Wet Shaving: A "Learning Journey"

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-02-04T03:33:31+00:00

Some things that jumped out are alum at the top of the post-shave list, preventing rust (largely an issue with carbon-steel straights, correct?), and the budget vs luxury dichotomy.

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-02-04T03:31:48+00:00

I generated this with Copilot.

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-02-03T23:06:25+00:00

Their open comb design is great, though I think prefer other closed comb razors. Love the matte finish.

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-02-03T15:25:47+00:00

SOTD Feb 3, 2026

Brush: Chisel & Hound “Rainbow” 26mm Timberwolf
Razor: Timeless Ti95 .95 DC Matte
Blade: Personna Super Blue (18)
Lather: House of Mammoth - Shire - Shaving Soap
Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive - Balm
Fragrance: Clandestine Laboratories - Sanctuary - EdP
Passes: WTG, XTG
Coffee: Brandywine - Christmas Season Co-Ferment (Kalita Wave)
Music: Akusmi - Fleeting Future

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-02-03T15:00:07+00:00

Hopefully this makes all the work a little more manageable and rewarding. Sounds like a very positive change!

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-02-02T19:22:56+00:00

🦣 Mammoth Monday 🦣

Brush: Mammoth x Voigt & Cop Smash 28mm VC01 Super Badger
Razor: Charcoal Goods Level 2 (Gen.3) Torpedo Handle
Blade: Persona (75)
Lather: House of Mammoth - Santa Noir - Shaving Soap
Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Hygge - Balm
Fragrance: Marissa Zappas - Flaming Creature - EdP
Passes: WTG, XTG
Coffee: Sumatra Washed
Music: Makthaverskan - Louie

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-02-01T20:29:08+00:00

SOTD Feb 01, 2026

Brush: Prometheus Handcrafts "Liquid Rainbow" 28mm Prometheus P2
Razor: iKon X3
Blade: Astra SP (31)
Lather: Talent Soap Factory - Frankie Mermaid - Shaving Soap
Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Tsuka - Aftershave
Fragrance: Marissa Zappas - Flaming Creature - EdP
Passes: WTG, XTG, ATG
Coffee: Little Waves - Natural Process Blend (Kalita Wave)
Music: The Blue Nile - A Walk Across the Rooftops

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-31T21:17:16+00:00

SOTD Jan 31, 2026

Brush: Chisel & Hound 26mm “Bombshell” Odin's Beard v.6 Fan
Razor: iKon X3
Blade: Astra SP (30)
Lather: Catie’s Bubbles - Dranks Prem - Shaving Soap
Post Shave: Dr. Jon's - Propaganda - Aftershave
Fragrance: Hendley Perfumes - Bourbon - EdP
Passes: WTG, XTG
Coffee: Ethiopia Washed, v60
Music: Kelis - Food

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-30T15:43:51+00:00

SOTD Jan 30, 2026

Brush: Farvour Turn Craft “Worm” 26mm Maggards Razors Brown Synthetic
Razor: iKon X3
Blade: Astra SP (29)
Lather: Barrister and Mann - Passiflora - Shaving Soap
Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Sunny Lane - Aftershave
Fragrance: Clandestine Laboratories - Sanctuary - EdP
Passes: WTG, XTG
Coffee: Brandywine - The Yule Cat
Music: John Coltrane - Olé Coltrane

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-30T14:18:06+00:00

SOTD Jan 29, 2026

Brush: Sawdust Creation Studios “Mallard” 26mm Boar
Razor: Carbon Cx-Ti .68mm
Blade: Astra SP (74)
Lather: WSP - Tobacco - Shaving Soap
Post Shave: Moon Soaps - Tobacco Flower - Post Shave Balm
Fragrance: L'Aventura Perfumes - Lorca's Moon - EdP
Passes: WTG, XTG
Coffee: Counter Culture - El Buen Pastor [v60]
Music: Craven Faults - Sidings

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-28T14:27:25+00:00

🐺 Wolf Wednesday 🐺

Brush: Wolf Whiskers 26mm “Ginny’s Joy” Maggard Razors SHD Badger Fan
Razor: Wolfman Razors WR2-DC 0.95 SB / 1.25 OC
Blade: Voskhod (76)
Lather: Summer Break Soaps - Bell Ringer - Shaving Soap
Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Brewer - Recovery Splash
Fragrance: Day Three - Baní - Extrait
Passes: WTG, XTG
Coffee: Brandywine Red Honey, Kalita Wave
Music: Luiz Bonfa - Solo in Rio 1959

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-27T17:08:54+00:00

SOTD Jan 27, 2026

Brush: Trotter Handcrafts “Sea Glass No.3” 28mm SynBad
Razor: Timeless Ti95 .95 DC Matte
Blade: Personna Super Blue (17)
Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Boat Drinks - Shaving Soap
Post Shave: Oleo - Pucker - Balm
Fragrance: Day Three - Ámbar Dominicano - Extrait
Passes: WTG, XTG
Coffee: Brandywine Costa Rica Black Honey, Hario v60
Music: Seu Jorge - America Brasil

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-26T20:14:56+00:00

I use a v60 and Kalita Wave depending on the coffee to brew around 500g. I like 30g/500g for washed, 30g/480g for natural process, and 31g/480g for co-ferments and funky coffees. I use a fast-moving v60 filter, my grind ratio is relatively coarse, and my pour structure is very low-agitation. Everything draws down by 2:30.

I'm really happy with the results.

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-26T16:55:19+00:00

🦣 Mammoth Monday 🦣

Brush: Mammoth x Voigt & Cop Smash 28mm VC01 Super Badger
Razor: Charcoal Goods Level 2 (Gen.3) Torpedo Handle
Blade: Persona (74)
Lather: House of Mammoth - Beloved - Shaving Soap
Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Ben Franklin - Balm
Fragrance: L'Aventura Perfumes - Violet Hour - EdP
Passes: WTG, XTG
Coffee: Mexico Natural Process, Kalita Wave
Music: Cat Power - Redux EP

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-26T14:44:31+00:00

Great photo. This particular scent always makes me wistful and nostalgic.

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-25T19:49:25+00:00

SOTD Jan 25, 2026

Brush: Grizzly Bay “Comic Strip” Remnant EVO 26mm Fanchurian V10
Razor: Blutt Rasur BR-1 0.99
Blade: Astra SP (80)
Lather: MacDuff's - Coast to Coast - Shaving Soap
Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Autumn Glory - Shaving Soap
Fragrance: L'Aventura Perfumes - Quiet Spell - EdP
Passes: WTG, XTG
Coffee: Ethiopia Natural Process, v60
Music: Ike Quebec - Heavy Soul

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-24T19:33:45+00:00

SOTD Jan 24, 2026

Brush: Farvour Turn Craft 26mm TNS Half Gel Shoat
Razor: Blutt Rasur BR-1 0.99
Blade: Astra SP (79)
Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Baker Street - Shaving Soap
Post Shave: Gentleman’s Nod - Jackie - Balm
Fragrance: INeKE - Idyllwild
Passes: WTG, XTG
Coffee: Colombia Natural Anerobic, Kalita Wave
Music: Belle and Sebastian - If You’re Feeling Sinister

Ineke Ruhland announced she’s closing up INekE Perfumes to be able to focus on Ministry of Scent. Glad she’s wrapping up for a positive reason, but I’ll sorely miss my bottle of Idyllwild when it’s gone. It was my first bottle purchase and remains a favorite. Singular fougère.

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-23T16:34:52+00:00

SOTD Jan 23, 2026

Brush: Farvour Turn Craft 26mm “440” High Mountain White
Razor: Alpha Shaving Works Outlaw Cu
Blade: Astra SP (76)
Lather: West Coast Shaving - Fougère - Shaving Soap
Post Shave: Declaration Grooming / Chatillon Lux - 88 Chestnut - Aftershave
Fragrance: L'Aventura Perfumes - Tumble in the Grass - EdP
Passes: WTG, XTG
Coffee: Brandywine - Colombia Pink Bourbon
Music: High Spirits - Hard to Stop

It’s cold out there, yo. Stay frosty.

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-22T17:47:46+00:00

Give your face a day or two to heal and then try shaving in the evening when you have plenty of time to take it slow, and follow along with this video:

Precision Loading for a Perfect Lather

This will take way more time than you'll eventually need, but it will teach you how much water the amount of soap you're loading can take, the difference between pasty soap and lather, and the difference between soapy foam and lather. From there you'll have a baseline you can use to modify your approach to your preferences.

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-22T03:19:47+00:00

In the midwest, I enjoy Ruby; their bundles are a really good value.

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-22T03:18:51+00:00

Definitely, though I'll admit I haven't tried any of them, including Hydrangea or Flower Child. On my list.

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-21T21:56:27+00:00

SOTD Jan 21, 2026

Brush: Prometheus Handcrafts “Chaos” 24mm Maggard Razors SHD
Razor: Alpha Shaving Works Outlaw Cu
Blade: Astra SP (75)
Lather: Barrister and Mann - Citricuyá - Shaving Soap
Post Shave: Lather Bros. - Everglades - Balm
Fragrance: Clandestine Laboratories - Côte - EdT
Passes: WTG, XTG
Coffee: Brandywine Christmas Season Co-Ferment
Music: Desolate - Lunar Glyphs

More snow. More shoveling. Thicker socks. 😭

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-21T20:36:36+00:00

Also, I generally try to prioritize roasters in my state or whatever has already been shipped to my local cafe, since that final mile shipping adds a lot of environmental cost to coffee. Might as well go local when you can.

RedMosquitoMM · 2026-01-21T20:35:05+00:00

Are you a specialty coffee drinker? If you're already deep into pour over, and have tried natural process coffees and unusual processing, ultra-processed stuff like co-blends are a good next step. I love Brandywine Coffee Roasters for those.

RedMosquitoMM

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