Need advice on new shaving cream/soap as well as safety razors versus cartridges

[scott784]

As an introduction, I am new to this forum. And for many years, I have only used Gillette shave gel with a Gillette Sensor Excel razor. That's it.

Then recently, I started taking more interest in shaving products and bought the AOS products to include the pre-shave oil, shaving cream and badger brush. To my disappointment, it was useless trying to use AOS products with my Gillette w/cartridge razors as it seemed to instantly clog my cartridge razor....despite running lots of water in the sink. This led me into researching wet shaves and buying a new Merkur Long Handled Safety Razor (which is being shipped to me this week) to replace my Gillette Sensor Excel.

So here's my questions. Was I doomed to failure in trying to use the AOS cream with my Gillette razor with cartridge razor? I am guessing my issue will be resolved when I make the transition to a safety razor versus the cartridge razor that I have used for so many years. But what about my investment in the AOS shaving cream? This cost enough. But is it really that great? How does it compare to the shaving soaps out there (for which I've never tried)? And when I use the AOS shaving cream, should I be taking some of the cream and mixing it in a bowl with a small amount of water like the soaps? (Note: when previously trying the AOS shaving cream, I simply dipped the badger brush in the shaving cream container and then applied to my wet face).

And as far as shaving with my new safety razor (expecting this week) versus my usual Gillette cartridge razor, is there any general advice I should follow....other than obviously taking it nice and slow until I get used to it? These sound like a lot of dumb questions as I ask them. But as stated in my introduction, I've never used anything but my Gillette razor and cartridges.

Thanks for any suggestions/advice. I am looking forward to a better shave and saving some bucks on those over priced cartridges.

 

[StanStill]

I do think you'll enjoy the safety razor more than the sensor, but be prepared for a learning curve once you start using it. A sensor will adjust the angle of the blade for you if you aren't holding the handle at the perfect angle, a safety razor is rigid and won't adjust for you. Also the blades on cartridges are slightly recessed inside the cartridge without much gap between blades, so that if you push a little too hard against your face, or go too fast, you probably won't cut yourself. Again, not so with a DE. So you really have to be careful, especially at first.

As for cream clogging up your razor, that really shouldn't happen any more than with the canned gel. My guess is that you didn't add enough water and/or didn't spend enough time building up a lather. It should be just as foamy and fluffy as anything that comes from a can when its ready, but this can take a couple minutes. Took me a while to realize that you really do have to spend the extra time on lather.

 

[SyntheticEvil13]

Welcome to B&B. No those are no dumb questions. I can't tell how many times I've read those same questions. I had a lot of those same questions myself. The main things you need to know is the correct shaving angle, using 0-very, very little pressure, using enough product and/or water in your lather. Just look around the shavewiki and some YouTube videos. You'll be on your way to a great shave in no time. I haven't tried any AOS products so I can't help you with that but, someone will. As far as shaving soaps, almost all of them are better than that goo in a can. So more than likely you don't have to worry about that.

 

[jovan]

Welcome to the forum. Best advice, use less, less less, pressure. Start off thnking your face is a balloon and you do not want to 'pop' it. Less pressure. Then good luck and ask questions.

 

[dplowman]

Definitely take it slow, especially on the neck. Maybe only go WTG on your neck for the first couple of shaves. I have never tried AOS cream, only CC bigelow. I currently use MWF (Mitchells Wool Fat) soap and love it. I now prefer soaps and face lathering. Only been wet shaving a couple if months!

 

[scott784]

I appreciate all the good tips/advice about going WTG, correct shaving angle, and using less pressure. Also, excellent analogy about thinking of face as a balloon and not wanting to pop it! All I've ever used is a Gillette Sensor Excel razor (or similar) and always (only) cartridge razors.

I am looking forward to getting my new Merkur Safety Razor. But I think I might wait until this weekend to give it the first try. As for the AOS cream, I am going to try using it (again) with less product and more water to see if that prevents my razor from clogging up. Supposedly, the AOS cream doesn't (technically) require mixing in a bowl. But I can see that (without doing so), you have to be especially careful about only putting a very small amount on your face. Otherwise, it turns into a texture that is like latex paint!

I would like to try some of the soaps everyone on here seems to be talking about. And I would assume they are far less expensive than AOS shaving cream. I believe I read on these forums (somewhere) that Whole Foods is one retail outlet where shaving soaps can be purchased.

 

[mhensley]

AOS is one of the better creams (although never my first choice). From your description, you are using way too much cream and not enough water and not enough mixing. You don't have to mix it in a bowl, but you should definitely not put it directly on your face. Apply it to the brush (the common description is an amount equal in size to 1-2 almonds), and then build up the lather on your face. The common description of the resulting optimal consistency is "yogurt-like". Search the forums for "face lathering" for more details.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with mixing in a bowl or scuttle, either. Save advice on amount of cream and consistency.

And have fun!

 

[OC513]

I was in the exact same position as you just a few weeks ago. Using AOS products, I thought I had it right. Well after finding this forum I learned just what I was doing wrong. Everything! I wasn't using enough water to get a good lather, I wasnt doing any preshave prep nor anything post shave except a "name brand" after shave. I watched basically all of the mantic59 and geofatboy videos on YouTube and can't recommend them enough. I ordered up my de razor and started that journey Saturday. Not a nick or weeper. Huge piles of luxurious lather I went from a guy that HATED to shave and NEVER did so on weekends to shaving Saturday, Sunday and I'm about to go shower and shave tonight! That's 3 days straight, without question a record for me. I love it as of right now. Thanks to all the great members on this board. What a wealth of knowledge.

 

[scott784]

AOS is one of the better creams (although never my first choice). From your description, you are using way too much cream and not enough water and not enough mixing. You don't have to mix it in a bowl, but you should definitely not put it directly on your face. Apply it to the brush (the common description is an amount equal in size to 1-2 almonds), and then build up the lather on your face. The common description of the resulting optimal consistency is "yogurt-like". Search the forums for "face lathering" for more details.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with mixing in a bowl or scuttle, either. Save advice on amount of cream and consistency.

And have fun!

Yes, you said it right! I now realize I was using way too much cream. I simply dipped to badger brush into the AOS cream container and then applied it to my wet face. And even though I kept the razor rinsed after a single pass or two.....the cream took on a pasty/latex texture on my face. That's what happens when you are programmed not to think by using Gillette shave gel with a cartridge for so many years. With that stuff, you don't have to think. You just apply and get on with it.

I will definitely take your advice and only use a quantity equal to 1-2 almonds and then build up the lather with plenty of water. After I finish using this AOS cream, I'd like to explore some of the other product lines out there.

 

[scott784]

I was in the exact same position as you just a few weeks ago. Using AOS products, I thought I had it right. Well after finding this forum I learned just what I was doing wrong. Everything! I wasn't using enough water to get a good lather, I wasnt doing any preshave prep nor anything post shave except a "name brand" after shave. I watched basically all of the mantic59 and geofatboy videos on YouTube and can't recommend them enough. I ordered up my de razor and started that journey Saturday. Not a nick or weeper. Huge piles of luxurious lather I went from a guy that HATED to shave and NEVER did so on weekends to shaving Saturday, Sunday and I'm about to go shower and shave tonight! That's 3 days straight, without question a record for me. I love it as of right now. Thanks to all the great members on this board. What a wealth of knowledge.

Sounds like you've came a long way in a few weeks! That is encouraging for me as I await my new Merkur Long Handled Safety Razor later this week. In my middle aged years, it will be the first time ever that I've used anything other than Gillette razors and cartridge blades. This is also the first time (in many years) that I've had a goatee. And I am hopeful that the DE blades will help me get a cleaner/closer beard line.

 

[StanStill]

Some people keep a little butter knife handy so they can scoop out a small easy to duplicate "glob" and spread it onto the brush. Then wet it and lather up your face until you look like Santa!

 

[Trek2100]

When I first started wet shaving, I don't mean a can of cream and a cartridge razor, I purchased the AoS starter kit with the fine badger brush. You should have only put a finger nail size of the cream on the tip of your brush then work it into your face. The cartridge will have little if any clogging.

With your new DE the correct angle is approximately 30 degrees. Use NO, repeat NO pressure. Let the weight of the razor do the work. If you use the amount of pressure you used on your cartridge razor prepare for the blood bath. Well, at least nicks and minor abrasions. Purchase a sample pack of blades to try. Also, get an alum block for the times you get razor burn or nicks. I use it on my neck every day even if I don't need it. It's kind of refreshing. There are so many soaps and creams to choose from. Prepare to be overwhelmed. Two really good online stores are west coast shaving and shavenation. Shavenation has a lot of instructional videos. There are tons of videos on YouTube. Some soaps I like are Col. Conk, Crabtree & Evelyn, L'occitane, Edwin Jagger and several others. Some of the creams I like are Tayor of Old Bond Street, Maca Root from the BodyShop, CO Bigelow (made by Proraso) from Bath and Body Works and again, several others. Don't forget pre-shave lotions and post shave balms. Oh, then there are the plethera of after shave lotions. And the two and three pass shaves for that BBS feel. This will/can become addictive. Once you start enjoying the shaving experience you will most likely toss your cartridge razor.

 

[Big Jim]

Set the cream aside for now and get a puck of VDH Deluxe from your local drug store. Get a mug if you wish, but for now just open the clamshell and use your brush to lather up. Get this perfected and them move on to better soaps or creams if you wish. Stick with the cartridge until you learn how to better use the brush, then try the DE and see if you like it or not. Not everyone does.

Unless you have someone standing next to you as you learn about new stuff, stick with one variable at a time.

 

[Jlb2287]

When I read the part about your razor clogging, I remembered my first few attempts at wet shaving. Watch YouTube videos from geofatboy and mantic59 so you can get an idea of how to lather . Just remember that what works for some May not work for you, so keep experimenting until you reach shave nirvana!

 

[Cumberland Sausage]

Once you've got a nice slick lather applied and come to the actual shaving bit, don't expect to mow just about all your whiskers off at a pass like you can (or I could) with a cart. The thing to aim for with each pass is beard reduction. You might not get as close a shave at first, but it will get better and better as your technique improves.

 

[OC513]

Sounds like you've came a long way in a few weeks! That is encouraging for me as I await my new Merkur Long Handled Safety Razor later this week. In my middle aged years, it will be the first time ever that I've used anything other than Gillette razors and cartridge blades. This is also the first time (in many years) that I've had a goatee. And I am hopeful that the DE blades will help me get a cleaner/closer beard line.

Yes I have, all thanks to the videos and this forum. I have no idea how someone would learn without these resources. As some of the videos say "what your father didnt teach you about shaving". I can not believe how much I enjoy the ritual now. I absolutely hated shaving prior to finding all this wonderful info. I can't wait to shave again tonight! The wife is loving this new hobby as I am always smooth as a babys bottom.

 

[takeshi]

Not necessarilyI am guessing my issue will be resolved when I make the transition to a safety razor versus the cartridge razor that I have used for so many years.

FYI safety razor is a broad classification. SE's, DE's and cartridge razors are all safety razors.

Was I doomed to failure in trying to use the AOS cream with my Gillette razor with cartridge razor?

Not necessarily. I used soaps and a brush with my cart razors. There are those that use/used creams with carts as well. There's nothing that inherently makes DE's uncloggable. I found that I have to rinse my DE more often than the carts I was using. In my experience oils are even worse when it comes to clogging.

But is it really that great? How does it compare to the shaving soaps out there (for which I've never tried)?

Depends on who you ask. Every soap and cream has its fans and detractors. None of them are universally best for everyone. You have to determine what works for you through first hand experience. It's a bit tricky at first while you're sorting out technique as you really can't tell if it's the product that is the problem, your technique or a mix. Don't rule out things immediately and revisit stuff you've tried once you get your technique down.

And when I use the AOS shaving cream, should I be taking some of the cream and mixing it in a bowl with a small amount of water like the soaps? (Note: when previously trying the AOS shaving cream, I simply dipped the badger brush in the shaving cream container and then applied to my wet face).

There's your problem. You definitely need to add water to build lather. Have you looked at the sticky at the top of the cream subforum? It has links including a guide to building lather with a cream.

There's also the Wiki which also mentioned above:
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Interactive_Guide_to_Lathering

As well as Youtube videos (also mentioned above). Mantic's videos are popular resources.

I would like to try some of the soaps everyone on here seems to be talking about. And I would assume they are far less expensive than AOS shaving cream.

There's a wide variety out there. Some are less expensive. Some are not. My preferred soap, MDC, definitely costs more.

 

[scott784]

Thanks again for all the feedback guys. That's a lot of great resources and good information about technique and product lines. I am eager to learn more and also check out some of those web sites for other product lines.

As for my AOS shaving cream that I paid big bucks for (for the whole set).....I decided to shave tonight and give the AOS shaving cream another try with my cartridge razor. This time, I only applied 1 or 2 almond sizes of the cream. I applied it directly to the badger brush and then built the lather on my face. This worked out okay with no clogging of my cartridge razor at all. But it does appear that using a bowl would be the most effective way to build lather (even with a product like this in the form of cream) and obtain a creamier texture. Still, I had a much better experience with it....simply by applying less product. Tomorrow, I am going to use this cream again but want to try mixing it in a bowl.

I will be getting my new 38C Merkur Long Handled Safety Razor in the next day or two. But I definitely plan on taking that nice and slow. I probably won't even try it until this weekend. And assuming I like it (hopefully), I will only gradually make the change over to it. The last thing I need is a blood bath as I am getting ready for work during the week! But I am eager to try.

More than anything, I guess I am intrigued by the interest level and enjoyment that others on this site have expressed for the whole shaving experience. Honestly, I have never thought much about it myself. Shaving has always just something that had to be done....just like taking a shower every day. And I have plowed through it all my life with the quick and easy Gillette products. But I am interested in switching things up a bit to see if I can learn to enjoy this experience.