Why do you have a "rotation" of stuff?

[Guido]

I keep hearing people say stuff like: "That's part of my rotation" or "That's my goto razor 80% of the time".

I totally understand trying new things looking improvement, but once it's been determined there is no improvement compared to existing setup, why does it go into regular rotation?

Why "waste" time using something you know is not as good as something else you already have?

I have many razors but only 1 "goto razor". Same with blades. I see no advantage of knowingly using something inferior. What am I missing?

 

[mvk]

Well, in my case I have all vintage razors and it's a nostalgia thing. I have a favorite razor that I use on the days that I work and I rotate all the others on my days off. Since I'm not as used to each of their individual characteristics, I shave more slowly with them. I love to use these razors that are 60-100 years old (SE & DE).

 

[taco8slo]

I try to keep a bunch of variety in my shave cave, some days I like an aggressive shave while other days I like a mild shave. I don't keep items I don't get good results from, I enjoy the variety of it all.

 

[mdevine]

I enjoy the variety. If a blade, soap or razor is a poor performer, I don't use it. That said, there are quite a few of each that give me a great shave. Mixing it up is more fun.

Mike

 

[Antares600]

I don't adhere to the concept of a "rotation" either. Sure, I have a few different razors, soaps, creams, aftershaves etc. that I like to use but I don't have any sort of planned order in how I use them.

I think having an ordered rotation is getting a little too strict and obsessed about something that is meant to be enjoyable.

I like to just be able to choose what I want on a whim.

 

[global_dev]

for me, it's not a better, my kit now all work equally well and if it consistently doesn't it's out.. for now the rotation is for fun and variety.

 

[shep12]

I like the variety too. It's sort of like eating, even though you have favorite foods, you don't want to eat the same thing every day.

 

[conroygc]

Too many decisions in one day wears me out. I have as much as I can pre-programmed so that I'm on autopilot for most of the day. Mornings are especially tough, so my clothes, my shave, my breakfast, etc, is already planned out for me. Hence the rotation.

 

[Toothpick]

Speaking for myself its more like i've found several great combos and don't want to limit myself to just one. I have 3 razors that are in my rotation....merkur 34c, gillette slim, and gem 1912 SE. Does the 1912 shave me better than the other 2...heck yes....can i put a DE blade i've never tried in the 1912...no. Can I make the 34c more aggressive by changing the blade gap...no. Many wet-shavers are just never satisfied and that's the joy of this sport.

 

[Retiredgene]

I also don't adhere to a strict rotation as I won't use items that have given me a poor shave. That said, I may just set it aside to revisit if I think my technique may be at fault.

Sometimes I will say that for the next X days I'll use a certain brush (I like it or want to break in a boar, whatever) and same with a soap or blade. At another time, on a whim, I'll declare a mostly English Day or Italian Day etc and use shave items from there to have some fun mixing it up.

Gene

 

[jdto]

I have tried and continue to try things, mainly because it's fun. But I have pared down my collection of straights to ones that I really like, while with DEs I am still exploring a bit.

 

[sixsixty]

Addiction. I have waaay too much stuff not to do a rotation!

 

[Toonr]

No set order/rotation for me - it's whatever I feel like that morning. The variety is nice, and I like trying new items - keeps things interesting.

 

[Useless shaver]

Variety. Fun. Just because.

 

[gadabout]

It's not as black-and-white as "I like this" and "I don't like that". When you try different products, you may like some things about all of them. Part of it is also the frugal nature that was instilled by my mother. In other words, if you buy a consumable item and it's not exactly what you wanted, you don't throw it out, you use it up. Unless it's something you really hate, of course. I have 7 or 8 guitars, but I don't play the same one everyday, even though I have a favorite.

 

[Mick]

I keep hearing people say stuff like: "That's part of my rotation" or "That's my goto razor 80% of the time".

I totally understand trying new things looking improvement, but once it's been determined there is no improvement compared to existing setup, why does it go into regular rotation?

Why "waste" time using something you know is not as good as something else you already have?

I have many razors but only 1 "goto razor". Same with blades. I see no advantage of knowingly using something inferior. What am I missing?

The term "rotation" is used by people like me (and a lot of others on here) who have TOO MUCH STUFF....

'scuse me while I go figure out what is going to be in my "rotation" today

 

[Niles]

I don't have a lot of variety in hardware. Software is where I like options. I enjoy the different sensory experiences.

 

[Augustiner]

OP, I completely agree. I've never understood the concept of a rotation for the same reasons you cited. I see wet-shaving as a discipline and as such it is a constant learning and perfecting process.

The reason I got into wet-shaving was for a superior daily shave. I also like the fact that you can save money compared to a multi-blade razor. Since I started this I have been on a relentless quest for perfection in my shave. I have experimented, tested and tweaked down to the last detail. I envision it on a scale with, let's say, 10 being a perfect shave. I have constantly tweaked to squeeze out tenths of a point and now I am close to 10. I have come a long way since I started. The cost of this has been developing a very precise and specific combination of prep/technique/products. If I deviate on any of these aspects, the shave just isn't up to the same level on the scale. Therefore, I execute the exact same routine using the same products daily. People say they can get the same exact results with different mixes of products but I am very critical about my shaves and can detect even the smallest deviation and I don't like even a very tiny drop off.

Why would someone mix up things daily? It has to do with different personalities and what you define as satisfying, 1) the journey itself or 2) the end point. A lot of people are into this for the enjoyment of the actual shave. They enjoy the "me time" and the journey on the way to the finished shave, i.e. the prep, the lathering, the shaving. They are a little more lenient with the results and can accept a possible poor shave. Others care only about the finished product, i.e. the results. They derive satisfaction only from admiring an irritation-free, close shave. Shaving is only a means to an end. They have no tolerance for a possible poor shave or any drop off in performance.

The first group is the type that enjoys a rotation and the variety and pampering process.
The second group is the type that doesn't want a rotation because they like consistent results.

 

[Chicago]

When I say "it's in my rotation", that's just a shorthand way of saying "I like it enough that I can see myself waking up one day in the mood to use it". And that's exactly how I pick what I'll shave with: this morning, I had a hankering to face-lather Tabac with my Omega pure badger brush, shave with a Feather stainless in the '53 Gillette SS, then follow it up with bay rum, so I did, and it hit the spot. Yesterday, bowl-lathering DRH Windsor with a Simpson Berkeley, shaving with a C-MON 6/8 straight, and ending with the matching Windsor AS splash suited my mood, and it was great.

As I was putting everything away this morning, I noticed my Merkur 37C slant has a Feather loaded up & ready to go...I'm thinking I'll use that tomorrow morning, but haven't yet decided which "in my rotation" software I'll use with it. I'll see how I feel tomorrow morning.

 

[Graybeard57]

My theory is it is a complex rationalization for how to use all the stuff we buy. I rotate my soaps and blades. And AS. I only have three razors, so that's under control. I binge on the different ones for extended periods. I don't have a problem, everything's under control.