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I am a total newbie so please no name calling. I have never shaved with a straight razor but I admit I am a bit intrigued by the idea. What is the benefit of using the various lathers and soaps brushed on as opposed to the canned foam I use with my Trac II? Not trying offend anyone, just wondering. I actually use the gel stuff that turns to foam.
DO NOT CHALLENGE THE WET-SHAVE ORTHODOXY!
Just kidding :) For my part, I've never looked into the contents label of canned foam, so I don't have strong opinions about chemicals etc. in there. My dad raised me on a mug & brush (Williams soap), and while I used canned foam for convenience as a young adult, I gravitated back to real lather pretty quickly because I just missed it: the stuff just feels so good, it's worth the bit of extra effort. This is years before I put down the Mach # in favor of the straight razor or double-edged.
Whipping up your own lather is part of the ritual. I've tried canned stuff before and remember it being .... a little sticky; the DIY soap seems slicker. YMMV. Where making your own really stands out is the huge variety of scents available. Again not a piratical aspect but sensual part of the ritual. You could wipe some goo out of a can onto your face or massage your skin with a sweet smelling lather on a nice soft brush.
Been shaving for over ten years here, wet shaving for a little over a month.
I would try buying an omega boar and some van der hagen from CVS to give the bowl lather a try. Mitchell's will be cheaper but I cannot vouch for it since I haven't tried. Use your cartridge with the combo and see how you like it.
Angels won't sing when you use it, but it is fun and IMO produces a better end result. It doesn't add that much time to your day.
You will find out if this if interesting to you or not. Think of it like cooking, fast and easy always works but add some steps and do it the long way and you'll end up with a much better result. It will turn a chore into a hobby.
From there you can decide on equipment and trying soaps, aftershaves, etc... It's fun to explore and find out what you like.
Feel free to message for advice!
Conventional/orthodox wet shaving thought is that canned foam/gel is inferior to a good shave soap lather made with a brush. It does not give a good enough glide and cushion.
There is only one way to find out and that is try it both ways to see which works best for you. I couldn't tell you because I have not used canned foam/gel in almost 30 years. Canned foam/gel may work with a straight for all I know but I do know a good lather from a shave soap works just fine for me with a straight or DE and even a twin blade cart razor.
The semantics tell all. It is foam in a can but we make lather with soap & a brush. Very different consistency. One has glide & a consistency that 'cushions' the blade whilst the other is just... foam.....a bunch of air bubbles.Quote:
Originally Posted by grover
As it is said above, the best way is to try it yourself and see if there's a difference for you.
I can only speak for myself and personal experience with it.
When I went to the store to buy a razor, I told the owner that I looked forward to straight shaving because I always had very dry skin after shaving. The first thing they asked me was what I used as shaving soap/cream, at that time I used the Nivea Sensitive shaving cream. They told me that could be a consequence of the canned foam and I would make a big differenc using a soap. I bought everything, including Proraso soap and I have to say it made a big difference. The first weeks I still shaved with the casette razor but my skin was not so dry after the shave.
That's my experience with canned foam and real shaving soap.
So for me, personally, there is a big difference.
The canned stuff is made of butane and air,pick your poison
Wow! Great replies and quick too. I was afraid I might be attacked for talking such blasphemy.
We're just gathering wood for the stake. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by grover
For me, its cheaper and I have to admit to liking the smell of the lavender soap i currently have - I used the foam gel at first but when I started using soap and a brush, i haven't looked back. :)
Is the Van der hagen shave set a good place to start or am I better off to buy separates? I see the set (brush, mug, soap) is about $30.
We don't attack, we just fill a hole in the ground with the canned foam and toss you in, if you die, it means you're a witch :rofl2:Quote:
Originally Posted by grover
IMO it's a very interesting question. It's always smart to ask why :)
I never used the canned stuff even when I used a cartridge razor.
With the cartridge razor I always used hair conditioner. Better lubrication, doesn't dry the skin, And you get a lot of glide.
For a straight razor a brush whipped lather just hit's all the right buttons. It's cheap, lubricates well, doesn't dry the skin. And the brush allows you to mash it into the hairs. Plus you get the ritual...
For cartridge shaving, Edge gel worked fine for me for years with a Gilette sensor. But when you dive into the wonderful world of str8s, you really want all of the advantages of soaps and creams mentioned above. And honestly, trying all the awesome scents and formulations of the different ones is one of my favorite things about this hobby.
But all wet-shaving orthodoxy aside, I liked the gel/foams such as Edge, and wouldn't mind trying a can now just for old time's sake for the rushed weekday mornings when I still use the Sensor.
For the sake of science, three or four years ago I tried straight razor shaving with canned goo, it was less than spectacular. It worked, but if you've used a brush and good soap or cream you won't go back.
Personally, I prefer the smell of sandalwood, almond, grapefruit, or vetiver to the 'delightful' smell of isobutane propellant.
Mmmmm…today's the day my "Roses" shave stick and "Northwoods" puck arrive from Mama Bear…Quote:
Originally Posted by Deegee
One substantive difference I noticed between canned foam and brushed lather is that the lather is denser when done correctly. It further seems to me that a dense lather helps to prevent nicks, cuts, and weepers.
P.S. Brushing on the lather also feels really nice and exfoliates.
I have the VDH set it works fine and it's nice to get it all in one place. I would say go for it
I have a can of Nivea Sensitive shaving cream in the closet - used to think it was the greatest with a multi-blade razor. Must give it a try with a straight and a Rolls this weekend.
FWIW I have a preconceived notion that lathering soap into the skin with a brush makes for a better shave - but... must test.
The gels actually when used with a Brush, make a pretty good lather.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelfixed
:dropjaw: JK (Just Kidding)
I don't think I'll ever go back to using a can of shave cream but I'm wondering if anyone has bothered to try Proraso? They make a version of canned goo and I'm wondering if its any good or better than the supermarket brands. Anyone ever try it?
So, maybe any lather used with a brush is pretty good?Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelfixed
Or an addiction!! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Jmchugh
That's something I'm also curious about.Quote:
Originally Posted by OCDshaver
We were out of town for a couple days,I had all my stuff sans my soap,my wife uses gel,I tried it with my badger brush.Quote:
Originally Posted by ColonelG
It worked great actually.
Thru the brush in the trash upon our return,am still pure:)
Well I just started straight razor shaving myself at the young age of 73:rock:Believe me I have used everything from a-----z and proraso pre-shaving cream and the regular shaving cream is terrific and reasonable.Shop around for the prices on this items.The cream is thick and does not dry on your face.I used to hate shaving until my eyes were opened to this products.:gl:
IMHO canned cream = not cool... not fun... not luxurious.
Some how whipping up lather from a soap or tradition cream (e.g. not canned) and using a DE or straight (vs cartridge) transforms shaving from a annoying chore (how I used to feel about it) into a relaxing, zen-like, luxurious experience (that I now look forward too).
The only way to find out what it's really like - and if it'll have the same effect for you - is to give it a try.
Like many things, shaving soap is a matter of taste. Although I mostly use a brush and cream I'm also rather fond of foam from a can. I started out shaving with a Trac II, Gillete Foamy and Old Spice aftershave so for me that combination is nostalgic.
I personally don't find the glide or cushion is as good from a can.
Not to mention I enjoy the variety available.
Man I remember the days when I would pull out the can oh goop now and again - usually meant I was going on a date or something lol. I had to be the laziest shaver in the world pre-wet shaving. Always shaved in the shower with freaking shower jell. Heck, I would even lather with a bar oh soap in the shower if I had too.
Yeah... canned goop used to be the hight of "fancy" for me at one time. But there is no comparison in my eyes between a good cream and a can of cream. It's fancy gone wild lol.
Acca Kappa has a canned version of their 1869 stuff too. I always say I'll pick some up for travel or whatever - never do though.
I haven't picked up a can and read it for years. The new razors have a "lubricating" strip, how ever many blades they're up to nowadays, and an aloe strip for skin care. Traditionally those are functions of the soap. So why do you have to use the foam again? Is it just to suspend the whiskers and carry them away? Is it just so P & G can get another $5 a month from me? When I first started with a DE razor it was a few days before I could track down a $2.50 puck of VdH Deluxe soap and a $6 clipped boar Burma Shave brush in this little hamlet I live in. For those few days I continued to use a can of Edge gel. It worked, but seriously, even the VdH blows it away as far as comfort and fragrance. I still use that brush once a month or so, and the soap is still part of my regular rotation. Come to think of it, I used it this morning! A brush and some soap are a great investment because even if you decide to go back to a cartridge razor, you can still use them. It feels better, it smells better, and lets face it, it's cooler than using a can.
I'm curious about the Proraso and Speick cans, too. Canned goo with a familiar scent, or the real deal in a can?
well said, coming from a guy who likes to cook and recently picked up this new 'hobby' as well!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jmchugh
You really should have burned it, someone else may find and rescue it :)Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelfixed
To the OP, first, don't be intimidated by the esoteric nature of this site. We are simply, as far as shaving, living in other time periods. All techniques are proven but the dialogue for perfection goes onward as does the manufacture of the implements of the past, from reproductions, restorations, to wholly original pieces. So, either switch right away to pens or trains or get yourself a NOS Filarmonica and a $10,000 Japanese hone, a Kanayama strop, some MDC....just foolin'......keep looking, asking questions...see what happens. If you are happy doing what you are doing now why change? But if you want to know things like what happens after we die, or about the origins of complex cultures....stick around....it's all here for the taking.
The one thing I've learned from all of this is that every step of this process can be viewed as "in the eye of the beholder." There's no universally accepted way of doing ANYTHING here. No matter how flat the pancake, there's always two sides. Like one said earlier the whole point here is to turn a chore into a hobby. Take the mundane and make it fun. If using canned shaving cream with your straight or DE puts a smile on your face while shaving, I'd say your doing it right. Experiment and find what makes you, and your face, happy. Personally I enjoy making my own soaps in scents that add something to the creams I use. Right now I'm using and almond soap I made with AOS Sandalwood cream. It's a wonderful scent. Does it perform better than the canned stuff? Don't know, don't care. It works great for me and puts a smile on my face. For now, that's all I want. Good luck, and have fun!
I'm not sure if it was the canned stuff or the multi blade razor but I would break out after ever single shave. I switched to a shavette and it helped a lil bit but still some breakouts. about a year ago went to a full on wet shaving routine and never hand the issue again. Now I'm on to full on SR shaving as well.
Moral of the story, the shave soap has saved my face and self esteem. Love the experience and result.