From Method Shaving To A More Traditional Approach

It takes me that long to shave my face exclusive of the preparations and après-shave dabbling.
I think my speed may fairly be called "a slovenly pace" and getting slower all the time with practice.

I no longer have important deadlines to meet and boy, do I appreciate that.

Mickey ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz

***Mickey , that's a dang good joke. ***

Michael, tallow soaps can be, and are, fantastic but so are some vegetable based soaps. So much has to do with the maker. Our artisans put in a lot of very hard work into their products and it shows. If you are curious about a veggie soap and it is getting good reviews then don't be afraid to give it a try. I have both types that I enjoy and a couple of very popular tallow soaps that just don't do it for me. (Cella and Mitchell's Wool Fat come to mind.) Just because they don't ring my chimes doesn't mean they aren't good if so many folks sing their praises and they have been around so long.

Congratulations on B&M Seville. As I said earlier, it is most definitely on my list, along with replacing my B&M Cheshire, which I love and shall be using for tomorrow's shave. Smile

Thanks Freddy! I've got a lot of vegetable based soaps that I'm trying as well-I'm partial to the Italian makers and have some Saponificio Varesinos that I enjoy, some Acqua de Parma and Nuavia Blu are on the way, and I've got some Sapone di Paolo Bosco that I'm looking forward to trying (Ok, so that one is Italian-American

But I was just blown away by the lathering and the shave and the after shave feel of the Barrister and Mann. I honestly don't know if it's the tallow or not, and I think you're right that it probably has more to do with the craftsmanship of the artisan than the ingredients. Anyway, I'm enjoying the heck out of the experimenting and the process. I'm still feeling my way back into the traditional wet shaving world, and finding that some of the products that I never knew about are very impressive.

Only 10 more hours until I get to use the Seville again! Or will it be the 42? Decisions, decisions!

P.S. FWIW, Mickey and Freddy: The impression that Method Shaving (no longer possible because the products are gone) was laborious and time intensive is one that is easily understandable if one has just read or watched the (IMO) tedious and overly-verbose explanations of the process. But once I got through all of that and practiced a bit, I was able to get through making the mix, 4 passes with touchups, using a new Feather Platinum in a Merkur or Ikon Slant, shaving to BBS and beyond daily without a hint of irritation, clean everything, start to finish in about 10-15 minutes.

Good morning, Michael P.

I have never needed more than 3 passes and one touch up to BBS with my impressively old GEM's.

Please forgive my  obstinate lethargy.

Mickey

P.S.
It is 6:25 am. I am about to come to life and leap/stumble/crawl into action.
Have a swell day.
M.O.

Thanks to all of you, I am enjoying my reentry into more Traditional Wet Shaving.

The OneBlade has opened my eyes to the Single Edge world, my better half got me a Mongoose and gave it to me yesterday, and I've got a King Cobra Classic and a Gem Clog Pruf on the way.

Now, having said all of that, I wonder if the Mongoose, Cobra, or Gem will ever be more than occasional shavers. Or for that matter my beloved Ikon SS Slant.

Here's why, and I hate to say this: It's the darned OneBlade.

Shaved with the Mongoose yesterday, and it was much easier than I thought; lathered up with B&M Seville, was cautious, and got a very good shave. I did not want to push it, because I'm still in the learning phase. The post shave feel was not as smooth and soft as with the OneBlade. As I'm still learning with it, I'm going to shave more with it to give it a fair shake.

But here's why I say 'darned OneBlade'

Shaved this morning with MWF for the first time ever and the OneBlade. I've become a fan of Barrister and Mann, having just discovered them, and my first impression of MWF was that it was good, but I preferred the B&M in terms of ease of building the lather, comfort, and post-shave feel. Still, a good soap.

3 passes, a little touchup, and it was one of the best shaves I've ever gotten-beyond BBS, into the 'gloss' category.

And because I have so much confidence with the OneBlade, it went very smoothly and efficiently. I was figuring with the lack of effort I put into the shave, a DFS was what I deserved. It was way beyond that.

(When my better half felt my face, she remarked that it was incredibly smooth. She told me I must be really loving the Mongoose she gave me. I replied with the one and only correct answer to that: "Absolutely, it's a beautiful, beautiful razor." So there, conscience semi clear.)

So, I'm floored by a couple of things:

1. This darned OneBlade is really good. I've said before, I don't want to like it, as I've spent a long time DE Shaving, building skills, acquiring razors, you know the drill. It should be harder than this. It should require more Zen-like attention than this. It should require even more practice. It's almost too easy. ; and

2. I'm amazed at how good some of the artisan soaps are. It's been years since I've used a shaving soap, and when someone (I think it was vtmax ) said that these new artisanal soaps rendered the Method Shaving creation of a 'wet shaving mix' (lather) obsolete, I thought that would be nice, but not possible. Well, he was right. Easier, tidier, more enjoyable (because I get to use different brushes, scents, etc.) and the performance of these soaps is outstanding. I was told when into MS that using 'traditional' soaps and lathers would not allow me to shave as closely without irritation. Well, perhaps that was before the new artisan soaps, or perhaps that was a person overly exuberant about his 'baby'. But I am absolutely floored with the shaves I've been getting.

I've got some MdC, AdP, Nuavia Blu, and several more B&M coming, because, well, you know the drill.

It's like my shaving world has gone from black and white to color.

Thanks for listening and for all the good advice.

Glad to see you're enjoying your shaves more Michael P, but I think you've acquired your SE razors in reverse order! By most accounts, once you go OneBlade, you don't go back. Unless you're one of those people (and it seems like you are) that enjoy the skillful technique and Zen like concentration required for shaving with anything other than a cartridge razor. I guess you can't argue with results though. I, for one, enjoy honing my skills with different razors and blades as opposed to just going through the motions.

Thanks to all of you, I am enjoying my reentry into more Traditional Wet Shaving.

The OneBlade has opened my eyes to the Single Edge world, my better half got me a Mongoose and gave it to me yesterday, and I've got a King Cobra Classic and a Gem Clog Pruf on the way.

Now, having said all of that, I wonder if the Mongoose, Cobra, or Gem will ever be more than occasional shavers. Or for that matter my beloved Ikon SS Slant.

Here's why, and I hate to say this: It's the darned OneBlade.

Shaved with the Mongoose yesterday, and it was much easier than I thought; lathered up with B&M Seville, was cautious, and got a very good shave. I did not want to push it, because I'm still in the learning phase. The post shave feel was not as smooth and soft as with the OneBlade. As I'm still learning with it, I'm going to shave more with it to give it a fair shake.

But here's why I say 'darned OneBlade'

Shaved this morning with MWF for the first time ever and the OneBlade. I've become a fan of Barrister and Mann, having just discovered them, and my first impression of MWF was that it was good, but I preferred the B&M in terms of ease of building the lather, comfort, and post-shave feel. Still, a good soap.

3 passes, a little touchup, and it was one of the best shaves I've ever gotten-beyond BBS, into the 'gloss' category.

And because I have so much confidence with the OneBlade, it went very smoothly and efficiently. I was figuring with the lack of effort I put into the shave, a DFS was what I deserved. It was way beyond that.

(When my better half felt my face, she remarked that it was incredibly smooth. She told me I must be really loving the Mongoose she gave me. I replied with the one and only correct answer to that: "Absolutely, it's a beautiful, beautiful razor." So there, conscience semi clear.)

So, I'm floored by a couple of things:

1. This darned OneBlade is really good. I've said before, I don't want to like it, as I've spent a long time DE Shaving, building skills, acquiring razors, you know the drill. It should be harder than this. It should require more Zen-like attention than this. It should require even more practice. It's almost too easy. ; and

2. I'm amazed at how good some of the artisan soaps are. It's been years since I've used a shaving soap, and when someone (I think it was vtmax ) said that these new artisanal soaps rendered the Method Shaving creation of a 'wet shaving mix' (lather) obsolete, I thought that would be nice, but not possible. Well, he was right. Easier, tidier, more enjoyable (because I get to use different brushes, scents, etc.) and the performance of these soaps is outstanding. I was told when into MS that using 'traditional' soaps and lathers would not allow me to shave as closely without irritation. Well, perhaps that was before the new artisan soaps, or perhaps that was a person overly exuberant about his 'baby'. But I am absolutely floored with the shaves I've been getting.

I've got some MdC, AdP, Nuavia Blu, and several more B&M coming, because, well, you know the drill.

It's like my shaving world has gone from black and white to color.

Thanks for listening and for all the good advice.

Glad to see you're enjoying your shaves more Michael P, but I think you've acquired your SE razors in reverse order! By most accounts, once you go OneBlade, you don't go back. Unless you're one of those people (and it seems like you are) that enjoy the skillful technique and Zen like concentration required for shaving with anything other than a cartridge razor. I guess you can't argue with results though. I, for one, enjoy honing my skills with different razors and blades as opposed to just going through the motions.

Guys, I think I probably fall in the middle of these two points of view.  While I don't own a OneBlade, I have a few razors that give me beautiful close shaves, almost without thinking, and I use them often.  However, I also enjoy being able to switch things up a bit with different razors, blades, and soaps/creams.  I may know in advance that I usually don't get as close a shave with one razor as I do another but I still enjoy giving it a fresh attempt.  It makes me appreciate the easy shaves with my go-to razors all the more.

Thanks, gents!

I think Freddy hit the nail on the head.

I like having a 'go-to' shave, a combination of soap, brush, and razor that's basically a no-brainer, and one I can 'go to' if I have an important meeting, special dinner, etc., and want a nearly 100% comfortable close shave. Or, if I don't have time to experiment in the morning. The 'go to' is a wonderful tool.

My 'go to' used to be my Ikon SS Slant and Hydrolast products.

Now, that 'go to' 'no-brainer' shave includes the OneBlade, which impresses me more with each shave.

Having said that, I've been acquiring different SE razors, brushes, soaps, etc., and these I'll use when I feel like experimenting, playing, tinkering. It's flat out fun. I'll do these shaves on days where I don't have meetings, when I'm dressing casually, etc., so there's no additional pressure on the shave, and I can fully enjoy the experimenting process.

On my next trip, I can see taking my Simpsons Chubby 2, a good tallow soap, and the OneBlade. I could look at that every day and know that I'll get good to great shaves without effort.

But at home, I'm not ashamed to admit that lately I've been getting a child-like sense of joy when I see my brushes, razors, balms, after shaves, and soaps displayed, inviting me to relax and enjoy.

Well said, Michael!

Without baselines with which to compare, we easily become jaded. When younger and pursuing the pleasures of fine wine, we often paused to realize that though price was no object for the Rockefellers, they didn't drink the great bottles at each meal. Instead, vin ordinaire was consumed and provided pedestrian qualities against which the great bottles could be compared. Greatness can not exist unless there are lesser standards, and Vive La Différence!

Very true, Roger.

I think our vin ordinarie, our everyday shave with a go-to razor, brush and soap, is so far beyond what the typical gel and cartridge shaver is capable of achieving. I'm not being critical of the cartridge shaver; I think that many of them don't even know what's possible, or if they do, can't be bothered.

If they had even one of our pedestrian shaves, it would be remarkable to them. I think it would be like having a friend over who doesn't know much about wine, and serving them what to you might be vin ordinaire, and to them it's a revelation. We are lucky men indeed.

And by the way, darn you, Roger. Ever since you mentioned you were getting the ATT SE1, it's been rattling around in my head. Pulled the trigger this morning on one with a bamboo handle. From the reviews of the ATT SE1s, I'm looking forward to a 'vin extraordinaire' shave!