Thread: It's all important, but....

I think, based on a recent "experiment" I conducted, that perhaps the most under-appreciated and least practiced is the generation of a good lather that really helps your beard stand up and or soften, your razor glide more easily and your face feel better when you're done.

I put this in the beginners section because I still consider myself one, after 8 months.

My experiment was to do shaves on three consecutive days with 3 different razors (all honed by Lynn) that I have used a lot since I acquired them, but with the same face prep and lathering techniques and the same cream/soap. For this experiment it was DR Harrisw Arlington Cream whipped up in my scuttle. The Razor were my Dovo 5/8 Prima Klang, my 6/8 R. Aust Stainless and mu original from 30 years ago a Hoffritz 5/8. Previously, I have had issues getting a perfect shave with the Dovo and the 6/8. I blamed on on technique, and blade size differences. The Dovo is Extra Hollow and the 6/8 is my only 6/8. Lynn currently has my R. Aust 5/8 for my free re-honing. It was my first new SR bought in June.

Interestingly, the result was that I got great almost BBS shaves with all three. My stropping has finally settled down as has my technique, so...

I have concluded that I recognize and can build a great lather (at least with that cream) and that it is just as, if not more important than any other aspect of the whole process, as long as you have a shave ready razor. My mistake, looking back on my earlier shaves was I either use too little or too much water, resulting in either a lather that was sticky and dried quickly, or watery and didn't do its job.

Hope this helps some other beginner.

Man am I happy!

I think it's a great point. I've got one sure-fire cream that I can always get a trustworthy lather from (C O Bigelow = Proraso Green), and I keep plenty on hand. Whenever I'm testing a newly-honed blade, or experimenting with a shaving technique, I _always_ use my well-trusted go-to shaving cream, because. I don't want the lather to be "iffy."

Other times, when the blade is trustworthy and I'm in my comfort zone technique-wise, THEN I'll play around with novel soaps and creams.