PSA:

I bloom soaps. Not always, but sometimes. I get wonderful lather. Badger, boar, synthetic - doesn't matter. Any soap can lather with any brush. Blooming is a choice. I don't judge those who don't bloom. There are many more important things to care and worry about.

Great picture, Joseph! Like always, terrific write up.

Wonderful picture, Mark!

Nice shave, Bill!

Thank you, Patrick!

IMO you should really re-visit the theory of brushes being paired to soaps. I think once you get a soap dialed in, you should be able to use any brush with any soap. It really isn't the tools as much as it is the technique. In others words (and the 30DC mantra): Technique Trumps Tools.

Pretty picture, Jason!

@BlueShaver, John, In different regions of the US, there are minerals in the water that make it "hard". These salts attach to the soap that make lathering difficult and blooming necessary.

And an update-I never made it over there.....left the car battery on last night...AAA had to come get it restarted for me. The event is every Wednesday of this month, so there's always next week.

Beautiful setup David!

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Yep, along with some ocean front property in Arizona.

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Another winning combo, Terry. Do you always use a splash and a balm together?

Just beautiful, Jim. I had the Stirling Bay Rum in the 1oz sample size. Liked it, but probably not enough to get a full tub. Maybe another sample is a good idea.

Sounds like a great start to the day, Perry!

Awesome, Gary! A wave in the blade? I have 'snipped' the tab off of the one end of the blade before- sometimes a modern blade will have too much tension on it. Not often, but I can tell when it will be an issue.

Good luck on your last few days there, Jim. You have been there for quite some time, and I know how tough that can be.

Just a wonderful photo, Clint. Interestingly, Lavender is not a favourite scent of mine, so your usual excellent enabling isn't working today!

What a brush, Mark! The random dark hair in the knot seems to indicate an Omega?

Great pic, Joseph. Ahh yes, every Wednesday people get very excited when they get Williams to lather...

Great shave indeed, Bill!

Thank you, Jason!

Thanks Gary!

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Hoping and praying for the best, Rick

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A pre-war fat handle tech is the "best of breed" for sure! If you aren't looking for a beauty queen I think I have one I could hook you up with.

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Awesome progress!

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Awesome shave with the 1924 shoveled, Terry!

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Beautiful shot Jim!

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I can use my 404 with this soap without blooming, it requires faffing about which goes away if i use a brush better suited for a hard puck.

Isn't that the actual point of having different things? To use the best one for the situation? Why else have variation?

As an analogy I could, actually walk to the shop in my slippers, however, wearing shoes, or better still, my walking shoes, would be the correct and logical decision. This reinforces the need for variety rather than one job, one tool.