He does! But I think it wasn’t his first time. His video has a very relaxing and oddly satisfying vibe though, really skilled dude with a calm voice.

02.06.2025

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Snakeskin w/ 26 mm Silksmoke Flattop/Fan hybrid
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Perma-Sharp half DE
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber
• Post-Shave: Lavera Men sensitive ASB

-> again a single pass both on the dome and around the goatee, plus a bit of buffing/contouring for the beard.

Safety razors are totally superior for my skin and for getting crisp beard lines. At least in comparison to cartridges, I am not experienced with open blades except AC shavettes. GTB is one of my feel-good scents, it cheers me up. Much needed in the current hot phase of the exam period.

So Day 1 is behind me, I think it was enough to pass at least, but I don’t expect anything better than a 3/C. I know it’d be very theoretical before, but this was a lot of dry theory… I gave it my all tho and that’s what matters. I kinda look forward to tomorrow which should be more on the practical side, even though I anticipate something about children/pregnancy which really isn’t my strong suit (I work with old folks in a nursing home). Nevertheless, I am eager to get it done! Let’s go!

Kudos for having balls of steel for shaving with an outdoor knife. This reminded me of an old commercial where a few “tough guys” were shaving in a public bathroom. The toughest dude was shaving his head with a large bowie knife… afaik it was a commercial for an insurance company 😂 Unfortunately I wasn’t able to find said commercial, but I found this Bob Ross of knives who even shaves his face clean from a long beard without properly lathering the soap with a brush. 🤯 I mean sure, in ancient times that was how everyone shaved. Still takes a lot of skill and massive intestinal fortitude…

Thanks! I’ll do my best!

Thank you very much!

01.06.2025

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Snakeskin w/ 26 mm Silksmoke Flattop/Fan hybrid
• Razor: Wilkinson Sword Hydro
• Blade: Hydro 3-blade cartridge
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - King of Bourbon
• Post-Shave: OAM sensitive skin toner

-> single pass head and face shave. Alright, I won’t even pretend this was some kind of luxury. It was a cartridge shave for the sake of saving time and not cutting myself with my shaky hands.

King of Bourbon was amazing though. As always. Somehow this slightly sweet and definitely bold scent manages to take my mind away from worrying. Also, WK Siero is so good to shave with.

As for the cartridge? Couldn’t care less. It’s one of those extra flexible cartridge razors, apparently for people with no wrist mobility or extreme tremors. It worked well, no questions. But I seriously don’t care about cartridges anymore. Mostly due to the lubra-strip, this hellish invention of either a strip of lubricating chemicals or like this one, those lubricants housed in some silicone contraption. I like that you can flat out remove in on their 5-blade carts, since that stuff is simply useless with a good slick soap like WK. Sadly that isn’t possible with the Hydro 3, which are better for my skin since less blades. Cartridges also suck for any kind of beard contouring, which oddly was what originally got me into traditional wetshaving tools around 2020. You simply can’t achieve straight lines with them.

This was the last shave before my written exams start tomorrow. I am very well prepared, but still got some nerves. Well, at least I can look forward to some nice safety razor shaves once it’s done. Let’s rock this and get shit done! 😎

Last weekend before the written final exams. To say I’m nervous would be an understatement, but at least I recognize it and take some measurements to calm down. Really looking forward to the time when all of it is done and I can finally be myself again…

It definitely somehow helped me to appreciate the hobby aspect again. Not really the FOMO and staying up late to catch a certain drop of soap or brushes - that’s gone for good. But the simple enjoyment is back and that’s cool. 👍🏻 Thank you very much 🙏🏻

26.05.2025

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Snakeskin w/ 26 mm Silksmoke Flattop/Fan hybrid
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Perma-Sharp half DE (fresh)
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Tobacconist
• Post-Shave: OAM sensitive skin toner; alverde men aftershave balm

-> 1 pass on both head and face. Mostly ATG on the dome, mostly WTG on the face. Great shave.

Today I postponed picking up my new car until after the exams. My stress levels were getting so high that even my parents began to worry about me, which is never a good sign. It’s not good to have two big milestone events of my life conflicting with each other. I was at the dealership with my father, we looked at the new car and took some photos and I signed all the necessary contracts and made my deposit. Everything’s prepared for next week, but until after the exhausting exams.

Anyways, back to our regularly scheduled SOTD program: after I mentioned HoM Tobacconist yesterday, I couldn’t get it out of my head. So of course I had to use it today. What a magnificent scent, this could definitely be my desert island soap. I think FMoM is a close second, but still second. Also, Mammoth’s Tusk base is a pleasure to work with: hassle-free lather, very fast and good slickness. I’m aware that Vida from Chicago Grooming does the soap base for Ben and I also never had a problem with any of her soaps either. Granted, haven’t tried her newest base yet.

You know, it’s kinda funny how now in the most stressful time ever I start to shave more and appreciate the hobby aspect of it again - finally! It kinda helps me to calm down and get my thoughts sorted, something sorely needed atm. Maybe @[email protected] 's sample letter was also part of igniting the spark again. Maybe I’ll get myself a nice set when all of this is finally over in September. Thanks for reading, folks ✌🏻

25.05.2025

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Snakeskin w/ 26 mm Silksmoke Flattop Fan hybrid
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: BIC Chrome Platinum
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - The Full Measure of Man
• Post-Shave: OAM sensitive skin toner; alverde men aftershave balm

-> 1 pass on the head, 2 on the face. Minor irritation on the face, otherwise a very enjoyable shave.

Had a busy day. Apart from studying, I also cleaned out my old car and put its summer tires in the trunk. Tomorrow it’s the final drive with it - I’m leaving it at the dealership and Wednesday I’ll pick up my new car! A bit excited, a bit sad. My old car has gone through a lot with me, but sadly it’s falling apart and is definitely at the right time for permanent retirement. I’ll need to get a rental car tomorrow, I hope they have something small. Don’t really need something as big and long like my current old car if I have to be extra careful…

FMoM is such a great tobacco scent. Perhaps it’d be my top spot if HoM Tobacconist wouldn’t exist. Still, this one is beautifully dark and comparable to a high quality cigar. I had to work a bit harder than usual to get a great lather and had to redo it for the face shave, but I chalk this up to nerves - still, it was as great as can be. While I liked the other B&M bases I tried so far (thanks to PIFs and generous samples), Omnibus is really high quality. Especially noticeable on head shaves, where one needs good residual slickness for an even result.

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. 👍🏻

24.05.2025

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Snakeskin w/ 26 mm Silksmoke Flattop/Fan hybrid knot
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Perma-Sharp half DE
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve - Raconteur
• Post-Shave: Benecos - 2in1 face & aftershave balm
• Fragrance: Bentley for Men Intense EdP

-> 2 passes on the head and on the face. Great shave on the dome, some minor irritation on the face but still comfortable enough. Sample kill!

Ok, I kinda need to explain the constant shift between facial hair styles: I went back to smooth cheeks and just a goatee since due to the current stress of my final exams drawing closer and closer, my facial hair is shedding a lot. Especially on the cheek area. I’m not that fond of the full goatee anymore, but atm I will use it to grow out the moustache and soul patch enough to not look weird - it’s simply a bit too short right now. I don’t know what causes this shedding, but I think it’s the culminating stress.

Still had my sample tray with Raconteur in it and it was plenty for two full shaves (face and head), so I used it. Huge thanks to @[email protected] for allowing so many of us to use this unobtainable soap. I kinda have to revise my earlier statement from Wednesday: Raconteur is much more of a sophisticated, high-class scent than VoA or Midnight Stag. While those two perfectly represent the lower to middle class work of bikers and car mechanics, Raconteur is more of the office friendly scent. And I don’t mean a call center office, more like a lawyer’s/attorney’s office if you catch my drift. Somehow I got the lather even better today, it didn’t even dry out my skin too much.

Ok, enough pointless rambling. Have a great weekend y’all ✌🏻

22.05.2025

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Snakeskin w/ 26 mm Silksmoke Flattop/Fan hybrid knot
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Perma-Sharp half DE
• Lather: Australian Private Reserve - Raconteur
• Post-Shave: Moon Soaps - OldSchool “balm”

-> 2-pass head shave and a very great one if I may add.

Even though I wanted to drop out of BVWSC until further notice, @[email protected] generously provided me with a sample too. Maybe he knew this scent is right up my alley? Anyways, I couldn’t let this generous opportunity pass even though my shave got delayed quite a bit by studying and beard trimming:

I had no problems to lather the APR base, perhaps this one likes soft water. My experience with APR is extremely limited, but I once got a small sample for the Lather Games '21 (IIRC it was “Fenchurch”?). It left my skin a bit dry after shaving, though that’s not uncommon for me. Overall it was pretty slick.

Now the scent is the real star: a great blend of leather and woody notes, generally a warm scent IMHO and somehow very comfy. Like driving around while wearing your favourite leather jacket. The runny Moon Soaps “balm” kinda fits nicely, even though it’s way sweeter than Raconteur. I know you folks like kinda bizarre comparisons, so here’s one: I think Raconteur is the well-groomed, toned down cousin of Midnight Stag and Valley of Ashes. Does a solid and stable job and won’t overstay it’s welcome. Also definitely more of a people pleaser than the aforementioned “fuck you, I wear this for myself”-scents.

Have a good time, everyone. 👍🏻

18.05.2025

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Snakeskin handle w/ 26 mm Silksmoke Flattop/Fan hybrid knot
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Perma-Sharp half DE
• Lather: E&S Rasage - Shaman
• Post-Shave: Lavera Men sensitive ASB

-> 2-pass head shave (WTG, ATG) and 1 (WTG) around the beard. Good shave but very sloppy lather.

Initially I couldn’t even get any lather going with this soap, but I refused to give up and it kinda paid off. I don’t know if it maybe is due to the many oils E&S uses in their soap, but at first it only produced a watery mess with a deep brown tinge (I’ll keep any comparisons to myself for the sake of you fine folks keeping your lunch in). I actually had to really grind my brush into the tub and swirl it like I was stirring up something to get it to something useable. While I really enjoy this one’s tobacco heavy scent, lathering it is no pleasure compared to my other soaps.

Not shaving for 5 days meant that I had a considerable amount of stubble to knock down, but I am pleased that the Thorn does it quite effectively.

I used this shave to calm down, atm the stress of studying is really wearing me out. I think I need to slow things down a bit, the last four days (including the weekend) have been nothing but writing tons of stuff down.

Nevertheless, have an amazing day ✌🏻

Haha, it definitely used to be like this for me too! Now with the pre-exam panic, I tend to actually study but my inner perfectionist still says it’s not enough. At least I have a small group chat with 3 other classmates and the exchange there helps to repeat certain topics.

13.05.2025

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Snakeskin handle w/ 26 mm Silksmoke Flattop/Fan hybrid knot
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Perma-Sharp half DE
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - The Full Measure of Man
• Post-Shave: Lavera Men sensitive ASB

-> single pass headshave, mostly ATG; coupled with a single WTG cleanup around the beard. Good shave.

I was in the mood for Tobacco and so a few soaps of mine came into consideration. FMOM is always a solid choice though, I really slept on this scent for a long time.

Nursing school exam prep is currently a shit show, thanks to sick teachers we’re mostly at home (except for three hours tomorrow) and learn whatever we deem necessary. We get some old exams by email from our teachers to familiarize with the weirdest way of asking questions ever, but that’s it. I used today for very theoretical concepts and basics of communication psychology, so this shave was also used as some form of palate cleanser from very dull activities.

The good thing about this home schooling is the flexible schedule, so I can start whenever I want to; this is also a double edged sword however, since I tend to feel like I’m not doing enough and take to many breaks. Then I try to compensate by late night studying sessions. Well, nobody said it would be easy…

11.05.2025

• Brush: TGS Galaxy 26 mm
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Perma-Sharp half DE
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber
• Post-Shave: Lavera Men sensitive ASB

-> 2-pass head shave and one WTG cleanup pass around the stubble.

Pre-Exam period is the funny time where you worry about the stupidest things: namely, I was researching the best pen for writing exams for quite some time today. Turns out that most of the high-class metal ones aren’t it - at least now I know what to look for tomorrow. (But in case anyone has any high quality ballpoint pen recommendations, I will gladly look at them!)

I thought that since I am late, I might as well shave. And it was good. GTB is really nice to calm down, CF doesn’t do a super high-end base but at least it’s quick to lather and reliable.

Yeah, I got rid of the circle beard/goatee and it was the final time trying. It’s just too much maintenance for something too small. I like myself better with the short stubble, those patchy spots be damned. Maybe I just need to learn to live with a bit of imperfection, even though that’s admittedly hard for myself. I rather prefer to focus on achieving a smooth dome and nicely shaved neckline.

Also, dear @[email protected] , I got your sample letter - Thanks! I don’t know if I can make it, but I’ll try for sure.

06.05.2025

• Brush: TGS Galaxy 26 mm
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Perma-Sharp half DE
• Lather: Wholly Kaw - King of Bourbon
• Post-Shave: Lavera Men sensitive ASB

-> 1-pass WTG head and face shave. Increased the frequency, still kept it at a single pass though.

Also one of my odd partial face shaves, have gone back to a full goatee from my scraggly unkempt long stubble and to make this stand out, you need to shave around it. Who knows, maybe I’ll keep it this time around if I maintain it at a fairly short length.

Shaving with the Thorn instead of the Cyber is a bit less comfortable, but this one is great for even lines and general efficiency.

Have a nice evening/night/whatevertimeitisinyourtimezone✌🏻

04.05.2025

• Brush: TGS Galaxy 26 mm
• Razor: RazoRock Cyber Medium w/ Superknurl handle
• Blade: BIC Chrome Platinum
• Lather: Abbate Y La Mantia - Blu Tobacco
• Post-Shave: Lavera Men sensitive ASB

-> single pass WTG head shave again. Not very close, but comfortable nonetheless.

Trying to be more active in wetshaving is difficult when there’s a thousand other things on your mind. I even had to get back to my bathroom because I couldn’t remember the right name for the artisan…

However, this was a nice night shave to calm down before it’s back to nursing school tomorrow. Final month before the exams, crunch time. A nice shave helps to clear my head before this (figuratively and literally).

Anyways, have a nice start into the new week! ✌🏻

It really is awful… usually letterboxes are spared from vandalism except the occasional guerilla sticker or graffiti. They’re also built pretty safe, but my colleagues said that the lowlifes in their town usually used fireworks to damage them. I really am glad that the township and the Deutsche Post installed a letterbox right at the entrance of our nursing home recently. More watchful eyes thanks to our 3-shift-system so less chances of vandalism and short ways for our residents who want to send letters to their family from further away. Win-win.

Damn them indeed, but lesson learned - I now only trust the single letterbox left in my small village, but for everything international it’ll be the post office.

Thanks! I sure will be relieved once everything’s over, but at least there’s light at the end of the tunnel now. 👍🏻