SOTD by u/gcgallant

u/gcgallant posted on 2023-07-20 10:40:06-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment (See markdown)

July 20, 2023

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

I normally push hydration in my lather, and I've done this habitually. If I make a lathering mistake, it is always adding too much water. I was originally going to just pass on today's challenge; thinking I'd prefer a great shave to a pasty, sub-par mess. Instead, and at the last moment, I decided to experience a shave with a very pasty lather.

I loaded heavily from the tub with brush that was soaked and had its water squeezed out; barely damp. I had more than enough paste for three passes but due to time constraints this morning I could only do two. I was surprised that I had an excellent shave. There was too much cushion, and I had issues getting lather off of the razor, but where there was lather there was slickness; at least with this soap.

Bloom is a dupe of Tom Ford Black Orchid. I have a lot of the Stirling "Man" series, but decided to go with something a little different for today.

The photo theme is "Flowers". I know. No real flowers in the photo, but the art on the front of the soap and the splash contains colorized roses, and the soap is a dupe of a fragrance with orchid in the name, and I think the photo sort of says black orchid.

#photocontest

Detected Items:

This SOTD is part of the challenge
  1. SOTD photo scavenger hunt
  2. Lather Games 2023
**[July 20, 2023](https://imgur.com/pagglXg)**


* **Brush:** Wald Stratos Haunter 29mm A1
* **Razor:** [C.V. Heljestrand MK 31 11/16 Söderfors Extra Specialstål Full Hollow](https://imgur.com/a/kaV2j1c) (Straight Shave 273)

* **Lather:** Pasteur|Master Soap Creations - Bloom - Soap
* **Post Shave:** Pasteur|Master Soap Creations - Bloom - Aftershave
* **Post Shave:** Thayers - Rose - Toner
* **Fragrance:** Tom Ford - Black Orchid - Eau de Parfum
 

_2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave._

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I normally push hydration in my lather, and I've done this habitually. If I make a lathering mistake, it is always adding too much water. I was originally going to just pass on today's challenge; thinking I'd prefer a great shave to a pasty, sub-par mess. Instead, and at the last moment, I decided to experience a shave with a very pasty lather.

I loaded heavily from the tub with brush that was soaked and had its water squeezed out; barely damp. I had more than enough paste for three passes but due to time constraints this morning I could only do two. I was surprised that I had an excellent shave. There was too much cushion, and I had issues getting lather off of the razor, but where there was lather there was slickness; at least with this soap.

Bloom is a dupe of Tom Ford Black Orchid. I have a lot of the Stirling "Man" series, but decided to go with something a little different for today.

The photo theme is "Flowers". I know. No real flowers in the photo, but the art on the front of the soap and the splash contains colorized roses, and the soap is a dupe of a fragrance with orchid in the name, and I think the photo sort of says black orchid.

\#photocontest