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Nowadays I'm not even bothering to whip up a lather with the brush and shaving soap, but simply using for the canned aresol shaving cream.
I find that it's faster, less messy and more effective than the lather I get from soap, which tends to disolve as it rests on my face.
Is anyone with me on this, or are you all purists who use the brush 'n' mug?
Or does anyone switch back and forth between the two methods?
I think my dad is with you. As for me, I'm diggin' the quality time with myself. But I don't judge you brother. Enjoy the experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blade Wielder
I mean, if the brush method gave me a better lather, then sure, I'd take the extra few moments to do it that way; but honestly, I don't think you can get much creamier than the stuff you get in the can.
Have you tried any of the shaving creams?
RT
I personally get a closer shave (3 pass) with the old-school lather than with the canned stuff. Plus, I love the feel of a warm, well lathered brush against my face.
Wayne, who's rotating through the three T's soaps and creams
I second that motion, plus I've found that the ingredients of canned shaving creams and gels (etc) cause me to break out. The shave soaps, on the other hand, do not. Of course, that needn't be true of everyone's face :)Quote:
Originally Posted by bbqncigars
You know the can probably does have better lather, but I find the long range cost of soap and brush to be much cheaper. But in the long run it is what ever stirs your grits. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Blade Wielder
I switch between Mach 3 and the str8. I use the Mach when in a hurry. So I guess the bottom line is what you wish to do. :)
Creams (Taylors, Vulfix, etc.) make some absolutely incredible lather that blows away anything in a can I've found.
And it is hard to beat the feeling of a nice, warm brush spreading lather.
whatever works for you, use. for me, i love the warm brush and lather and the amazing scents that different creams and soaps give. ive not used edge gel in so long i would not know how it would do with a de or straight, but i can not go to the foamy stuff like colgate that my dad used to use until i got him a brush. i can not imagine that it would be pleasurable
sam
Creams, like Sensei_Kyle said, are the cat's a$$. I use Trumper's Sandalwood and E&C Sweet Almond Oil. I think Trumper's does a better job, but both are very good at creating a nice lather and maintaining the moisture. I've been shaving with creams for about 15 years with the Sensor and M3 and found they do an even better job with my straights.
Write to Trumper's, Taylor, etc. and ask for samples. I'm sure they'll send you some. If not, just go and buy some. I don't think you'll be disappointed. But, if the can is for you, that's great. That's what makes our countries so dam* great...freedom of choice!!
Good luck,
Jeff
I only use the brush and soap or cream. It doesn't take me long and it does not dry out on my face. In addition I like the whole deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blade Wielder
Hey but whatever gets you through the night!:cool:
It's all I've used in the last several years and really is one of the best products I have ever used. It's silky smooth and almost invisible on my face. I can watch with glee as I scyth each hair away. Read Dr. Phong's current Test Tube blog for more details.
X
I've been a wet shaver for over 40 years and I've tried every gimic that comes up. I used canned stuff and gel for a long time, but eventually went back to the brush. I felt like I hadn't really lived unti I started using English creams early this year. I wouldn't give up that luxury and smoothness of the shave for anything. I even started shaving the night before so I wouldn't have to shortchange my shaves.
Oh, I still have some canned stuff around, but I only use it in a pinch, usually with an M3P, when I need a sub-5 minute shave.
I think the brush and soap routine is an integral part of the straight experience. To me, using the canned stuff would be like buying a BMW 5 series and putting a motor from an old Yugo in it.
But like they say its a free country and you gota do what makes you happy
I totally agree that the brush is part of the genuine straight razor experience; and when I first started this hobby it was one of the first things that I purchased. I got myself both the Williams' soap and later on, some expensive Italian cream. Still, I couldn't get as creamy or satisfying a lather as I could from the canned cream.
But from what I'm hearing, these English creams seem pretty good. I'll have to give them a try.
Anyone have any recommendations on which ones are best? Or... most affordable, but still really good? And where to get them?
I like the Taylor of Old bond Street Sandlewood. Classicshaving.com has it. I use the soap but had a sample of the shaving cream both sandlewood and Lavander both pretty good but I didn't much like the Lavander smell. :hmmm:
I used the edge gel my first couple times. Didn't work so well for me though, then I tried mixing it with a little hot water. It made it work a lot better, not just with the straight, but with the mach 3 as well.
I think I've tried just about everything and to me the two best shave soaps going are either the Trumpers or the Haslinger. I usually get the trumpers straight from them on their website however there is a place called londons here in the U.S that has them on the web. The Haslinger is a herbal soap sold by shavemac its made in Austria. The only problem with Shavemac is its in germany and the shipping is steep unless you buy alot.
BladeWielder:
Taylor's cream is the best buy of the three T's. I've gotten it through qedusa.com as well as classic shaving. If you go to qed, try the crusella tabac AS. It's a damned nice AS for the price. I also like his DaVinci water and shave sticks.
Wayne, deep into SCAD
Still a novice and experimenting with soaps (no creams yet) to see what I like.
One "cream" that I learned about from a barber (couldn't shave worth a hoot) is a generic hair cream rince called "Aura" from Sally's Beauty Supply. Get the Rosemary Mint Rinse. It has a little menthol or something like that in it and is really slick. I used it with a M3 for years and occasionaly use it with a Str8.
Mike
Update:
Okay, so after experimenting with both Williams' and some Italian soap, I got myself some German-made shaving cream in the tube. I've been applying it with the brush, and I think this is the way to go. I prefer it to the canned stuff.
Now I find myself wanting a better brush.... which I will undoubtedly get soon.
I prefer the Trumpers and Taylor creams best. I used to use C&E, but found the Trumpers and Taylors to be much better at holding water/moisture.
You know, that "Edge" gel type crap isn't all that bad. I've used it before when I was in a bind. Normally, when I travel, I use the Palmolive in a tube (getting harder and harder to find) and a brush.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blade Wielder
And even though I use it myself, the shaving soap and brush is over rated as far as I'm concerned. I see a lot of people advising newbies that they need to buy the whole brush-mug-soap set-up, and it's really just an extra expense that scares off people who want to try shaving with a real razor. Barbers use a hot lather machine, that's the way to go. Maybe I'll buy one of those next. :thinking:
Joe, I was thinking about a hot lather machine myself, but was warned about buying one of the cheap ones due to quality problems. Now I've noticed on the Classic Shaving website that they're going to quit selling the Campbell Lather King (the one a lot of barbers use) because of problems with them. The Lather Kings are also very expensive. I wonder what the barbers are using now if they have problems with the LK?
Smokey
I agree, but not without qualification. The soap cakes, in my view, don't get the creamy, rich lather of the 3T's or C&E (I'm addicted to Sienna). That stuff is the best...way better than a soap cake. The canned gels never provided anywhere near as good a shave as the english creams (mentioned earlier). I'm with you on the lather machine, man. That's the best part of going to my barber!Quote:
Originally Posted by joesixpack
Marciaga,
You can get a wonderful, thick, lubricating lather with a soap. It just takes time to learn the soap/water ratio, and a bit more time "whipping up" the lather. You just need to invest the time and effort, and you will be glad that you did!
RT
The only cake I was able to get a good lather out of was Ray's classic. I tried Surrey's (which was a scent I disliked), Williams, Colgate (I think the latter 2 are virtually the same), Col Conk (better, but not as good as Ray's). Which soaps do you like?Quote:
Originally Posted by rtaylor61
Mark
Mark,
I like T&H, Taylor's Lavender, QED's soaps and I just picked up Cade by L'Occitane. For me, the trick is to really work the soap with the brush, and then move to a bowl with about a teaspoon of water in it. I prefer to use my smaller brushes, seems like I can work more of the soap into the brush. I like Ray's soaps, but I don't get the same lather with them as I do with others. You might pick up a cake of Williams soap for a buck, and practice with it. If you can build good lather with it, you can build it with any good soap. Oh, and I also like Williams!
RT
I still use the can when I'm short of time, but I find I get a much better shave than with brush lather. If you're not getting a good lather with soap, why not try some of the English creams. The canned stuff has a lot of body, but it doesn't really wet the beard like brush lather. It also dries faster.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blade Wielder
I find that the key to getting a good lather from soaps, like the less expensive types like Williams, is to make sure you have a well hydrated face. Even after getting out of the hot shower, the face dries fairly quickly. Using the hot towel on the face for 1-2 minutes write before applying lather really helps to keep the lather from drying too quickly.
As far as the can stuff. I still have a can or two burried in the back of the cabinet. Haven't used it at all since I started using soaps and creams. I'll use a brushless cream like Molle before returning to the can. That said, the can stuff works well enough for a quick shave, but just not as enjoyable as the fine scented creams.
The brush does help to lift the beard and help the lather penetrate, which is something the can stuff using your hand can never really do as well IMO.
I just started wet-shaving a couple of months ago and one of the most pleasurable parts is lathering with a super-soft badger brush and a nicely scented cake soap. The warm bristles against my face feels awesome. I use Classic Brand soaps and they are very effective as far as lubricity and having some staying power during the shave. Also, I can use the remaining soap on the brush to relather twice more after the original lather.
The only thing that could be better when it comes to lathering is if I was sitting in a barber's chair and getting lathered by a well-endowed woman's God-given "attachments", if you know what I mean!
-Rob
I know exactly what you mean! When I was in the service, there was a woman barber in South Carolina that used to "accidently bump" into clients while cutting hair. :DQuote:
The only thing that could be better when it comes to lathering is if I was sitting in a barber's chair and getting lathered by a well-endowed woman's God-given "attachments", if you know what I mean!
-Rob
Granted, she was fully clothed, but those "encounters" where very nice. Few sailors were better groomed than I!