Marco Method Question

[branford]

I'm a long-time wet shaver, but only recently decided to try the "Marco Method" for loading and face lathering my beloved Italian soft soaps. I readily and gladly admit that my lather has noticeably improved. I also now have more than sufficient lather for my normal three pass and touch-up shave, when before I often needed to go back to the tub for the third pass+.

However, I seem to using up my soaps at an alarming rate. I always loaded my brush heavily before face lathering, but my soaps (usually Proraso and Cella) seemed to last months. With the Marco Method, the soaps are disappearing rapidly. I've always shaved every day and have been using the same stable and rotation of brushes, so I eliminated these variables as possibilities.

Am I crazy or is this the willing price I must pay for a better, longer lasting lather?

 

[brucered]

More product = better shaves

if the lather is better and you are getting better shaves, it's a small price to pay. I say keep doing it if its working for you.

when you run out of soap, buy some more

 

[xillion]

More product = better shaves

if the lather is better and you are getting better shaves, it's a small price to pay. I say keep doing it if its working for you.

when you run out of soap, buy some more

+1

Soap is meant to be used. Life is too short for bad shaves.

 

[Niles]

I think I remember in his thread, or maybe elsewhere, that Marco admits that his method uses up soaps quicker. But as it's been said before, it rewards you with a good shave. So why not do it?

 

[branford]

I'm not really complaining, I just thought I might be doing something wrong or my mind is playing tricks on me. The difference in the amount of product consumed is quite substantial.

 

[brucered]

I get great lather from almost every product I use now...But some of my hard creams, soft soaps, I'm using 4-5g/day, based on weights and tracking I have done with them.

That may sound like a crazy amount of product but others are using the same amount, they just don't notice as they are rotating between 20 products.

 

[OkieStubble]

I'm a long-time wet shaver, but only recently decided to try the "Marco Method" for loading and face lathering my beloved Italian soft soaps. I readily and gladly admit that my lather has noticeably improved. I also now have more than sufficient lather for my normal three pass and touch-up shave, when before I often needed to go back to the tub for the third pass+.

However, I seem to using up my soaps at an alarming rate. I always loaded my brush heavily before face lathering, but my soaps (usually Proraso and Cella) seemed to last months. With the Marco Method, the soaps are disappearing rapidly. I've always shaved every day and have been using the same stable and rotation of brushes, so I eliminated these variables as possibilities.

Am I crazy or is this the willing price I must pay for a better, longer lasting lather?

Congratulations branford! you have figured out the mystery in how to justify buying more shave soap. By running out...

 

[Lather]

I learned the hard way. You have to whip up enough soap to create a thick lather. As mentioned, more product equals better shaves.

Even when I used canned goo, I put more than enough on my face and the extra went down the sink.

 

[MWS]

I love extra lather...how about just loading 2/3'rds as much?

 

[jasonb8736]

I've been using the "Marco Method" for my soft soaps (Proraso, Cella...and now Razorock) and I can assure you that this method does consume greater quantities of soap. It's worth it...every single time.

 

[dpittman70]

Cyou have figured out the mystery in how to justify buying more shave soap. By running out...

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[olschoolsteel]

Good thing Cella comes in a 1 Kg brick huh?

 

[texaninkc]

I love extra lather...how about just loading 2/3'rds as much?

+1. if you're washing too much of it down the drain then you're overdoing it (some would tell you there's no such thing). Cut down on the time with the same style and you'll find that happy medium you're looking for.

 

[Marco]

Sir, if you are happy with your lather and enjoy your shaves this is all that really counts. Yes, soaps do finish much quicker, but I strongly believe that a great lather is obtained only using more soap. All in all it's not a huge price to be paid IMHO.

 

[rand77]

I get great lather from almost every product I use now...But some of my hard creams, soft soaps, I'm using 4-5g/day, based on weights and tracking I have done with them.

That may sound like a crazy amount of product but others are using the same amount, they just don't notice as they are rotating between 20 products.

So I'm not the only one! I burn through my soft soaps like its nothing, I think I went through a tub of RR Cacao in ~35-40 shaves. Same thing with my tub of RR/TFS Green tobacco.

It's not really a problem for me as the products are quite cheaply priced, and you get a lot of lather for extra passes.

 

[brucered]

So I'm not the only one! I burn through my soft soaps like its nothing, I think I went through a tub of RR Cacao in ~35-40 shaves. Same thing with my tub of RR/TFS Green tobacco.

It's not really a problem for me as the products are quite cheaply priced, and you get a lot of lather for extra passes.

Nope you are not alone. I'm right there with you and wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[SteveWY]

How is getting a great lather and great shave a bad plan? There can't be 2 cents difference in the amount of lather used between a thin lather and a great lather. And as others said, you get to buy more soap! Yea!!!

 

[Useless shaver]

More product = better shaves

if the lather is better and you are getting better shaves, it's a small price to pay. I say keep doing it if its working for you.

when you run out of soap, buy some more

A BIG +1!!!!

This, branford, is a new opportunity for you to expand your collection of soaps....

 

[rand77]

Nope you are not alone. I'm right there with you and wouldn't have it any other way.

Also not just lots of lather, but thick creamy lather that is really protective.

Not sure if lather is supposed to be this thick, and I like my lather thick enough to a point where it starts to gum up on the underside of blades after each pass. It's worked out for me so far. The way to ensure this kind of lather for several passes is simply heavily loading with lots of product.

 

[OMEN]

Thankfully Proraso is cheap compared to most products. I bought the white and green soap, and the blue cream and aftershave, hardly breaking the bank. I also rotate my creams a lot so they will last a few months at the least. Hopefully by then the blue line will be a bit closer to me.

Also, would using a Brita filter for water improve lathering?