Better and best

Dear friends,
Imagine money is not a concern.
Using top notch English creams and soaps means better shaves than with more common Proraso, La Toja, Gillette, Williams and so on?
If you use such a excellent products, is your shave easier making you a better shaver? Can your skills be better profitable?
Being an exquisite shaving stuff gourmet, can you avoid additional techniques such as superlather, uberlather and similar inventions that (might) improve cheaper soaps and creams performances?
Is it worth?
Regards.

figurin that kind of stuff out is half of the fun.

Absolutely.

MY GOD ,,,,ronnie, that was the best answer ever:overkill:

Why not try some samples? This thread gives some idea where to look. Trying them is indeed, part of the fun.

Gentlemen,

What will make me a better shaver is better skill attained through experience. In the meantime, on the way to mastering the art of straight razor shaving, I have the most welcome excuse to soar through an exciting world of shaving soaps and creams.

Regards,
Obie

The idea of using high performance products works to you advantage in several ways. First, the lather is of superb quality, which helps your shave. There is no need to mix them with other products to increase their performance. Also, good quality lather helps with beard preparation.

Often, high end products are made with higher quality ingredients, especially in the conditioning department. Because I have very sensitive skin, here is where I focus my attention. Also, high end products are made with essential oils that are not used in lower quality products. I do not particularly care for scents so much but I do care about the added benefits to the skin of using certain essential oils.

Having said that, you still have to have good shaving skills and a sharp razor to get a great shave. If your razor is not sharp of your stropping technique is not quite there, and more importantly, if you do not have good lathering skills, the benefits of a good shaving soap/cream would be greatly diminished. I do not regret using high end products, particularly because they are not more expensive in the end. You pay more in front but they last a long time and you get all of these added benefits. It is however your decision and experimentation, as others have said, is key.

Al raz.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cristobal41

Dear friends,
Imagine money is not a concern.
Using top notch English creams and soaps means better shaves than with more common Proraso, La Toja, Gillette, Williams and so on?
If you use such a excellent products, is your shave easier making you a better shaver? Can your skills be better profitable?
Being an exquisite shaving stuff gourmet, can you avoid additional techniques such as superlather, uberlather and similar inventions that (might) improve cheaper soaps and creams performances?
Is it worth?
Regards.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alraz

The idea of using high performance products works to you advantage in several ways. First, the lather is of superb quality, which helps your shave. There is no need to mix them with other products to increase their performance. Also, good quality lather helps with beard preparation.

Often, high end products are made with higher quality ingredients, especially in the conditioning department. Because I have very sensitive skin, here is where I focus my attention. Also, high end products are made with essential oils that are not used in lower quality products. I do not particularly care for scents so much but I do care about the added benefits to the skin of using certain essential oils.

Having said that, you still have to have good shaving skills and a sharp razor to get a great shave. If your razor is not sharp of your stropping technique is not quite there, and more importantly, if you do not have good lathering skills, the benefits of a good shaving soap/cream would be greatly diminished. I do not regret using high end products, particularly because they are not more expensive in the end. You pay more in front but they last a long time and you get all of these added benefits. It is however your decision and experimentation, as others have said, is key.

Al raz.

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Dear friends,
I think I was in the right way. Better products make you achieve better results. Common products make you have more fun.
I sometimes think of myself as a ascetic shaver with just a one of a kind shaving soap. Sometimes I think of myself as a funny shaver testing dozens of creams and mixing and evolving with new ideas and experiences.
Regards.

Even if your shaves need work... why not experience the luxury of good products while you get better? (only a rich man can afford a cheap suit)

Variety is the spice of life, and there is alot of spices. Well said Ronnie +1. The choices are endless, and that is half the fun. I like to try different soaps and creams, not only for performance, but scent as well. Also like said earlier, by Alraz, all the best soaps and creams in the world aren't going to make you a better shaver, if your razor is not shave ready, or your stropping skills are bad, or using to much preasure than needed during your shave, or a wrong angle when making your passes with your straight. Fore example; I'm yet to purchase a Castle Forbes product, I hear those shave creams are awesome, and I will purchase some in the near future, and I probably love the results. With that said, it doesn't mean that I will not go back to a less quality of cream, just for the scent, because I will, just for change, even if it is just scent. To make up for the lack of performance from the superior cream to the inferior cream, I know I'll have to make a uber-lather to compensate so I can get the desired scent with out a lack of quality, or comfort, or performance in the shave itself. That is just me, and that is a huge reason that I think this art is so much fun. Some times the journey is more fun than the destination. Good thread by the way.

Once you reach a certain point and the products do what they are supposed to do spending more is just a feel good thing really.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JonnyBoy

Even if your shaves need work... why not experience the luxury of good products while you get better? (only a rich man can afford a cheap suit)

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Good lesson. Thanks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by STRAIGHTRAZOR13

Variety is the spice of life, and there is alot of spices. Well said Ronnie +1. The choices are endless, and that is half the fun. I like to try different soaps and creams, not only for performance, but scent as well. Also like said earlier, by Alraz, all the best soaps and creams in the world aren't going to make you a better shaver, if your razor is not shave ready, or your stropping skills are bad, or using to much preasure than needed during your shave, or a wrong angle when making your passes with your straight. Fore example; I'm yet to purchase a Castle Forbes product, I hear those shave creams are awesome, and I will purchase some in the near future, and I probably love the results. With that said, it doesn't mean that I will not go back to a less quality of cream, just for the scent, because I will, just for change, even if it is just scent. To make up for the lack of performance from the superior cream to the inferior cream, I know I'll have to make a uber-lather to compensate so I can get the desired scent with out a lack of quality, or comfort, or performance in the shave itself. That is just me, and that is a huge reason that I think this art is so much fun. Some times the journey is more fun than the destination. Good thread by the way.

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Hi,
I absolutely agree with you. I think that skills are the base for the rest of the shaving world. You can improve some common products or using top of the shelf ones, but you need to have a slow hand.
While that, I keep on trying to learn and discerning qualities and performances.
Regards.