Monday SOTD Thread - Sep 25, 2023

September 25, 2023

• Brush: Brad Sears Scotsman XL 28mm Super Badger

• Razor: Ralf Aust 5/8 Stainless Full Hollow Spanish Point (Straight Shave 337)

• Lather: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Soap (60)

• Post Shave: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Aftershave

• Post Shave: Thayers - Lavender - Toner

• Fragrance: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary - Eau de Parfum
   

3 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

A wonderful shave done using the Ralf Aust stainless (R.Austfrei) in solidarity with u/oswald_heist as suggested by @djundjila.

I agree that the performance of these razors exceeds their price.

A Mountain Man Monday

• Brush: Dogclaration LG 2022 Mystery Brush (B16)
• Razor: Ralf Aust 5/8″ full hollow, Spanish tip, stainless steel
• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. – Mountain Man
• Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. – Mountain Man
• Fragrance: Terre d’Hermès – Eau Intense Vétiver

I caught up on u/oswald_heist's foray into straight razor shaving (starting here) yesterday and it reminded me of how it felt going down the same road last year. It's a funny thing, this. Learning to straight razor shave is initially difficult, a bit painful, pretty much useless, yet it's a super satisfying skill to learn 😊

I'm using the same razor in solidarity today 🍻

Very nice Mountain Man shave this morning. The little Ralf Aust punches way above its weight price-wise.

Sep 25, 2023 - Sample September: Damocles

• Prep: Klar - Activated Charcoal - Face Soap
• Brush: AKA Brushworx 28mm Maggard Synthetic Knot
• Razor: Aylsworth Razors Drakkant Plus
• Blade: Gillette 7 O’Clock Super Stainless (Green) [4]
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Damocles - Soap
• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Damocles - Splash
• Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Damocles - Eau de Parfum

An excellent #mammothmonday using Damocles in honor of the rerelease.

Rating: 4.5/5

Sep. 25, 2023

• Brush: Yaqi 26mm Synthetic
• Razor: Karve CB SB D
• Blade: Astra SP Green
• Lather: Barrister And Mann - Adagi - Soap
• Post Shave: Barrister And Mann - Adagi - Aftershave

Great shave.

2023.09.25 SOTD:

• Prep: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleanser & Stirling Mentholated Pre-Shave Soap

• Brush: AKA Brushworks Amethyst Watchman with 26mm AP Shave Co G5C

• Razor: Chiseled Face Legacy AL

• Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (2)

• Lather: Stirling Iced Pineapple

• Post Shave: Alum, Stirling Mentholated Unscented Witch Hazel and Aloe, Stirling Glacial Satsuma Aftershave Splash, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream Extra-Dry

Really nice shave today. Loving the CF Legacy razor. I need to pay attention to my ATG pass above my chin, though, as this is the second straight shave I've cut myself there. :/

Other than that, damn near bbs.

• Razor: Schick Type A
• Blade: Schick Injector
• Brush: Wilkinson Sword
• Badger Pre-Shave: Proraso Pre Shave Cream
• Lather: B&M Latha Oceana
• Aftershave: Barber No3 Marmara
• Additional Care: Alum Block

A nice Monday shave means a nice start on the week.

September 25, 2023: Equine Greatest Hits Straightember

• Preshave: Proraso Green Preshave
• Brush: Semogue C3 Galahad Horse 🐎
• Razor: Parker Straight Razor
• Lather: Abbate y la Mantia Ishtar
• Post Shave: Floid The Genuine
• Post Shave: Nivea After Shave Balm

Since everyone is changing razors today, I went with the crowd, and switched to the Parker. It has accumulated some serious staining, and I don't know whether I should try and polish that out (fyi: my last attempt made the problem worse). I don't know if it's just that I have shaved more with the Parker, but it feels better in the hand (probably also an issue with the small tang on the TI). Anyways, a very smooth shave.

Have a good night!

Monday, September 25, 2023

• Prep: hot shower (w/ Stirling Mountain Man bath soap sample)
• Brush: Yaqi Cashmere Synthetic Shaving Brush, Dandelion Green Handle, 24mm
• Razor: Gillette Aristocrat (1948-50)
• Blade: Lord Super Chrome (3)
• Lather: Barrister & Mann - Presto Shaving Soap
• Post Shave: Nivea - Moisturizing Post Shave Balm

Another weekend where I haven't shaved since Friday. I don't like waiting that long to shave, and by Sunday night it's quite itchy, but man that makes for a satisfying shave Monday morning.

September 25, 2023

• Brush: Stirling 24mm Synthetic
• Blade: Cien Men 2-Blade Cart (10)
• Lather: Noble Otter - Hamami - Soap
• Post Shave: allMan - Fearless - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Musgo Real - EdC

Excellent cart shave. Hamami is such a unique and incredible scent. I think during his interview with priusourass during the 2023 lather games, Cody mentioned it was his favorite scent.

I'm in the mood to recall my history with these Cien Men carts. When I started wetshaving, it was mostly so I could ditch Gillette Fusion on account of them being insanely expensive. I still have some Fusions left over which I might use one day, but I now know that the blades aren't the best for my skin.

So anyway, the hunt began for a replacement cart for when I was working. I go by airplane a lot for work, and can't check a bag.

I tried a lot of single and double blade disposables, some of which worked well, and others causing me irritation or not being efficient enough. I was in Lidl one day during the pandemic, digging through the bargain bin as one does, and at the bottom of the pile were these Cien Men 2-blade carts. I got 25 carts and a handle for $5.

I liked it so much that I went to multiple Aldi's in search of more, luckily scoring one more pack of 25.

They seem to be sold in Europe, so I'm not sure how they ended up in a US Aldi. I'm also not sure if they're still made. If someone in Europe sees them, tell me!

I managed to find a cache of them on eBay, so now I have around 150 of them.

They are smooth, efficient, comfortable, and they last 10+ shaves. Oh, and they were cheap. Not DE cheap, but still.

On occasion I'll use some other sort of disposable for a bit to mix things up, but these things... I love them.