Thread: Arko and MDC

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Oh well,,,,

Glad to hear your happy with Arko.

My sentiments, exactly.
No need to elaborate.




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Originally Posted by beluga

My sentiments, exactly.
No need to elaborate.




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I don't post here very often any longer. I have my soaps that I like, my post shave preferences. And I have my honing routine down and get what I want out of my edges. I'm not going to try to change anyone's mind or convince them of my choices. But I will challenge everyone else to really evaluate the soaps they use. Not the ones I use or prefer but yours. If you're like most of us, you probably have a hundred choices in your collection. Use the same razor, fresh off the hones. Use the same prep and post shave. And really evaluate how you feel after every shave. After a couple shaves, return to your finishing hone for a pass or two, make sure the edge is fresh off the hones each time. No excuses about using too much pressure this time or the edge was a little harsh and needs some CrOx. Really ask how you feel afterward. You might be surprised at what is really working for you and not.

I do this already, Mosley the same azor with a perfect edge, same brush, same stropping routine, this is why there are not 3 SOSs n my den now,moot rid of everything that wasn't to my liking or performance. Castle Forbes and MDC the rest are just body wash or give aways. There are some lesser so as hat perform, but not to my liking. Tc

I have a different perspective on this, having learned to use a brush from my dad using a bar of Ivory in my hand. Used a Gillette DE and blue blades. Got the "job" done.

Fast forward 50+ years, I strop a vintage Sheffield blade on a nice Roo strop, lather with MDC and enjoy my shave. Gets the same job done, but my priorities are different now. I'm not doing it only to get my face smooth (but I do), but I savor it. I do the same with Arko, a nice brush and whatever razor I grab...maybe a Vintage Gillette with Polsilver blades that cost more than my razor from 50 years ago....and I get the job done...and savor making the choices and taking the time. Life is about the experience, not the "job". Do whatever you enjoy!

That is what it's about.

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

I have my soaps that I like, my post shave preferences.

I'm not going to try to change anyone's mind or convince them of my choices.

But I will challenge everyone else to really evaluate the soaps they use. Not the ones I use or prefer but yours.

Really ask how you feel afterward. You might be surprised at what is really working for you and not.

Precisely.

Over the years I tried many soaps and creams; some stayed permanently, some stayed for a while, some did not stay at all. Unsurprisingly, among the soaps I tried was also Arko, which never made the grade.

I am at the stage now where many discussions on shaving fora elicit a sense of "deja vue" and I prefer to stay out of debates that I have heard many times before. But the (to me) absurd attempt to compare Arko with Martin de Candre was a novelty.


Some shavers may be in dear love with Arko and consider it the greatest bargain on earth, but as far as inexpensive shave sticks are concerned, I'll take Palmolive shave sticks any time; but if someone should prefer Arko, it's certainly no skin off my nose.


And thank you; I think I am not going to take you up on your challenge, because I have been at classic wet shaving for too long and would rather pick from a long list of other products before I reach for Arko again. You see, for me a nice morning shave is more than just reach for some shaving soap that may adequately get the job done but deeply offends my olfactory sense.


Life is too short to drink bad wine - or shave with a soap you just do not care for.



B.




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Until yesterday,I had been perfectly content with my mediocre soaps,self-honed restored razors,and synthetic or boar brushes. Today, I shaved by candlelight with violin music playing in the background,sipping a fine champagne and nibbling on Almas caviar between passes. I have found that if I also take a shot of Russian vodka between passes , I can get a DFS with only 8 passes! Thanks for helping me up my game ! This has been a (Tongue in cheek post,no hateful PM's required)

Originally Posted by Wirm

I have found that if I also take a shot of Russian vodka between passes , I can get a DFS with only 8 passes! Thanks for helping me up my game ! This has been a (Tongue in cheek post,no hateful PM's required)

Watch out on pass 9...the "pass-out" pass

Originally Posted by Wirm

Until yesterday,I had been perfectly content with my mediocre soaps,self-honed restored razors,and synthetic or boar brushes. Today, I shaved by candlelight with violin music playing in the background,sipping a fine champagne and nibbling on Almas caviar between passes. I have found that if I also take a shot of Russian vodka between passes , I can get a DFS with only 8 passes! Thanks for helping me up my game ! This has been a (Tongue in cheek post,no hateful PM's required)

Bob

Originally Posted by Wirm

Today, I shaved by candlelight with violin music playing in the background,sipping a fine champagne and nibbling on Almas caviar between passes. I have found that if I also take a shot of Russian vodka between passes , I can get a DFS with only 8 passes!

Tried that and regretfully it didn't work for me, but I was partly to blame since I substituted the Boston Pops Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture conducted by Arthur Fiedler for the violin music and cut myself horribly at the passage where the cannon shots are fired. (I am still trying to locate the missing part of my ear.)

Of course, shaving only by candlelight at 5 am didn't help either.

Neither did I care for the caviar's fish taste while shaving.

I am thinking now of sprinkling gold dust on my $8 boar brush as - similar to graphite in a pencil - it might improve lubrication and would finally enable me to save money and enjoy using $1.09 Williams shaving pucks every day...



B.


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Arko does NOT smell like a urine cake. If it did I wouldn't mind because I like the way those smell. Come on, you know you do too!! But would not like it for an everyday shaving soap. That being said, I have a sample 15 gram MdC on the way to try out. Arko does have a very strong clean and soapy smell to it that is fine with me. It works fine for me. Wet your face, rub the stick all over your face then hit with a warm and slightly dampened brush, creates ample lather. Exceeded my expectations.