Thread: After all these years ...

Alright, I guess I just Never got the BIG Picture. What really is the differance between an aftershave balm and a lotion. Do you use a cologne after both or only one. With scented Pre-shave lotions and oils, scented shaving soaps, scented balms and lotions, colognes and splashes, Shampoos and hair tonics, and....... It almost seems like you would need some kind of degree to figure out what you could (or should) use together and not wind up with a headache. I realize this may sound like kind of a silly question, but after almost 4o years of using Old Spice, I'm ready to branch out.
I was started out with a can of cream, a DE, a bottle of Old Spice and a slap on the back. Late summer, last year, I grabbed some Williams Shaving Soap and started with a brush and a mug. Jan. 1st, 06 was my first straight shave. The rest is still a mystery to me, but I am picking up all kinds of GREAT information from the members posts at the SRP. I realize there are hundreds of products out there and everyone will have thier favorite. I would just like to know what they are for, or what they really do, and how they should be used together.
Sorry for being long winded.

Thanks for any help, ROY

From what I understand a balm soothes the skin....I have to say though that the only balm I've used so far is one by nivea...and although it might "soothe" the skin it "BURNS" my face cause of the alcohol it contains... I'm waiting om my goat milk- shaving balm though. That should feel nice as well as be nice.

Personally I think its just another way to market more mdse at us suckers. Most of the balms I've seen contain alcohol anyway so they burn and many that don't leave a greasy film on your skin. I've tried art of shaving balm but that has vitamin C which burns like hell also. The Trumpers Skin Food is probably about the best. Plain after shave is mostly water and alcohol so it does nothing for your skin but burn but hey if you were a real man you'd just want to use some Bay Rum. Nothing like that intense burning first thing in the morning to get the testosterone flowing for the day.

Bay Rum will definitely put hair or your chest...or make you tear it out in agony. After that initial screaming, mind-rending pain, though, it feels pretty good. Smells like a crawfish boil.

I occasionally use moonshine with an even higher alcohol content without any problems, so when I started using Bay Rum, I had absolutely no problems. However, I'm not a big fan of the scent.

I think Bay Rum and Old Spice are my favorite scents

Roy,

I once asked the same question. I didn't really get the answer I was looking for, but it got me pointed in the right direction and into a whole journey of shaving accoutrement self discovery.

Here is my routine.

Nice hot shower and I have been using Taylor of Old Bond Street's Eton College Bath Soap. Smells great, and it's pretty strong. Then I shave choosing from a variety of shave creams and soaps that I have collected. My rule of thumb is to take some time and consider what I am doing for the day. I might have fear and loathing and want to pick up my spirits, so I might use lime, Mr. Taylor, lavender or rose scented shave cream. Follow up with a rose or lime scented balm and then maybe a splash of Pinaud Clubman Aftershave or a dab of Trafalgar, West Indian Limes, or GFT cologne. I usually use a little Pinaud Talc as well to keep the nether regions from getting swampy.

If I'm going out at night on a date I might use sandalwood shave soap and some Trumpers Spanish Leather Cologne. The Spanish Leather is killer.

Anyway, there are a ton of combos and you will just have to trial and error it because different scents can act differently on different people. But I always try and go with a theme.

Oh yeah, the scents of most of the shave creams and balms and bath soaps are short duration. Aftershaves are also of relatively short duration in smell. Colognes are what will be what lasts the longest, so ultimately that will be what your long term focus will be.

Do what most of do around here, send out for samples from all the popular companies that you read about here, then you can get an idea of what you like before you spend a fortune. Also, I have written some reviews in the blog section and will have a bunch more coming soon. Oh yeah, there should be a bunch of topics in this and the Shaving soaps forum that will give you an idea of what works for most.

Hope this is helpful. Some people get a bit anal about thier routines, just remember... there are no rules. If you like it and your ol' lady doesn't kick you in the nuts... it's probably a winner or your ol' lady is shy.

Dr. Phong

My favorites are....

Pinaud Bay Rum
Pinaud Lime
Pinaud Citrus Spice
Old Spice

Gotta love the sting of alcohol in the morning....


Terry

Anybody here try the Pinuad Vanilla? I love their regular stuff and I'm a Bay Rum addict and their's is one of the best...I've always wanted to try the vanilla though and just never gotten around to it.

-Pary

Originally Posted by Rusty Shackleford

Anybody here try the Pinuad Vanilla? I love their regular stuff and I'm a Bay Rum addict and their's is one of the best...I've always wanted to try the vanilla though and just never gotten around to it.

-Pary

I've tried it and I like it. It's in my rotation, which
is made up of mostly Pinaud's

Bay Rum
Regular
Lime sec
Citrus Musk
Vegetal Lilac

The nice thing about Pinaud AS is they are not
only good IMHO, but cheap as well.


Terry