Thread: 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 .

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.

It's cool when you find a method where it all comes together.

My beard and skin combination does not align with water-only shaves. Give me some tallow!

I forgot to mention that I knew the water only approach would make for a less comfortable shave, generally speaking. With no lather, there is bound to be a bit of tugging, regardless of how keen the edge. It may not be as tidy/close of a shave, due to the hairs not being kept standing up by the lather.

But "a bit of tugging" is different from the edge grabbing, and trying to rip the mustache from your face! I can definitely tell the difference, lol... now.