Shave sticks - give them a try!

[ridnovir]

If you are new to B&B or been hiding under a rock, here is the news for you: shave sticks are great and convenient. If you have not yet tried them your are missing out.

Here are some of the good ones I rotate:

 

[Mack]

I've never tried a stick. How do you use them?

 

[rockviper]

Here's a thread on using a shave stick.

 

[Mack]

Thanks! I should have known to look around before asking. I'll give a stick a try the next time I'm buying.

 

[OldSaw]

I've never tried a stick. How do you use them?

1. Wet face
2. Dip tip of stick in water
3. Rub all over beard area, re-dipping the tip as needed
4. Build lather on face with damp shave brush
5. Dip tip's of brush in water as necessary
6. Continue building lather to desired thickness
7. Shave

 

[ridnovir]

I've never tried a stick. How do you use them?

You wet your face, then rub a stick on your face, then work it into lather with your brush on your face.

 

[rockviper]

Mack, you can also just rub a normal puck directly on your skin to see if the stick method is for you.

 

[Lather]

I've never tried a stick. How do you use them?

Wet face, rub stick on face getting good coverage and then face lather. I prefer a boar brush.

So far, I have tried Tabac, which I am a big fan of. Great lather and it is in my sniffing rotation.

Valobra is very good as well. Rich lather but the scent is not great. Nothing you can't hide with a good AS.

Speick is great as well. Lather and scent is excellent.

I have Arko, Palmolive, La Toja waiting for me, as well.

I guess that gains me entry into the SSB.

 

[Silence!]

I've never tried a stick. How do you use them?

This a legitimate question. If you're a bowl latherer and have never face lathered, then the obvious question would arise as to how to use a shave stick. While I do enjoy shave sticks, I do enjoy loading my brush and then face lathering. I only use shave sticks for traveling purposes.

 

[skleice]

I just used my first stick (Mike's) and it was great. Very easy to use and it will be the perfect option for traveling.

 

[Mick]

Mack, you can also just rub a normal puck directly on your skin to see if the stick method is for you.

+1 on this.

Rub a normal puck around and let your beard take the soap into it. Then face lather as you normally would. Pucks are a little awkward compared to an actual shave stick but if you get enough soap in your beard you will have the same results you would with an easier to uses shave stick.

Shave sticks are great when you are in a hurry or traveling as it requires less tools (stick, brush, razor).

You can even take some of the softer soaps like Cella and stuff them into a twist up container to make a shave stick out of them. I do this with my Arko as it makes it more convenient and helps keep that wonderful Arko "aroma" fresh and strong

 

[jpgalyon]

Question: Is the "true feel" of shave sticks best left to face lathering? I have always been a bowl latherer and have never tried face lathering. I just enjoy so much the loading of brush and seeing huge white waves of lather in my bowl. I'm also always a 4+ pass shaver (thick beard, crazy growth pattern), and I worry that face lathering just won't be enough for the shave.

Look forward to thoughts/insight

 

[rockviper]

Two ways to ensure plenty of lather:
- have lots of soap on your face when starting out. This assumes that your brush can hold all of the lather.
- re-apply some soap to your face part way through the shave if you don't have enough lather. you can also make a fist-bowl with teh stick and load your brush that way as well.

I have an Omega mixed Mighty Midget and it easily holds enough for 3 passes. Chances are that your brush might be a wee bit bigger

 

[Lather]

Question: Is the "true feel" of shave sticks best left to face lathering? I have always been a bowl latherer and have never tried face lathering. I just enjoy so much the loading of brush and seeing huge white waves of lather in my bowl. I'm also always a 4+ pass shaver (thick beard, crazy growth pattern), and I worry that face lathering just won't be enough for the shave.

Look forward to thoughts/insight

Face lathering may help to soften your beard and lift the hair. I like really like Tabac when I have a heavy growth. It will provide enough lather for 4 passes, easy. I like a worked in boar brush to face lather. I find it dissolves the soap better.

Whatever you do, try it. There is nothing to lose. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[jpgalyon]

I'm on it. Been on the fence about a mixed mighty midget for travel and with the last 2 comments I'm jumping in and going to order a few sticks to "justify" shipping. Thanks to all, will let you know how it turns out.

 

[dpittman70]

I was thinking about starting a thread for my question, but saw this today. I am thinking about buying a stick (only one because of lack of storage space and I just don't want too many soaps, creams, and sticks). Of the sticks shown above, which one would you guys suggest taking into account from most to least important: lather, scent, moisturizing, and price.

 

[Luc]

Nice collection!

 

[ridnovir]

I was thinking about starting a thread for my question, but saw this today. I am thinking about buying a stick (only one because of lack of storage space and I just don't want too many soaps, creams, and sticks). Of the sticks shown above, which one would you guys suggest taking into account from most to least important: lather, scent, moisturizing, and price.

I like them all but to start I suggest La Toja, Valobra or LEA

 

[dpittman70]

I like them all but to start I suggest La Toja, Valobra or LEA

Thanks, Roman. I think I'm going to go with the LaToja. Another plus with LaToja is the packaging and ease of use, which appear to be better than most other shave sticks.