I use the cloth. I've been experimenting with using the finishing balm instead of the cutting balm for the whole process. The finishing balm and the newer 2X velocity cutting balm seem VERY similar. I can't detect any difference in performance. This is true when used as an ingredient in the wet mix and when used alone for touch ups. What are other's experiences?
Cutting Balm vs Finishing Balm
- Thread starter mars
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Other than the obvious price difference, I'm wondering the same thing. I had an email from Chas. with the following:
Finishing balm is an incredibly effective finishing agent when using a blade that is either 1). losing its edge from repeated shaves 2). attempting to gloss cut when the residual mix on the face is too wet--excess velocity. It is, in short, a terrific corrective agent for all forms of overblading. It is used best at the very end of the shave for extremely close spot reductions. Hot rinse the face first, feed some FB with the fingertips and the ADD HOT WATER to the balm once it is applied. It is the hot water application that releases the power of the product. Finally, if for some reason you have overbladed and are "blade sore," simply massage some wet finishing balm into the sore area, relief is instantaneous. Unbelievable stuff.
AFAIK, the finishing balm is NOT designed to mix with primer to create wet mix.....I'll ask the Shavemaster and see what he says.
Finishing balm is an incredibly effective finishing agent when using a blade that is either 1). losing its edge from repeated shaves 2). attempting to gloss cut when the residual mix on the face is too wet--excess velocity. It is, in short, a terrific corrective agent for all forms of overblading. It is used best at the very end of the shave for extremely close spot reductions. Hot rinse the face first, feed some FB with the fingertips and the ADD HOT WATER to the balm once it is applied. It is the hot water application that releases the power of the product. Finally, if for some reason you have overbladed and are "blade sore," simply massage some wet finishing balm into the sore area, relief is instantaneous. Unbelievable stuff.
AFAIK, the finishing balm is NOT designed to mix with primer to create wet mix.....I'll ask the Shavemaster and see what he says.
On the latter passes I've tried hand mixing cube primer and either cutting balm or finishing balm, and I find that the cutting balm makes my skin a lot softer and offers more protection. Cutting balm also lathers a lot better with cube slag, in my opinion, but if tsmba is correct I guess I'm using finishing balm incorrectly. I would greatly appreciate hearing the follow-up on this.
mars, does the 2x cutting balm replace the original or do you have to ask for it specifically? I ordered "cutting balm" from the website recently and have no idea which it is I'm using. Thanks!
mars, does the 2x cutting balm replace the original or do you have to ask for it specifically? I ordered "cutting balm" from the website recently and have no idea which it is I'm using. Thanks!
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I believe Charles reformulated the cutting balm fairly recently. It used to be thicker and slower. The original version was very different from finishing balm, but now they seem to be more similar. They could contain very different ingredients, but they seem to function pretty similarly, at least when combined with the #1 paste and the la lavande primers.
I hadn't heard of variations on cutting balm. What I have is kind of a medium-viscosity liquid with no scent. Finishing balm has a light citrus fragrance. This will be another source of confusion if there are multiple versions floating around.
Btw....I did ask about pastes. The start-to-finish video shows Chas using a white paste that he later told me is #1. I had asked cuz the paste I got is maroon. He calls it "pink paste" and said it is #2, an all-purpose paste.
Haven't heard more on the CB vs FB question...but it appears that FB is designed just to be used with water, as opposed to CB which seems to mix with any of it.
Btw....I did ask about pastes. The start-to-finish video shows Chas using a white paste that he later told me is #1. I had asked cuz the paste I got is maroon. He calls it "pink paste" and said it is #2, an all-purpose paste.
Haven't heard more on the CB vs FB question...but it appears that FB is designed just to be used with water, as opposed to CB which seems to mix with any of it.
Part of the fun is getting all the products and experimenting around with what combo works best for you.
....and then feeling your face afterwards!
I use the original cutting balm at the beginning of my shave, hand feeding it into the mix on my hand I get from the paste and soap on my brush. DO NOT get the balm on your brush as it will affect the hair on the brush. I cut the 3 forms, rinse my face, then use the 2x cutting balm with hot water on my face with a finishing pass. Pretty close to BBS every time!
What is "2x cutting balm"?
For advanced method shavers, their more lineup to the products. In fact, besides the three pastes, Charles have developed three cutting balms, and three different types of activators. The only thing I am lacking on is tier building between the different pastes. Which number 1 balm, corresponds to number 1 paste and number 1 activator.
That's interesting, and something I hadn't heard about. I knew about the different velocity pastes, and once received a sample of "#3 activator", but had no idea there were variable cutting balms. All my contacts with Charles have been via email....I'll have to check this out.
With my first order Charles sent a sample of #2 cutting balm. How much quicker is it than the #1? I've not tried it yet, but I don't want to go "up the ladder" too quickly. I've been MS for about 2 months.
I'm not sure that the numerical sequence indicates "going up". I know the "pink paste" is #2, and is indicated for all-purpose use. I posted a question about this on the HL forum. Unfortunately, traffic there is s l o w.
To tell you the truth if you want to know about tier building, you are going to have to visit Enchante one day, after you know the basics of method shaving. The #1 paste helps the mixture stay stable longer then regular mix. This helps people who use straight razors since is takes more time to shave with them. Especially in areas with high humidity like in Austin. It was developed for the barbers the Good Life Barbershop in Austin with uses Method Shave on its customers. The number 3 which I will order next time because I live in a dry area, creates,(well Charles doesn't like this term much, but there really isn't word for this yet) a slicker environment. Which keeps hydration of mixture longer in drier areas. Otherwise, the bulk of the work is #2 paste. If you tier build, you can variate between # 1,2,3, in paste, cutting balm, and activator. I believe the finishing balm is being phased out of method shaving. Their is forum link on enchante website that talks little more about his.
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