Thread: I disagree..

Originally Posted by DerekC

I thought the point was to make the hairs more perpendicular to the skin surface.

Yes, Derek, that's why I pay attention to hair growth pattern.

Regards,

Obie

I completely agree on using the CF, but something does seem wrong. I do almost the same thing - wet the brush for a bit, usually when I'm in the shower, then shake off the water, swirl a few times over the CF and then go on the wet face for a minute or two (I skip the bowl). My lather looks nothing like his, I should probably describe it as 'my lather runneth over'.
I don't know if it really makes a difference with CF as I don't think I can get my lather to look like his, but the narrative seems pretty sound, just the video that goes with it doesn't match what I've experienced.

His lather seems thin compared to what I do, but then again he shaves very quickly so he doesn't really need it to last all that long. When I used cartridge razors it didn't really matter what my lather looked like, since it was over and done with before anything had a chance to think about drying. So I never even really thought about it until starting with the straight.

If you have a Simpson brush, and read the instructions, he is simply following them. That is the Simpson recommendation. I don't follow it, but I do find that on my third pass, using a painting stroke vs a circular motion does apply a better lather.

RT

I think it´s maybe a case of hard water, re the thin lather and spot on re you don´t need as good lather when DE shaving, in my experience.

Originally Posted by tekbow

maybe "basically most" was overstating it.. my apologies, mainly the lathering part bothered me. As i said, the stretching and directional stuff worked for me. And everyone has their own way i guess..

As everyone has said, YMMV, but as I just mentioned in another thread; this is precisely how I have lathered 90% of the time or more for the last 15 years. This is pretty much classic "face lathering." (I know he uses a bowl, but it looks like he only uses it long enough to get a lather started and load his brush properly, which is critically important) I would call the amount of lather he has on his face just about right. Any less and you won't get adequate lubrication. Any more, and you're just wasting soap so you can look like Santa. There's nothing wrong with great heaping mounds of lather if that makes you happy, but in my experience, that is all you need.

the thing is, it doesn't seem to take more than a snurdle for me to produce huge amounts of lather, so i figure if i can, why not? it gets mostly used anyway and the main factor for me is, it's a luxury. Warm soft lather worked onto my face feels nice. Some people may have a more utilitarian approach, and thats cool too

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen:

I have seen that video. I agree with some things and disagree with others.

I'm one for using the brush in a circular motion, reserving the paint brush for the first and the last movements. Also, I am a believer in short strokes, although that is a personal choice. His first lather seems thin and dry, I might add. Altogether, though, this is a good video.

I like the double edge he is using. I don't recognize the handle to be able to identify the razor.

Regards,

Obie

I agree with everything Obie say's here. I'm the same. I did quite enjoy his video, but thought his lather was thin. I tend to go for the "Rabid Dog" look myself. I like a thicker lather. His looked like baby powder on his face, but to each his own....Didn't he say he went to Barber School?....? I didn't.....

Originally Posted by zib

Didn't he say he went to Barber School?....? I didn't.....

90% of us should have this somewhere in every post.

well this is what kind of made me sit up and think. I've seen it said somewhere on here that what barbers and old barber manuals say is usually contrary to the group wisdom and experience of multiple people on here? Usually because in a barber manual etc it was more or less one persons opinion