26. June 2026 - Heatwave Shave

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Snakeskin w/ 26 mm Silksmoke Flattop/Fan hybrid knot
• Razor: HNDRX Razor
• Razor: Stando Perun
• Blade: Derby Premium half-DEs
• Blade: BIC Chrome Platinum
• Lather: Abbate Y La Mantia - Blu Tobacco
• Post Shave: Störtebekker - Tortuga AS Tonic spray

2 passes on the head with the HNDRX, 1 on the neck with the Perun. Exhausting due to the heat, but smooth nonetheless.

Last day off for me. The current heatwave in Europe also hits Germany hard, albeit not as extreme as France (my thoughts go out to @[email protected] , that extreme heat really sucks). While the French people get 42+°C, our max will be reached tomorrow at 40°C (= about 104°F for our imperial folks!). Just right when I need to get back to work for a late shift, yay 😮‍💨

Despite my best effort my flat has also heated up quite a lot since this heat lasts for over 8 days already - I am just a bit over 27°C in all of my rooms. I already wanted to shave yesterday, but my bathroom reached a record high of 28,7°C and I decided I just couldn't do it. Unlike most homes in the US, we don't have any built in AC over here. Today it's 36°C and the apartment complex is very hot all around. Had a lot of stubble to knock down on the dome, but it could be done in two passes.

Blu Tobacco was very quick to lather with this flat brush and provided a much needed cooling sensation with the menthol. The aftershave spray was killed today, but I am keeping the bottle and filled it with water to spray on myself periodically. I'll also take it to work with me tomorrow.

It actually feels great to be "smooth up top" again, can't imagine going with any kind of hair especially during that summer heat. But just this short shave exhausted me enough that I had to take a bit of rest after it. Fuck this heat, why can't we have a normal summer?! 🥵

20. June 2026

• Brush: Omega Roma Colossea 31 mm
• Razor: HNDRX Razor
• Razor: KAI Captain J-7 kamisori shavette
• Blade: Derby Premium
• Blade: KAI Captain Protouch MG
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Rope Swing
• Post Shave: Störtebekker - Tortuga AS Tonic spray

2 passes on the head, 1 on the face (mostly to touch up the lines of the circle beard). Comfy head shave, a few blood spots around the beard with the shavette.

So I finally did my head shave, just forgot to post it on time. I had quite a lot of stubble to knock down this time, but the HNDRX managed - much to my surprise, since it almost perfectly emulates a cartridge razor and those usually struggle at that length. The only other flaw I could find with it so far, apart from being not good at beard lines/contouring, is that the gaps under the blades (lather channels?) are rather narrow/thin and hair with soap gets caught easily there. In other words, it clogs easier than e.g. my Leaf Thorn or Stando Perun. Not as easily as other cartridge razors do, but it's noticeable. I also think it's time to change blades before the next shave. I kinda want to see how it performs with a BIC, just need to snap one perfectly in the middle. I think it's worth it to test it more, currently I'm somewhat in a honeymoon phase with it.

As for Rope Swing, the heat over here is still in full swing so it was an easy choice. Provided some much needed cooldown. I had a nice evening despite sweating like a marathon runner while not doing much, had a family barbecue with my parents and we watched the World Cup game of our team afterwards (narrow last-minute win against CIV). The current soccer world cup being held in America and Mexico means very late games for us in GER, but I can do with that.

Honestly they were the better team for long periods of the game, but our joker Undav brought the win. I seriously thought we'd be lucky with a 1-1 draw until the final goal. CIV can definitely be proud of their performance though, it was a hard match!

19. June 2026

• Brush: Omega Roma Colossea 31 mm
• Razor: HNDRX Razor
• Razor: RazoRock Hawk V2
• Blade: Derby Premium (HNDRX)
• Blade: KAI Captain Protouch MG (Hawk)
• Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Rope Swing
• Post Shave: Störtebekker - Tortuga AS Tonic spray

Just 2 passes on the face, good shave.

A very fast shave before running some errands. Almost forgot to post it. So this time I stretched the skin around my jaw more upwards and it definitely got me a closer result. We've got quite hot weather here atm and Rope Swing helped nicely by providing at least a little relief. I still need to do my head ASAP.

As someone who wears glasses, these reflections on his glasses are top notch 👌🏻 Really accurate to real life.

Sorry about the job loss. I hope you'll find something new soon!

Fediverse Wetshaving Celebration - 9. March 2026

• Brush: Omega Roma Colossea 31 mm  
• Razor: Razorine Flatboy  
• Blade: BIC Chrome Platinum  
• Lather: Southern Witchcrafts - Valley of Ashes  
• Post Shave: Southern Witchcrafts - Valley of Ashes  
• Music: Cocteau Twins Mix  

2 passes on both the dome and the face around a partial beard. Avoided ATG today, still got a few weepers everywhere due to inconsistent shaving technique and bad blade alignment. Otherwise, nice feeling.

Congratulations to the 1000th daily post! I think this is an amazing feat, even though it's not very active in here and a few friendly members unfortunately don't post anything anymore. We're surely not Reddit and probably never will be (though, if they implement ID verification we could maybe gain a few new users). But I like our little Fediverse corner here. 

As for today's shave, it was mostly to test a few things. I currently have a henriquatre again, but I want to go down to a Van Dyke soon once the facial hair is longer - so I needed something that is good with sharp lines and contouring. Unfortunately it didn't quite go as I would've liked, but that's the thing with experimenting: it's a 50/50 chance in the best case.

I kinda wondered why I didn't use this razor much after acquiring it last year and now I know why: like a lot of other Italian full brass razors, it has problems with blade alignment. To the point of if you screw the handle on tight, the blade gets bent sideways. It's also impossible to get both sides of the blade to an even exposure - trust me, I've tried really damn hard for 15 minutes before I gave up and accepted that this thing is essentially poor man's asymmetric razor. The flat head is intriguing for getting really sharp lines for certain beard styles (and perhaps sideburns for those of you who still have their hair, unlike me). And it actually works if the handle isn't screwed down too hard. But at what cost? I was extremely careful going into this shave, avoided going ATG due to some recent bumps/ingrown hairs and yet it still tore those up. Unfortunate, but the truth is: I should have gotten myself a razor with better craftsmanship than this thing. The low price reflects the actual effort that went into it. Shame about the nice uncoated brass...

It also seems like my SW VoA set has gone bad. I only once experienced this before, but the scent isn't as present anymore and has shifted more towards old damp cloth than burning rubber. Especially noticeable on the toner, that stuff was just not cool. It still worked once I loaded the soap like it owed me money, but the experience wasn't the same I'm used to. Pour one out for this unobtainium set 🫗

The best part of the shave was actually the music I had playing in the background. During my goth phase in my teens, I never liked Cocteau Twins. Their dreamy, wavy stuff wasn't quite suited to all my internal insecurity and my dislike of myself and everything around me. The raw energy of other bands was more suitable for this chaotic, rebellious phase. Nowadays, I quite like them. It's similar to Enya (which I quite liked as a child and only re-discovered in my twenties when my music horizons were broadening up again). They don't have any lyrics, sometimes you hear their song titles sung and other times it's like a mashup of different languages your brain seems to recognise (in the mix today, I had the feeling of italian, french, spanish, finnish and even japanese!). They use vocals more like another instrument, which is kinda in tune with Enya (though I remember she used to have real lyrics on some songs and even sang in Tolkien's elvish language). The whole atmosphere of their songs is more like a mix of dream pop, ambient and krautrock instead of typical post-punk/darkwave/goth rock. I mean, look a this video ! It's uncanny how they precede currently popular aesthetics like "dreamcore", a recent favourite of Gen Z and even younger generations, by over 35 years!

32nd Birthday Shave - 1. March 2026

• Brush: Omega Roma Colossea 31 mm
• Razor: Razorock Cyber Medium w/ 316L Bamboo handle
• Blade: BIC Chrome Platinum
• Lather: Declaration Grooming - Cuir et Épices
• Post Shave: Störtebekker - Tortuga aftershave tonic spray
• Fragrance: Tom Ford - Tuscan Leather EdP

One pass on both the dome and the neck. Reopened some spots from yesterday, but still a really comfortable shave!

So today I turned 32. I am now fully arrived in my thirties. There sure are some things I'd like to change and improve, but I guess I am on a rather solid path right now. Thanks to my parents, I didn't had to spend the day alone. I had a quiet, relaxed b-day in their company plus the two dogs. It was also great sunny weather for a nice long dog walk, perfect for a slow Sunday. This shave was a nice finish to this smooth day.

What can I say, I really like leather scents. Cuir et Epices is a really warm, smooth leather scent. Reminiscent of a good leather jacket or furniture. It has a very comfy vibe IMHO and that's perfect for the occasion. The Tortuga AS spray was fitting nicely with the spices in it and brought some mild menthol chill with it. As for the Cyber Medium, it's hard to get hurt with this razor as it's kinda like the Henson but without marketing buzz. I think it's interesting how these razors achieve an GEM-like feel (holding the safety bar flat to my skin) with a DE just by a very sharply angled head geometry. Basically, this is a razor I could use while I am sick, mildly intoxicated or otherwise impaired - works on autopilot. The result is always a smooth dome.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Unfortunately I have to prep for yet another early shift now...

Indigo Dreams - 28. February 2026

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Snakeskin w/ 26 mm Silksmoke Flattop/Fan hybrid knot
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Derby Premium half-DE
• Lather: House of Mammoth - Mood Indigo
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Master
• Post Shave: HAGS - Apocalypse ASB
• Fragrance: Bentley For Men Intense EdP

2 passes on the head, 1 on the neck. Minor irritation in the form of blood spots; otherwise enjoyable shave.

This time I don't want to make any bold promises, I want to shave properly when I have the time and energy to do so and then post here but no pressure. Nevertheless, I was really longing for a nice shave again and today seemed like a fine opportunity to do so.

I think I lost quite some muscle memory for a good shaving technique, that's why I have some blood spots on my scalp due to applying too much pressure in certain areas. It was still nice to take up the hobby again - the feeling of building a nice lather, the weight of the razor, the different scents... Really good. I gravitated more towards spicy smells today, but admittedly some didn't fit that well together. But most importantly, I got it done. I feel good and smell nice. Now it's just a matter of fully getting back into the swing of things.

I've now worked 6 days at my new workplace, a hospital in the Thuringian forest. My station is for gastroenterology, rheumatology and unclear/psychosomatic diseases.

The onboarding process is at least happening, but it's not as organized as I hoped it to be. The station is always very busy and so, there's little time to show me things. For example, as someone with a background in geriatrics and nursing homes, I hadn't dealt with infusions at all and my internship at a neurological rehabilitation centre during my retraining only had me disconnecting empty infusions and "flushing" the lines with NaCl = sterilised sodium chloride/salt water. I rarely helped with preparing them. Now that'll be one of my primary duties. So my new colleagues have to teach me, which isn't very easy for either of us during stressful times.

It also doesn't help that nurses who worked in geriatrics or nursing homes are generally looked down upon by a few older colleagues in the hospital due to the less intense medical knowledge needed in that field. I kinda feel the need to prove myself, unfortunately. In Germany, nursing is no academic profession like in the US - it used to be 3 different apprenticeships: one for children, one for adults/hospital work and one for seniors/geriatric care. Since 2020, it's a generalized apprenticeship with a new title. There's also a B.Sc. course for it now for a bit of academic value. As I started my retraining in 2022, I received the new title but some of the old guard aren't even that aware of all those changes. To them, those who worked in the geriatric field are the less qualified, less skilled nurses.

There's also yet another winter storm over here and I still deal with some nuisances from a minor cold I got on the very first day of the new year. Today I had to fight to keep my car on the road due to all the fresh snow. It won't be much better tomorrow, as it rained with warmer temperatures in the afternoon but now it's freezing over with a cold blast of -11°C. So it'll be slippery AF tomorrow. Yes, I actually already work 7 days in a row on my first week. As I said, trying to prove myself. Like my mom said, to describe what I am dealing with atm: "Hardcore is an understatement".

Unfortunately the exhaustion and early shifts (have to get up at 4:00 AM) leaves barely any time for hobbies, nor even any shaves. I must admit that I ordered an electric head shaver for some morning touchups where every damn second counts... Not my proudest move, as these things are neither close nor comfortable. Yet I need to look presentable as I represent the nursing staff of the hospital. I hope things will change for the better soon, but don't be worried if I'm posting less frequently and am barely active here. Chances are that I am just working, not dead!

2. Dezember 2025

• Prep: Aloe Vera gel
• Brush: AP Shave Co. black & clear handle w/ 31 mm Tuxedo Fan knot
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Razor: RazoRock Hawk V2 w/ Superknurl handle
• Blade: Derby Premium
• Blade: KAI Captain Protouch MG
• Lather: Los Jabones de Joserra - The Witcher
• Lather: GRN - Hemp & Hops brushless shaving cream
• Post Shave: OAM - Dolce Vita ASB gel

2 passes on both head and face, the latter since the henriquatre is finally back. Using two different setups to test the features of the WSDB SOTD generator.

Well, here I am again. The last few days were quite stressful for me tbh, so I felt like diving back into wetshaving as a hobby with a interesting experiment. Both head and face got a dry trim earlier today, so I wondered what would feel better: soap and brush or brushless cream/gel that's applied with my hands? To the surprise of probably no one in this hobby sphere, the soap won by a landslide. The only upside of this brushless stuff that's a hybrid between a shaving cream and a gel is that it was semi-transparent - so I could see the lines better. Oh, and I killed the remaining cream in the tube and don't need any more of it now.

Now it isn't like the face shave was awful, the result isn't bad and totally serviceable. But my skin doesn't feel that nice. I guess it reminded me way too much about how I used to shave: disposable razors, cheap shave gel and drugstore ASB. So honestly, safety razors only wouldn't make it special to me. At least not on their own. I fell in love with the full package, from preparing the lather to post-shave shenanigans.

At first I wanted to go for the Don Logan look of moustache and goatee barely connected, but it's still a bit short for that. I like how it gives me a cleaner, more well-kempt appearance - stubble beards are, despite their easygoing relaxed look, quite troublesome to maintain and get right. Plus I need to appear a bit more authoritative with job interviews coming up soon. Fingers crossed ✌🏻

Comeback - 2. Februar 2026

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Snakeskin w/ 26 mm Flattop/Fan hybrid knot
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Derby Premium
• Lather: Noble Otter - Neon Sun
• Post Shave: Störtebekker - Tortuga Aftershave Tonic

2 passes on the head, 1 on the neck. Not my best, but a welcome return to wetshaving.

So I did it. Finally found time for a nice shave on my day off after working the weekend. My weekend early shifts were hellish, so I had zero energy left. Today was a good day however.

NO Neon Sun provided optimal slickness despite the razor blade actually being kinda tuggy in some places. I don't know if those Derby blades deteriorated without constant use; seems somehow like it. Nevertheless, I was able to shave the dome in two passes and even get a single one on the neck done.

I was also able to finally try this new aftershave tonic spray I got earlier this year after a proper shave. Can't really say much about it after using it post dry shaving/trimming, but it's actually good stuff. Störtebekker is a german brand that started out on amazon, so I was a bit wary of them. This contains good ingredients though (witch hazel, aloe, glycerin, etc.) and the scent is as advertised - spicy yet fresh. There's a hint of menthol to provide a fresh feeling I guess, which I am indifferent towards. Some people really hate menthol, but I can take it of it isn't too much. As for the scent, it's a mix of citrus, incense and bay rum. Kinda like a modern take on classic aftershaves. The spray application is surprisingly nice to use. However, the price is almost 30€ normally. I got it at a promotional discount. So once it is empty, no second purchase from me. I can get better artisan tonics and balms for less.

Don't get your hopes up that this will already be a full comeback from me, but I will try to find more time for my hobbies now and then. I seriously missed wetshaving and I hope you're all doing well! ✌🏻

26. November 2025

• Brush: AP Shave Co. black & clear handle w/ 30 mm Tuxedo Fan knot
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Derby Premium
• Lather: Los Jabones de Joserra - The Witcher
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Master
• Alum: Osma Alum block

2 passes on the head, 1 on the neckline. A great shave except for one nicked mole on my neck.

This combo is slowly becoming one of my personal all-time favourites, the spicy notes in both scents are working wonderfully in conjunction. Thankfully, no tingling or any other adverse reactions from the soap anymore. I don't know what was the cause during my first use of it. The Vetonia base is top notch; unfortunately José doesn't have a dedicated internet presence for his business so his goods could be even more well-known.

'nuff said. Enjoy your Wednesday, folks 👍🏻

Last Shave of 2025! - 31. December 2025

• Brush: AP Shave Co. Black & Clear handle w/ 30 mm Tuxedo Fan knot
• Razor: Wilkinson Hydro cartridge razor
• Blade: Wilkinson Hydro 3
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber
• Post Shave: OAM - Oli del Benessere Sensitive Skin toner
• Fragrance: Tom Ford - Tuscan Leather EdP

almost forgot to post: single pass head shave, grabbed the cartridge because I was running late for my final late shift at the old place. No irritation whatsoever!

The last shave of 2025. I planned something nice for it, but life had other plans. Had to fall back on GTB, my personal "Ol' Reliable". The cartridge razor wasn't the worst thing ever, but it's a safe and - unfortunately - soulless choice.

What a year. I finished my retraining, got my nursing degree, found a new job just this month... it was really stressful, but oh so worth it. Wetshaving wise, I transitioned from Lemmy to PieFed, post with the WSDB SOTD generator, got a new safety razor and some nice new soaps after my degree and was able to explore quite a few interesting soaps thanks to Buena Vista Wetshaving Social Club. Thanks for being here and having me around, folks! I wish every single one of you & your families a smooth transition into the new year. In Germany, it's tradition to say "Guten Rutsch!" meaning as much as "Have a nice slide into the new year". So, have a nice & slick slide and a successful start into 2026, folks. 🍀🥳

Happy New Year! - 1. January 2026

• Brush: Omega Roma Colossea 31 mm
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Razor: RazoRock Hawk V2 Superknurl
• Blade: Derby Premium (Thorn)
• Blade: KAI Captain Protouch MG (Hawk)
• Lather: Zingari Man - The Navigator
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Master
• Post Shave: Benecos 2in1 Aftershave & Face balm

1 pass on the dome with the Leaf; 2 passes on the face around a stubble henriquatre. Generally rough shave due to dry skin from harsh weather conditions.

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all had a smooth start into 2026.

Since I have my first day at my new workplace in the hospital tomorrow, I wanted to get a nice shave in this evening. Unfortunately, the weather hasn't been kind to my skin - we've got a winter storm with a stiff breeze and alternating freezing rain and snow. Getting to work will be a challenge tomorrow, so I need to get up at 4:00 AM - no time left for shaves.

I figured it'd be time to ditch the patchy stubble beard for something neater, more well-groomed looking. The henriquatre/full goatee won't be for long, as I plan to go back to a Van Dyke/Anchor beard soon. However, those don't look good with stubble so I need to grow everything out thicker and evenly. Since they plan to take photos of me tomorrow, I opted for a neat partial beard that I wouldn't hate to see on my ID photo.

I thought I could justify todays' software combo methaporically as in "navigating new seas towards mastery", but it still doesn't really fit together well. Despite the great quality of the ZM soap, the shave was rather rough since my skin was dried out. Oh well, nothing too serious in terms of irritation except minor redness and tiny blood spots. At least I did my first shave in 2026 and will look as good as I can for tomorrow. Have a good time! ✌️

My five days off where filled with one job interview and two days of work trials. But it paid off - on Tuesday, the hospital in the Thuringian forest with the high reputation was quite eager to hire me, so they already gave me a verbal agreement followed up by an email. Yesterday I followed up with a phone call since I needed a written document by them to apply for an extended police clearance certificate ("erweitertes Führungszeugnis" in german - basically a background check if you have a criminal record that most reputable jobs need if you're working with minors or disabled people, both could be possible in a hospital setting). The HR lady on the phone as well as the receptionist were so friendly and helpful that I felt - and still feel - like I've made the right decision. The written contracts will be sent to me and I will need to bring them on my first day, but now I at least have some security in this written document confirming their intent to hire me. It's quite unusual, even for them as HR admitted - but nursing is a bit unusual in general.

I'm looking forward to a new challenge and leaving the nursing home behind me. It seems like my potential would be wasted there, since there are simply not many tasks to do that required a high skill level. The work trial day at the hospital was quite stressful, but it was different stress than what I am used to and dread. There's less of a race against the clock to get things done. There are difficult patients too, but most only stay for 5 to 10 days. And some are really thankful for any kind of help, even if it's just a short chat.

However, it'll be a totally different setting to what I am used to and I need to expand my medical knowledge by a substantial amount. I already ordered a book, but theory alone won't be enough. On the one hand, it's kinda like my teenage dream job came true (I wanted to be a male nurse thanks to watching Scrubs - yeah, very original, I know). On the other, it's a very demanding job with lots of responsibility. But since I come from my nursing home background (have worked in 3 different ones, 1 just as an OT, 2 in nursing) and a few other colleagues on my future station also have that background, why shouldn't I be able to master that? I'm only 31. I was, together with a classmate, the best of our year in nursing school. And said classmate now works at a big hospital in Leipzig on the graft surgery station. I know I should be able to do this while even finally enjoying the work that my RN degree brings, but there's still that voice of doubt in the background. But I'm determined to shut it up. Actually, it should be a time to celebrate - I found something new and possibly very fulfilling for my future career in very short time!

9. Dezember 2025

• Brush: Omega Roma Colossea 31 mm
• Razor: RazoRock Cyber Medium w/ Superknurl handle
• Blade: BIC Chrome Platinum
• Lather: Noble Otter - Ace
• Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Master; Lavera Mikrosilber Akut cream
• Alum: Osma alum block

2 passes on the head, 1 on the neck. Rough shave, a couple of weepers on my head.

Another late shave since I have a job interview at 10 tomorrow. Unfortunately not my best shave with this setup - used a fresh BIC Chrome Platinum and they're constantly biting me when they're new. The shave itself didn't feel uncomfortable, but I knew I was in for a hard time when I saw blood in the lather. Thankfully I still had my alum block around and the ZM recovery splash took care of the rest together with the Lavera cream.

Maybe my shaky hands contributed to this mediocre shave too, I am really nervous about tomorrow. It's a very fancy hospital in the Thuringian forest with a high reputation. They were rather fast to get back to me and I am quite interested about what they offer for my future career. No final decisions tomorrow, but I am indeed on edge because if they'd want me, it's a very good sign.

Have a nice day/evening/night ✌🏻

15. December 2025

• Brush: Omega Roma Colossea 31 mm
• Razor: Leaf Thorn
• Blade: Derby Premium half-DE
• Lather: Barrister and Mann - The Full Measure of Man
• Post Shave: HAGS - Barberwood toner
• Post Shave: Alterra Men Sensitive ASB
• Fragrance: Bentley For Men Intense EdP

2-pass head shave, smooth and rather comfortable. One tiny weeper who always seems to appear on the left side, otherwise no irritation.

I couldn't get a shave in before my job interview today, mostly because I thought it wasn't needed to rush a shave and risk getting cut. I did this slow, calm and methodical and it paid off - a really smooth, shiny dome. Used the same soap as yesterday, just a different aftershave. Unfortunately, this sweet toner clashes with the mature tobacco notes of FMoM quite a lot. Wouldn't want to repeat that combo.

As for the interview, it was rather lackluster compared to the fancy hospital. Today it was at a rehabilitation centre for cancer and lymphology patients where my mom works at (part-time, doing arts and crafts with the patients in the afternoon to early evening). They didn't seem very enthusiastic about adding a male nurse to their team; also, financially it's not as good as the hospital offer. I still managed to get another appointment for a one day work trial on Wednesday. So tomorrow I work one day at the hospital and the following day there. I can make a direct comparison this way, but even after talking to my mom I currently favour the hospital as my future workplace. Oddly, she agrees. Well, all the more motivation to give my best tomorrow! Already kinda nervous, but that's part of the trade.

The biggest downside is that I need to get up very early at 4:00 AM to be there before 6:00 AM. Hence why I shaved + posted earlier than usual. Have a nice time, folks - I'll let you know how it works out ✌🏻

Thanks! I kinda underestimated how a completely new workflow and a month of early shifts would take a toll on me. But the salary is really fair and I start to get more confident at what I do. I hope to be more active here again soon!

24.09.2025

• Brush: TGS Galaxy 26 mm
• Razor: Razorine Flatboy 73
• Blade: Tatra
• Lather: Los Jabones de Joserra - The Witcher
• Post-Shave: alum block; Zingari Man - The Master; Alterra Men ASB
• Passes & Info: 2 pass face shave around a circle beard. Rough shave, unfortunately.

So another time of going back to a partial beard, perhaps for the fifteenth time this year?... This time it might actually last without the exam stress, who knows.

Unfortunately this shave wasn't that great. After trimming today, my skin was kinda feeling rough already. The soap had a slight burn once I applied the lather to my face. The Razorine Flatboy is good for detailed crisp line work, so it should rock for partial beards and moustaches. Yet the blade felt a bit like it's tugging in certain spots, especially on my jawline. Had a few tiny blood spots around the beard part so I actually needed 3 different post-shave products to get that under control again.

So thanks to being stupid, I now have a multitude of different variables that might have caused this:

1. Dry skin due to cold windy weather
2. Frag burn from a soap ingredient
3. Unfamiliarity with the new aggressive razor
4. The Tatra blades perform well on my scalp, but aren't suited for my hard beard hair
5. Aurora Borealis? Russian hacker groups? The Illuminati?

Anyways, I smell great now but my face burns. I don't know why it dislikes shaving so much when any kind of partial beard is clearly the better look for me instead.

Have a good day/evening/night!

Don't worry, there are still a few days left before November actually starts. IIRC, the original "Movember" starts by shaving everything off on the 31st of October and then shave everything but the upper lip during November, giving you ~ 4 full weeks of growth. I didn't really like the concept as I was younger and had slow growth and no one cared for the fundraising in my circle back then, but if you just want to see how you look with a 'stache, it's a funny challenge. I actually plan to do something similar this year: trimming the moustache short and shaving off everything else on Halloween and then letting it grow during all of November. Now that I am in my 30s, I could probably get something better going than in my mid-20s. 🥸👍🏻