Arko August 2022

[InkStainedWretch]

August 1

This morning, I used an Astra Platinum (20) that was already loaded intoa UK Gillette Rocket. My ARKO stick is getting short, but was fine for face lathering with a Yaqi 24mm badger (I'm pretty sure this one is called Mysterious Space). One small weeper to my chin.

He anyone else noticed that Yaqi brush sizes are inconsistent across brushes? The 26mm Moka Express is much bigger that this 24mm.

 

[NorthernSoul]

August 1

...Has anyone else noticed that Yaqi brush sizes are inconsistent across brushes? The 26mm Moka Express is much bigger that this 24mm.

I've got the two-band bulb Mysterious Space brush. It's officially a 24mm knot, but seems bigger than some other brush knots I've got of the same nominal size (like a Semogue SOC). Any bigger and it would awkward to use, so I did not try the larger sizes from Yaqi.

 

[ChriWilson]

* Cross Posted from August GRUME

Scent - My puck was dated 09/2018. Given that, I did not find this puck to be overpowering nor offensive. The smell is familiar to me but I cannot place it definitively. I can pickup on why this soap is described as industrial; I also could describe this as clean and fresh. I can pick up the citronella finish, but I would not use that as a primary descriptor.

True story - passing the facilities at the beach yesterday evening provided the same aroma...

Performance - I have the tendency to load soaps or bases unfamiliar to me rather, on the heavier side. Not obscenely heavy but definitely more than enough. This allows me to create a proper and dense lather without worry that it dries or thins out quickly. I have to say that it provided a very comfortable shave and the aroma dissipated quicker than say Tabac's would. I cannot rate the post-shave or what some have attributed to drying as I applied a balm afterward. I will add that I found that the soap dried at the tail end of each pass, when I finish on my chin. I'm sure this will self-correct as I get more dialed in; but I circumvent by using a wetter than normal razor. Using Stirling Green completely buried any residual trace of Arko scent...

Overall - Being this as my first use I have nothing to complain about; very positive and in this small tub form would make as a great travel soap. Fairly inexpensive for 90g, but I will reserve a full summary for end of month.

• No Pre-Shave Oil
• ARKO (SOTM)
• Omega Pro 49 Boar
• Weishi 9306p - Wilkinson TTO
• Gillette PermaSharp (2)
• Kiehl's Blue Astringent
• Stirling Splash
• Nivea Soothing (Sensitive) Post-Shave Balm

 

[FoolishMortal]

Updated with our late arrivals.

Arko August 2022 Participants List

Arko Gung-ho (all Arko, all August)

1. FoolishMortal
2. steveclarkus
3. Multum in parvo
4. Big_T
5. RumpleBearskin
6. DalShaver
7. ajkel64
8. bluesman 7
9. InkStainedWretch
10. bdehne
11. Egmont
12. alla2465
13. Uberbey
14. Draig
15. Yura_
16. Arbor Man
17. Steve56 (unless he's not)
18. JayFromBrooklyn
19. psfred

Arko on the Down-low (some Arko, sometimes)

1. RenoRichard
2. timetofly
3. Ravenrock
4. Butch Waxx - ?
5. ewk
6. tjsgarden
7. Ted A
8. Kix
9. PRobots
10. shave/brush
11. La Malice
12. NorthernSoul
13. 1Pet5_8
14. redrako
15. ChriWilson

Arko-Boarko-Loko (All Arko, plus boar brushes only)

1. Lee93
2. Messygoon
3. P1CO
4. ksblazer
5. BaPh96
6. cryhavoc
7. rbscebu

Arko MakeItUpAsYouGoGo (your Arko, your way)

1. FarmerTan - he's 97% BoarShark
2. South Dakota Guy - a little Arko, a little Sharko
3. Vulcan Bubbles - 97%er
4. borwish - all Arko, some Sharko
5. Robbie7 - Arko-Sharko all the way
6. KMF79 - All the things! (Arko, Sharko, Boarko, Aventus - oh!)
7. Alohawyatt - It's a mystery...
8. JCarr - Arko-Sharko all the way

Arko is a no-go (no Arko, no way)

• Mike M

 

[Messygoon]

Razor: Rockwell 6S, plate 4
Blade: Astra Superior Stainless (2)
Brush: Zenith aluminum boar, 27mm
Soap: Arko
Aftershave: Proraso Aloe & Vitamin E balm
Growth: 24 hours
Passes: WTG, ATG, cleanup
Rating: 9/10

Great start to August. Arko's soapy lather cleans deeply; perfect for St. Louis's sweltering August days. I did have to reload for a second pass, a rarity for me. Yet, the performance of this $2 stick simply boggles the mind. @FarmerTan would be proud!

 

[FoolishMortal]

Arko 1st:

SOTD

• Thin-cap Old Type
• Nacet (15)
• Semogue Taj Boar
• ARKO! - SOTM and Arko August
• WH w/menthol, LTFT
• Stirling South Padre ASB
• Stirling Bergamot and Lavender AS

No shaves over the weekend meant that I had a lot to work with today. The TCOT, with short strokes and no pressure, made quick work of the whiskers.

This was my first use of Arko since last August. The stick was mooshed into a container from another soap, with a tight-fitting lid, so it still has some scent and was soft-ish to boot. My Taj seems to be the most lather-hoggish of the group (go figure), but using Arko meant that I was not lacking for lather, and there was minimal warmth from the aftershave, even though the TCOT is generally a bit rough on the XTG/ATG pass. Nice.

Onward!

 

[Messygoon]

I'm off to a flying start working my way through my English M7DS with an ARKO stick faced lathered with a Proraso Pro boar brush. DFS+ result.

View attachment 1497360​

Did you jump the gun, or are you going to pull the "I'm on other side of the International Date Line" excuse?

G'day mate! Hope all is well with you in the land down under. Beautiful set up, by the way!

 

[ChriWilson]

August 1

He anyone else noticed that Yaqi brush sizes are inconsistent across brushes? The 26mm Moka Express is much bigger that this 24mm.

View attachment 1497784

My Moka Express in 26mm is extremely dense

 

[FarmerTan]

Razor: Rockwell 6S, plate 4
Blade: Astra Superior Stainless (2)
Brush: Zenith aluminum boar, 27mm
Soap: Arko
Aftershave: Proraso Aloe & Vitamin E balm
Growth: 24 hours
Passes: WTG, ATG, cleanup
Rating: 9/10

Great start to August. Arko's soapy lather cleans deeply; perfect for St. Louis's sweltering August days. I did have to reload for a second pass, a rarity for me. Yet, the performance of this $2 stick simply boggles the mind. @FarmerTan would be proud!

View attachment 1497738

I need to shave tonight. I think I am FINALLY over the werstest of my second confirmed covid go-round. This time I only shaved twice, and tonight I think I will get rid of this 5? day growth. ArkoSharko for me, I think.

 

[StewB]

I used Arko this morning for the first day of Arko August. It was Arkorific!

 

[ChriWilson]

I need to shave tonight. I think I am FINALLY over the werstest of my second confirmed covid go-round. This time I only shaved twice, and tonight I think I will get rid of this 5? day growth. ArkoSharko for me, I think.

Stay well doggone ...

 

[ewk]

ARKO AUGUST -- Shave 1

Razor: Karve D
Blade: Sharp Jaws
Brush: TOBS badger
Soap: ARKO
A/S: Aqua Velva

Great start to Arko August.

 

[bdehne]

I need to shave tonight. I think I am FINALLY over the werstest of my second confirmed covid go-round. This time I only shaved twice, and tonight I think I will get rid of this 5? day growth. ArkoSharko for me, I think.

Get well soon and enjoy the shave!

 

[ajkel64]

Arko August shave number two for me today. Another good shave today with the Gillette MiLord and an Astra SP.

 

[cryhavoc]

Razor: Schick L2 Schick Stick
Blade: Schick Injector (18)
Soap: Arko stick
Brush: VDH Boar
AS: Bootlegger's Green Freeze

A great Arko shave

 

[Big_T]

Arko August #2

Razor: Razorock Lupo .72, haloed UFO handle
Blade: Feather (1)
Soap: Arko stick, bowl lathered
Brush: Omega Boar
AS: Stirling Barbershop Balm

 

[Eric_75]

A great Arko shave

 

[NorthernSoul]

ARKO August 2

Razor: Gillette New Short Comb (replated with nickel)
Blade: BIC Chrome Platinum (2)
Brush: Omega 80080 beehive boar
Soap: ARKO stick + Saponificio Bignoli Mediterranean Citrus
A/S: La Toja splash + Osage Rub

DFS+

 

[tjsgarden]

Advanced Arkoliffic Arkological Achievements at Arkoland in August...Day 2

Rockwell 6S, plate 4
Astra Platinum
Arko stick
Omega Italian and Razorock Plissoft
Shave 2X WTG using Slide technique

Today I wanted to directly compare the cheek feel of both brushes. On the first pass, I used the Italian on the left side of my face and neck and the Razorock synthetic on the other side. I switched sides during the second pass.
The Plissoft tips were softer but with less pressure, the Italian was almost as soft. The Omega brush is still a work in progress. I think with further break-in (and less brushing pressure) the boar brush will get even softer.

Every time I use the Rockwell I am reminded that this is a great razor.

As a side note, I was born in Arkansas. Back in the "olden" days it was common to use 3 or 4 letters to identify states.
Ark. was a common abbreviation back in the 60s. For that reason I guess you could say I was born an Arkolian.

Good Day To All!

 

[RenoRichard]

August 2nd, I put the Arko stick up front last night so I'd remember to use it today; a two-pass shave, with some tugging, but in the end a close enough shave scoring 8/10:

Razor: Maxwell June twinned DE
Blade: Schick Krona SS- vintage (16)- now retired having delivered over two weeks of fine shaves
Lather: Arko stick
Brush: Omega 10108 boar- a very good low-cost option, but not as nice for me as the Omega Jade or the Zenith 506 unbleached
Post: rinse, then a little Lucky Tiger to hopefully prevent any post-shave itchy neck

Have some wonderful shaves!