I took the plunge!

[Baloosh]

Alright duders. After talking to both Charles and Jean via email numerous times, I ordered the following "starter" package:

Grapeseed Aromatic Round
3-piece Cube
3-tier unscented paste (the blend Charles recommend especially for RMWS newbs like me!)
SM 100 brush
Merkur DE HD razor
Sandalwood/Cirtus tonic spray

So he wants me to call him before I generate my first mix and shave. He recommended I watch mantic's videos on the Hydrolast mix generation, but I'll be honest: I've watched all 3 of the videos in his series numerous times. He uses 3 different brushes, and from what I can tell the end result (the mix itself) is somewhat thinner and runnier (and I guess MUCH slicker) than a traditional lather. However, how do I know when it's "ready?" How thin is just thin enough? How thick is too thick? It's hard to judge from the videos.

Anyway, wish me luck -- since I've been DE shaving for a good while now, I think I've got the basics of a traditional DE shave.... how should this translate into a proper Methodshave?

I ask all you experts (Mike, Raf, mantic, etc. etc.) for advice. Oh yeah... and does the 'Velva go on BEFORE the mix, or AFTER the mix? ;);)

[Scorpio]

You were doing so well until you mentioned the Velva...so sad. Btw it does not go anywhere near the face after the shave. Your car has a container for windshield wiper fluid put it there.

let us know before you start. We will talk you through it.

Raf

[Sejanus]

Nice Jason, I also have a bunch of Method stuff on my way that Mike is very kindly putting together for me. While I am skipping the Razor and Brush options, I am getting all the other goodies (Minus Cutting Balm).

Should be fun to play around with when I get it. :D

Also thanks to all the method guys for the good advice, and for Mike for his specific help too.

[Aquanin]

Aww man, you should have gotten some of the Peppermint Aftershave Balm. Great stuff!!

[msandoval858]

Step away from the Velva...

We'll get you squared away correctly. Let us know when you're ready to get started.

On the phone with Chas right now, back later :rolleyes:

[Baloosh]

You were doing so well until you mentioned the Velva...so sad. Btw it does not go anywhere near the face after the shave. Your car has a container for windshield wiper fluid put it there.

let us know before you start. We will talk you through it.

Raf

But, but.... but... it's not windshield wiper fluid. It's My Blue Heaven in a bottle! ;)

Ok I'll post up when the stuffs arrives and I'm ready to roll. Thanks!!

Nice Jason, I also have a bunch of Method stuff on my way that Mike is very kindly putting together for me. While I am skipping the Razor and Brush options, I am getting all the other goodies (Minus Cutting Balm).

Should be fun to play around with when I get it. :D

Also thanks to all the method guys for the good advice, and for Mike for his specific help too.

Indeed. We're fortunate to have some of the top-most elite of Methodshaving as regulars around here.

Aww man, you should have gotten some of the Peppermint Aftershave Balm. Great stuff!!

I already scored a tub of that in trade a while back, but in discussions with Charles, it seems that I possibly have a tub that's gone bad. It's a bit too thick and heavy for me, and Charles reports that his A/S Conditioner shouldn't be heavy in the least. But even in its present condition, my tub of Peppermint Conditioner is great -- just a tad too thick and heavy for me (even using 1/2 a pinky size across entire wetted face).

[Sejanus]

Step away from the Velva...

We'll get you squared away correctly. Let us know when you're ready to get started.

On the phone with Chas right now, back later :rolleyes:

Let us know how it goes. :D

[jls1963]

Congratulations! Not sure if it would be helpful or not, but I posted observations of a Method newbie on the enchanteonline forum a couple of months ago. Welcome to the wonderful world of RMWS....

[Brad]

I already scored a tub of that in trade a while back, but in discussions with Charles, it seems that I possibly have a tub that's gone bad. It's a bit too thick and heavy for me, and Charles reports that his A/S Conditioner shouldn't be heavy in the least. But even in its present condition, my tub of Peppermint Conditioner is great -- just a tad too thick and heavy for me (even using 1/2 a pinky size across entire wetted face).

Are you using tonic with it? I think it is heavy if I have not spritzed up good. With your face good and wet, it glides easily and is not heavy at all. I like the eucalyptus tonic right after the shave followed by the peppermint conditioner and then a spritz of grapefruit tonic. Nirvana!

Brad

[Baloosh]

Yes, entire face is dripping with any one of the following (I tried all these with similar results -- the Hydrolast Conditioner just kind of never sank in and stayed too thick and heavy):

QED Peppermint Hydrosol
QED DaVinci Hydrosol
QED Lemon Peel Hydrosol
Plain water
Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel
Thayer's Rose Witch Hazel

Perhaps I need actual Hydrolast tonic, although I don't think that will matter. Regardless, I'll get to try that theory out soon! :cool:

[Padron]

Congrats Jason!!

I look forward to hearing your results and progress :cool: It sounds like fun :)

[Queen of Blades]

Couldn't resist any longer, huh? :D

Keep us informed on your thoughts and impressions.

[Scorpio]

kkjlalejflaefjoieoe

[Baloosh]

kkjlalejflaefjoieoe

See what happens when you don't use Aqua Velva?

[Scorpio]

See what happens when you don't use Aqua Velva?

sorry bro I had other reasons:D

Raf

[Baloosh]

The package arrived today -- complete with generous samples of "Red #3" paste (I think?) and 3 different A/S conditioners... Eucalyptus, Sandalwood and Lavender.

The SM100 brush is smaller than I had it pictured in my mind. I'm excited... and want to do this right.

Give me advice/pointers/tips on how to create the mix, etc. and I'll give it my first try tomorrow morning!!! :eek:

[Sejanus]

Nice Jason!

Mine should be arriving soon too.. don't get too excited since you are going to have newbie company soon! :D

[rick]

You know I'm interested.
Alls I got is the cube and some Eucalyptus Cutting Paste but that works great for me.
Of course.....since I quit putting the mix into my scuttle, the results have been much better.

[Baloosh]

You know I'm interested.
Alls I got is the cube and some Eucalyptus Cutting Paste but that works great for me.
Of course.....since I quit putting the mix into my scuttle, the results have been much better.

Yeah, that's the only thing I'll miss really badly if this takes off for me... I LOVE my scuttle... one of the best parts of my mornings == warm lather. :cool:

[rick]

Yeah, that's the only thing I'll miss really badly if this takes off for me... I LOVE my scuttle... one of the best parts of my mornings == warm lather. :cool:
No worries....
its not like youll be Method Shaving full time ;)
Gotta mix it up.
GO VELVA !!

[msandoval858]

I mix it up quite a bit myself.

minus the Velva :sick007

[Baloosh]

I mix it up quite a bit myself.

minus the Velva :sick007

I see the hole in your formula. ;)

[Baloosh]

Decided to make a few test lathers tonight with the SM100 brush, 3-piece cube and 3-tier composite paste. My first few lathers were slllliiiiick, but I worked the mix on my beard area (didn't shave) and noticed it tended to break down and disappear pretty quickly on my face. I primed the brush for about 30 to 40 seconds on the cube, then added the dollop of paste, and lathered in my palm for about 1.5 minutes, trying to mimic exactly what I saw in Mantic's "Part 2" youtube video.

Is the mix supposed to be somewhat volatile? Do I need to hit the cube between passes to rebuild the mix? Also, the brush lost about 20 to 25 hairs in its maiden voyage tonight. Never had a brush do that before. Is that normal for Methodshaving brushes?

Soooo many questions... :ashamed001

[Scorpio]

Decided to make a few test lathers tonight with the SM100 brush, 3-piece cube and 3-tier composite paste. My first few lathers were slllliiiiick, but I worked the mix on my beard area (didn't shave) and noticed it tended to break down and disappear pretty quickly on my face. I primed the brush for about 30 to 40 seconds on the cube, then added the dollop of paste, and lathered in my palm for about 1.5 minutes, trying to mimic exactly what I saw in Mantic's "Part 2" youtube video.

Is the mix supposed to be somewhat volatile? Do I need to hit the cube between passes to rebuild the mix? Also, the brush lost about 20 to 25 hairs in its maiden voyage tonight. Never had a brush do that before. Is that normal for Methodshaving brushes?

Soooo many questions... :ashamed001

Once you prime the brush on the cube put some paste in the breach of the brush. Close the breach and hit the cube a few ore seconds. Move to the hand, by now the mix should be getting more like the consistency of lather as you know it. I you want to pu a little more paste in the breach do so(double Loading), go to your hand and swirl around. Lather should be ready to apply to face. Some of the brushes will do that but will settle and stop loosing hairs. Not to worry those brushes are very dense. You can hit the cube between passes if you like. Most of us hit the soap between passes also so no difference

did you get the activator we sent? Before you apply to the lathe to face, open the breach and drop some activator in there. Close the breach and swirl. Watch the lather explode!!!! then apply to face. Enjoy!!! Mike may have other more detail tips. The above works for me and I great shaves.


Raf

Volatile???? no the mix should not catch on fire nor spark any flames!!!!!!

[msandoval858]

I accidentally left the activator out of the box I sent you. My bad :ashamed001

Raf pretty much hit the main points. Don't be afraid to add a bit more paste. I use a pretty good nickel size shot in my brush, I don't do that whole pea size dab thing that some guys do.

About the brush losing hairs, I should have told you this sooner. The first couple of times it's going to throw any loose hairs that didn't get set in the knot. Charles doesn't thoroughly shake out all the clippings so that is likely to happen. It should stop after a few rounds.

[Baloosh]

I guess by "volatile" I meant quick to break down into a different form... my bad if poor choice of words. :ashamed001

I had actually forgotten about the Activator that was going to be in the soap package until you just mentioned it. No biggie.

Cool on the brush shedding a few hairs in the first few uses. That's pretty much what I figured -- just wanted to make sure. I think I'm mashing too hard with the brush on the cube after applying the paste. After applying the paste to the breech, all the paste didn't mix very well and some of it got pushed to the outside of the cube and my palm.

Thanks for the tips!!!! :1respect:1respect

[Brad]

My S100 shed a bunch for the first week or so, but I have not lost a hair in the last 6 months since it finally stopped shedding. Scared me at first too, but it does stop.

The lather will break down after a while compared to conventional lather. The less paste you use, the faster it breaks down. A pea size like Mike says many use breaks down much quicker.than the nickel size MIke talks about using, but he also uses a bigger brush than the S100.

I do notice that the rounds break down quicker than the cube. The #1 white paste that I bought recently for use with straigth razors was designed to hold up longer. That being said, do not expect HL lather to look and perform like standard creams. It will break down faster, but due to its nature and slickness, it does not matter and will be slightly runny compared to standard lathers and the amount of water they hold. That being said, it still should look somewhat like what you saw in the videos, especially initially.

[Scorpio]

In my experience, the lather I make does not breakdown. The lather from the cube by itself will breakdown on its own but when mixed with the proper amount of paste it will hold nicely.

Raf

[lucky]

How have the shave's been with it so far Jason?

[Brad]

In my experience, the lather I make does not breakdown. The lather from the cube by itself will breakdown on its own but when mixed with the proper amount of paste it will hold nicely.

Raf

Raf,

Do you hit the cube again between passes or leave it alone? I find the #1 white holds up through the whole shave, but not my previous tub of superpaste that I think is similar to the 3 tier. Are you shaving with a DE or str8? The superpaste held up for DE, but not enough for str8 shaving. Maybe I was not using enough or hitting the cube enough. I actually liked the runny sickness for the DE shave with a faster stroke.

[Baloosh]

How have the shave's been with it so far Jason?

Two shaves down so far, including this morning's. As I noted yesterday, my first Methodshave allowed me to get BBS on my neck using ONLY Hydrolast products and a DE razor/blade... first time that's ever happened.

So far I'm impressed with the slickness and performance of the cube/paste combo, but concerned that I'm not making lather 100% correctly. More practice required!!! :D

[Scorpio]

Raf,

Do you hit the cube again between passes or leave it alone? I find the #1 white holds up through the whole shave, but not my previous tub of superpaste that I think is similar to the 3 tier. Are you shaving with a DE or str8? The superpaste held up for DE, but not enough for str8 shaving. Maybe I was not using enough or hitting the cube enough. I actually liked the runny sickness for the DE shave with a faster stroke.

Usually yes I do regardless of the paste I use.

Raf

[Baloosh]

Wanted to give a quick update and report on my Methodshaving efforts so far. Probably like most new guys, I think I'm having a bit of trouble getting the proper mix built. Using all the Hydrolast products:

SM100 brush
Hydrolast Cube
3-tier composite paste

I find that it's quite difficult getting the paste all the way mixed into the slag off the cube. Maybe I'm priming the cube too much? It seems like, when I take the scoop of paste and place it into the breech of the brush, then close the breech and prime again on the soap (finishing on my hand) the paste doesn't mix in very well, and actually ends up being mostly pushed out of the brush and along the sides of the cube (or my hand). Should I just keep scooping that paste back up and keep priming? I've gone as long as 3 minutes trying to mix the paste and slag, with little overall success.

The bit of mix that I do end up getting does work wonderfully. Amazingly slick, and the performance is outstanding. Now I'm reading about Hydrolast Finishing Balm, and that it works with our without a Methodshave?

What do you think so far of my description? If it's a common problem, at least that would make me feel less clueless and embarrassed. :ashamed001


As always, any advice or tips you can provide will be greatly appreciated. I know there are some serious experts around here, and I know if I keep at it I'll continue to improve.

Thanks!

[rick]

No advice from me, Im afraid.
I still cant get good results and am getting a bit discourged with the whole thang.

[JimH]

My method is slightly different, but makes what I consider a good mix.

Put the cube in the cabinet with the Vela. Use the hard round that you purchased. I started on the cube and had no problems, but when I purchased my brush, I went to the rounds.

Soak the brush and the round in hot water. Drain the bush, but do not shake. Work the brush on the round. Add paste to the breech. Drizzle some hot water on the paste and return to the round. The second pass at the round should do it. This gets me a consistent mix using an S-100 and any Hydrolast paste except #1 velocity. I make my mix on the round and not in my palm.

If this doesn't work and Mike doesn't have the answer, it is time to talk to Charles.

Jim

[Baloosh]

My method is slightly different, but makes what I consider a good mix.

Put the cube in the cabinet with the Vela. Use the hard round that you purchased. I started on the cube and had no problems, but when I purchased my brush, I went to the rounds.

Soak the brush and the round in hot water. Drain the bush, but do not shake. Work the brush on the round. Add paste to the breech. Drizzle some hot water on the paste and return to the round. The second pass at the round should do it. This gets me a consistent mix using an S-100 and any Hydrolast paste except #1 velocity. I make my mix on the round and not in my palm.

If this doesn't work and Mike doesn't have the answer, it is time to talk to Charles.

Jim

Awesome.. I appreciate it! Will try the round next time.

On a somewhat related side note, I don't know what all the bad talk about the scent of the Cube is about... personally I kind of like the scent, but smell is definitely a YMMV kind of thing for everyone.

[JimH]

On a somewhat related side note, I don't know what all the bad talk about the scent of the Cube is about... personally I kind of like the scent, but smell is definitely a YMMV kind of thing for everyone.

I never understood the bad talk either It has a rather pleasant natural scent. I switched looking for a better shave and liked what I found.

Jim

[Scorpio]

Wanted to give a quick update and report on my Methodshaving efforts so far. Probably like most new guys, I think I'm having a bit of trouble getting the proper mix built. Using all the Hydrolast products:

SM100 brush
Hydrolast Cube
3-tier composite paste

I find that it's quite difficult getting the paste all the way mixed into the slag off the cube. Maybe I'm priming the cube too much? It seems like, when I take the scoop of paste and place it into the breech of the brush, then close the breech and prime again on the soap (finishing on my hand) the paste doesn't mix in very well, and actually ends up being mostly pushed out of the brush and along the sides of the cube (or my hand). Should I just keep scooping that paste back up and keep priming? I've gone as long as 3 minutes trying to mix the paste and slag, with little overall success.

The bit of mix that I do end up getting does work wonderfully. Amazingly slick, and the performance is outstanding. Now I'm reading about Hydrolast Finishing Balm, and that it works with our without a Methodshave?

What do you think so far of my description? If it's a common problem, at least that would make me feel less clueless and embarrassed. :ashamed001


As always, any advice or tips you can provide will be greatly appreciated. I know there are some serious experts around here, and I know if I keep at it I'll continue to improve.

Thanks!

Maybe your pressing to hard on the cube. Don't forget to put a little water on the breach with paste before you close it. When you go to the cube just swirl the brush around the cube picking up any paste that may be running away on the sides. It's a little trick you learn, there's a flow to it:D But you'll get it. We'll get you the activator.

Raf

[jls1963]

Since you're using the tiered paste, and if the humidity is low where you live, you might try this:

1. Prime the brush and apply that directly to your face;
2. Get a little bit of slag on one hand, dip some of the tiered paste and spread it over your face;
3. Prime the brush again (doesn't take much--you mentioned three minutes of mixing in your post--really just need a few seconds)
4. Apply that to your face.

I've had some trouble getting the tiered paste to mix completely in the brush with cube-derived slag. Charles suggested I try separating the steps and it worked much better. I'll add, though, that you might want to check out a post I left on the Enchante online forum--I'm finding a spot-mix of #3 red with the lower velocity paste (plus a shot of finishing balm) works unfailingly well, even with varying humidity.

I remember hitting a plateau 3-4 weeks in to MS--it might be a good time to check in with Charles.

Cheers,
j

[Baloosh]

I did get a nice sized sample of the #3 Red from Charles with my order. Haven't tried that one yet. In my mind's logic, I figured I needed to get good with a single setup (3-tier composite) before experimenting.

Thanks for the tips guys!!!!