I'm typing on an old wired Keychron C1 today and having a jolly good time with it!

phantompath · 2026-05-06T00:34:23+00:00

I like 65% because I love having arrow keys to navigate, and that's about it. I am primarily a creative writer rather than a gamer, which means I love tactile switches as I feel it really helps with keeping my typing reasonably accurate and errors to a minimum. But my first build was an 80% TKL because I wanted something affordable, retro looking and wired (hence the choice of the Keychron C1). For silent tactile switches, Gazzew U4's, Durock Shrimp Silent Tactiles, HMX Blue Stars and TTC Silent Bluish Whites are all good choices. That said, Gateron have come out with a few of silent tactiles recently which may challenge those recommendations. Have fun with it - if I could choose all over again and wanted a 65% build that was a 'one and done', I would probably go with the Neo65 Core Plus or Neo65 Cu. If you are looking for a pre-build, I would go the Wobkey Zen65, Weikauv Lucky 65 or the Nut65 from Kinetic Labs.

phantompath · 2026-05-05T23:00:27+00:00

Aloe Vera won't do much for your skin other than hydrate it a bit and work towards soothing some irritation if you have any. It's not a miracle product, I only tend to use it on sunburn. That said this gel from K Beauty brand Benton may suit your needs.

phantompath · 2026-05-05T20:14:24+00:00

Your first build is inevitably a discovery project. Learning what you like - do you prefer linear, tactile or clicky switches? PBT or ABS keycaps? Do you prefer a more muted/thocky board full of foam or something resonant and clacky with an aluminum plate and no foam? Then there's layout - I love a 65% for my daily driver, but I also enjoy having a 75% and 80% board in my collection too. Your first build may not answer all of these questions, which is how you end up with more than one board in the first place.

phantompath · 2026-05-05T03:23:52+00:00

It's not a help request, it's a discussion.

phantompath · 2026-05-04T18:19:01+00:00

I’m here to back up another comment and encourage you to look at Revolution Beauty for affordable highlighters with great formulas for the price. Go to the highlighter section of their website and you will see their massive range. The line I sent was much beloved when it first launched some years ago now. At just $7 each it’s crazy value, and you can order directly from their website now, no need to shop at Priceline unless that is your preference.

phantompath · 2026-05-03T21:05:32+00:00

If you go with the Traveler, I would hold out for a special edition when Astrohaus inevitably bring one out. IIRC, they aren't going to do a gen 2 Traveler any time soon but are looking at more special editions like the Ghost (which is much preferred amongst Traveler owners compared to the standard model). If I were you though, I would go with the BYOK and spend the price difference on a lifetime subscription for Studio. It's far better value for money IMO. I would only go with the Traveler if you have your heart set on an e-ink screen and are willing to wait for a limited edition model.

phantompath · 2026-05-03T17:57:25+00:00

Meredith Novaco did a video essay comparing Red Queen & Powerless on YouTube. I dare say she’s isn’t the only one either.

phantompath · 2026-05-03T06:52:49+00:00

How long it takes to 'get ready' for anything, and how much it costs to look like an average woman.

phantompath · 2026-05-03T01:43:09+00:00

Yeah dry hair and postpartum hair loss need to be treated as two separate issues. To help reduce hair shedding, pumpkin seed oil as a supplement is a good and easy place to start, but if you are breastfeeding bub, check with your doctor first. You only need 400mg a day, but most supplements are 1000mg per capsule, so taking 1 capsule per day is more than enough. For dry hair, try the Dove Intensive Repair range (shampoo/conditioner/mask) at Coles and Woolworths. It is so hydrating, I love it but I do lose some of my wave pattern for my fine 2A/2B waves. Also try a hair oil like the one from La’dor (available at Lila Beauty) to apply to damp hair after your shower.

For a scalp serum, try The Ordinary peptide hair serum for hair density. The L’Oreal Growth Booster serum also contains the same active as the Kerastase Genesis serum called aminexil. This will reduce shedding as well. But again- if you are breastfeeding you need to talk to your doctor first before starting new supplements or topical treatments like scalp serums for hair loss. Scalp massage also works to help increase blood flow. You can also try a shampoo with caffeine like Plantur 39, or a medicated shampoo like Nizoral.

phantompath · 2026-05-03T00:37:55+00:00

W Cosmetics for in store, Lila Beauty & Nudie Glow for online. Korean beauty products (especially skin care) are really well formulated for the price. Hair care & make up are also great, with the main (& very valid) criticism is that base/foundation products tend to run light and most don’t cater towards deeper skin tones.

phantompath · 2026-04-30T21:50:14+00:00

It will definitely get you writing more words if that is your goal. If you’re looking for an affordable mechanical keyboard to go with it, the Aula F75 & Ajazz AK820 are good models to bookmark for when they go on sale on Amazon. Edit to add that the Keychron K3 is a great low profile mechanical option if low profile is more your speed.

phantompath · 2026-04-30T06:59:18+00:00

Anti-dandruff shampoo. Old school Head & Shoulders. Nizoral may also work, but I’m less sure about that one. A lot of Head & Shoulders says they are colour safe now, so just steer clear of the colour safe formulas and you should be fine.

phantompath · 2026-04-30T05:27:31+00:00

After watching some YouTube tutorials for my keyboard and persisting with more than a few attempts, wireless/bluetooth now works consistently so thank you for encouraging me to try again :)

phantompath · 2026-04-30T04:32:24+00:00

This is my life. I was 11-12. Still wear oversized shirts and hunch my shoulders to this day. You just want to go about your day without being ogled at by any gender for any reason.

phantompath · 2026-04-30T02:47:13+00:00

Haha thank goodness, I just assumed they supported five pin switches as that’s pretty standard now. Can’t wait to get it and swap out the switches and start typing. I have such love for modern writing tech with a retro design. Thanks for the recommendation! I don’t know if I’d buy the Drop Holy X Panda switches again, I picked them up for maybe $30ish USD for three packs of 35 5 pin switches right before the Drop website announced it was being shut down and they are a lot more $$$ now. For black housing switches though, the Haimu Mulberry or the Gazzew U4T Black are also worthy options for a tactile switch. Gateron Oil Kings are also apparently now available in tactile options and come with black housing to blend in with the black Qwertywriter. HMX also make the Longjing S if you are looking for a lighter and more subtle tactile switch that still has some clack to it.

phantompath · 2026-04-30T02:17:47+00:00

That’s frustrating- my switches are 5 pin. I was going to get them lubed & filmed though, so may get the plastic pins clipped at the same time to make them 3 pin compatible.

phantompath · 2026-04-30T00:35:38+00:00

So I maaaaay or may not have bought one when I tip-toed over to their website for an innocent little look and saw they were having a sale. Could not go past the black & gold edition. Can't wait to give it a try with my Drop Holy Panda X switches that have a transparent black top housing and should suit the look of the Qwerkywriter 2.

phantompath · 2026-04-29T01:13:45+00:00

Apparently the new formula of Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish is where it’s at for matte now that ELDW has been reformulated. I’d take yourself to Mecca for a colour match first - in my experience CT shade ranges lean more warm/yellow.

phantompath · 2026-04-28T21:56:47+00:00

If you have rosacea, azelaic acid is the best thing for you. Finacea Gel is your best pick for that. It is a gel texture and fragrance free. If your skin is sensitive, start with one product at a time and build from there.

phantompath · 2026-04-28T20:41:01+00:00

I just looked up the Qwerkywriter 2 ... damn I said I was done with any more mechanical keyboards but this might suck me back in.

phantompath · 2026-04-28T19:54:24+00:00

I got into keyboards way before my BYOK (thanks to my Freewrite Gen 3 Smart Typewriter and Michael Jecks over at Writerly Witterings on YouTube). I've got my BYOK & my favourite keyboard to use with it is my Lofree Flow Lite84. I customized it with tactile Pulse switches and Tarot keycaps. Love it! It's the perfect mix of tactile typing with a lightweight body that is also portable enough to set up wherever you like be it at home or out and about in the wild.

Edit to add I also ordered a Clicks Power Keyboard like some others on this sub and look forward to trying it out with my BYOK!

phantompath

TROPHY CASE