Very nice setup! Getting beyond AA is nice, but now there's the heavy weight of all those choices :)
September 1, 2024
Brush: Zenith B40 28mm Boar
Razor: Kikuboshi R. Saito 6/8" Extra Hollow
Lather: TTFFC - The Lake - Soap
Toner: Thayers - Rose - Toner
Aftershave: Combe Inc. - Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue - Aftershave
2 passes. Bowl lather. Excellent shave.
New razor, new soap, and new brush.
This Kikuboshi R. Saito arrived in August. I have been looking for one of these in extra hollow for quite a while. The smiling edge is unbelieveably good to shave with. It was quite natural to find which part of the blade to use for different parts of the face. It is a light razor but handles very well.
I received The Lake at the Maggard Meetup earlier this year and it is my first time using it. The TTFFC soap base is very nice, and the scent is a very pleasing aquatic. Goes well with Aqua Velva :)
I ordered the B40 during August because I was envying all of the raw hoggers. I plan to raw hog this brush as much as possible this month.
August 31, 2024
Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar
Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point
Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap
Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave
Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop
Well, that's it. I was very surprised by how well this edge lasted all month. I think most of it is due to the wear resistance of the steel, and a little of it has to do with preparation of the edge and with my shaving technique.
Wonderful month! Congrats to all who took part! I look forward to reading all of the summaries.
Here is the final microscope photo.
August 30, 2024
Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar
Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point
Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap
Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave
Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop
Penultimate shave. Such and enjoyable month.
August 29, 2024
Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar
Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point
Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap
Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave
Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette
2 passes. Face lather. Good shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop
Down to the final days. Quite a different experience than I imagined. I'll summarize on the 31st, of course.
August 28, 2024
Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar
Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point
Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap
Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave
Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop
Yesterday, after the first pass, I was convinced that my beard felt less close than normal. But, after the third pass, I had a terrific BBS result. Today I vowed to do my normal 2-pass shave to see if shave quality had dipped below excellent. I was a bit stunned by how good the result was. Extremely close to yesterday's 3-pass shave.
I'm equally stunned by today's microscope image.
August 27, 2024
Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar
Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point
Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap
Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave
Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette
3 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop
Another amazing 3-pass comfortable shave with this completely unstroped razor. I'm still enjoying AG 1889. Though, we've had great weather this past week, this was a perfect choice for the heat and humidity that we get here.
August 26, 2024
Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar
Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point
Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap
Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave
Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette
3 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop
Beautiful 3-pass shave today. Five days left. I admit that I will miss this simplicity.
August 25, 2024
Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar
Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point
Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap
Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave
Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette
3 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop
Today I went back to a 3-pass shave. After both the first and second passes, though, the gradual decline of the razor's keenness finally became noticable. The razor is totally comfortable, and a 2-pass shave will still be a "good" shave, but I need three passes to get BBS easily. I expect that this is the way I'll finish out the month.
I admit that I look forward to AA as a challenge for technique in some way. I’ve been surprised each year.
@gcgallant
@sub.wetshaving.social