........ if it was the prep or the razor. I'm new (about 3 weeks) to DE shaving and have found I enjoy it very much! I love the slightly longer prep ritual and using a razor that is 30, 40, 50+ years old, or a brand new Merkur HD - DFS & BBS every time!
Anyway, I got to wondering if perhaps it was the new prep ritual (warm mug, badger brush, TOBS shave creme) that was making most, if not all, of the difference in shaves. And if using a DE was any better than my old razors (cheap blue handle Gillette disposables), IF I used the "new and improved" prep routine.
So today I followed my new prep routine and shaved with a Gillette disposable. My findings are that it is NOT just the prep but that the DE razor makes a huge difference in the quality (and pleasure
) of a shave. After I "finished" shaving with the disposable, I grabbed my Common Bar Handle New and truly finished my shave! 
Now, of course, my next experiment will have to be going back to my old prep routine (wash face with bar soap, "lather" face with same bar soap), but use a DE for the shave - and see how that turns out. Maybe it's just the razor, and not the prep at all! I doubt it, but ya know what - even if the prep doesn't make much difference, I love everything about my new way of prepping and I will continue with it no matter what!
Anyway, I got to wondering if perhaps it was the new prep ritual (warm mug, badger brush, TOBS shave creme) that was making most, if not all, of the difference in shaves. And if using a DE was any better than my old razors (cheap blue handle Gillette disposables), IF I used the "new and improved" prep routine.
So today I followed my new prep routine and shaved with a Gillette disposable. My findings are that it is NOT just the prep but that the DE razor makes a huge difference in the quality (and pleasure
) of a shave. After I "finished" shaving with the disposable, I grabbed my Common Bar Handle New and truly finished my shave! Now, of course, my next experiment will have to be going back to my old prep routine (wash face with bar soap, "lather" face with same bar soap), but use a DE for the shave - and see how that turns out. Maybe it's just the razor, and not the prep at all! I doubt it, but ya know what - even if the prep doesn't make much difference, I love everything about my new way of prepping and I will continue with it no matter what!
