Nuávia: A New Way?

So I’ve been experimenting with soaps. Having used a ‘build your own shaving mix’ method of shaving exclusively for the past several years, with products no longer available, I’ve entered into a whole new world of artisanal soaps that have really opened my eyes.

I could not even imagine shaving without a combination of soap, oil, and a paste/cream layered together into one mix.

I tried some of the Saponifico Varesino offerings, enjoyed them very much, and then moved into the artisanal soaps such as Barrister_N_Mann , Mystic Water and so forth. I'm enjoying them very much as well.

I’ve been reading on this forum about the Nuávia, and just got some the other day. After admiring the packaging for a few days, I tried it out this morning.

Good gosh.

No fussing around, soaked the brush, shook it out, gave it a gentle squeeze, swirled it for awhile on the Nuávia, and took it right to the face.

Fantastic shave, which got better feeling with each pass, and a wonderful scent.

The after shave feel was the best of any soap I’ve tried to date, and yet it was subtle. There was no oiliness, no feeling of having just put moisturizer on the face; yet the skin was supple, neither greasy nor dry.

I was very skeptical about using the Nuávia as an after shave, but, hey, I’m experimenting, so I squeezed some of lather remaining in the brush, added it to the proto lather from the container, and put it up on the face. Let it sit for a bit while I tidied up, a little rinse, and it felt as if I had just put a good balm on the skin. And it’s felt great all day, even in this 101 degree heat.

Perhaps Marco at PannaCrema can correct my second-generation Italian, but I think 'via nuova’ in Italian means a new route; a new way. Scrunching the words together (much as we would take ‘new way’ in English and make something like NuWay out of it), and it’s Nuávia.

For me, coming back to the whole world of traditional and artisanal soaps represents a ‘new way’ of going, and  even though I’m only one shave into it, the Nuávia is very impressive indeed.

I think I’m going to enjoy this ‘new way’!

soaked the brush, shook it out, gave it a gentle squeeze, swirled it for awhile on the Nuávia, and took it right to the face.



I think I’m going to enjoy this ‘new way’!

Isn't this exactly what PC described here http://damnfineshave.com/thread-hello-fr...1#pid50411?

Nuàvia is amazing. I'm looking forward to adding Verde to my collection when I also pick up the Pure2O DFS release.

Perhaps Marco at PannaCrema can correct my second-generation Italian, but I think 'via nuova’ in Italian means a new route; a new way. Scrunching the words together (much as we would take ‘new way’ in English and make something like NuWay out of it), and it’s Nuávia.

Michael that was truly smart, I tell you, you got it right

grim , thanks so much for that link. I hadn't seen that, and what an excellent description of 'dry lathering'.

This morning, I followed the instructions that came with the Nuávia, soaking the brush for 15 minutes, letting the water drip off the brush, swirling it 40 times, and then taking it to the face. I prefer a 'drier' procedure, so I'm very happy you posted that explanation from Marco. Just great!

And when I was referring to a 'new way', it was my attempt to make a play on words on the meaning of Nuávia, 'new way', and this 'new way' of shaving for me-transitioning from Method Shaving to more traditional techniques.

Thanks so much again.

Grazie mille, Marco! Thanks for confirming that, and I'm glad my Italian, although rusty, isn't that bad!

Grim just posted a link to your excellent post on a drier method of lathering than the general guidelines given with the package. It's my preferred method, and I can't wait until tomorrow morning to try it.

I consider it to be an advanced technique, only for experts, but worth trying. It demystifies and takes slickness out of the game!

I tried Marco's suggestions this morning using the Nuávia Blu and a Simpson Chubby 2 Synthetic.

It was a good first attempt, but I think I went overboard in terms of dryness:

First, I used a synthetic brush which doesn't hold water as well as the badgers. Second, I strangled the poor thing to get every last drop of water out. Third, I started with a completely dry Nuávia. Fourth, I didn't take into account that it's over 100 degrees out here with almost zero humidity, great if you're a lizard, not so great for hydrating a lather. Fifth, I very sparingly wet my face before applying.

Genius.

So, as you might imagine, the result was stickier than it should have been, and I knew that before I put the blade to it. I had a little sticking with the razor, and a bit of redness after the shave. I should have stopped half way through and added a smidgen of water, but I am hard headed, testa dura, to the core, and wanted to complete the experiment.

Tomorrow, I intend to do this again, but I've got a much better idea of the result for which I'm shooting. I happened to see some pictures of the way this is supposed to look, and I know I can achieve it with a little tinkering on the water content to compensate for the climate.

I tried Marco's suggestions this morning using the Nuávia Blu and a Simpson Chubby 2 Synthetic.

It was a good first attempt, but I think I went overboard in terms of dryness:

First, I used a synthetic brush which doesn't hold water as well as the badgers. Second, I strangled the poor thing to get every last drop of water out. Third, I started with a completely dry Nuávia. Fourth, I didn't take into account that it's over 100 degrees out here with almost zero humidity, great if you're a lizard, not so great for hydrating a lather. Fifth, I very sparingly wet my face before applying.

Genius.

So, as you might imagine, the result was stickier than it should have been, and I knew that before I put the blade to it. I had a little sticking with the razor, and a bit of redness after the shave. I should have stopped half way through and added a smidgen of water, but I am hard headed, testa dura, to the core, and wanted to complete the experiment.

Tomorrow, I intend to do this again, but I've got a much better idea of the result for which I'm shooting. I happened to see some pictures of the way this is supposed to look, and I know I can achieve it with a little tinkering on the water content to compensate for the climate.

To use Marco's method (not THAT Marco, but THIS Marco, unless Marco from Badger & Blade is the same Marco as Marco Panacream - Marco are you Marco from B&B, A Gentleman living in Rome and loves his Simpson brushes and his Italian croaps and soaps ?) I think you need to only use a limited number of brands of soaps, preferably ONE BRAND, to know the soap in and out, so you know when to add water and when to not PRECISELY.

If you don't do Marco Panacremas way with a soap you really know well, you will fail at having the lather stay hydrated enough, UNLESS you have very soft water or use distilled water.

I tried Marco's suggestions this morning using the Nuávia Blu and a Simpson Chubby 2 Synthetic.

It was a good first attempt, but I think I went overboard in terms of dryness:

First, I used a synthetic brush which doesn't hold water as well as the badgers. Second, I strangled the poor thing to get every last drop of water out. Third, I started with a completely dry Nuávia. Fourth, I didn't take into account that it's over 100 degrees out here with almost zero humidity, great if you're a lizard, not so great for hydrating a lather. Fifth, I very sparingly wet my face before applying.

Genius.

So, as you might imagine, the result was stickier than it should have been, and I knew that before I put the blade to it. I had a little sticking with the razor, and a bit of redness after the shave. I should have stopped half way through and added a smidgen of water, but I am hard headed, testa dura, to the core, and wanted to complete the experiment.

Tomorrow, I intend to do this again, but I've got a much better idea of the result for which I'm shooting. I happened to see some pictures of the way this is supposed to look, and I know I can achieve it with a little tinkering on the water content to compensate for the climate.

To use Marco's method (not THAT Marco, but THIS Marco, unless Marco from Badger & Blade is the same Marco as Marco Panacream - Marco are you Marco from B&B, A Gentleman living in Rome and loves his Simpson brushes and his Italian croaps and soaps ?) I think you need to only use a limited number of brands of soaps, preferably ONE BRAND, to know the soap in and out, so you know when to add water and when to not PRECISELY.

If you don't do Marco Panacremas way with a soap you really know well, you will fail at having the lather stay hydrated enough, UNLESS you have very soft water or use distilled water.

I agree. I use Pannacrema Marco's Method, but I lather in a scuttle, which makes the method much easier. I get as much water out of the brush as I can (after soaking or, in the case of synthetics, just loading with water) before loading the soap. I find I get much more soap loaded much more quickly with a moist, not wet, brush. Then I move to the scuttle and drop about a teaspoon of water in, stir, then usually add another half teaspoon, and stir again. Sometimes I add a few more drops, if I think the lather can use them. Then, I might add a few more drops. Good soaps can absorb a ton of water. Then I paint my face with nice, warm, gloppy, slick lather.