One Man's Optimal Shave: The 2/2/2

I think a roshi ( zen master) would love exploring this 'zen business' in shaving. I believe the more correct term is satori ( achieving enlightenment) which, like Sartorial is the ability to simply do something without thinking about it. Fly fishing is another exellent example and I would add my own. I decided Kodiak Alaska a splendid location to learn this most noble of pursuits. I went fishing, after learning basic casts with the Kraft Store fishing salesman. I managed to hook a salmon during the run and was so intent the measured warning of my mentor went unheard. I finally used splatter vision to realise another fisherman was approaching from an angle to steal my catch. I let him take it. Like shaving " sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you."

Chris, flyfishing for salmon in Alaska is definitely on my bucket list. They say on certain rivers the bears are conditioned by the high pitched whine of the reels singing as they pay out line. It's like ringing the dinner bell. When a grizzly wants your catch, I say let him have it. A noble gesture of which Hemingway would have approved, I'm sure.

Yes, surfshaver that's part of the fascination of the hobby. I shaved with the same 3 razors, 2 brushes, and 2 or 3 soaps for about 15 years, starting over 40 years ago. They weren't regarded as vintage gear in those days

From about 2010-2015, I shaved with only 2 razors, one of 2 brushes, the same brand of blade, and the same soap (shaving mix), every single day.

These days, I'm having great fun experimenting with different soaps, brushes, razors, etc. Once the technique is solid, it's very easy to make small adjustments to different gear.

Part of that is doing multiple razor shaves. One thing I do that I suppose is contrary to what others have recommended, is that I like a more 'slippery', wetter, less-cushioned mix for the first pass with the most efficient razor, and denser, more cushioned, mixes for the later passes with the milder razor. This is especially true if I'm starting out with an Artist Club SE blade for the first pass.

Yes, surfshaver that's part of the fascination of the hobby. I shaved with the same 3 razors, 2 brushes, and 2 or 3 soaps for about 15 years, starting over 40 years ago. They weren't regarded as vintage gear in those days

From about 2010-2015, I shaved with only 2 razors, one of 2 brushes, the same brand of blade, and the same soap (shaving mix), every single day.

These days, I'm having great fun experimenting with different soaps, brushes, razors, etc. Once the technique is solid, it's very easy to make small adjustments to different gear.

Part of that is doing multiple razor shaves. One thing I do that I suppose is contrary to what others have recommended, is that I like a more 'slippery', wetter, less-cushioned mix for the first pass with the most efficient razor, and denser, more cushioned, mixes for the later passes with the milder razor. This is especially true if I'm starting out with an Artist Club SE blade for the first pass.

Michael, like you I find I'm tending toward wetter, less dense lather. When I started out wetshaving, I used Proraso Red cream from a tube and an Omega boar brush. Because I knew nothing about lathering, my lather was very wet and thin. Guess what? I got great shaves. Only later did I learn to load the brush properly and make voluminous hero lather, but the quality of the shave did not improve. Now I build the lather with as little water as possible, then "break it down" with added water once on the face. My ideal amount of hydration is when the lather "sloughs" down my face like a mudslide as I swipe it with the razor. That and the right amount of shine is the sweet spot for me. I'd like to try your method of having a denser lather for the later passes!

I live in such a dry environment that just the drying that happens between passes makes the mix less wet as the shave goes on. Depending on how many passes and how much touch up I want to do (and how closely I want to shave), I may add some oils and a paste made of butters and oils to 'slow down' the mix for fine work and buffing.