With any product... huh...

[bluefoxicy]

Joe,
From a technical aspect, Method Shaving can work with any decent product or tools. What makes it really special is when the techniques and CAR's products are combined into one system.

Our sticky thread seems to address Method Shaving in context of "Lather on the brown, dog-@*#% smelling Cube; add shaving cream and some cutting balm to the brush; whip up lather; squeeze the brush; whip up more lather; shave."

That's what I got: a how-to for using a specific set of products. The only novel thing here seems to be squeezing the brush to bring shave cream to the top. I mean really, what's in the Cube? What's in the cutting balm? Hey here's an idea: mix all those ingredients into a cake of shave soap or a tube of cream, and whip it up like normal!

There's no reason I should have to use 4 different products to load up my brush in one go; you have the chemical lab, you have the manufacturing plant, you mix this s@#% together.

You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to buy some scentless shave cream from Sue, and add it to my brush when lathering off a New Spice puck. That seems like a good idea.

 

[Zombasaur]

OK then, try that. Whip up a batch off your soap and cream, and then shave like Charles does in his video using the mix you've made. When you get done shaving, dry your face off and run your blade over your dry face to clean up anything you missed. Then come back here and tell us how that went. If you're able to do it, maybe you saved the rest of us a bunch of money! I'm guessing you won't be able to do it, though.

 

[bluefoxicy]

OK then, try that. Whip up a batch off your soap and cream, and then shave like Charles does in his video using the mix you've made. When you get done shaving, dry your face off and run your blade over your dry face to clean up anything you missed. Then come back here and tell us how that went. If you're able to do it, maybe you saved the rest of us a bunch of money! I'm guessing you won't be able to do it, though.

Probably. I don't understand what I'm reading, is the point. All I got was something about taking a bunch of products and making a concoction of my own; and some mention that this can really be done with any product.

The whole thing doesn't make even vague sense to me; I'm not sure what I'm missing or what I'm supposed to do.

 

[Sullybob]

I think that method shaving has changed quite a bit since Joel's sticky, it's dated 08-13-2005, 01:36 AM. I have visited Charles's shop several times and his products are constantly undergoing testing and tweaking.

I haven't seen the video. How does Charles shave that is different from using other products and shaving?

 

[mars]

I think that method shaving has changed quite a bit since Joel's sticky, it's dated 08-13-2005, 01:36 AM. I have visited Charles's shop several times and his products are constantly undergoing testing and tweaking.

I haven't seen the video. How does Charles shave that is different from using other products and shaving?

http://shaving101.com/index.php/edu...-method-shaving-video-from-mix-to-finish.html

 

[richmondesi]

I just watched the video

 

[Zombasaur]

I think my last post was a bit harsher than I intended it to be. I apologize if I ruffled any feathers.

Charles has developed his products to allow you to shave in a very specific way. The idea of using multiple passes in order to obtain zero hair left is the goal. With that in mind, his products are much more lubricating and retain water extremely well. They go into your skin so well that I can take my face in the middle of a shave and rub it with my fingers and my skin will begin to lather even though I have no product visible on my face or fingers. All this protection is what allows you to use a Feather the way that Charles does.

If you're really interested in trying something without diving right in, I suggest getting a bottle of the finishing balm. It was the first product I tried from there, and was what really got me interested in trying more products. Even if I stop MS, I can see myself using the finishing balm for as long as it's still being produced.

 

[gone down south]

I haven't tried it personally, but my understanding is that Method Shaving breaks each step down into it's components so that you can control everything yourself. Commercial shave cream/soap has all the various ingredients mixed in according to the desires of the soap maker, whereas in MS the user creates the lather from it's basic building blocks and therefore has a lot more control over the end result.

 

[tsmba]

While there are a range of products for MS, only three are "must haves" and can be obtained for about the same price as a mid-range shave cream. Also, the basic primer (da cube), while not laced with any flowery scents, is in no way offensive.

 

[snufflesdarkness]

For the person who started this thread, you don't have any idea do you? Did you watch the mantic59 videos? In fact they are little dated. First, you don't add cutting balm to the brush, but you would if your using shaving cloth. Method shaving is on different plane of existence than traditional wet shaving. I occasionally check this section to make sure no one is mistaken for this site, or giving out bad advice on method shaving. If you don't understand, then look the other way, or you can give it a try. In fact if you can visit Charles, he will do session with you. What method shaving will do is saturate you epidermis to point where you can do figure 8s with feather in your razor. If you want the detailed information, it is a pdf file off the enchante website. The reason why method shaving is broken down to so many products is that way, you the shaver can have it your way. You can adjust depending on temperature, razor, humidity, skin, hair, and probably elevation as factors in shaving. When your done, not only its an amazing shave, you get to the point of gloss shaving(cutting balm and activator mixed together). Otherwise, if you need information about method shaving or problems with the mix, contact Charles himself.

 

[Sullybob]

For the person who started this thread, you don't have any idea do you? Did you watch the mantic59 videos? In fact they are little dated. First, you don't add cutting balm to the brush, but you would if your using shaving cloth. Method shaving is on different plane of existence than traditional wet shaving. I occasionally check this section to make sure no one is mistaken for this site, or giving out bad advice on method shaving. If you don't understand, then look the other way, or you can give it a try. In fact if you can visit Charles, he will do session with you. What method shaving will do is saturate you epidermis to point where you can do figure 8s with feather in your razor. If you want the detailed information, it is a pdf file off the enchante website. The reason why method shaving is broken down to so many products is that way, you the shaver can have it your way. You can adjust depending on temperature, razor, humidity, skin, hair, and probably elevation as factors in shaving. When your done, not only its an amazing shave, you get to the point of gloss shaving(cutting balm and activator mixed together). Otherwise, if you need information about method shaving or problems with the mix, contact Charles himself.

Why do you feel the need to call this a crap thread? And tell him that he has no idea?

He said that he read Joel's sticky and then made a couple of statements about method shaving from the context of the sticky. He asked what was in the cube and what was in the cutting balm.

 

[mdunn]

yeah, seemed like a bit of an overreaction.

while the methodshaving guys are out of the woodwork, a serious question to ask... (ive watched the videos, read the instructions, but still wonder - ive not seen a proper comparison)

what makes methodshaving better, in your opinion?
that is to say, what makes the combos of products and techniques give a better shave than just using a brush and soap in the regular way?

 

[tsmba]

I noticed, during the time I spent researching MS and debating whether to try it, that almost all the nay-sayers had never tried the system. The only answer to the "what is so good about it?" question is how one's face feels after doing the deed. I think, in general, using more traditional wet-shaving products/techniques, takes one to a higher plane than the old canned goo/disposable blade shave. RMWS has the potential to exceed that level for some of us.

 

[Zombasaur]

almost all the nay-sayers had never tried the system.

+1 on this.

The first thing I ever bought from Charles was the finishing balm. I bought it to see what all the fuss was about. After trying it, I really wanted to try the whole line. Now that I have, I can't really see fully going back to traditional wetshaving. I've become very results oriented. I flat out get CLOSE, closer than I have any other way. And when I'm done, my face feels better. In response to what makes it better, the products cushion and moisturize my face so well that I can use a Feather blade in a way that I wouldn't even think of with traditional shaving products. This allows me to make pass after pass after pass, getting rid of every speck of hair.

Everyone that I've ever read of on here that has tried RMWS admits that it's a great shave. The thing that has most people stop is that it seems they miss the fine smells of English soaps and creams. The only times I've ever seen people bashing RMWS and Charles are people that have never talked to Charles or ever tried any Hydrolast. (See this thread) While the initial cost can be off-putting, the stuff lasts for a LONG time, and quite possibly will cure your ADs.

 

[Sullybob]

I just watched the video, all of the video. I have hydrolast products and have not used them for months. I tried them several times with a straight razor, I got a very close shave and my face was on fire after I was done. I think part of the problem was that I was trying to maintain a lather on my face with the cloth, cutting balm, paste and the cube and I was unable to get the lather to last for a decent amount of time. I might have to revisit the hydrolast products with a DE.

He was moving that Feather across his face with reckless abandon! I thought that I did some blade buffing, I'm just a piker

 

[Zombasaur]

Sullybob, a few hints. Use your mix from the cloth for only your initial face lathering. If you want more lather, hand lather your cube/round and apply it. Also, stretch your mix, moving it from an area with mix to an area without mix using your free hand.

 

[Gafer]

I just watched the video, all of the video. I have hydrolast products and have not used them for months. I tried them several times with a straight razor, I got a very close shave and my face was on fire after I was done. I think part of the problem was that I was trying to maintain a lather on my face with the cloth, cutting balm, paste and the cube and I was unable to get the lather to last for a decent amount of time. I might have to revisit the hydrolast products with a DE.

He was moving that Feather across his face with reckless abandon! I thought that I did some blade buffing, I'm just a piker

Sullybob, sounds like your experience with hydrolast products was similar to mined. I got close shaves but it was a struggle. The mix would tend to evaporate on my face, I'd try to shave fast and end up with a burning face. After a full month and a pot of paste and several calls to Charles I finally gave up. Yes, when it was on I got some of the best shaves of my life but when I didn't hit things just right they were down right painful. I finally went back to traditional products - it's just easier for me. That said, I agree that it seems most of the folks that Method, Charles & Hyrdolast bash have never truly used the products or talked to the man.

 

[Sullybob]

Sullybob, a few hints. Use your mix from the cloth for only your initial face lathering. If you want more lather, hand lather your cube/round and apply it. Also, stretch your mix, moving it from an area with mix to an area without mix using your free hand.

Thanks for the tips. I think that part of the problem was that I was shaving with a straight and the mix was drying out. I'll try it with a DE and see how that goes.

Sullybob, sounds like your experience with hydrolast products was similar to mined. I got close shaves but it was a struggle. The mix would tend to evaporate on my face, I'd try to shave fast and end up with a burning face. After a full month and a pot of paste and several calls to Charles I finally gave up. Yes, when it was on I got some of the best shaves of my life but when I didn't hit things just right they were down right painful. I finally went back to traditional products - it's just easier for me. That said, I agree that it seems most of the folks that Method, Charles & Hyrdolast bash have never truly used the products or talked to the man.

I tried if for about two weeks and called it quits. The shaves were close and like yours, painful. Their is no way I could shave that fast with a straight. I don't think that I'm going to try to shave that fast with a DE either. That is just a crazy number of passes. If you aren't BBS by the end of that then maybe BBS isn't something that you can achieve.
Charles is great to talk to, I have been to his shop three times and its always fun. Just don't forget the parking meter! He has plenty of other stuff in his shop other then the hydrolast products.

 

[luvmysuper]

For the person who started this thread, you don't have any idea do you? Did you watch the mantic59 videos? In fact they are little dated. First, you don't add cutting balm to the brush, but you would if your using shaving cloth. Method shaving is on different plane of existence than traditional wet shaving. I occasionally check this section to make sure no one is mistaken for this site, or giving out bad advice on method shaving. If you don't understand, then look the other way, or you can give it a try. In fact if you can visit Charles, he will do session with you. What method shaving will do is saturate you epidermis to point where you can do figure 8s with feather in your razor. If you want the detailed information, it is a pdf file off the enchante website. The reason why method shaving is broken down to so many products is that way, you the shaver can have it your way. You can adjust depending on temperature, razor, humidity, skin, hair, and probably elevation as factors in shaving. When your done, not only its an amazing shave, you get to the point of gloss shaving(cutting balm and activator mixed together). Otherwise, if you need information about method shaving or problems with the mix, contact Charles himself.

As long as you buy those particular products, right?

 

[tsmba]

One thing I noticed was that it took a bit of time for my face to acclimate to closer shaves. Don't give up too soon.

As to start-up costs, the "starter kits" sell for $24.95 so its not a huge investment. Several of the products are "extras" and aren't required to start in.