Which Shaving Variable Is Most Important?

[Pipe Novelist]

I was thinking about this the other day. I started off with the recommended "one cream, one brush, one razor, one blade" school of thought to get my technique down, but over the last couple of weeks I have started switching up my routine a lot with different soaps, creams, brushes and blades and razors. Here is what I am coming to find out:

It does not matter which kind of brush I use or which brand. I have VDH and Omega brushes in both boar and badger, and I get a great shave out of all of them. It also seems like any time I use VDH shave soap (the cheap stuff you get at Wal Mart), I always get a fantastically close and comfortable shave no matter what razor or blade I use. When I use something like a TOBS or Proraso cream, I really have to be careful in selecting a blade and razor otherwise my shave is not as close and is a little bit more irritating then when I use VDH soap. So it would seem to me that my VDH soap is my most important shave variable, or at the very least my most preferred. I was wondering which piece of shaving hardware/software you guys use that you can rely on to get a nice, close, comfortable shave. Is it a particular blade, a particular razor, a particular brush, or a particular soap?

 

[Cochese2323]

There are a few things that are key for me getting a great shave, but lather quality is probably the most important for me. I can do all the correct beard prep, use a razor/blade combo that I know works with a brand new blade, but if my lather with any soap isn't the right consistency, guaranteed failed shave. If it is too airy or too much water, it doesn't provide the right protection and my face pays for it. I have built lather and started over because I knew it wasn't right.

That said, I know there are certain blade brands and razor types(aggressive open comb) that don't work no matter how good my lather is too.

 

[DEGuy]

Good and tough question to commit to answering. You've got me thinking.

 

[Redstickjohn]

Which shaving variable? The technique.

 

[sychodelix]

Seems like you just need more practice making lather with soaps that you aren't as used to. Some soaps or creams require a lot different of a technique to lather. Trying to lather a triple milled soap the same way you would with VdH isn't going to work. Then you have soaps like Arko that if you look at it it will drown you in lather. Technique is what is important.

 

[ouch]

Being a member of B&B.

 

[Lamar]

I find that some variables are dependent on others. I can't narrow it down to one but I can narrow it down to two. Beard prep and technique with the razor. All three of my brushes can create a lather, some better than others as does the type of soap. As long as it is slick and moist and doesn't dry out then I'll be fine.

 

[Go West Young Man]

Prep / technique. You can make any kit work well enough for at least one shave if you know what you're doing.

 

[Stevew443]

From my years of shaving, the most important variable for me is the blade. I have shaved using Barbersol, Edge Gel, Noxema cold cream, Conks mug soaps, Williams, Van Der Hagens and bath soaps and all have given pretty much good shaves. I have used various razors and all have given decent shaves, but when I get a bad blade, then I am ready to stop shaving and grow a beard. I bought a bad batch of DE blades several years ago and they were so bad that I gave up on shaving for many years and just wore a beard.

I like using a good razor, I like using a good brush and a decent soap, but no matter how good all the other variables are, a bad blade will ruin my shave.

 

[Agravic]

Patience

 

[Teddyboy]

If you mean what single aspect of the process and gear -- I'd say the blade.

 

[Vanman]

Well after 3 months of wet shaving I can still say that I am still learning. This morning I tried a new acquisition of an adjustable slim and was amazed at how smooth it was. I actually had to check the setting a couple of times to make sure I hadn't dialed it down to low. Tomorrow I have a new Futur to try and am looking forward to seeing how that one fares. So I am having fun trying out the different razors that I have purchased on the B/S/T. With blades I have found that most of the mid to higher level blades all work quite well for me. So the blades are not that big a factor as long as they are sharp. One thing is that I would love to get more than two shaves out of a blade. I am finding that if I try the third shave I end up regretting it due to razor burn. Soaps I am still trying a few and slowly getting better and better at getting a thicker lather that I am finding protects my face much more. That is about it for me. It is a new experience every morning. Which makes it nice to start out the day.

 

[Jeff C]

Hard to say, probably lather and then a close second blade.

 

[Adam R]

For me, there is one variable that trumps all of the others. The prep before the prep. It sounds kind of frou frou, but I generously apply Nivea creme moisturizer to my beard. About a half hour to an hour (or more) before I take a hot shower and shave if I have the time. It's thick and kind of greasy, but I am an evening shaver so I work it into the evening routine. Let it soak in for as long as I can. In the shower I wash my face like I normally would. Then shave at the sink after the shower.

This little trick makes all the difference for me. My skin isn't that sensitive, but my whiskers are like wire with a very flat grain. If I "moisturize" (my dear wife's term ha ha) before shaving, it almost doesn't matter which soap, razor, blade, aftershave, etc. I choose. My face always feels great. I (unscientifically) think my blades last longer too.

 

[celestino]

Good prep is essential along with Technique and patience! Anything else is a bonus!

 

[ZackP]

The blade. You can't shave without a blade!

 

[mblakele]

Mechi knew the answer back around 1830: the lather makes the shave.

 

[Galengwath]

As a straight razor shaver, I would say the blade. I notice a huge difference between the different razors I've tried, even when other variables stay the same. That said, the lather still has to be just right, and whatever brush I use has to be capable of building said lather.

 

[Arcadies]

I was thinking about this the other day. I started off with the recommended "one cream, one brush, one razor, one blade" school of thought to get my technique down, but over the last couple of weeks I have started switching up my routine a lot with different soaps, creams, brushes and blades and razors. Here is what I am coming to find out:

It does not matter which kind of brush I use or which brand. I have VDH and Omega brushes in both boar and badger, and I get a great shave out of all of them. It also seems like any time I use VDH shave soap (the cheap stuff you get at Wal Mart), I always get a fantastically close and comfortable shave no matter what razor or blade I use. When I use something like a TOBS or Proraso cream, I really have to be careful in selecting a blade and razor otherwise my shave is not as close and is a little bit more irritating then when I use VDH soap. So it would seem to me that my VDH soap is my most important shave variable, or at the very least my most preferred. I was wondering which piece of shaving hardware/software you guys use that you can rely on to get a nice, close, comfortable shave. Is it a particular blade, a particular razor, a particular brush, or a particular soap?

This could be lather thickness coming into play..VDH usually makes an easy and fairly stable, slick but thin lather and pretty much any razor can slice through it easily. When you get into higher end soaps and more specifically creams, it is easy to use too much product and wind up with extraordinarily thick lather that might even be too dry without enough slickness. I've found too thick of a lather can affect the shave quality of some razors as they can have trouble shaving through the super thick stuff, quite a few Gillette TTO's have this issue...in my experience anyway..they wind up just making a mess smearing the lather everywhere instead of cutting a perfect swath through it like a good 3 piece.

As far as my must have for a perfect shave... It has to be the razor and a very close second the lather/soap..the brush doesn't really matter. A higher end brush may whip up warmer..more silky and plentiful lather than a cheapo VDH boar, but as long as it's properly mixed and hydrated the end result as far as shave quality will be the same...you just might have to hit the puck a bit more. My personal go to for a perfect shave is a tie between the R41 and Fatip, any other razor requires too many passes and touchups and gives me irritation. As far as soap..I don't know..too many favorites that produce awesome lather, I supposed if I had to choose 1 to use for the rest of my life it would be Tabac.

 

[cosmicdoom]

Any brush or soap/cream of decent quality will get you there. For me, the blade is key. I absolutely love Gillette Blacks and Voskhods. They are soooo smooth. But then, for me, there are blades like Derby's and Gillette Blues that really irritate my skin.

A distant second is the razor. I just can'y get behind open comb razors, but I know that and avoid them.