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Thread: Who needs lather?
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08-24-2013, 03:00 AM #11
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Thanked: 1184I tried some touch ups with just water as I had already rinsed my brush and I wound up doing a lot more. Not a full pass but it did seem to work fine and I got some smooth out of it. I was kind of surprised how smooth the razor went over my skin. There wasn't much hair left though.
Good judgment comes from experience, and experience....well that comes from poor judgment.
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08-24-2013, 02:50 PM #12
Gentlemen:
Indeed, no wet shaving product will compensate for inadequate shaving technique with the straight razor or the double edge. Not even a bouquet of angels dancing on your face.
On second thought, forget the shave. I'll take the angels.
You can shave dry and get by. Or use plain water and get by. I had plenty of shaves in the Vietnamese jungles with canteen water and an Army-issue disposable abomination that passed for a razor — and I got by.
A quality shaving cream or soap add extra protection for the skin. After all, you do have sharp steel scraping your skin. They also add some glide for the razor.
The shaving brush not only exfoliates the skin, it also helps to further soften the beard and lift the hairs.
Best of all, lathering with a fragrant soap or cream and a good brush pampers the soul with an immeasurable delight.
Traditional wet shavers have experienced that pleasure for years.
Gentlemen, shave dry or with plain water, if you like, if you enjoy it, or if you see merit in it, but for me, give me a sweet badger brush and a puck of Martin de Candre — and I'll imagine the angels.
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08-24-2013, 03:17 PM #13
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Thanked: 177I shaved today again but i didnt even lather up first as i did yesterday. 2 passes no problem, the touchup on the neck made my skin feel a little tired. Like shaving with a shavette blade. BBS as yesterday, No cuts, weepers or blood, a little raw feeling at the end, no visible irritation. I did do an ice cube face rub though.Next year I will give up lather for Lent.......
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08-24-2013, 03:35 PM #14
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Thanked: 247I would suggest that a lot of people *could* do that. Just as a lot of people can and do shave with edges we would NOT call shave ready, or the guys shaving on YouTube with swords, machetes, and spoons. Once you get your face as tough as cowhide, you can do almost any shave 'comfortably' (or at least without extreme irritation).
Just remember we are all different and don't go posting videos proclaiming everyone else is doing it wrong
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08-24-2013, 03:47 PM #15
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Thanked: 177Yes sir you are right about that. I only did it to see as I have always been curious. I don't recommend anybody to do anything that they aren't comfortable doing. YMMV is a given always with shaving.
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08-24-2013, 04:40 PM #16
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Thanked: 1195We've been down this road before.
A few years back someone started a quick fad about shaving with water only, and pretty soon wild assertions were flying around that if you couldn't pull off the water only shave that your razor wasn't truly shave ready and your technique was below that of a novice. And of course everyone was trying it and I'm sure there was some lying going on because no one would admit that it was a less than stellar experience. Which is funny, because the fad disappeared very quickly.
Yes, I've done water only touch ups, and even dry touch ups too, with good success but a full shave? No thank you. And the whole idea that anyone can do it under the right circumstances is rubbish. I know if I tried it (again) my sensitive skin would be screaming. It's fine for those with skin like a rhino, others beware.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Ryan82 For This Useful Post:
Hirlau (08-24-2013)
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08-24-2013, 05:11 PM #17
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Thanked: 3222I can do two 3 pass shaves in a day and my skin does not scream at me so maybe a case of rhino hide. I have managed to get a good case of razor burn cleaning up the back of the neck using water only so I don't think I'll try a water only shave. Obviously anyone can give it a go if they wish. Me I'll stay with a good lather.
BobLife is a terminal illness in the end
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08-24-2013, 05:24 PM #18
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Thanked: 177My point with lather for me anyway is I havent found a difference between good soaps or creams or williams. They all shave great IMO. My mini experiment showed me its possible to shave without it , but if you read my post, the touchup pass left the skin feeling tired. And for 100 shaves I get out of a puck(give or take) the 7 cents worth of soap does add to the comfort of a shave. Technique and a well honed blade carries the shave the most IMO. A dull blade and bad technique will result in a worse shave even with the "best" soap or cream.
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08-24-2013, 06:51 PM #19
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I think perhaps you are answering your own supposition,
Although Lather is not Necessary for a shave, neither is water, if you want to get real technical, there are many benefits that you are perhaps glossing over.. Obie and Ryan pointed out a few
Also don't forget which I haven't seen mentioned yet, a proper lathering actually softens the beard, and lifts the beard away from the face, this makes shaving easier which in turn lessens the wear and tear on the edge of the razor..
I have used a clear water last pass/touch up pass for quite sometime, but I have already gained all the benefits from the initial lathering..
As most have said, much of this is YMMV,,,, but there are some actual physical benefits from using a proper lather while shaving too, that should not be overlooked..
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08-24-2013, 07:32 PM #20
I don't do just water but I do like my lather really wet. Probably more water down than most people. But, that's a personal preference.
Luis“There's nothing more solemn than truth. There's no greater grievance to a tomb than hypocrisy, or a greater tribute to death than truth”