#11

Vintage Shaver
Seattle, WA
For me it depends somewhat on the lather produced by the particular soap or cream. If it is really slick, then I just re-lather between passes; but if the lather is extremely thick or is drying, then I'll wet my face again between the passes.

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John
#12
I keep my face as wet as possible for the whole duration of the shave, starting with the shower. On each pass, as soon as I've shaved a side of my face, I reset it before doing the other side. Keeping my face as wet as possible has been the most important factor in the achievement of an irritation free BBS shave.

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#13
(05-10-2023, 02:08 AM):happy2:churchilllafemme Wrote: For me it depends somewhat on the lather produced by the particular soap or cream. If it is really slick, then I just re-lather between passes; but if the lather is extremely thick or is drying, then I'll wet my face again between the passes.
Thats how I determine whether to wet my face again or not. Happy2

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#14

Member
So Cal
My whole process is based on making a sink 2/3 full of very warm water. I spread a little spoonful of soap in my copper shaving bowl, and float it in the water for a few seconds, which makes the resulting lather nice and warm. I use the same water to rinse my razor after each stroke or two, and after each pass I rinse my face with a handful or two of this water. Mostly to help hydrate my next pass of lather, but also to rinse off any whiskers or whatever else is on my face so the next pass feels fresh. If my soap is already getting to limit of hydration, I use less rinse water, if it’s too thick I use more.
#15
Ditto here.  I find that by wetting (but not rinsing), there is a bit of a cumulative effect and subsequent latherings seem a bit slicker.  This makes the final pass a little easier too.
#16

novacula regem
Greece
No pre-shaves .
Wash face before face-lathering .
With as cold water as possible and
green olive oil soap.

Face lather , building lather with cold tap water .
Only exception is with
the Saponificio Varesino soaps,
that need hot water for blooming and
lather building.

Rinse with cold tap water ,between the
two passes ( WTG & ATG ) .Leave face wet.

At the end of the shaving,apply remaining
lather in the face and neck and leave ,
while cleaning the brush and the razor.
Rinse with ice-cold water ( from the fridge ) ,
dry with towel and apply asl ( usually my DIY one
which is quite heavy on alcohol - 70% vol. ) .
During winter I may apply some after-shave balm .

Same procedure all year round.
Never had the slightest issue with irritation,
razor burn and the like.
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#17

Member
Chicago Suburbs
What shaving soap or cream do you use? It makes a huge difference.

If I am using a top tier artisan shaving soap, I find I have no need to use a preshave product; nor do I need to use a postshave product after the shave. I normally do four passes with minimal pressure: WTG, XTG, ATG then a clean-up pass with buffing strokes.

With my elite soaps, I relather for each pass, but I do not rinse my face or applying extra water between passes.

With my super elite soaps, I relather for my first three passes, but can accomplish the clean-up pass without relathering. These super-elite soaps have such a high level of residual slickness that I can even do buffing strokes without relathering. Normally, I will relather, but my face will not suffer if I do not.

Finally, my highest rated soap is so good that I can even do my ATG pass without relathering. That is not a typical practice, even for that soap, but I have done it a few times just to prove how good that soap really is. That soap is the only one in my collection that will allow me to do that.

The only time I use a post shave splash or balm in in extreme conditions. Extreme means the temperature is either over 95F or below 10 F. With anything in between, my elite and super elite soaps keep my face feeling great, even without a post-shave product. I do have many lesser soaps in my collection that benefit from a preshave and postshave product. However, I have enough Top Tier soaps that I rarely use the lesser soaps that I acquired along the way.

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#18

novacula regem
Greece
RayClem
Mind revealing which is your highest
rating soap ,the one that allows you
for an ATG pass without re-lathering ?
Just being curious .
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#19
For me it really depends on how the lather looks. I definitely don't add anymore pre-shave but if I need to add a little more water because the lather is starting to dry out then I will do that.
#20

Member
Chicago Suburbs
My favorite soap is currently Grooming Dept Kairos SE with Lamb tallow and Emu oil. The 2023 version is better than the one from last year and it is the only soap that will allow me to shave ATG without relathering and still avoid irritation.

I realized that shaving ATG without relathering is a gimmick that is far more useful in soap evaluations than it is in day to day shaving. While Kairos SE 2023 is my current favorite, there are plenty of soaps that meet my standards for a super elite soap.

Ariana and Evans K2e. Unfortunately, I do not find the latest Ultima formulation to be as good as K2e and the price of Ultima is higher.
Barrister and Mann Omnibus
Declaration Grooming Milksteak
Ethos Grooming Essentials F Base. I have not tried all the bases. These soaps are rather expensive, so I have not collected multiple soaps.
Gentleman's Nod C-4+ base
Grooming Dept Kairos SE 2022, Kairos, Donkey Base, Lamb Tallow and Mallard
House of Mammoth Tusk
Murphy and McNeil current Kodiak base
Nobel Otter- current base
Oaken Lab V3 base. This one is produced in Indonesia.
Wholly Kaw Siero Tallow. I have not tried the new Creme Fraiche base.
Zingari Man Sego base

While most of these soaps are produced in the USA, many are available from various stockists in EU and UK. Some of the artisans also produce excellent preshave and postshave product. While you should not need to use them, you might choose to use them to make for an even more luxurious shave.

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