June 28
- Brush: Yaqi – 22mm Badger
- Razor: Gillette Travel Tech
- Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
- Lather: Stirling Soap Co – Hot Apple Cider Soap
- Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co – Hot Apple Cider Splash
- Fragrance: Southern Witchcrafts – Samhain EdP
When I started wetshaving, I told myself there was an initial investment, but I would end up saving money in the long run. That’s what the internet told me. Hell, I even have a friend tell me the same thing. And I feel deceived. But it’s so worth it. Can you put a price on joy? I think not!
Fortunately, I don’t have anything terrible in my shaving gear line-up.
For my hardware: I got this brush as a defect direct from Yaqi on Alibaba and is cost $7, shipping included. It’s not great, but I wouldn’t call it AWFUL. This Gillette Travel Tech came in a vintage razor lot from Ebay, but I think original MSRP was like $.49 – Hell, even today, you can pick one up on ebay for like $10-15 bucks. I think I paid like $40 for a lot of 7 or 8 razors. I have a couple different blade brands, but the least expensive one I have is Gillette Silver Blue, which is about $15 for 100.
For my software: Stirling is by far the cheapest per ounce of any artisan soap out there. You get a whopping 5.8 ounces for $14.25 and the splash is $13.65. The fact you can buy a set for less than $30 AND the soap is massive is such a frugal win!
For fragrance today, I used Southern Witchcrafts Samhain. This has got to be the unsung hero of the wetshaving fragrance world. A bottle is $22!
Stirling’s Hot Apple Cider soap felt like taking a journey through an apple orchard in the fall. The soap filled my bathroom with the intoxicating scent of spiced apples and cinnamon. It was like autumn in a shave, making me ALMOST want to pull a Prius and eat the stuff. The splash matches the soap so I kept the fall festival going. A refreshing and invigorating splash, it soothed my skin and left me smelling like I just stepped out of a cider mill. And finally, Samhain EdP. This fragrance is the epitome of fall – earthy, smoky, and a subtle sweetness. With notes of autumn leaves, pumkin, and bourbon, it’s like a walk through a haunted forest on Halloween night. The perfect complement to the warm, cozy apple scent from Stirling. #FOF
Sidecontest: #photocontest: Birds. Two swans in the water, a flock of ducks flying by, and a bonus dragonfly flew into the shot too. Since they’re in the background, they aren’t in focus, but they’re there!
Challenge: This is the cheapest of everything I have in my den. It felt wonderful knowing how this hobby is saving me money!
iamhonestlylying’s Daily Top 5:
In honor of “Frugal Friday”… My Top 5 Tips to be Frugal in Wetshaving
5.) Buy in bulk. Buying 100 blades at a time is gonna be cheaper than 5 at a time.
4.) Don’t be tempted by FOMO and avoid impulse purchases. If it’s good, it will come back. Unless it’s Ausflug.
3.) Borrow, instead of buy – See something you want to try? Ask someone who has one to borrow it, or join a passaround.
2.) Shop secondhand – r/Shave_Bazaar anyone?
1.) Unsubscribe to r/wetshaving – You’ll just want to buy what other people have. Remember: Comparison is the thief of joy. Be happy with what you have.