Overrated! or Things that never worked for you that others deem necessary.

For me there is many things but I guess I am not a fan of super lathers for many of the same reasons as Freddy - if a soap doesn't work on its own its a no go for me.

Same here. Not to say I haven't tried it before though.

Uber-lathers.  I use soaps and creams that work well for me (think Barrister & Mann, Stirling, Tim's, iColoniali, etc.; you get the idea) and just find uber-lathers an unnecessary step.  If an individual soap, cream, or croap doesn't work for me for any reason such as scent, glide, cushion, and so on, I find I simply don't use it rather than try to make it better.  I realize this is heresy for some of you but there it is.  

I'm in the same boat. I get perfect lathers from B&M, CRSW, and Catie's Bubbles. No need to add anything.

I'd also agree with all the pre save rituals. I've tried all kind of different things. Not one thing really sticks out to me that just made my shave more outstanding than any other.

I don't know if anything is overrated, but rather what works for some may not work for others. I don't do pre-shaves or any other beard prep other than washing my face. I stopped seeking out aggressive razors which, for me, were indeed aggressive. The AS-D2 is very efficient and mild, and removes my thick, coarse beard with ease. And the last one I can think of is super-lather or whatever it's called. I never tried this one and never will. I see no need for a soap to be slicker than those I use.

No offence intended Freddy.

Just because I don't understand it doesn't mean I think people who do and enjoy it are not running their elevator all the way to the top.

I'm strictly baffled by the product, not the people who like it.

For what's it worth I meant no disrespect to anyone in the course of expressing my own opinion.

I respect your opinion on it and am glad you find it adds to your experience in a positive way.

Whenever I've tried it, it seems to mix in with my lather and I cannot tell the difference between my shaves with or without it. I find it a bit messy and don't enjoy having it on my hands as I worry about dropping my razor if I don't wash it off my hands very well after applying it.

I face lather most always. So in that context I may not be getting the optimal use scenario to have the most informed point of view on it.

So, I just elect not to use it.

Honestly, Todd, no offense is taken.  I guess I was just somewhat taken aback by the term "silly."  I think all of the posts here, including yours and mine, are truly getting to the heart of what Chris (BadDad) was asking in his original post.  Quite frankly, I am really enjoying the thread.

... And the last one I can think of is super-lather or whatever it's called. I never tried this one and never will. I see no need for a soap to be slicker than those I use.

It's not always about improving sub-par soap. There are scents that work really well together, even though both products are outstanding in and of themselves. Taylor of Old Bond St Rose cream blends just beautifully with Van der Hagen Luxury scented. Both perform very well on their own, and even smell very pleasant on their own, but the combination of subtle lemon and deep rose is very pleasing to me.

Don't knock it until you try it, I always say. There is nothing wrong with experimenting, in my opinion...

But yea, at the end of the day, it is an easy method of improving sub-par soap, and I used it much more frequently before I had a decent den of quality soaps. No argument there...

And I hope everyone understands that I meant no offense with the title...

In response to the OP, I have only two major shaving rituals I don't understand. To be clear, I don't disagree with them, it's just that my face doesn't understand them.

First, I don't get using any aftershave product except a splash. I've never used a balm, alum block or witch hazel after a shave. I dry my face and hands after I rinse my face with cold water, and then liberally apply one of my 60 or so aftershave splashes. (I never used AS splash until I was 58 years old, so there might be a psychological explanation for my position...)

Second, I don't get face lathering. Why would anyone want to miss out on building a perfect warm lather in a scuttle, and the joy of painting that lather on your face for as long as you like? And being able to rework the lather, with heat, every pass?

Everyone's different.

Again, no judgment.

... And the last one I can think of is super-lather or whatever it's called. I never tried this one and never will. I see no need for a soap to be slicker than those I use.

It's not always about improving sub-par soap. There are scents that work really well together, even though both products are outstanding in and of themselves. Taylor of Old Bond St Rose cream blends just beautifully with Van der Hagen Luxury scented. Both perform very well on their own, and even smell very pleasant on their own, but the combination of subtle lemon and deep rose is very pleasing to me.

Don't knock it until you try it, I always say. There is nothing wrong with experimenting, in my opinion...

But yea, at the end of the day, it is an easy method of improving sub-par soap, and I used it much more frequently before I had a decent den of quality soaps. No argument there...

And I hope everyone understands that I meant no offense with the title...

That's a good point with the mixing of scents.

Pre-shaves; especially the in-depth routines but even the simple Proraso pre didn't seem to make much difference for me.

Hot, hot water. I'm a cold water shaver and can appreciate the warm, comfortable water for shaves. But to use as hot of water as you can handle is simply begging for irritation.

Alum. Allergic to that devil stone.

DE blades. Those flexible ribbons of steel are even more evil than alum.

Balms. Oily skin. 'Nuff said.

There's probably more but my brain is tired.

High end brushes for me.

I'm not going to say overrated, but this notion that you absolutely MUST do a WTG pass before going against the grain never worked for me. I've got sparse, coarse hair and never got any benefit from it, I just do 2x ATG passes, with the second being more of a touch-up.