What do you learn after being in wet shaving for a while

[phoenixandbeau]

1. That it's best not to ask me an open question about shaving soap. Not if you're in a rush to get away, that is..
2. That I have, you know.. a thing for vintage SE razors
3. I now know my face / skin a whole heap better (and what was I doing for 15 years or so of my shaving life?)
4. That the wet shaving community is, on the whole, a collection of jolly nice people
5. As a soap maker, you can't please everyone
6. That I enjoy watching / making SOTD YouTube videos

 

[RedSteve]

- When I think a lather looks and feels wet enough, to add just a touch more water and the lather should keep its slickness throught the shave.
- Unless the shave is very bad, I don’t need an aftershave product on my face; the less products I use the better.
- Face lathering is far superior to bowl lathering!!

 

[Mr Bigmem]

- When I think a lather looks and feels wet enough, to add just a touch more water and the lather should keep its slickness throught the shave.
- Unless the shave is very bad, I don’t need an aftershave product on my face; the less products I use the better.
- Face lathering is far superior to bowl lathering!!

I do love to face lather with certain soaps and brushes but equally with others I get better results whipping up my lather in my bowl or scuttle when I want the toasty lather. So what makes face lathering superior for you?

 

[Cheesepiece]

After the initial excitement about the vast choice of soaps, creams, and aftershaves, it becomes "just shaving" again eventually. Which probably is a good thing.

I joined TSR in July 2013 (ATG when it opened its doors) and so four years was about the point for me. It's not that I'm not interested in new products, and I even have a want-to-buy list of sorts, but I am totally content with my shaves and my shave gear.
I still check-in at the forums as there's always something going on and a tempting new development here or there .

 

[SeanC]

Popular doesn't always equate to good for you and vice versa - I don't get on with GSB blades, but do with Treet Durasharp carbon steel

Good value in terms of cost per shave e.g. triple milled soaps or 200ml tubs isn't necessarily good long term value. You get bored with them

Reference the above and other scenarios, digging out long forgotten items or past failures can sometimes yield positive results

 

[RedSteve]

I do love to face lather with certain soaps and brushes but equally with others I get better results whipping up my lather in my bowl or scuttle when I want the toasty lather. So what makes face lathering superior for you?

I bowl lathered exclusively for maybe a year. I always found the lathered dried out between shaves. I can also judge if the lather is at a good stage when face lathering easier than in a bowl.
I personally put it down to having relatively hard water (but this is based on nothing but a gut feeling)

 

[Eeyore]

@Eeyore at what point would that be? I've found out that 'm starting to take an interest in those things I couldn't care less about two years ago. I had one synthetic brush and ten soaps, now I have eight high end badgers, one on its way, and some forty soaps, and waiting for Vreto to end his tour so I can order more. All the while, my focus remains at slants, and I'm still excited when finishing a perfect shave with a straight.

I'm not a collector really, more a hoarder

What usually happens for me (with fountain pens, watches, razors, cameras, ...) is that I start buying, selling, and trading items until I have a few that I feel "working" for me. At that point I usually lose interest in making further changes, or collecting more items, and keep using what I have. That way I went from over 15 fountain pens to only five. With razors I am down to three, and one of them will leave soon.

--
Pitralon forever - Real pens have a nib - If it doesn't tick, it's not a watch.

 

[vtmax]

1.) Switching razors constantly was fun but never helped the shave. Fidelity did.

2.) Reducing software in the den has been the most enjoyable aspect of the hobby.

 

[Rusty Blade]

Buy a lot of everything
Experiment with different combinations
Avoid searching for the best, best can be fleeting
Enjoy what you have
If you feel your acquisition disorders are settling down, just be patient, they will return
Bad shave soaps can make great shower soaps

 

[Gairdner]

That I like brogues a little too much plus a muppet like me can actually shave with a DE!

and in no particular order....

Brush and razor acquisition disorders affect me badly
Expensive isn't always better
Impulse control is the only thing that saves money
Masturbation may be discussed openly
Some members have pig penis fetishes
Straight razors are for much braver and cleverer and betterer peoples than silly old me
I've learned to love Arko
Education into the differences between AS, Cologne, EdT and EdP
Some dirty buggers on here don't wash their hair
I'll never part with my Merkur 34c
Stay the hell away from trends as goodbye money and hello to drawer queens
Single edges for me don't work
People on forums can't smell my evil farts which is poo (follow, follow, we will follow through)
INGRAM!!!

 

[Batch300]

Shaving forums and support groups are diametrically opposite.