James @jtface, welcome to the 30DC! I notice you said you were planning to get a new -- and presumably better -- brush at the end of your first 30 days. And you were planning on the Semogue SOC boar brush....

As you can see from my shave report a few posts above this one, I am the less-than-enthusiastic owner of a Semogue SOC cherrywood boar brush. As such, allow me to heartily recommend that you NOT buy this brush!

The wood and the workmanship of the handle is beautiful; the quality of the knot is tending to the other end of the spectrum. I have found that it is floppy and lacking in backbone and lately it has started shedding. In fact I am seriously considering installing a synthetic knot worthy of the handle in place of the original boar offering. I note that Jared @PickledNorthern, who is one of our resident brush gurus here (sounds better than saying he is an uncontrollable brush collector), just commented that his last couple Semogues shed to the point that he has given up on the brand.

If you want a boar brush, get an Omega -- much better knot at about 1/3 the price of the SOC. A lot of guys here have Omega brushes or Omega knots refitted into other handles and seem to be universally happy with them.

Or if you just want a good, different brush, for the same price or less than you will pay for that Semogue SOC boar, you can get any number of excellent synthetics and even a couple of badgers. I know that Stirling (the soap company) offers an economical badger brush that is highly praised by its owners, including Jared. And Stirling also sells synthetic models that are highly rated. If you want to ask for suggestions, the guys here will be happy to chip in with more comments...

Thanks, Clint. I played a couple of rounds in the Excalibur Club on the B&B forum, then decided to give that up. What's the point of proving you can get dozens of shaves out of a blade when for the last month the shaves aren't enjoyable because the blade is dull and tuggy?

Well, if I wanted to treat myself to a really nice boar brush, maybe something old school looking along the lines of an SOC, the first place I would look would be @Jayaruh. That guy has put some Omega knots into some amazing handles. Check out the Jayaruh Owners Club thread. I have a few in buried in there.

Just my two cents, but IMO, a better brush in a one of a kind handle.

Welcome to the thread!

Nice photo of very nice gear.

Super gear, Jared.
I wish your daughter well on her auditions. I know from my wife that those can be incredibly stressful. It will be great for her that you are there.

Nice pic, John.
Yup, live is too short to shave with a dull blade.

Oooh, yes! That would be an excellent option for you, James @jtface! The downside of Omegas is that they come with rather undistinguished plastic handles. @Jayaruh makes his own special lathe-turned wooden handles, then fits them with knots. For synthetics and badgers, he buys custom knots from various vendors. For boar brushes, the best knots available are made by Omega, which doesn't sell them separately, so he buys new Omega brushes, cracks the plastic handles to get out the knots undamaged, then installs them in his handles. Last time I looked, the cost of the donor Omega brush and his special wooden handle still runs you less than the Semogue SOC does. If I had had my head on straight, I would have checked his offerings before I ever got that Semogue...

Thanks. On both counts.

February 11 SOTD:

Razor: Gem Junior
Blade: Gem Stainless
Brush: Stirling Kong
Lather: Crown King Atomic Age Bay Rum
Aftershave: Crown King Atomic Age Bay Rum
Additional Care:
Stirling Unscented PSB

It's been a hit and miss weekend for our household. My wife and oldest daughter got a stomach bug on Thursday, followed by my middle daughter late that night. By Friday afternoon everyone seemed on the mend, but late Friday night my son got it, and I got it Saturday morning. My stomach is still a little off, but we pulled it all together for my youngest daughter's 2nd birthday today. I skipped the shave yesterday, but got one in today with my favorite Bay Rum scent. It was two passes for a DFS. I was supposed to work this weekend as we have an outage going on, so there was one positive about getting sick. I hope everyone has been doing well.

@jtface

I have two of the JR 400 series handles. One in synthetic, and one badger:



I really want to get one made in boar to round out the set. Something similar to this. I really like the ferrule:

Lots of great photos, shave reports and general posts today, gentlemen! I hope everyone had a blessed Sunday and is heading into a great week!

I'm not sure if I should thank you for this soap and aftershave report or not... I really like almond and like Cella in particular. I tried an almond splash by Soapy Bathman but had a reaction to a fragrance oil in it and had to give up on it. This looks like it might be a possibility instead ... once my NB'18 is over...

Best of luck to your daughter in her auditions and performances and to you in providing the moral support during them...

Sorry to hear that everyone is ill, Jim. Get well soon.
Fantastic photo, at least!

X2

When you get a @Jayaruh brush, you get a beautiful work of art that you can use daily. I have one in synthetic and one in boar, and both are wonderful.

Oof. Glad you are all shaking that one off. Happy birthday to your little one. hope the week shakes out better.

Awww man...that stinks. This seems to be one of the worst years in a long time for sickness.

Happy birthday to your daughter!!!

Great photo and nice setup! Love the filter effect!

Thank you, Jason! You would hardly know the kids were sick. My wife and I are the only ones still struggling with it.

Thank you, Jared!

Thank you, Bruce! This is the first time we have had a sickness go through the whole family since we had just one daughter, so we have been blessed on that front. The flu has been terrible around here, so a little stomach bug isn't too bad all things considered.

Glad to hear that it’s starting to pass at least. I ended up with the flu this year, and I seldom ever get sick. It’s been many years. I don’t recommend getting it. Somehow my wife managed to avoid it - thankfully. It seems to have swept through the nation with a vengeance this year.

Get well quick you all!