. I had thought about messing aboyand whipping the beard off but honestly my wife would flip out and last time I got sick of my kids mocking and calling me Dr Eggman.

As it seems to of become my LG tradition I didn’t want to let u/jeffm54321 down I lathered up my leg, dug out my u/EldrormR Industries MM24 and placed it firmly between my monkey toes. I’m by no means Christopher Nolan so excuse the poor video quality, I did manage to add a soundtrack just for u/enndeegee with one of his favourite bands.

Daily Challenge A Hairykopite Productions Presentation

Shaved his legs holding the razor with his feet

July 23, 2023 – LG2023 Day Twenty Three

• Brush: El Druida – 28mm SHD
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM (5)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Black Watch
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Black Watch

Sunday morning shaves are probably my top shaves of the week, no work, no rush to be anywhere, coffee and tunes to accompany my shave it’s just beautiful and Black Watch is a great addition this morning.

Black Watch gets a good few compliments in my house, a good reason is probably because my wife thinks most of my scents smell like dirt (Author’s Ridge & Fougère Gothique she detests) so when I where a nice fragrance like Black Watch she is always happy enough.

The Plum and Incense are what draw the most comments from this set, I get the Bergamot when I first lather and hopefully soon enough I cab get the matching frag in the den.

I paired the software with some of my more complimented Hardware.

The Brush was a custom handle from El Druida in Spain, it was designed around my family with a heartwood insert for each of my children, his logo insert represents my wife, and a two shillings coin from my later father’s birth year.

The Razor is my Gem MMOC, I had someone force a patina on this one and it’s come out beautiful, each time I post this in my SOTD people ask about it.

Daily Challenge

Prepare to be djudgey and turn your nose up at my poor lather

July 24, 2023 – LG2023 Day Twenty Four

• Brush: Simpsons – Berkeley
• Razor: Razorock – Lupo DLC
• Blade: Polsilver
• Lather: Extro Cosmesi – Liquirizia & Magnolia
• Post Shave: Pinaud – Gent’s Gin

Firstly thank you to u/marquis90 for my smushy, Liquirizia e Magnolia is not a scent I would normally pick up with the notes seemingly so ying and yang. I have tried a few Extro sets and still have a couple in the den but I always find the performance varies from set to set with it being OK but not something I reach for all the time. I definitely get the magnolia from the smush but not too strong, once lathered the liquorice comes through a smidgen but unlike most Extro scents it actually lacks the punch that I have gotten before.

I brought out the little vintage Simpsons Berkeley today, small enough not to hog all the soap and just a touch prickly but still gave a decent enough bowl lather.

The Lupo DLC was one of my favorite razors for a very long time in the den, I think from memory its also had the longest stay in the den and avoided every clear-out I have had over the years. Its a great razor, I would compare it to the Overlander from Karve with it having very minimal blade feel but a decent enough efficiency that a DFS is more than achievable each time.

Daily Challenge

This is a toughie which to be fair is a credit to the sub and all its members for being top tier people, u/j33pguy13 is always about helping the sub and all the work for the MOAR Brush, and just his presence can bring a smile. u/tonality has been great helping me out a few times and some solid deals, u/OnionMiasma must read every post and comment on most as well and seems like a really top bloke and reading some of todays posts many agree, and finally u/enndeegee he is old and northern so deserves some solid praise for all his Spice Girl Gifs, his Haikus, and his Scrub list.

Special mention for all the Djudges that give up their time to Djudge Wetshavings Premier Contest

Now off to bed early or Santa wont come

July 25, 2023 – LG2023 Day Twenty Five – Christmas in July

• Brush: Kent – Barrel Shoddy Badger Knot
• Razor: Karve Overlander
• Blade: Polsilver (2)
• Lather: Mickey Lee Soapworks – Through the Woods
• Post Shave: Mickey Lee Soapworks – Through the Woods

Merry Christmas Wet Shavers Around The World

Through the woods has been my go to Christmas scent for the last couple of games so I’m not about to break that tradition today.

Now it’s July and Christmas has no business being even whispered at this time of year, anything to do with the festive season belongs in the loft or attic until December so with that in mind so does a Christmas Shave.

Hairykopite’s Attic Shave

First off sorry about having to see my ugly hairy face on camera, secondly sorry about the poor quality and my mumbling. It was my first video pretty much that didn’t have my feet in it so sorry for the poor effort. A special mention to the hairykopite family sick bowl used yet again for u/enndeegee s pleasure.

As I mentioned I was keen to drag one of the kids up and get them to shave me but that loft is a little tiny and I think they were disappointed enough in their dad.

Daily Challenge

As shown in the video I used my non dominant hand.

shaved in the attic where the christmas decorations live

shaved in the attic where the christmas decorations live

July 26, 2023 – Wildcard Wednesday

• Brush: My hand
• Razor: Matador – De Lux
• Blade: Polsilver (3)
• Lather: Ed Sheeran – Tingly Ted’s Hot Sauce

So I started the day with a nice bottle of Mr Ed Sheerans very own Hot Sauce, now anything above Paprika levels is a tad spicy for me so I don’t know if I was more worried about getting it in my eyes or my mouth.

Now there is a video but again feel free to skip as I can’t edit for shit and I seem to dry up and show the charisma only comparable to a block of old Tofu.

Ed Sheeran all over my head

I considered using a pre shave but thought that would be cheating, so with my snood on to try and protect my eyes I poured this bottle of Sheerans spicy hot love juice over my egg head. I expected it to be a touch thicker and not rush straight towards my eyes but my trusty snood did the job. Forgive me saying wacky Wednesday, we do a wacky Wednesday at work so its embedded into me im afraid.

A quick pass and I was ready to slap some more red lava over my poor head, I can confirm this offers no slickness, no protection whatsoever.

Now what could you use to top hot sauce, well only the worst Splash in my den WAR. Now I love B&M but fml does this stuff stink, it’s just plain nasty. How can someone who created such masterpieces like Paganinis Violin and Diamond (Yes Diamond is amazing) of created this hot mess of coriander.

Now I have scrubbed my head twice with various soaps, showered and scrubbed again and still I can’t shake this scent an hour after the event.

My head is currently on fire, the whole house is moaning about the smell, and to top it off the wife got to the bathroom before I cleaned it so I’m pretty much dead now.

One hour later is this is me currently, a social pariah the even family refused to eat breakfast with me.

Update

I think my wife really hates me, in her words "which stupid F%&£ told you to use that horrible smell today, you are a £&*%ing Moron.

Daily Challenge

So I only keep a small selection in the house and I rotate each season the rest I keep in my garage, I keep a few non boxed razors here and the rest along with the brushes are in our bedroom but the wife is busy decorating and I'm not about to piss her off any more today so this will have to do

July 27, 2023 – LG2023 Day Twenty Seven

• Brush: Zenith Boar
• Razor: Gillette – Black Beauty
• Blade: Polsilver (1)
• Lather: Dr. Selby – Lavender
• Post Shave: Mickey Lee Soapworks – Cape Verde

So lavender day and also outside shave day, neither of which thrilled me particularly but here we go.

I thought I would take my suave on the road today so I packed my gear in my work bag and thought I would find somewhere quiet on the way home, I got nearly home and it was shit or bust time so this is as best I could manage.

Firstly forgive my breath I’m literally on my commute home, it’s up a hill and I’m a lumpy sod, also I’m rushing like mad before, neighbours, my kids, or worse my wife sees me.

Hairykopite’s outdoor shave

I would love to give some details on the soap etc but I will be honest I was rushing too much to notice other than its lavender. I got home and had to tidy a few spots up before chucking on Cape Verde from MLSW (I really wish they would return). I will revisit Dr Selby after the games as it seemed to give a good lather even with this ham fisted attempt.

Hard to believe there is only three days left and I was just starting to enjoy myself.

July 28, 2023 – Frugal Friday

• Brush: Butler & Crispe – H1 Boar
• Razor: Focus – Plastic Slant
• Blade: Polsilver (2)
• Lather: TDS – Red Fragrance Soap Stick
• Post Shave: Tarr – Super

So as per the challenge I went with the least costly items in the den.

• Soap – 6p a Gram
• Splash – 2p a ml
• Brush – No idea new but £4 on ebay
• Razor – £6.50

This Soap stick has been in the den for a very long time just waiting for it’s time to shine, I think I probably cost me way less than the current price of £3 but I have no idea so I will stick to 6p. Straight from the wrapper this was a nice strong powder and herby scent. When I started to lather I don’t know if it was the soap for the brush but it started to smell like car brake pads aisle at work, now if you don’t know what brake pads smell like to give you an idea we call that aisle the stinking granny pants aisle just so you have an idea.

Performance wise I’m awful with a bowl lather but it produced enough for my purpose and the scent tamed a little, for the price honestly it’s a decent Soap and the do many scents I believe now not just this granny undergarments one.

The razor has been left over since the last LG when I needed it for a hashtag completion, if I’m honest it’s sodding awful. It’s light and does really cut anything at all, I’m not saying it’s price related just poor design for my thick hair.

Tarr Super, was a gift but seems to retail around £3 the scent is a nice Fresh Cologne but sadly it’s very short lived. I’m sure it reminds me of a shave Soap I just can’t remember which one, all in all a decent product just lacking a little staying power.

Could I use this every day or even want to use this? Um nope, if I changed out the razor for something a little heavier and the soap for something a little less granny knickers then sure I would low cost shave every day. That said we are shaving Degenerates and the thrill never dies it just sleeps a little sometime till we need to chase that next set, Brush or Razor but now and agaits nice to use some of the more simpler items.

July 29, 2023 – LG2023 Day Twenty Nine

• Brush: Dogwood – DG B13
• Razor: Gillette – New Longer
• Blade: Polsilver (3)
• Lather: Zingari – The Traditionalist
• Post Shave: Zingari – The Traditionalist
• Fragrance: Zara – S4ND4LWOOD

Sandalwood Saturday and the penultimate day of the Games, July has flown by at a rate of knots.

Each time I use Sandalwood I kick myself for not getting on board with it sooner, I have had some great Sandalwoods and moved them on like an idiot Santal Noir and Les Santals to name a few and boy I regret it. I’m guessing my nose wasn’t refined enough when I was sniffing these great scents but now I can’t get enough of them.

The Traditionalist is great a pure smooth creamy Sandalwood and the vegan base from Zingari is one of the best in my book. I topped it off with the now discontinued Zara S4ND4LWOOD, I believe it’s based on Le Labo Santal 33. It’s a nice creamy scent that stays close to your skin and is just a nice warm hug of a scent perfect for a Lazy weekend at home.

• Daily Challenge

I still have loads of days to read fully so I can’t really make a good prediction, I will say that u/Priusaurus has had a great games. I really enjoyed wildcard Wednesday and u/OnionMiasma using his motor oil. u/gcgallant has always produced some great photography that really makes me want to improve my own pictures. Although not a competition in its own right two people always make me smile when they comment on my posts and that u/jeffm54321 the man is dryer than an arid desert and u/enndeegee for his daily commitment to his TLC Tribute List.

July 30, 2023 – LG2023 Day Thirty  

• Brush: Semogue – Foro Afeitado 2016 25mm Finest Badger  
• Razor: Swing – Swing Travel DE  
• Blade: Polsilver (4)  
• Lather: Wholly Kaw – Valentynka  
• Post Shave: Myrsol – Emulsion  
• Fragrance: Aqua Di Parma – Colonia  

Well that’s Lather Games done for another year, thank you to all the members that put there time and effort into organising and competing.

Was nice to get a couple of mentions in yesterday’s challenge but to be fair my posts haven’t been anywhere near the level of some of you guys who are smashing it out of the park daily, perhaps next year I will do a a full body shave and come out looking like a Naked mole rat.

Wholly Kaw today and Valentynka which from my knowledge is based on Br540, now I’m very familiar with the scent as my daughter seems the bathe in Ariana Grande Cloud which seems also to be based on Br540. For my the scent is just too sweet and perhaps I find it feminine due to my daughters use of cloud, I did only grab this for the games and it’s a good Soap but I shall probably donate it to my kid for her leg shaves.

• Daily Challenge

I did a quick tour of Europe for today’s shave with a little detour of the USA and I’m in the UK.

• Brush Semogue from Portugal, may not have the flair of some of the newer craftsman but they do have some great brushes and this is one of the best.

• Razor The Swing from Sweden is a peach of a razor with just a beautiful simple design and the disc shaped case is with really wins it for me.

• Blade Polsilver from Poland have been my go to for many years and the brown boxed ones especially.

• Soap Wholly Kaw from Merica have fallen off my radar a little recently but they seem to always be adding some great additions to their lineup.

• Post Shave Myrsol from Spain have long been producing some great products, not seen as much these days but they are worth a spot in anyone’s den.

• Fragrance ADP from Italy seem symbolic of summer fragrance for me and this Neroli forward scent is perfect for hot summer days.

• Bowl This Bowl came to from my friends in the Romanian wet shave group, it’s produced using traditional Horezu Pottery and maintain ls a special place in my den.