How does classic shaving technique work for you?

I started off thinking about the quality of the shave....but as my technique improved.....it turned to fun

 

I like the great variety of razors, blades, creams, soaps, etc shaving with a DE. It is fun trying various combinations and there is always new stuff to try.
Cartridge razors don't have this.

 

I just have so much fun getting a great shave! I was always a wetshaver, I started shaving at 14 with a brush, and Noxzema lather shaving cream, although it was with a cheap Gillette Trac 2. I used a cartridge razor for a long time, but switched back to a DE a few years ago, and then a straight, and I'll never go back to any cartridge razor again. Nothing but the best creams, or soaps for me with a brush and a DE, or a straight. It's one of the most satisfying parts of my day, besides kissing my wife and daughter!

 

The answer "both" is missing. Or maybe "Proper" would be the correct response.

St. Croix

 

*sigh* lol the entire purpose of this poll was to get people to see beyond the obvious and generalized responses... dig deeper into why we do what we do... take some time to sit back and really think about what gives us the most gratification about this ritual we all love... and thus, responses like "both" are not really an option... im sure 99% of the population of this board can answer "both"... but which of the two options MOST fits the part of it that satisfies you... thats what i am trying to get to the bottom of.

 

lol wasnt directed to you queen or anyone in particular, it just seems like a lot of people didnt really read the post attached to the beginning of the thread... or read through it (which is understandable lol) but, as i said... the question can easily raise responses favoring both sides of the spectrum... if i had put an option for "both" in there... it would hold 100% responses lol the idea was to get people to dig deep... i dunno, maybe nobody cares LOL

 

lol funny... yeah, im the same way... i get something that requires assembly, and im tackling the job before i even look for the directions, much less read them... lol eh, no biggie... just thought it might be interesting to hear some detailed responses, along with some backing reasons for why people feel that way... i like the task itself, not so much the shave afterwards... but, as i get more experienced, im sure that will improve... but for now im happy with the enjoyment i get, and the anxious restlessness i get before shaving... an act i used to despise doing... mainly because every shave brought me closer to having to shell out another $20 on blades lol fact is... with all the crap we spend our money on, and plainly put... the amount of crap ive already SPENT money on... and have YET to spend money on (some stuff is still in the works lol paying it down tomorrow) i think i could have bought myself about a year and a halfs worth of mach 3 blades.... some people in here? lifetime supply lol so, in all reality... unless you plan on buying a $40 badger brush, a merkur HD, a 100 pack of derby blades, and some col. conk soap... this will probably never be the cheapest thing compared to a mach lol

 

I've always wet-shaved, using a brush and soap, but the gravitation to a DE (and then to better soaps and creams) was mostly for quality. Admittedly, at first it was just fun to get the process down, but it very quickly became about getting a better shave than I could achieve with a cartridge.

 

OK.
If I were really forced to give a detailed response......
I enjoy the CHALLENGE of a good shave the most, therefore the quality of the shave would be my choice.
I used this analogy before but in case any of you dont read every thing I write:

Shaving to me is like Golf (THE game I love)
Golf can NEVER be mastered..... No matter how much time, effort, blood, sweat and tears one may pour into it.
I really enjoy hitting a great shot and posting a good score but THE most exciting part of the game is I never know what to expect.
Every day is a new day and every shave is a new experience.
I know Ill never get a BBS shave EVERY SINGLE TIME no matter how hard I try and thats OK.
I like the challenge and the excitement of not knowing.

 

thats a good way of looking at it the unknown... i think answers like this were more what i was looking for from most of the members... insightful responses geared toward the depth of why they do what they do... good stuff rick!

 

Im here to help



Just dont make me THINK too much....aw-ight ?!

 

Well look at the problem this way. I can either spend $3.50 each month for a a shave that can't stop irritating my neck or I can pay fifteen cents for a shave that does not irritate my neck at all. I can pay more and get less or pay less and get more, the decision is a no brainer. There is also the old school factor, there is a certain amount of attraction to doing the job the way it has been done for nearly a century. The cartridge has been on the market for a very short period of time when compared to the double edge and straight razors. There is some satisfaction in doing the shaving job the way my pop did it for years and the way my grandpop did it. Athough my family does not know much about my grandpop and how he did things we think he did the shaving job with the double edge. He had 12 kids and likely would not have had the time to devote to the straight. So there is a certain amount of attraction in being the third generation doing the job this way. I am planning to show my son the techniques so he will be the fourth generation to do the job the same way. Although I will probably make available a straight so that he can opt to go with the even more traditional method should that be what he diesires to do.

 

OK, OK. I voted fun. You happy now? Fun shopping for stuff, fun choosing stuff to use, fun experiencing the quality of the shave. Fun, fun, fun...

 

Hi Sledge,
I guess, what you're asking is, what do we enjoy more, the process or the result of the process. Let's modify the question just a little to get to the truth: Would I DE shave if the result was less great, as in shaving with an M3, but still had the same fun during the process? Yes, I would! Now turn it around: Would I DE shave if the result was as great as it is now, but the fun aspect fell down to the level of say using canned foam? Hell, no! I would look for a way to have more fun! That's why I arrived at DE shaving in the first place.

Now, let's look at the cost factor that someone mentioned before. We all like to maintain the illusion of saving money on blades versus buying cartridges, and using the very same money to satisfy our ADs, hence getting all those most desirable goodies for free. Uh-huh! If we dared to take a closer look at our bank/credit card statements, we would find that we are in total denial. OK, we don't want to go there. Let's have some fun instead. It's such a nice illusion!

Conclusion: Yes, it's the process that counts more than the result. Fun all the way!

 

Quality of the shave.


Marty

 

:sihns011:signs107

 

only problem with that response, is that its geared toward a topic more revolving around "DE VS Straight Edge" lol