Shave soap with a cartridge razor

Before I bought my straight razor I shave exclusively with a Schick Quattro razor and barbasol shaving cream. When I got my SR I bought some MWF and love it. The other day I didn't have time to use the SR (im still pretty new and take a lot of time to shave with it) but instead of using my old cream I mixed up a MWF lather and used that. The difference between the cream and the soap was night and day. The Quattro slid easily and didn't tear up my neck like it usually did. It was defiantly the best cartridge shave I've ever had. Plus, my after shave didn't burn like it normally would.

Anyone else use a cartridge razor as a back up and use a soap instead of canned cream?

I had used vdh for around a year with a quattro. It was a night and day difference. I personally lost the allure of mwf after trying some of the artisan soaps on the market but I do agree that a good soap or cream makes a huge difference.

The most basic job of a soap/cream is to provide lube and cushion as you shave. if it doesn't do that well it belongs in the garbage. Scent and ease of lather come next along with copious lather. That's the stuff you really pay for.

I'm right there with you, OP.

I'm into my fourth month using the SR after a shaving-lifetime of cartridge razors. While I was weaning myself off the cartridge and becoming more comfortable with the SR, I quit using the canned Barbasol, Aveeno, and Dr. Carver's for the shave soap. I've used Williams and Proraso (green), and as soon as I go home again to the folks' I'll have my sampler pack from ToOBS.

I gave the Aveeno and Dr. Carver's to the girlfriend, and tossed the Barbasol - never going back, even for want of convenience, ever. I still have a pack of cartridge razors, though, just in case; but, even when I travel away from my dorm room for more than a day, I take with me my SRs and the whole package - screw convenience, this is the only way to shave!!!

Rich

I just recently got into SR shaving coming from the Hydro5. I'm trying to go 100% SR, but sometimes I'm in a rush and my SR technique is still slowly developing (I'll shave the hard spots with the cartridge and the easy stuff with the SR). I use the cartridge razor with Proraso or the art of shaving. I have tried different prep tactics but haven't noticed significant difference, or the differences are hard for me to separate from my developing shaving technique. I'm sure that practice will make perfect. I have been looking at the quality of my shave under a veho microscope after different products/techniques.

Your experience does not surprise me one bit. A good lather makes all the difference in the world no matter what you shave with. There is a reason the other stuff is referred to as "crap in a can".

Bob

Hang on to your cartridge - as well as for those times when you are in a rush, if you have to fly with hand baggage, you will need it.

I used cartridges for years with brush and soap - always got a great shave with them. I use a straight because of the experience and even then I mix it up with some hollow ground SE blades and an occasional DE - it makes life different.

Using a brush and soap with a cartridge razor will definitely improve your shave, but it will still pale in comparison to using a straight or DE.

I use a cartridge razor occasionally, and like you I find that a good cream with lather whipped up by a nice brush adds to the quality of the shave.

When I have to travel/carry on it's the M3, a VDH Boar brush in a travel tube (that I have become attached to) and either an oz/30ml container of Proraso or a Palmalove Stick.
The shave is much better than the goo and I get to cling to as much wet shaving as possible.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

Using a brush and soap with a cartridge razor will definitely improve your shave, but it will still pale in comparison to using a straight or DE.

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While I agree with Ryan. I use it as the gateway when I try and get a new convert. Having some just switch to a good cream or soap with a brush really improves a shave. Then they wonder what else you know.

As for me a keep a 2 blade cart and blades around for when I travel on a plane with only a carry on bag and always bring a brush a soap ( normally arko)

I say get a DE for the times you don't want to use the SR. as I've said before, I'd rather shave with a sharp rock than with a cartridge razor. I'd still use a good soap and brush of course! The day I got my DE I tossed all my cartridge stuff in the garbage. I didn't want to be responsible for someone else using it.

But I don't feel strongly about this...

rfm

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Originally Posted by ejaeger

Before I bought my straight razor I shave exclusively with a Schick Quattro razor and barbasol shaving cream. When I got my SR I bought some MWF and love it. The other day I didn't have time to use the SR (im still pretty new and take a lot of time to shave with it) but instead of using my old cream I mixed up a MWF lather and used that. The difference between the cream and the soap was night and day. The Quattro slid easily and didn't tear up my neck like it usually did. It was defiantly the best cartridge shave I've ever had. Plus, my after shave didn't burn like it normally would.

Anyone else use a cartridge razor as a back up and use a soap instead of canned cream?

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I do think that the canned goo was part of the irritation problem with cartridges for me. I talked to someone who said the Gillette Fusion irritation ended when he quit using it and used just hot water. It was a Catch 22 for me to use canned gel because it got stuck between the blades and made me press the razor harder against my face, resulting in the irritation I sought to avoid. As far as cartridges were concerned, the Schick was the worst of the two evils for me compared to Gillette.

My back-up is a DE razor. I should try a cartridge/multiblade with a brush soap or cream just to try and understand what went wrong for me, but I always talk myself out of it when I get to the store, especially considering the prices.