Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

SEpGemBoar week



House of Mammoth Z (a wee hole and a thinning in the center that didn't show up in the photo shoot)
Semogue Galahad boar
GEM push button black and gold (thanks Paul mrdoug)
Personna GEM (3)

A very fine shave, compared to the first outing. Is it due to a different blade, or that I corked this blade? I don't know, I just know it was nice! Still a bit aggressive, but not as bad as I had thought. I found it comfortable as long as I paid attention and was rewarded with a very close shave. One nick, caught a bump on my neck, likely due to inattention as I was lulled into believing this was a no-hands shave.

SEpGemBoar Week



Flying Wing with Guiding Eye, ca. 1947
Personna GEM (4)
MR boar in Ever Ready handle
Mammoth Z

I have had this razor on the BST twice with no takers, so I gave it a go this morning and had a very nice shave. Why was I trying to sell it? I found myself reaching for the Peerless or the Damaskeene more often than not. And I was in a selling frame of mind, trying to get my shave stuff down to things I really liked and used, versus loads of stuff I liked but didn't reach for as much as the others. (Trust me, it made sense at the time!) After this morning, I remembered that I did like this razor, it works for me and feels good in hand and on face.

I need to get another shot of the soap. After loading with that bigger (26mm I believe) boar, the weak spot in the soap above, just right of center, is now a real hole! I need to eliminate a soap soon as I ordered a new unscented to try and I want to get a new tub of Noble Otter Bare. It is nice that there are so many great unscented soaps today. Hub City Birthday Suit is another that, if memory serves, made an outstanding lather. But as Dave reminded us in a recent vid, some wag observed that you can't have everything. Where would you put it?!

Hope you all have a great day (and you all know what day it is, right?!)

SEpGemBoar Week



Flying Wing with Guiding Eye, ca. 1947
Personna GEM (4)
MR boar in Ever Ready handle
Mammoth Z

I have had this razor on the BST twice with no takers, so I gave it a go this morning and had a very nice shave. Why was I trying to sell it? I found myself reaching for the Peerless or the Damaskeene more often than not. And I was in a selling frame of mind, trying to get my shave stuff down to things I really liked and used, versus loads of stuff I liked but didn't reach for as much as the others. (Trust me, it made sense at the time!) After this morning, I remembered that I did like this razor, it works for me and feels good in hand and on face.

I need to get another shot of the soap. After loading with that bigger (26mm I believe) boar, the weak spot in the soap above, just right of center, is now a real hole! I need to eliminate a soap soon as I ordered a new unscented to try and I want to get a new tub of Noble Otter Bare. It is nice that there are so many great unscented soaps today. Hub City Birthday Suit is another that, if memory serves, made an outstanding lather. But as Dave reminded us in a recent vid, some wag observed that you can't have everything. Where would you put it?!

Hope you all have a great day (and you all know what day it is, right?!)

That's basically my mindset Eric.

I would buy razors, but not use them as they didn't work as well, smooth, etc as my favorite. So I eventually said to myself... What's the point of having #3,4,5 if I only want to use #1. I reserved #2 as I should have some sort of backup, "just in case".

Of course we're all different. Just as I couldn't use the same soap scent every day, some folks don't want the same shave feel (etc) every day. But for me, I'm in line with the way you were reasoning it out.

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On the post, Thayers and Stirling witch hazel variants were my primary post care, as I was concerned about potential drying impact from alcohol. But, a while back i picked up an alcohol based splash, with synthetic cooling and witch hazel, from House of Mammoth (technically Chicago Grooming formula), as part of a set. Not sure I will be able to go back to Thayers or a pure witch hazel based solution with what feels like a more pleasing outcome from the alcohol splash.

I didn't want to derail Dave's thread so I copied your post over to my Journal. Like you, I have stayed away from alcohol as it can be very detrimental to my face. But I am interested in the Mammoth one you picked up. Can you tell me more about it? Thanks!

On the post, Thayers and Stirling witch hazel variants were my primary post care, as I was concerned about potential drying impact from alcohol. But, a while back i picked up an alcohol  based splash, with synthetic cooling and witch hazel, from House of Mammoth (technically Chicago Grooming formula), as part of a set. Not sure I will be able to go back to Thayers or a pure witch hazel based solution with what feels like a more pleasing outcome from the alcohol splash.

I didn't want to derail Dave's thread so I copied your post over to my Journal. Like you, I have stayed away from alcohol as it can be very detrimental to my face. But I am interested in the Mammoth one you picked up. Can you tell me more about it? Thanks!

Dave doesn't mind his thread being used EVER

On the post, Thayers and Stirling witch hazel variants were my primary post care, as I was concerned about potential drying impact from alcohol. But, a while back i picked up an alcohol  based splash, with synthetic cooling and witch hazel, from House of Mammoth (technically Chicago Grooming formula), as part of a set. Not sure I will be able to go back to Thayers or a pure witch hazel based solution with what feels like a more pleasing outcome from the alcohol splash.

I didn't want to derail Dave's thread so I copied your post over to my Journal. Like you, I have stayed away from alcohol as it can be very detrimental to my face. But I am interested in the Mammoth one you picked up. Can you tell me more about it? Thanks!

Sure. The HoM splash was initially an impulse to complete a set and try out an alcohol based aftershave. The HoM formulation is based on the latest generation of Chicago Grooming Co splash. The base ingredients of alcohol and witch hazel seem to be fairly common across nicer splashes. The HoM formulation continues on to include a number of oils, squalane, and seemingly other emollients that should offset some of the drying effects and provide skin health benefits. Having said all of that I always follow on with a moisturizer so I have never just used the splash alone. And I imagine higher end brands, or ones that have skincare knowledge, probably look to address this with their own formulations.

When I am done with something like Thayers or Stirling witch hazel my skin doesn't feel refreshed, for lack of a better description. It does with HoM. I historically don't like mentholated splashes but the synthetic cooling in the HoM provides a slow time release and is not overwhelming. 

While I have not yet tried it, I know Ethos incorporates a number of beneficial ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, in its own formulation of splash as well. So it might be another one to consider. It is next on my list.

On the post, Thayers and Stirling witch hazel variants were my primary post care, as I was concerned about potential drying impact from alcohol. But, a while back i picked up an alcohol  based splash, with synthetic cooling and witch hazel, from House of Mammoth (technically Chicago Grooming formula), as part of a set. Not sure I will be able to go back to Thayers or a pure witch hazel based solution with what feels like a more pleasing outcome from the alcohol splash.

I didn't want to derail Dave's thread so I copied your post over to my Journal. Like you, I have stayed away from alcohol as it can be very detrimental to my face. But I am interested in the Mammoth one you picked up. Can you tell me more about it? Thanks!

Sure. The HoM splash was initially an impulse to complete a set and try out an alcohol based aftershave. The HoM formulation is based on the latest generation of Chicago Grooming Co splash. The base ingredients of alcohol and witch hazel seem to be fairly common across nicer splashes. The HoM formulation continues on to include a number of oils, squalane, and seemingly other emollients that should offset some of the drying effects and provide skin health benefits. Having said all of that I always follow on with a moisturizer so I have never just used the splash alone. And I imagine higher end brands, or ones that have skincare knowledge, probably look to address this with their own formulations.

When I am done with something like Thayers or Stirling witch hazel my skin doesn't feel refreshed, for lack of a better description. It does with HoM. I historically don't like mentholated splashes but the synthetic cooling in the HoM provides a slow time release and is not overwhelming. 

While I have not yet tried it, I know Ethos incorporates a number of beneficial ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, in its own formulation of splash as well. So it might be another one to consider. It is next on my list.

To me Ethos SFS is "The Bomb" Pricey but the BOMB

Like Dave in KY, ETHOS SFS is “the BOMB” (and pricey) for me too. 

rocket, it sounds like you have a pretty good list!  I’ll be interested to hear your impressions and comparisons.

Like Dave in KY, ETHOS SFS is “the BOMB” (and pricey) for me too. 

rocket, it sounds like you have a pretty good list!  I’ll be interested to hear your impressions and comparisons.

Like Dave in KY, ETHOS SFS is “the BOMB” (and pricey) for me too. 

rocket, it sounds like you have a pretty good list!  I’ll be interested to hear your impressions and comparisons.

Like Dave in KY, ETHOS SFS is “the BOMB” (and pricey) for me too. 

rocket, it sounds like you have a pretty good list!  I’ll be interested to hear your impressions and comparisons.

Mike, You're stuttering again Sorry, I couldn't resist....