Spyke

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Tuesday SOTD Thread, March 24th, 2026 (#1015)

Tub kill killed Day 11 - March 24, 2026

  • Prep: Shower
  • Brush: Ca Yuen Workshop w/ Maggard 26mm boar
  • Razor: GEM G-Bar
  • Blade: GEM PTFE
  • Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Haverford
  • Post Shave: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream
  • Fragrance: Tom Ford - Tobacco Vanille
  • Whiskers: Jojoba/Argan w/Tea Tree Oil
  • Skin Health: Zinc Oral Supplement

This was what was left before the shave. Used probably my thirstiest brush, a 26 mm Maggard boar, bowl loaded and lathered. It took a little bit to get it all loaded but it's gone now. Matched it with my genuine Tobacco Vanille fragrance for the occasion.

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Friday SOTD Thread, March 6th, 2026 (#997)

March 6, 2026

I think after I finish off my tub or Haverford I'm going to try to kill this soap off next. It's down to an ounce or less but I've been using it sparingly because I never would see it available. I must have missed when a new batch was made because it is sold out in the newer dark wing base and mine is the older canard base. So I'm hoping another batch is made soon.

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Thursday SOTD Thread, March 12th, 2026 (#1003)

The Final Countdown - March 12, 2026

Thanks for the SV recommendations. Maggard is out of 80th anniversary so I ordered some 70th anniversary. So it's time to start the countdown til this Haverford tub of Haverford is killed. I've been tub loading it so it probably has a couple weeks left at this rate.

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Saturday SOTD Thread, April 18th, 2026 (#1040)

April 18, 2026

  • Prep: Shower
  • Brush: Ca Yuen Workshop w/ Maggard 26mm boar
  • Razor: Gillette flat bottom tech
  • Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
  • Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Saguaro Blossom
  • Post Shave: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream
  • Fragrance: Hermetica - Ambierre
  • Whiskers: Jojoba/Argan w/Tea Tree Oil
  • Skin Health: Zinc Oral Supplement

First time using the boar brush in a while! I prefer my various synthetics andy badger but variety is the spice of life. Saguaro smells really great but I do have a very slight sensitivity to something in it. After a while I start to feel a little irritation just around my lips. Luckily it's barely noticeable and no redness or lasting irritation.

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Sunday SOTD Thread, February 1st, 2026 (#964)

February 1, 2026

  • Prep: Shower
  • Brush: Badlands Shaving Co. W/ AP Shave Co G5C 26mm
  • Razor: GEM G-Bar
  • Blade: GEM PTFE
  • Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Haverford
  • Post Shave: Neutrogena Hydro-Boost Gel Cream
  • Fragrance: Tokyomilk Bulletproof
  • Whiskers: Jojoba/Argan w/Tea Tree Oil

Tub loaded and face lathered today. The G5C feels pretty nice for face lathering. Been quite a while since I posted a SOTD. Wetshaving was only on Reddit then.

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Wednesday SOTD Thread, February 4th, 2026 (#967)

February 4, 2026

  • Prep: Shower
  • Brush: Ca Yuen Workshop w/ Maggard 26mm boar
  • Razor: GEM G-Bar
  • Blade: GEM PTFE
  • Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Haverford
  • Post Shave: Neutrogena Hydro-Boost Gel Cream
  • Fragrance: Parfums de Marley - Layton (DUPE)
  • Whiskers: Jojoba/Argan w/Tea Tree Oil

Loaded from the tub today as boar brushes a very absorbent and to get enough soap loaded I've found tub loading is the way to go. It seems a lot of folks soak their brush before lathering and I prefer to just get it nice and wet under the faucet, especially with this brush. I find soaking it sometimes introduces too much water into the mix off th bat even if I squeeze out the excess. This is what I prefer to do with badger as well.

This fragrance smells really nice. I've tested authentic Layton in the store as well and it's something I want to get the next time I decide to spend money on designer fragrance but even this cheap dupe smells fantastic.

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Sunday SOTD Thread, April 26th, 2026 (#1048)

April 26, 2026

  • Prep: Shower
  • Brush: AKA Brushworx w/ AP Shave Co 26 mm Synbad Bulb
  • Razor: Merkur 33c
  • Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
  • Lather: Saponificio Varesino - 70th Anniversary
  • Post Shave: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream
  • Fragrance: Noble Otter - Rawr
  • Whiskers: Jojoba/Argan w/Tea Tree Oil
  • Skin Health: Zinc Oral Supplement

I don't use this razor much except for when I travel since it could be easily replaced or would not be heavily missed. I do like the small handle though, it's very maneuverable

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Sunday SOTD Thread, February 8th, 2026 (#971)

February 8, 2026

Although the weather is getting milder here, I felt like I needed a warm scent today and Autumn Ash sure fits that bill. My soap is nothing but a memory now but I have about 2/3 of the frag left.

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Saturday SOTD Thread, February 7th, 2026 (#970)

February 7, 2026

  • Prep: Shower
  • Brush: AKA Brushworx w/ AP Shave Co 26 mm Synbad Bulb
  • Razor: Gillette flat bottom tech
  • Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
  • Lather: Dr. Jon's - Black River
  • Post Shave: Neutrogena Hydro-Boost Gel Cream
  • Fragrance: Dr. Jon's - Black River
  • Whiskers: Jojoba/Argan w/Tea Tree Oil

The Gillette Tech is very efficient compared to how mild it feels in the skin. I like that for a nice slow methodical shave so I tend to use it a fair amount in the weekends. The GEMs are my weekday warriors and all purpose favorites.

@[email protected] used Gunpowder Spice yesterday which inspired me to use my Black River soap and frag today, which also has a gunpowder note but with a rose, floral base. It's very unique. I have some popular mainstream frags too which some of which I enjoy very much, and some mainstream dupes, but I like that when I wear a nice, original scent from a wetshaving artisan I know no one else I come across is likely going to be wearing the same thing. I like to hope I'll make a unique impression.

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Friday SOTD Thread, February 6th, 2026 (#969)

February 6, 2026

  • Prep: Shower
  • Brush: Badlands Shaving w/ AP Shave Co G5c 26mm
  • Razor: GEM Junior
  • Blade: GEM PTFE
  • Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Saguaro Blossom
  • Post Shave: Neutrogena Hydro-Boost Gel Cream
  • Fragrance: Stirling Soap Co. - Campania
  • Whiskers: Jojoba/Argan w/Tea Tree Oil

This soap doesn't seem to be in WSDB yet I suppose because it's seasonal. I think they've released it more than once year so I hope they continue. It's very nice. It's sweet but well balanced. I recommend it.

Used the GEM Junior second day in a row.

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Free Talk Friday - February 6th, 2026

The weather here turned quite mild yesterday for the next week or so. most of the snow and ice will be melted, no pun intended.

I started posting because I kind of needed to make myself discuss things besides whatever first comes to mind right now living in Minneapolis. So that has been nice. Posting my SOTD has helped me make sure to moisturize as well, so I can log it! So that's good. it's been good having a place structured and designated for discussing one specific thing!

That said, most of us in Minneapolis have one thing that is first and last on our minds these days. Hopefully nobody coming across this falls into the camp of those who strongly support what's happening in Minnesota. But if you do feel free to move on and we can leave each other alone for the moment. People usually don't get too "political" on wetshaving but this isn't just political anymore, it's daily life here and all around us, and the first thing on anyone's mind so...

Yesterday sucked. Finished my shave and getting ready and heard about a friend's apartment building being broken into by feds to arrest someone. Friend is safe. In this case they did have an actual warrant but still chose to break a set of glass doors and then a security door. That afternoon ICE was down the street. they were not kidnapping someone. Turns out they were changing a flat tire. They had been prowling around an elementary school at release time, pursued someone, reportedly hit several cars, busted a tire, retreated and left, and ended up stopping down the street from me to change the tire. Shortly after I found out an old friend from years ago died of liver failure recently. I had seem them post they found out they were sick and needed a transplant soon last month. I didn't get a chance to talk to them. I guess they didn't make it much longer. We weren't super close but they were young, about 35. They were a stand up person and spent a lot of time working with others to try to make the world better.