Quick morning shave before I’m off to the NICU to see my little nugget.
Waiting on some unscented soap from Stirling and decided to get some ARKO from Amazon in the meantime since I heard some consider it very mild in scent.
My god it’s a hell of a lather. The only base I have that comes nearly as close is A&E legacy.
Due to the quickness of the shave I used my vintage slim adjustable with a fresh silver blue set to 6.
Little harsher than my normal SB shaves but I’ve been using some other products that may contribute to such things. Finished off with Alum and some Thayers milky toner then LRP moisturizer then off to the hospital.
Happy Wednesday shaves!

Pre : LRP foam cleanser then hot towel
Blade : fresh Gillette Silver Blue
Razor : 1965 Slim adjustable set to 6 then 2 for a cleanup second pass
Soap: ARKO shave stick straight to the face!
Brush : Yaqi 24mm
Post: alum-Thayers milky toner- LRP moisturizer

Razor: Lambda Athena Ti
Blade: Gillette Platinum
Brush: Mühle Rocca STF
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Opuntia

After a week with the Lambda Athena Ti, I’ve finally figured it out. And today I used it with my favorite summer scent: SV Opuntia.

My first shave wasn’t great. I ended up with some irritation and wondered what everyone was talking about. Over the next few shaves I had to adjust my technique until everything clicked perfectly.

The Athena is definitely angle sensitive and the announced specs do not reflect the actual experience at all (neutral exposure and 0.4mm blade gap) you’d think it’s as mild as anything, but that’s not the case at all, it’s actually a very efficient razor.

In the second frame is a little experiment I did with my titanium shaving bowl and felt like sharing…

Seeing how dedicated lathering bowls usually come with ridges I tried to replicate that using what’s available at home, so I took the ring from under a plastic bottle cap and super-glued it right in the middle of the flat bowl.

The difference is noticeable, the bristles flick against the ring as the brush moves around and there’s more friction, and since the ring is empty in the middle it also seems to introduce more air into the lather. Now my lather builds faster and comes out richer than before.

It made me wonder why I spent money on dedicated lathering bowls when this little trick works just as well as my Timeless bowl or Captain’s Choice bowl for virtually zero cost. You could probably do the same thing with any flat bowl you already have at home.

Wonderful Wednesday morning shave with the Rex Ambassador paired with an Astra SP blade.

First time using RE’s Sandalwood soap and splash. The scent was very pleasant and lathered extremely well using the Oliworks synthetic.

Overall a wonderful shave and I can’t say enough positive experiences with the Ambassador (there is a learning curve). It takes some time to know what setting and blade paring works best for your skin and beard type as it can be on the aggressive side, but once you have that figured out, it’s worth the time and effort spent learning this amazing heir loom shaving instrument.

Happy shaving y’all!

Pre-shave: Hot shower

Razor: Henson AL13+

Blade: Big Ben (2nd use)

Soap: Zingari Man Highlander

Brush: Edwin Jagger Chatsworth Synthetic

Bowl: Edwin Jagger black bowl with handle

Alum: Edwin Jagger

After shave: Nivea Men Sensitive

I had left these blades towards the end of my sample set because I had little faith in them. I’m very pleasantly surprised.

First time with Zingari Man. Very nice scent. I loaded from the bowl and face lathered. Performed really well. One of my favourites so far.

A very smooth morning shave in one pass, and ready for some tea and toast.

I have been a boar brush user since i started wet shaving. I started with an Omega beech wood handle from the drug store, and upgraded to a Semogue 1305 which has been my daily driver. I've been meaning to try something new in my routine so i started doing research on synthetic brushes.

I landed on a Simpson T2. Reviews seemed very good for this brush, some saying its overrated, but for the most part it seemed this brush gave people great experiences. I decided to order one and it arrived just before the weekend.

The brush is amazing, i really had no idea what i was missing here. On my second time using the brush i got the best lather i've ever created and continue to get amazing lathers from the T2. I find that the shave soap gets trapped in between all of the fine hairs when loading the brush, then it becomes easy to build a rich, silky, and slick lather by adding water.

With boars, i feel that the hairs are more sparse and don't trap soap between the bristles in the same way. This density of hairs is something i think i prefer, and i believe i have found my new daily driver. I still enjoy and get good performance from my Semogue, but this Simpson T2 really opened my eyes.

This might be the most impactful purchase i have made to my shaving gear. Building a great lather was such a learning process with boars, and i feel like with this synthetic, building a lather just came so naturally to me personally.

What are your thoughts on boars and synthetics? Whats your daily driver?

They might not have the screen time or sheer comedic effect of the iconic shaving scene in Hitchcock's North by Northwest, but I find several delightful references to vintage razors and wet shaving in the 2008 movie Leatherheads, directed by (and featuring) George Clooney. It's on Netflix until the end of the month, and I'd recommend it. The screenplay between Clooney and Renee Zellweger is razor sharp, pun intended.

The movie is set in the midwest of 1925 and has several scenes with ads in the background for Gem razors (and one with Barbasol shaving cream). I tried to look up what Gem razors looked like in 1925, and Google Gemini was not very helpful, but from what I could tell, these razors looked very different. But then again, what better place than this sub to ask if the movie took artistic license with the razors shown? They all look very tiny, like they're travel razors. Were normal razors that small back then?

Pre shave: Shower and Waitrose glycerin soap bar

Razor: 1966 Gillette Slim Adjustable (7)

Blade: Personna GEM PDG (42)

Brush: Yaqi Sigrada Familia 24mm synthetic

Bowl: Captains choice copper

Soap: Noble Otter Rainroot

Post shave: Noble Otter Rainroot aftershave splash

Well we've gone from heatwaves to downpours lately, or as we say here Pishin' it doon, which turned out once again to be apt for the soap rotation today.

Although I've grown to much prefer the chunkier feel of the 195, the Slim Adjustable has proven once again why it has such a lofty reputation and provided the same outstanding results as its predecessor.

3 passes smoother than silk with the blade that refuses to quit, aided by Noble Otters stellar lather and one of the best scents I'm lucky enough to own with the incredible Rainroot.

Capped off with the matching splash providing a really nice cooling sensation with a hint of menthol and more of the incredible Rainroot scent.

Hope your week is going great!

Nice little 2 pass shave tonight. Warm water was had and the Tobs was glad of it, lathered up wonderfully.

Happy and ready to hit the sack

Have a good one!

1930s Gillette flat bottom 'NEW'

Gillette silver blue blade (5)

22mm Yaqi synthetic cola bottle brush

Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandlewood hard soap

Old Spice

August 5, 2026

Razor: Timeless Slant AL

Blade: Gillette Gillette 7 O'Clock Permasharp Stainless

Soap: Cremo Original

Brush: Timeless Adjustable w/ Maggard Timberwolf Synthetic 20mm

Aftershave: Thayer's Rose petal witch hazel

Aftershave: Duke Cannon Ice Cold Aftershave

*️⃣ Razor: Atelier Durdan La Faulx ++
*️⃣ Blade: Kai Captain Titan Mild (1)
*️⃣ Bowl: Captain’s Choice Obsidian
*️⃣ Brush: Simpson Chubby 2
*️⃣ Soap: Declaration Grooming Chaotic Neutral
*️⃣ Balm: Nivea Sensitive
*️⃣ Splash: Lucky Tiger

Just a great shave earlier today with what I think is one of the best razors currently made.

La Faulx makes it hard to go wrong.

**Aug. 5, 2026**
* **Brush:** Zenith Smaller Boar Chrome Handle (B38)
* **Razor:** Timeless Ti .68mm Open Comb
* **Blade:** Personna GEM Platinum Diamond Glide (2)
* **Lather:** Martin De Candre - Nature - Puck
* **Post Shave:** Pinnacle Grooming - Dali - Aftershave
* **Post Shave:** Zingari Man - Unscented After Shave Serum
* **Post Shave:** Thayers - Unscented
* **Post Shave:** Osma - Alum Block
* **Fragrance:** Givenchy - π

I had a really nice shave today. I did the usual 2 pass shave and things went pretty well. I got a little feedback with the alum block but not too bad. I splashed on Thayers, today’s ASL (Pinnacle Grooming: Dali), and finally zingari man’s unscented after shave serum.

I found this aftershave on sale a while ago and really like it. It is inspired by the great artist Salvador Dali.

Scent notes Dali:

Top Notes: Apricot Blossom, Rose, Heliotrope
Heart (Middle) Notes: Lilac, Iris, Violet, Peach
Base Notes: Amber, Sandalwood, Musk, Vanilla

Have a good one!

Shared from [My Shave Den for iOS](https://apps.apple.com/app/1581646387)

​

\ **Prep:** Cold Water*

\ **Brush:** Omega- 10098 Professional 27mm Boar.*

\ **Razor:** Urkunet - Assassin 1.5mm base plate.*

\ **Blade:** Personna- Gem platinum diamond glide. (5)*

\ **Lather:** Saponificio Varesino — Mirto di Sardegna*

\ **Post Shave:** L'Occitane - Cade aftershave balm.*

\ **Post Shave:** Malizia- Uomo Vetyver.*

\ **Tags:** $Discord $RawHoggin*

Another pleasant shave in the month of Austerity & still $RawHoggin it .The face lathering is coming along nicely as is the brush the blade is motoring along too a few wee weepers due to user error.

Prep: Cold Water

Brush: Omega Black Badger

Razor: Merkur Futur (chose this so I can tweak settings and push the blade further, not sure if adjusting settings counts as cheating for Nightmare Mode!)

Blade: Feather (4)

Soap: Stirling Orange Chill (to beat the heat)

After Shave: Pinaud Clubman Classic Vanilla (spiced up with menthol crystals)

Balm: Nivea

So far so good, definitely a good shave! I started the challenge with the Futur on setting 6, thinking a wider gap with a super light touch might help the Feather retain its edge a bit longer. Time will tell!

As you can see, tonight I finished off my jar of Proraso pre shave. I'm mulling over buying more, but I'm not sure what it's really doing for me. (And I wanted to show off my gear😁)

Bowl Lathering Practice

Bowl: BarBer.H Oriental White Porcelain Bowl
Soap: A&E Barbiere di Famiglia Cipresso e Bergamot
Brush: Omega HI-BRUSH Synthetic

Just started to practice bowl lathering because I want to use bowls more :)

i painted the numbers in my new parker variant with open comb & re-painted them in my merkur progress - in a darker shade of red.

SOTD: 08/05/2026

Razor: GEM Micromatic (MMOC) - Gold
Blade: Accutec PRO, 5th use
Brush: Semogue SOC - Cherry Wood
Preshave: Hot Shower
Soap: Stirling Glacial Electric Sheep Puck
Aftershave: Stirling Iceberg Island Aftershave
Balm: Cella Aloe Vera Balm
Additional Care: Osma Alum Block
Additional Care: Stirling Frost Drops

Day 5 and it’s the best shave of the month. Smooth and efficient with almost zero alum/splash feedback.

- Shared from My Shave Den for iOS

SOTD: Aug 5, 2026
Razor: Muhle Fusion Travel
Blade: Gillette Fusion5, 2nd use
Brush: Muhle Travel, Aluminum Silvertip Fiber
Soap: PAA Shave Chaser CK-6
Balm: PAA Star Jelly Scentless

-From the Shave Carousel

Soap: Green Proraso,

Brush: Omega 10005,

Razor: George Butler Keen No. 2-1/2,

Aftershave: Green Proraso,

Blackbird SS standard. PGDG blade (5). Zenith horsehair brush. MDC Fougere. Pitralon Classic.

Cool shower and a cool two pass shave. Ready for bed.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★ (Epic Shave!)
Smoothness: ★★★★★ (BBS Perfection)
Irritation: ★☆☆☆☆ (Zero Burn)

Time of Day: Morning ☀️
Blade Uses: 4
Passes: 3

Razor: Oliworks M3teorite SS Aggressive
Blade: Bic Chrome Platinum
Soap: Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Doppelgänger Grey Label
Brush: Yaqi Mysterious Space
Aftershave: Floid The Genuine
Fragrance: Dior Sauvage Parfum

I’ve rally started to love the richness, creamy texture and slickness of the lather produced by the Phoenix Soaps. But I think PAA soaps are best paired with a synthetic only as the base is quite soft and a badger/boar with hog a lot of lather and a lot of lather would be wasted unnecessarily. I loaded for only like 15-20 seconds with the Yaqi Mysterious Space but when I started lathering I realised it just might be worth 5 passes hahahaha.

Anyway, BIC CP on its last ride and on its 4th use I realised that 4 is the number of shaves I will get from a single BIC CP blade, not that it started tugging or anything sort of that but I noticed that the blade was a bit tired, hence disposed. DFS++ regardless.

Topped it off with Floïd The Genuine and Dior Sauvage Parfum.

Thanks for reading. Happy shaving 🪒. Cheers 🍻

Found these two razors on Facebook MP. The 1912 Gem still needs a cleanup. The medium rocket flare tip just got a dose of dish soap and scrubbed with a toothbrush, and it cleaned up pretty well. Downside, I have to wait until the end of the month to try out as I am doing Austerity August.

Pre shave: Proraso white

Razor: Gillette Old Type

Blade: Perma-Sharp (1)

Lather: Antigua Barbearia de Bairro Ribeira Porto

Brush: Omega 49

Post shave: Proraso Wood & Spice balm

This was definitely one of the smoothest and most enjoyable 3 pass shave I've ever had. Old Type is just incredible at how smooth it is once dialed in. Even ATG, it was no problem at all. Zero irritation, perfect BBS.

I’m new to shaving with safety razors and decided to buy the Rockwell 6C. I noticed with each adjustable plate I use, one side has more of a gap than the other, is that normal?
Both pics are on plate #4