Why does every "a-ha" moment turn sour? Or, in defense of ADs

[BatNastard]

Does this happen to anyone else? You have a pretty good shave ritual going, got your fave razor, blade, soap/cream, prep, technique specifics...then you change something and WOW! If I only knew what I was missing! NOW my shave is REALLY terrific, you think.

But soon, maybe within a week to a month, you start noticing some irritation, or perhaps some leftover stubble on what before was BBS. So you change something in your ritual, a new lather, a new razor, maybe a different XTG angle and WOW! If I only knew what I was missing! NOW my shave is REALLY terrific, you think.

And of course, this new nirvana soon gives way to error, or boredom, or whatever gremlins cause these cycles, and the cycle begins again. I don't know exactly why this always happens to me, but it has been common for the last year or so.

And then I thought...maybe this is why ADs persist. Maybe this is why so many guys like to have a "rotation" of products -- to keep it fresh, keep the interest up, keep from getting complacent. Do you notice your shaves improve every time you rotate products or try a new one (assuming it's a good fit, no skin reactions or shoddy manufacture)?

 

[SiBurning]

I'm the opposite. Before coming to B&B I was happy with williams mug soap, a '54 gillette, no brush, and a 20 year old bottle of grey flannel. Since then, I've added 3 DEs, 7 straights, 30 or 40 soaps and creams, after shaves, a brush, and a scuttle or two, and I always have razor burn and look like I need a shave.

Or is that what you just said?

 

[Mooncalf]

...williams mug soap, a '54 gillette, no brush, and...

How did you use the Williams without a brush?

 

[SiBurning]

Just rub it onto a wet face like a shave stick.

Lather is overrated. In the end, it's about water and chemicals.

 

[Bobtrumpet]

It's all technique, IMO.

It works this way with other things - trumpet mouthpieces, golf clubs, etc. You go along fine with what you have, but decide to try something new. It works SO MUCH better than what you had been using! So you buy it and keep using it - within weeks the honeymoon is over and you are back to playing the way you always played (and occasionally worse).

Basically, the new item modifies your technique, or you subconsciously modify your technique, just enough to make things better. Then, as you get used to it, you gradually lapse back into your original technique, with the same results.

There are stories from lots of guys who stick with one blade, razor, soap/cream, blade, etc. and work to learn the lather, angle, pressure, etc. and get progressively better shaves. There's nothing wrong with buying new stuff, but hopping around from product to product without developing the technique to use it can be problematic.