Calibrating The Only Test That Matters.
Disclaimer: This, like so many other aspects of this hobby, is very much a "YMMV" sort of thing! But that is mostly due to the fact that we don't all have the same face/hair. For example, I have very sparse beard growth beyond the mustache & goatee area; most of my stubble is not very coarse, either. And we all know what test I'm referring to, right?... The Shave Test.
How I have calibrated THE test: the elimination of as many variables as possible! For pre-shave, I either shower, or I wet my face before stropping. For product, I use water. Only. I have a small misting bottle for honing that also works well for keeping my face (but not my hands) wet during the shave. Blade treatment during: I wipe the stubble off onto my dedicated sponge, and usually do a couple of laps on my forearm strop ;).
"How did you discover this method?" you might wonder! Simply put: procrastination! I shave, shower, etc., before bed... 'cause I'm not a morning person. I'd stayed up a couple hours past my bedtime, but still needed to shave & shower. Not having time for the full routine, I took a gamble on not using lather. I may have did a quick face lather around my mouth, the first tine or two I tried this.
There is the added benefit of being forced to focus on one's shaving technique, in the absence of lather. Apparently, I get away with some shenanigans during my shave, if I use lather :tameshigiri::rofl2:.
The "Proof": work up a good sweat! I try and be clean-shaven for work, under threat of beardnets. If I did a good job honing, and didn't use lather, then I will have little-to-no burning/irritation the next day at work, when I'm sweating my butt off.
Not everyone can do a "water only" shave. That's fine. This isn't a competition. I am just sharing my experience, with the hope that someone may find it useful.
