I liked this video as I'm new to wet shaving and feel like there's an overload of soaps, blades, and razors. I feel like I've been rushing to find the right combination and as I SLOW DOWN, have worked on my technique as well as understanding beard growth pattern. I appreciate Jack Gillespie's response too, and think I will give his comments a try as far as staying with the same hardward/softward combo and paying closer attention to technique. Heck, I've used that approach my whole bowling career.
Glad to hear from a fellow Tulsan! You may no longer be here, but you’ll always be one of us. I’ve always loved this city, so I decided to make it a staple of my channel! Thank you for the support brother!
You are spot on, I doubt anyone can really tell the difference between Stirling and more high priced artisans - in a blind test setting. Of course they'll claim otherwise but the reality is they want to justify spending more to themselves. There is a niche in this hobby for those chasing the newest soap base and artisans will trim the marks.
First of all, I loved the title and format of your video! (Subbed). However, you spoke a lot about price and value (paying about double for Milksteak, etc.). I understand your argument regarding small/marginal differences and that may or may not be the case. My argument, is that there ARE differences however. Whether or not they are worth the cost is up to the consumer, but some soaps ARE slicker then others, and slicker soaps do provide a better shave. Stirling May be the best value for the money, but there are slicker soaps. Period :). Where you really got my argument wrong, is about technique. Even in my video, I said that technique was BY FAR the most important thing. You had great technique in this video.. do I believe you can get a better shave experience with a declaration grooming, yes I do :). It might only be 5% or even 1%, but even at 1% improvement, proves that my argument is correct, when I state that the soap matters. Cheers!
Thanks Chief for stopping by! Though I agree that you mentioned technique is the most important thing and I even saw you reiterate that on you video post’s comments, this video was less about critiquing your mentions of technique and more showcasing that Stirling is, in my opinion, just as good and capable of the job as anything else out there. I think your argument concerning technique was more caught up in semantics regarding CDB’s video, which is fine, but I’m not so much arguing that point. However, I am making a case that if my technique were off, it wouldn’t matter if I were using MDC, Sebum, DG, CK6, etc I would still end up having a bad time. I don’t don’t feel that my experience with using Stirling is any different than my experience using “higher-end” soaps. Where I notice differences at this point is in scent, ease of lather, presentation, size, & cost. Once you made the comparisons between the soaps, though it wasn’t addressed, I wanted to address size and cost to show that there are other factors in play that might make something like Stirling even more appealing, outside of just the general shave. But, as we both know, traditional shaving is HIGHLY subjective and the experience/opinions will range all over for each individual. Blades that work for me won’t work for you, a soap may lather differently for me than for you depending on loading time, how much water, face or bowl lather, etc and so many more. I think it’s good to have the back and forth discussion rather than just a steady diet of the same stuff. Which is another reason I made this video. I have seen for awhile the steady release of videos hyping this base over that base and I’m just like 🤷🏻. But I honestly love the dialogue! I have daily discussions with fellow wetshavers about this same sort of thing and it’s always a blast. Like you, I’m always up for changing my mind or opinion on something depending on what I see. Always learning, always improving! 🍻🍻
We have already discussed this topic on Chris' channel Tim, but as a proof of how underrated products perform, I would like to share with you something about the shave I had earlier in the afternoon. I used bergamotto neroli, a TFS soap with fantastic scent, (highly recommended by the way...), and with the bloom water only I created such a great lather on my face that I could go onto the first pass without even using my brush! My 1912 ever ready was cruising on my face, and frankly I could not have a better shave, even if I wanted to. My point of view is that if we hone our technique, we can be more selective with scents, rather than soap bases with minimum tweaks in reference to the previous bases.
George kanatas completely agree! Admittedly I pick soap due to scent, label art, or my familiarity with the artisan. I’ve had some EXCELLENT shaves with only bloom water, and it can be a lot of fun too! Plenty of soaps out there that don’t get their time in the spotlight because they are “cheap”. I think a big problem is that many of us start with cheap products, and since we lack in technique we have a lackluster or even negative experience that we associate with the soap when in the end it was our lack of experience that provided a mediocre shave, not the product. I see that a lot with Proraso & Col. Conk. People aren’t willing to go back and give the soaps a try after spending time away honing their technique and experience so they always have a negative approach to certain brands or artisans 🤷🏻. That’s why I like to revisit soaps I haven’t used after awhile to re-evaluate my opinion of them. Same goes with hardware.
Same goes with the hardware indeed. I hadn't used my '40's superspeed for a few months, (due to the endless rotation of my razors, both vintage and new), and a few days ago I had a tremendous shave, (loaded with a nacet blade). The shave was so smooth that I started to wonder if my British aristocrat, (which is significantly pricier), was delivering a smoother and better shave... There are many variables in a good shave, but price of the products is not a benchmark.
Hi Tim. I signed up for Spotify just because of your podcast. I Love Rogan lol, but won't use the app for him. I understand you want to shorten your vids based on youtube stats of attention span. I personally prefer the in person approach over the narration of a silent video. All good points as I do listen until the end. As a luxury brand, with values not put on the score card people are currently talking about in these current debates; I feel the conversation is not complete. Cheers Rick.
Sē'bŭm Gold I had no idea! Just wait until Yost and I get started with our joint podcast! I think that will be a lot of fun. I honestly go back and forth between narration and in person talk style. With narration I’m more conscientious of the time span and have better control/focus on the topic at hand. With the in person version I have a tendency to ramble 😂 but some people love that! But I am familiar with your brand and it’s approach to soap design, presentation, and overarching goal of being more environmentally conscious which I applaud. There are definitely more factors at play when choosing what soap to buy, and why some soaps are priced higher than others. It isn’t always about claims of “the best performance” sometimes it’s about other things to and the narrative or paradigm the artisan is trying to share. But I appreciate your input, as I didn’t mention in this video the other factors which might drive someone to pick up a more “luxurious” or expensive brand of soap. This is the exact sort of thing I want to see, as it only helps me for future conversations about soap and what’s important.
@@TheShavingTulsan agreed. I am participating more in a subtle manor. Even though I've been around 3 years, I found it difficult to approach what I saw as a locked down community in view points. I should not deflect those feeling back, because if I do, I'm part of the problem. I'm now more open to conversations with everyone. I look forward to the Dynamic Duel Podcast.
Nice job. Technique trumps all IMO. I believe there are marginal differences between the “premium” soap bases vs. “good” bases. Yes they may be better but double the price better?
THATS the question isn’t it? Again, I think it’s fine to have more expensive soaps with difference approaches to ingredients, scents, formulations, etc. but to say the performance is noticeably different? I’m not sure about that. And to say I should buy this over that because it shaves better? 🤔
I completely agree, Tim. If there is a difference between software, it's minimal at best. And while I've used Stirling soap in the past, I'm into vegan soaps. I think *that* would be an interesting test -- tallow v vegan. But, in all honestly, it wouldn't change my mind; I only use vegan soaps. And I agree about the post shave, too. We have tons of great products that allow us to get the best post shave probably ever experienced. I mean, we went from shaving with goo in a can to quality soaps and creams -- there's going to be a huge up-tick in post shave feel. But, again, we have aftershaves and balms that only make that a better experience. Heck, I've even used Barbasol from time to time (#SinatraLennon) and the shave experience is like night and day when using a quality soap. But the the aftershave comes into play and it evens out the playing field (well, almost). There's the old proverb that states, "A poor workman blames his tools." So if there's any issues with the products I'm using, you can look no further than me. While I might find a tuggy blade now and then (I can count on one hand how many I've had in the 5 years I've been traditional wet shaving), if I have a bad experience, the blame falls squarely on my shoulders. Lastly, I think another thing that happens -- and it's something you mentioned in the video -- is people who publish content are always changing products. When we're always changing hardware and software, it's hard to "get it done" correctly. Certainly, we may have very good results, but there's something said about dialing in on the right stuff. When we use the same products over and over again, we know how to use them, how to get the most out of them, 99.9% of the time. I was telling Kevy (#KevyShaves) that I generally use the same hardware for weeks / months on end. The only reason I might change up is because I bought the stuff so I should use them (although I'm honestly thinking about thinning out my stock). The same goes with soap -- I use PAA Scentless (CK-6) as my only soap. I know how to use it and get the best results for me. I know how I can make it thinker and thinner based on my situation. I know how it's going to perform and I don't have to mess with it. The same with my Gillette Adjustable Super-84. It doesn't matter what blade I put in it, I know which settings work well for me and how to get the perfect angle. It's amazing how that changes when I switch razors! I have to learn that razor all over again. So, in conclusion of this dissertation, I reiterate that I completely agree with you. Thanks for the content, man. Have a good weekend.
^^^THIS! All of this!! Jack, always a pleasure to have you drop in on the videos! My favorite vegan would be Dr. Jon, that stuff lathers like CRAZY and it’s just a pleasure to whip up. I’m also a big fan of CK6, and for a time I, like you, considered using that or another unscented soap exclusively. Which, as you stated, has a number of benefits. One of the biggest is that you remain consistent and have a constant base for comparison in hardware reviews. But when it comes to how I want to make sure my skin feels after a shave or to round out that shave experience, I almost always rely on the aftershave. Yes, there are soaps that might provide a noticeably better post shave feel if I choose to forego an aftershave, but I’m never looking for a soap and choosing it based on that property. Idc if I’m using Sebum, MDC, DG or whatever, if I’m not doing my part with my tool of choice, then I will have a bad or disappointing experience. There is something to be said for consistency in equipment whether that’s hardware, software, or both. And I think at the end of the day if you have spent the adequate amount of time with the same setup even if you started off on rocky footing, you will find a pleasing experience. That happened to me SOOO much when I first started. I kept getting frustrated with everything because I just didn’t have good technique or understanding of the product. But overtime it has improved considerably, and I’ve even revisited old products to see if anything has changed. And, surprise, it often has lol. Thank you again for dropping in and sharing your thoughts! Have a great weekend as well!🍻
I think if you purchase/use soaps based on whether they are considered elite or have a specific shave score - you will miss out on some fantastic experiences with lesser known or lesser touted artisans. While I truly appreciate the DGs, WKs, Grooming Dept of the world, think artisans Stirling, Gingers Garden, and Stubble Busters pull their weight and have a solid place in this community
Brave! Great way to prove that stirling is top notch stuff.
I liked this video as I'm new to wet shaving and feel like there's an overload of soaps, blades, and razors. I feel like I've been rushing to find the right combination and as I SLOW DOWN, have worked on my technique as well as understanding beard growth pattern. I appreciate Jack Gillespie's response too, and think I will give his comments a try as far as staying with the same hardward/softward combo and paying closer attention to technique. Heck, I've used that approach my whole bowling career.
Nice shave! I use Stirling the most as well and it gives me great shaves every time. I like simple scent so it's even better for me.
Wonderful video. Glad I ran into this channel and greetings from Irving! I grew up in Tulsa until I went to college and miss it so much.
Glad to hear from a fellow Tulsan! You may no longer be here, but you’ll always be one of us. I’ve always loved this city, so I decided to make it a staple of my channel! Thank you for the support brother!
You are spot on, I doubt anyone can really tell the difference between Stirling and more high priced artisans - in a blind test setting. Of course they'll claim otherwise but the reality is they want to justify spending more to themselves. There is a niche in this hobby for those chasing the newest soap base and artisans will trim the marks.
Excellent video. Love Stirling! Much like your videos, Stirling = guaranteed excellence. Can’t ask for much more!🤙🏻
Thanks for stopping by Ken!! The more I can save on soaps just means more I will spend on brushes and razors 😂😂🍻
Very well said, Tim. I agree that the technique does have a greater bearing on the final quality of the shave than any hardware and software combo.
A better quality soap definitely adds to the experience and shave.
Outstanding job. Very well thought out and reasonable. I enjoyed it.
Thank you!
First of all, I loved the title and format of your video! (Subbed). However, you spoke a lot about price and value (paying about double for Milksteak, etc.). I understand your argument regarding small/marginal differences and that may or may not be the case. My argument, is that there ARE differences however. Whether or not they are worth the cost is up to the consumer, but some soaps ARE slicker then others, and slicker soaps do provide a better shave. Stirling May be the best value for the money, but there are slicker soaps. Period :). Where you really got my argument wrong, is about technique. Even in my video, I said that technique was BY FAR the most important thing. You had great technique in this video.. do I believe you can get a better shave experience with a declaration grooming, yes I do :). It might only be 5% or even 1%, but even at 1% improvement, proves that my argument is correct, when I state that the soap matters. Cheers!
Thanks Chief for stopping by! Though I agree that you mentioned technique is the most important thing and I even saw you reiterate that on you video post’s comments, this video was less about critiquing your mentions of technique and more showcasing that Stirling is, in my opinion, just as good and capable of the job as anything else out there. I think your argument concerning technique was more caught up in semantics regarding CDB’s video, which is fine, but I’m not so much arguing that point. However, I am making a case that if my technique were off, it wouldn’t matter if I were using MDC, Sebum, DG, CK6, etc I would still end up having a bad time. I don’t don’t feel that my experience with using Stirling is any different than my experience using “higher-end” soaps. Where I notice differences at this point is in scent, ease of lather, presentation, size, & cost. Once you made the comparisons between the soaps, though it wasn’t addressed, I wanted to address size and cost to show that there are other factors in play that might make something like Stirling even more appealing, outside of just the general shave. But, as we both know, traditional shaving is HIGHLY subjective and the experience/opinions will range all over for each individual. Blades that work for me won’t work for you, a soap may lather differently for me than for you depending on loading time, how much water, face or bowl lather, etc and so many more. I think it’s good to have the back and forth discussion rather than just a steady diet of the same stuff. Which is another reason I made this video. I have seen for awhile the steady release of videos hyping this base over that base and I’m just like 🤷🏻. But I honestly love the dialogue! I have daily discussions with fellow wetshavers about this same sort of thing and it’s always a blast. Like you, I’m always up for changing my mind or opinion on something depending on what I see. Always learning, always improving! 🍻🍻
Nice video Tim.
Thanks brother!
We have already discussed this topic on Chris' channel Tim, but as a proof of how underrated products perform, I would like to share with you something about the shave I had earlier in the afternoon.
I used bergamotto neroli, a TFS soap with fantastic scent, (highly recommended by the way...), and with the bloom water only I created such a great lather on my face that I could go onto the first pass without even using my brush!
My 1912 ever ready was cruising on my face, and frankly I could not have a better shave, even if I wanted to.
My point of view is that if we hone our technique, we can be more selective with scents, rather than soap bases with minimum tweaks in reference to the previous bases.
George kanatas completely agree! Admittedly I pick soap due to scent, label art, or my familiarity with the artisan. I’ve had some EXCELLENT shaves with only bloom water, and it can be a lot of fun too! Plenty of soaps out there that don’t get their time in the spotlight because they are “cheap”. I think a big problem is that many of us start with cheap products, and since we lack in technique we have a lackluster or even negative experience that we associate with the soap when in the end it was our lack of experience that provided a mediocre shave, not the product. I see that a lot with Proraso & Col. Conk. People aren’t willing to go back and give the soaps a try after spending time away honing their technique and experience so they always have a negative approach to certain brands or artisans 🤷🏻. That’s why I like to revisit soaps I haven’t used after awhile to re-evaluate my opinion of them. Same goes with hardware.
Same goes with the hardware indeed. I hadn't used my '40's superspeed for a few months, (due to the endless rotation of my razors, both vintage and new), and a few days ago I had a tremendous shave, (loaded with a nacet blade). The shave was so smooth that I started to wonder if my British aristocrat, (which is significantly pricier), was delivering a smoother and better shave...
There are many variables in a good shave, but price of the products is not a benchmark.
I totally agree with you! Make some new videos please!
Stifling is good soap, no doubt. We are fortunate to have a lot of great options these days.
Agreed! Tons of great choices out there.
Hi Tim. I signed up for Spotify just because of your podcast. I Love Rogan lol, but won't use the app for him. I understand you want to shorten your vids based on youtube stats of attention span. I personally prefer the in person approach over the narration of a silent video. All good points as I do listen until the end. As a luxury brand, with values not put on the score card people are currently talking about in these current debates; I feel the conversation is not complete. Cheers Rick.
Sē'bŭm Gold I had no idea! Just wait until Yost and I get started with our joint podcast! I think that will be a lot of fun. I honestly go back and forth between narration and in person talk style. With narration I’m more conscientious of the time span and have better control/focus on the topic at hand. With the in person version I have a tendency to ramble 😂 but some people love that! But I am familiar with your brand and it’s approach to soap design, presentation, and overarching goal of being more environmentally conscious which I applaud. There are definitely more factors at play when choosing what soap to buy, and why some soaps are priced higher than others. It isn’t always about claims of “the best performance” sometimes it’s about other things to and the narrative or paradigm the artisan is trying to share. But I appreciate your input, as I didn’t mention in this video the other factors which might drive someone to pick up a more “luxurious” or expensive brand of soap. This is the exact sort of thing I want to see, as it only helps me for future conversations about soap and what’s important.
@@TheShavingTulsan agreed. I am participating more in a subtle manor. Even though I've been around 3 years, I found it difficult to approach what I saw as a locked down community in view points. I should not deflect those feeling back, because if I do, I'm part of the problem. I'm now more open to conversations with everyone. I look forward to the Dynamic Duel Podcast.
Nice job. Technique trumps all IMO. I believe there are marginal differences between the “premium” soap bases vs. “good” bases. Yes they may be better but double the price better?
THATS the question isn’t it? Again, I think it’s fine to have more expensive soaps with difference approaches to ingredients, scents, formulations, etc. but to say the performance is noticeably different? I’m not sure about that. And to say I should buy this over that because it shaves better? 🤔
The Shaving Tulsan The only thing that shaves better is you and your hardware matched to your hair type.
I completely agree, Tim. If there is a difference between software, it's minimal at best. And while I've used Stirling soap in the past, I'm into vegan soaps. I think *that* would be an interesting test -- tallow v vegan. But, in all honestly, it wouldn't change my mind; I only use vegan soaps.
And I agree about the post shave, too. We have tons of great products that allow us to get the best post shave probably ever experienced. I mean, we went from shaving with goo in a can to quality soaps and creams -- there's going to be a huge up-tick in post shave feel. But, again, we have aftershaves and balms that only make that a better experience. Heck, I've even used Barbasol from time to time (#SinatraLennon) and the shave experience is like night and day when using a quality soap. But the the aftershave comes into play and it evens out the playing field (well, almost).
There's the old proverb that states, "A poor workman blames his tools." So if there's any issues with the products I'm using, you can look no further than me. While I might find a tuggy blade now and then (I can count on one hand how many I've had in the 5 years I've been traditional wet shaving), if I have a bad experience, the blame falls squarely on my shoulders.
Lastly, I think another thing that happens -- and it's something you mentioned in the video -- is people who publish content are always changing products. When we're always changing hardware and software, it's hard to "get it done" correctly. Certainly, we may have very good results, but there's something said about dialing in on the right stuff. When we use the same products over and over again, we know how to use them, how to get the most out of them, 99.9% of the time. I was telling Kevy (#KevyShaves) that I generally use the same hardware for weeks / months on end. The only reason I might change up is because I bought the stuff so I should use them (although I'm honestly thinking about thinning out my stock). The same goes with soap -- I use PAA Scentless (CK-6) as my only soap. I know how to use it and get the best results for me. I know how I can make it thinker and thinner based on my situation. I know how it's going to perform and I don't have to mess with it. The same with my Gillette Adjustable Super-84. It doesn't matter what blade I put in it, I know which settings work well for me and how to get the perfect angle. It's amazing how that changes when I switch razors! I have to learn that razor all over again.
So, in conclusion of this dissertation, I reiterate that I completely agree with you. Thanks for the content, man. Have a good weekend.
^^^THIS! All of this!! Jack, always a pleasure to have you drop in on the videos! My favorite vegan would be Dr. Jon, that stuff lathers like CRAZY and it’s just a pleasure to whip up. I’m also a big fan of CK6, and for a time I, like you, considered using that or another unscented soap exclusively. Which, as you stated, has a number of benefits. One of the biggest is that you remain consistent and have a constant base for comparison in hardware reviews. But when it comes to how I want to make sure my skin feels after a shave or to round out that shave experience, I almost always rely on the aftershave. Yes, there are soaps that might provide a noticeably better post shave feel if I choose to forego an aftershave, but I’m never looking for a soap and choosing it based on that property. Idc if I’m using Sebum, MDC, DG or whatever, if I’m not doing my part with my tool of choice, then I will have a bad or disappointing experience. There is something to be said for consistency in equipment whether that’s hardware, software, or both. And I think at the end of the day if you have spent the adequate amount of time with the same setup even if you started off on rocky footing, you will find a pleasing experience. That happened to me SOOO much when I first started. I kept getting frustrated with everything because I just didn’t have good technique or understanding of the product. But overtime it has improved considerably, and I’ve even revisited old products to see if anything has changed. And, surprise, it often has lol. Thank you again for dropping in and sharing your thoughts! Have a great weekend as well!🍻
I think if you purchase/use soaps based on whether they are considered elite or have a specific shave score - you will miss out on some fantastic experiences with lesser known or lesser touted artisans. While I truly appreciate the DGs, WKs, Grooming Dept of the world, think artisans Stirling, Gingers Garden, and Stubble Busters pull their weight and have a solid place in this community
Hit the nail on the head.