Method Shaving Experiment Help Please

Please Help

I am really interested to hear from anyone who has tried Method Shaving for at least three weeks in a row.….

I'm not interested in feelings, speculation or comments on Charles Roberts videos or personal technique from non-method shavers, but I am interest to hear how you personally found the system and what in your opinion were, or are, its high points and low points. Are you still shaving using Hydrolast Products today? or have you modified the technique to suit your own shaving needs or are you still an avid Method Shaver?

Or you quit method shaving because you missed regular shaving products or certain razors or for another reason? Did you find "gloss" unnecessary? Any other reasons for quitting?

More about me…..

I personally have been on a shaving voyage for more than a couple of years and have experimented with many different products, techniques, razors and methods.. and I realise one thing; I love a total BSS with no irritation, however a real BSS with no irritation is hard to achieve especially on the upper lip and lower lip for me, with a straight and with a DE. The DFS for me is not good enough anymore.

Its possible I have developed shaving OCD, but for me a true BSS is not feeling stubble anywhere in any direction at all. I can achieve this with regular products and blade buffing but its not always irritation free. All products are not equal it seems.

So I have decided to set out and experiment with Method Shaving and Hydrolast Products for six weeks straight. I will be trying a new product not yet released called Hydrolast Glossing cream as well as the other standard products in the Hydrolast Range. I'm going back to basics and firstly will use the shave cloth, but may move on to the recommended Synthetic brush at a later date If I feel the need, or I miss my brushes but for now I wan't to learn the Method as Charles Roberts teaches it on his website.

I'm initially going to start with a DE to learn the technique but then I plan to use a Straight to see if I can replicate or better the results. I plan to find out if everyday total BSS shaves with no irritation are possible as claimed.

So any help, comments, pointers or guidance will be most welcome. :)

I had never heard of it, but have done some research.

My method is simpler. I avoid useless preparation, lather with whatever I have and shave, getting BBS shaves. I've lathered with everything from the best soaps to Dawn dishwashing liquid with equal results. Straight shaving does take time to get the hang of it, but shaving is just not that difficult. Millions of men in this country use multi-blade cartridges, whatever we may say about them here, and get shaves they are perfectly happy with.

I think the claim that cartridges pull the whiskers up before cutting them and thus cut them closer (and too close, causing in-grown hairs) is false. I used them for decades and never had an in-grown hair. If the advertising was true, then cartridges, by definition, would result in closer shaves. Those who use straights know that this is just not true.

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Originally Posted by ace

I had never heard of it, but have done some research.

My method is simpler. I avoid useless preparation, lather with whatever I have and shave, getting BBS shaves. I've lathered with everything from the best soaps to Dawn dishwashing liquid with equal results. Straight shaving does take time to get the hang of it, but shaving is just not that difficult. Millions of men in this country use multi-blade cartridges, whatever we may say about them here, and get shaves they are perfectly happy with.

I think the claim that cartridges pull the whiskers up before cutting them and thus cut them closer (and too close, causing in-grown hairs) is false. I used them for decades and never had an in-grown hair. If the advertising was true, then cartridges, by definition, would result in closer shaves. Those who use straights know that this is just not true.

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I think that is fair comment. However things for me have moved on a bit of late. I discovered through trial and error the total BSS, and a method called glossing. I gave it a try, and it does work. Trouble is once you have had silk you want more… No stubble felt ATG anywhere on your entire face (shaving area of course) ? NoW there aren't many men who can honestly claim that are there? Maybe i'm wrong, maybe with enough practice you can get that with a straight and normal products, but for me the gloss finish leaves me with a bit of irritation with normal products, less so with oil but the resulting zits are a pain. So Im searching to see if a gloss finish with no irritation is possible for me…I have the skill I believe but will a slicker longer lasting product bring everyday achievable total BSS

I find that I can get BBS anytime I want to, although I don't always pursue that result. I'm sure a method can be helpful and especially so for newer shavers. I'm not against methods, but I do think that eventually skill and technique allow shavers to find their own method.

I will say that Jack Black Cooling Gel seems to work great for me in the rare cases when I overdo things and experience razor burn. Pursuing BBS has its costs, and one of them is razor burn. The Jack Black works wonders.

I think you're going at it the right way. There's no substitute for a sustained experiment.

I recently watched Mantic's 3-part video series on Method Shaving, and seem to recall him saying that MS has sort of diverged or moved on from the founder's original vision. I don't know whether those details are significant, but if you haven't already watched that particular series, it might ad to your research and preparation.

Good luck and report regularly!

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Originally Posted by kevinred

I think that is fair comment. However things for me have moved on a bit of late. I discovered through trial and error the total BSS, and a method called glossing. I gave it a try, and it does work. Trouble is once you have had silk you want more… No stubble felt ATG anywhere on your entire face (shaving area of course) ? NoW there aren't many men who can honestly claim that are there? Maybe i'm wrong, maybe with enough practice you can get that with a straight and normal products, but for me the gloss finish leaves me with a bit of irritation with normal products, less so with oil but the resulting zits are a pain. So Im searching to see if a gloss finish with no irritation is possible for me…I have the skill I believe but will a slicker longer lasting product bring everyday achievable total BSS

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Most days I get a BBS shave in all directions in all areas. Sometimes I will prove it to myself by running a cotton ball over my face and neck to make sure it truly is BBS or 'gloss' as you call it. No irritation or ingrown hairs either. I use a straight that I hone myself and touch up on pasted balsa and I have been experimenting, like Ace, with different soaps. Right now I'm using dove hand soap and I still get great results. I thought most people here were getting these results.

It wasn't always this way though. I used to get irritation on my neck from going ATG until I controlled my pressure and I didn't always get a BBS result until I learned about angles and stretching skin. It may take some practice but like Ace said in the end it's not as complicated as some may think.

As for method shaving with a safety razor you will get some opinionated people with their negative comments who have never even tried it but I agree with the above posting about experimentation. Go for it! That's the fun of it all is trying different things to see what works. In the end, even if it's not for you, you have learned something. If you think you have all knowledge in any area of life you are no longer teachable and will become stagnant and whither. Here's to your journey Kevinred. :beer1:

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Originally Posted by Steel

Most days I get a BBS shave in all directions in all areas. Sometimes I will prove it to myself by running a cotton ball over my face and neck to make sure it truly is BBS or 'gloss' as you call it. No irritation or ingrown hairs either. I use a straight that I hone myself and touch up on pasted balsa and I have been experimenting, like Ace, with different soaps. Right now I'm using dove hand soap and I still get great results. I thought most people here were getting these results.

It wasn't always this way though. I used to get irritation on my neck from going ATG until I controlled my pressure and I didn't always get a BBS result until I learned about angles and stretching skin. It may take some practice but like Ace said in the end it's not as complicated as some may think.

As for method shaving with a safety razor you will get some opinionated people with their negative comments who have never even tried it but I agree with the above posting about experimentation. Go for it! That's the fun of it all is trying different things to see what works. In the end, even if it's not for you, you have learned something. If you think you have all knowledge in any area of life you are no longer teachable and will become stagnant and whither. Here's to your journey Kevinred. :beer1:

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Really this is my reason for trying to see how this method works. I have also tried Dove hand soap and it does work well, but it does dry my skin over several days and then I get irritation. I think I have sensitive skin. When I first started going ATG was a problem but now not so, due to hair reduction and many other learned factors. Its not rocket science after all, its just practice, especially with a straight. So far I have found several products that work incredibly well and a BSS is easy to achieve with a Straight and a DE, one of my favourites is TOBS Lemon and lime (works with others TOBS) but I water it down a little and use it neat and just keep adding water as I need it, it works, but I do get a little irritation. Now the method shaving guys seem to think that the irritation can be completely avoided, with a gloss BSS every shave and consistently. I have yet to reach this level so Im going to find out…

At the end of the day we all have different skin and beard types and different techniques and we're all on the search for something, for some its a gloss finish BSS for others its the enjoyment of collecting and shaving. All equally valid pastimes for sure. If this method works or doesn't work for me at least I will know how the Method works and whats involved I guess… It won't make me a better shaver or a happier person I doubt, but I bet I will learn a thing or two and thats what makes me tick…

I asked myself recently if it was the shave or the result that was the most important, for me at this stage it's the result… I think I already have near perfect shaves, but I wan't perfect, each and every time…Oh this OCD is a killer…lol

If that's not your bag and you think you have the best possible result that you can replicate daily with ease and you're happy, you have already reached shaving Nirvana and Method Shaving is probably not worth trying…

Today after a long email conversation with Charles Roberts I ordered the following products from Enchante / Hydrolast

Hydrolast Shave Cloth
300g Palm Shave Cube
Hydrolast Cutting Balm 4.0 oz shaker bottle
Hydrolast Shaving Paste 4.0 oz
Hydrolast Glossing Cream


Now the glossing cream is a new addition to the Method Shaving range, there at this point are no videos or instructions online, but CR is confident it will help me achieve the gloss result I so crave. It will be released shortly or so I am told.

I live in Australia and Enchante is in Austin Texas so I guess I may have to wait a few weeks before the products arrive. In the meantime I will be enjoying my silvertip Badger and my different razors.



So the wait for the post man begins…

You are so right! Everyone is different with different skin, goals, resources, ect. And there is a right way for you but not a right way for everyone. Enjoy the ride and keep us posted.

Wow,

Its been an interesting four days since I started getting used to shaving daily with my DE. One thing has surprised me is I'm preferring to use creams with the DE rather than soaps (even my beloved Arko has been put away for now) not sure why, I just seem to get a better more comfortable shave. I mostly prefer soaps with the straight, so this has been a little strange.

Also I find myself cranking open the DE much more than I ever have in the past. In the past I have preferred a milder setting, but at the moment I find myself cranking the settings up everyday. At the moment I'm using the Futur set on on 4 which is fairly open / aggressive for the razor. I guess It feels more like a straight to me when aggressively set. On a milder setting even with a new blade, the razor has been feeling dull. I switched a couple of blades to make sure I din't have a couple of dud blades but the same happened. I guess as straight shavers we get used to feeling the blade on our skin and the safety bar on the DE must dull the sensation. Even though I could hear the razor cut on mild, It just didn't feel right. I also find myself rolling / pitching the razor to feel the blade and the upper head of the Futur, rather than the leading safety bar.

So i'm experimenting and getting used to the DE again so I have a like for like comparison for when the Hydrolast products arrive.

Still waiting for the post man…or woman…. :)

Hi Kev,
Have you tried the trishave cream sample for DE shaving? I love it, and the aftershave moisturising lotion is hard to beat at any price. The Aesop after shave balm is great also, but at 5x the price, but wasn't a fan of their shave serum (the one you lather with water to build a foam).

On a side note, noticed your avatar pic... when did you get a tan? :)

Hey Andrew,

I haven't tried the Samples yet, I will though this week now you reminded me… i put them in the samples drawer with all the others, bad boy am I.

Yep the avatar, Im evolving….backwards….just like my shaving….lol :)

Looks like you've got a shiny hemet….must be all the moisturising you have been doing…lol

Hmm. Just a thought I had as I was reading about the settings on your DE being set to a more aggressive number. Have you ever tried a shavette?

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Originally Posted by Steel

Hmm. Just a thought I had as I was reading about the settings on your DE being set to a more aggressive number. Have you ever tried a shavette?

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Yes I started with a Parker Shavette before I tried a straight. I'm planning to go back to the straight once I have learned to Method Shave with the DE. That way I can see if multiple passes, a very slick "wet mix" (Lather of sorts) and a straight will go together well.

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Originally Posted by kevinred

Hey Andrew,

I haven't tried the Samples yet, I will though this week now you reminded me… i put them in the samples drawer with all the others, bad boy am I.

Yep the avatar, Im evolving….backwards….just like my shaving….lol :)

Looks like you've got a shiny hemet….must be all the moisturising you have been doing…lol

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If you think about it moving from SE to DE is moving forward and in line with the evolution of shaving :)


What kind of ape is that avatar? It almost looks like it's taking a selfie. I see the personal resemblance :p

I'm still waiting for the post from America. It always seems to take a while from the States to Australia, but in a strange way I'm enjoying the wait..

In the meantime I have been experimenting with the Merkur HD34C.. CR suggests getting this razor, to use with his method shaving system, so I bought one to see what it was like.

I'm a great fan of Red IP's, so I have been using the HD loaded with one of these to see how it goes. Well I have to say, what a great little shaver. It's a mild and It seems pretty impossible to cut yourself, which is why I guess its recommended as a beginners razor.

I have to say though I am very impressed. I have had two shaves with it and you can whip this bad boy around, use pressure, use none and it just shaves and shaves close. So far I have had no irritation and believe me I have not been being overly careful with it.

I have been trying multiple directional passes, blade buffing and J hooking with it as they do with the Hydrolast products and cutting forms but I have been using Proraso green pre shave and Proraso green cream with no problems, great partnership of product with lots of slip and cushion. Definitely in my top 10 anyway.

So If you haven't tried a Merkur HD34C yet, pick one up they really are great…

The Hydrolast Products arrived from Austin Texas!

I have been using the products for a couple of days and I have to say its the slickest lather (wet mix) I have ever seen or used. In fact holding a well knurled DE (Merkur 34cHD) is quite difficult. it's also incredibly messy.

Its taken me a couple of days to work out how to make a lather or "wet mix" as CAR calls it. I'm not impressed with the shave cloth at the moment as its quite stiff, but I'm assured it will break in shortly. First impressions is the wet mix is just too slick. Can some thing be too slick? well I think so, it takes a few minutes to rinse the stuff of your hands and its impossible to open any products if you don't open them before you begin.

I used a new Red IP blade and I have to be honest and say that I didn't get as close a shave as I did with my usual products. Its true you can make many many passes without razor burn or irritation, weepers or cuts, in fact it seems impossible to cut yourself, however I found this with the HD before I began, but not quite to the same degree. Maybe also I struggled because feeling stubble through the remaining wet mix after the passes is impossible and you have to use a lot of water to rinse your face at the end and then you discover the remaining stubble.

The glossing cream, is some type of moisturiser with an oil base it seems. It can be used mixed in the wet mix or after on a wet face. It does provide a good barrier and you can shave again repeatedly but its not so slick, so its good for the remaining touch ups. I did get to a BSS but man it took forever!!!!

The products do leave your face feeling good following the shave, no cuts or weepers or irritation, but for me thats not unusual with my usual rotation of products, however you could too 100 passes if you wanted to with Hydrolast. I was getting frustrated towards the end of each shave though as my razor just seemed not to want to cut the final patches of hair through the slick without applying quite a lot of pressure.

So my initial thoughts are already to ditch the cloth, the messy overly slick wet mix, but I won't, I will keep going and see with practice if things improve. I also shudder at the thought of managing a straight with this slick a lather. however its not something I would even attempt at this stage to be honest.

CAR also recommends a feather blade used for 2 shaves before replacing. I never have been a fan of feathers but I'm going to give them a go with this system and see if they are better with it than my usual Red IP's.

So initial thoughts are "I'm not that impressed" but it's too early to give a review or judgement call as the products can be used in different ways to change how the blade cuts apparently, so I will attempt to discover how to do this….

Hi Kevin, watch out for the Feathers, those suckers are sharp :) - imagine one loaded in a super aggressive head like a Muhle 41 - you can see why Charles Roberts recommends a relatively benign razor like a Merkur.

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Originally Posted by Maladroit

Hi Kevin, watch out for the Feathers, those suckers are sharp :) - imagine one loaded in a super aggressive head like a Muhle 41 - you can see why Charles Roberts recommends a relatively benign razor like a Merkur.

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Funny you should mention that Mike, I have used Feathers in the past and just found them too aggressive. but CAR recommends them so I thought I had to try especially after yesterdays shave.

All went well during the shave, super slick, no real scent to enjoy or dislike, and a pretty close BSS at the end after using his glossing cream to hunt for rogue stubble. All I noticed was my face felt kind of tight after the shave, not sore or irritated, no cuts and just one weeper on the neck.

Now the method stuff says it protects and it does feel like it does, like I said just a tight feeling, but being an experienced wet shaver I was suspicious so I decided to use a bit of Alum to check things out and boy I almost screamed!!!! Super sting!!!!! My epidermis may be missing…lol

There is defiantly something in the cream that keeps feel of irritation away, if I knew no better I would have thought tight was good.

Im not going to shave tomorrow, I need to let my face heal…. :(

Have you tried using the Osma Alum based soap? It's a wonderful French soap, can be a bit tricky for some to get a good lather, but pretty much all the feedback I've received, including my own experience, is the the alum in the soap results in a particularly close shave.

I have updated this thread here;

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...xperiment.html