Thread: preferred blades for shaving.

There is nothing "wrong" with pre-shave treatments but let's not make unrealistic claims. If it makes you feel better about your shave then great. If you just enjoy it, even better. Hell, it may make your skin react to the shave differently... maybe. But to claim that it effects edge retention? I don't think so. Probably the single biggest thing that affects edge retention is proper stropping, both before and after the shave. I can make an edge last for literally years by simply getting the proper edge on the blade in the first place and stropping correctly before and after the shave to dry and clean the blade.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

There is nothing "wrong" with pre-shave treatments but let's not make unrealistic claims. If it makes you feel better about your shave then great. If you just enjoy it, even better. Hell, it may make your skin react to the shave differentlyBut to claim that it effects edge retention? I don't think so. Probably the single biggest thing that affects edge retention is proper stropping, both before and after the shave. I can make an edge last for literally years by simply getting the proper edge on the blade in the first place and stropping correctly before and after the shave to dry and clean the blade.

In that case, let’s just agree to disagree on the importance of a pre-shave routine, because I stand by my point that some beard prep to soften the whiskers is highly beneficial.

In fact, I even believe that if shavers using cartridge razors would employ the kind of pre-shave routine that straight shavers are used to they could get much improved results from their cartridge razors.

As I mentioned, it does not have to be a highly evolved ritual with pre-shave creams (which I do not use), but water and preferably some (e.g. glycine) soap (that I do use) before the shave will soften facial hair and possibly remove oils thereby making it easier for the lather to soften the beard in preparation for the shave.
Of course, the same result can be had if you shave after a shower.

If you should not believe that properly softened facial hair is easier to cut, that’s absolutely fine by me.
After years of daily (mostly straight) shaving I have found what makes a difference for me and what doesn’t.

Besides, my idea of a forum is to have a place where members can find (sometimes opposing) different ideas and then chose for themselves what makes sense to them and what doesn’t.



B.

Originally Posted by beluga

In that case, let’s just agree to disagree on the importance of a pre-shave routine, because I stand by my point that some beard prep to soften the whiskers is highly beneficial.

In fact, I even believe that if shavers using cartridge razors would employ the kind of pre-shave routine that straight shavers are used to they could get much improved results from their cartridge razors.

As I mentioned, it does not have to be a highly evolved ritual with pre-shave creams (which I do not use), but water and preferably some (e.g. glycine) soap (that I do use) before the shave will soften facial hair and possibly remove oils thereby making it easier for the lather to soften the beard in preparation for the shave.
Of course, the same result can be had if you shave after a shower.

If you should not believe that properly softened facial hair is easier to cut, that’s absolutely fine by me.
After years of daily (mostly straight) shaving I have found what makes a difference for me and what doesn’t.

Besides, my idea of a forum is to have a place where members can find (sometimes opposing) different ideas and then chose for themselves what makes sense to them and what doesn’t.



B.

I always try to shower right before I shave. I can't recall a time where I've ever had a comfortable shave without doing so.

Originally Posted by beluga

In that case, let’s just agree to disagree on the importance of a pre-shave routine, because I stand by my point that some beard prep to soften the whiskers is highly beneficial.

In fact, I even believe that if shavers using cartridge razors would employ the kind of pre-shave routine that straight shavers are used to they could get much improved results from their cartridge razors.

As I mentioned, it does not have to be a highly evolved ritual with pre-shave creams (which I do not use), but water and preferably some (e.g. glycine) soap (that I do use) before the shave will soften facial hair and possibly remove oils thereby making it easier for the lather to soften the beard in preparation for the shave.
Of course, the same result can be had if you shave after a shower.

If you should not believe that properly softened facial hair is easier to cut, that’s absolutely fine by me.
After years of daily (mostly straight) shaving I have found what makes a difference for me and what doesn’t.

Besides, my idea of a forum is to have a place where members can find (sometimes opposing) different ideas and then chose for themselves what makes sense to them and what doesn’t.



B.

Fair enough. Perception is not 90% of reality. Perception is reality. I often think about a scene from the movie The Seventh Sign where the young Jewish boy that Demi Moore asks to help translate a scroll from Hebrew finds that it is about New Testament prophecy so he goes to a priest to ask him about it. As they are talking the boy says, "so the Jews think they're right and the Christians think they're right and the Muslims think they're right but they can't ALL be right. So...who is right?"
The true believers if each believe it enough to go to their death for it so that must be real certainty. In each case I'd say that perception has in fact become reality.

I can only speak for myself. I have tried a number of different things. The aforementioned is my reality. May everyone else prosper in their reality.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

Fair enough. Perception is not 90% of reality. Perception is reality. I often think about a scene from the movie The Seventh Sign where the young Jewish boy that Demi Moore asks to help translate a scroll from Hebrew finds that it is about New Testament prophecy so he goes to a priest to ask him about it. As they are talking the boy says, "so the Jews think they're right and the Christians think they're right and the Muslims think they're right but they can't ALL be right. So...who is right?"
The true believers if each believe it enough to go to their death for it so that must be real certainty. In each case I'd say that perception has in fact become reality.

I can only speak for myself. I have tried a number of different things. The aforementioned is my reality. May everyone else prosper in their reality.

Yes, often much more is to be gained from concentrating on what we agree on than arguing over the minor points that set us apart.


B.

I have a soft beard, and can say that I have never seen any benefit from pre shave balms. I use them sometimes but really its just the same for me. I get a good edge on my razor (Thanks Outback) and am pretty good at stropping. My six razor rotation has lasted me a good long time.

Originally Posted by beluga

Yes, often much more is to be gained from concentrating on what we agree on than arguing over the minor points that set us apart.


B.

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