Thread: Thoughts for newbies using different soaps, brushes, etc.

Here's just some thoughts for people new to straight razor shaving and using different soaps and/or brushes. Not suggestions, just thoughts resulting from my limited experience. 1 1/2 years at this now so I'm not an expert at all. Part of shaving is creating a good lather. That takes practice at knowing the proper amount of soap on the brush and the correct amount of water. I use a scuttle but I guess face lathering is the same for the purposes of my suggestion. I experimented with different brushes and different soaps for the variety and to see if I liked something someone on the forum recommended for any given reason. About 3 months ago I was still very inconsistent at getting a really nice lather the way I like it. So I started using only Mitchell's wool fat soap and an Omega 66 boar brush. These are my favorite soap and brush right now. Using the same soap and brush all the time resulted in me now being able to get a perfect lather every shave. I know exactly how much water to shake off my brush after soaking it. I know how much soap to apply to the brush with the correct amount of water still in the brush. It's hard to know this when I was trying different soaps and brushes all the time. So now that I'm consistent with my lather I feel like now I can use different soaps (same brush) to see differences. I love Proraso menthol cream but so far my lather consistency is inconsistent. That's because I don't use it all the time. Now I think I'll use it every shave with the same brush. In just a few shaves maybe I'll have a perfect lather every shave by knowing how much soap and water I need. THEN I'll be more likely to know how much I like it (or not). A great soap and brush together that creates a lousy lather because I didn't use them together enough times may lead me to think I don't like the soap or brush.

My thoughts are to stick with the same thing until you know enough about it to be able to make a decent judgement. Now I'll use the Omega 66 boar with Proraso menthol soap (really a cream I think). If my lather is lousy my shave probably won't be the best and I may blame the soap. Then I'll cheat myself out of using a soap I love because I'm lousy at creating a lather with that soap. After a few shaves I may try a badger brush with the same soap. Several people like softer brushes when using softer soaps or creams I think. We all need to judge for ourselves though. That's the ONE thing that is for sure.

Just some thoughts.

Jack

Yes, the fewer the variables the less problem there is isolating what went wrong or even right. Keep it simple, there are virtually no soaps or creams that cannot be lathered with any brush be it boar, badger, synthetic or horse. In most cases it is operator error not a failure of the particular brush and soap/cream combination.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Yes, the fewer the variables the less problem there is isolating what went wrong or even right. Keep it simple, there are virtually no soaps or creams that cannot be lathered with any brush be it boar, badger, synthetic or horse. In most cases it is operator error not a failure of the particular brush and soap/cream combination.

Bob

Operator error. Exactly. I'm still looking for a decent hammer. All the ones I've bought so far only hit fingers.

Jack

A lot of new people seem to think that by buying a more expensive brush and or soap their problems lathering will go away. If you can't get a good lather from Arko and a $10.00 boar brush throwing money at it may not help any. Same holds true for the other hardware associated with shaving. So long as a razor is have ready be it a used $50.00 one or a NOS vintage or Custom big buck one the quality of shave is up to the operator for the most part. The idea of buying a better shave does not always work.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Yes, the fewer the variables the less problem there is isolating what went wrong or even right. Keep it simple, there are virtually no soaps or creams that cannot be lathered with any brush be it boar, badger, synthetic or horse. In most cases it is operator error not a failure of the particular brush and soap/cream combination.

Bob

I think this is very true. Practice with Williams soap until you can get a good shaving lather. Once you accomplish this you can get a good lather with almost any soap.

Originally Posted by rolodave

I think this is very true. Practice with Williams soap until you can get a good shaving lather. Once you accomplish this you can get a good lather with almost any soap.

True enough about the Williams but it is enough to try anyone's patience before you get there. At least it did mine.

Bob

A great point Jack. It extends from sosps and brushes to razors and strops as well. Learning with one of each is quicker than trying to learn with multiple of each. I know from first hand experience. Once I started with the same items again and again it came together much quicker.

Good thread! This is what the 30 day rule is all about. It seems to get buried on the forums until someone comes along and brings it up again. It should be a sticky in every beginner section of every wet shaving forum.
To reiterate, the 30 day rule is one soap, one brush, one razor for thirty days when beginning wet shaving. get your technique down with these first, before moving into the plethora of options there are in this thing we do.

As a newb, (about 6 months wet shaving, 4 months straight shaving) I have to agree with everything mentioned here. The fewer the variables the better the chances of success. Learn the basics first and keep it simple to begin this journey. Knowing the basics will make trying new brushes, soaps, blades etc even more enjoyable.