Tutorial - how to use a shaving stick

[joel]

Gents,
It has come to my attention that many individuals are not familiar with shave sticks and their use - so here is a picture laden tutorial!
Enjoy!

Step One - Twist off the lid :P
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010003.JPG
The Stick to be used in this tutorial is a QED Essentials Peppermint Shave Stick... this sucker has a GREAT cooling effect, and a VERY strong peppermint scent.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010004.JPG
Next get some nice hot water running.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010005.JPG
Cup some of the water with your hands and splash your face, and really try to get as much water as possible on your face. (Sorry for the non-descriptive pic - trying to cup water and take a pic on my own was a bit difficult!)

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/face.JPG
Once your face is properly moistened - begin rubbing the stick around your face with light pressure.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010010.JPG
As you begin rubbing around your beard area - you will notice some VERY light bubbling/lather beginning to form.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010011.JPG
Here is a shot of what it will look like.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010012.JPG
Next take your soaking wet brush - and give it about one shake.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010013.JPG
After one or two twists you can see lather begin in its infancy.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010016.JPG
With just a few more swirls with the big Shavemac XXL Silvertip you can see this lather start to come up.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010017.JPG
In seconds the brush is filled with lather.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010019.JPG
You can see wonderful shave-worthy lather is a cinch to make.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010020.JPG
Brush motion.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010021.JPG
Lather full brush.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010022.JPG
Brush.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010023.JPG
Shavin' time!

If you have any questions - feel free to fire away!

[Jim]

Nice job Joel!:thumbup1:

[jellywerker]

Excellent, and good to see some verification that my lather isn't too thin.

[rabidpotatochip]

I always wondered until seeing that. Seriously. Thanks. :smile:

[Mr Mockett]

Excellent, and good to see some verification that my lather isn't too thin.

I try to make my lather a bit thicker than that, but I have used lather as thin as that pictured above with fine results.

[ScottS]

I like sneaking up on this from the other side, as its easier to thin down the lather if its too thick than vice versa. I tend to start with a slightly dryer brush, I think, and add water if I need it.

With my Valobra stick, I tend to get lather that many would consider too thick for a DE, but I like it just fine with a straight.

[trewornan]

Guess I must be the only person who likes to dip the end of the stick in water before using it.

[loueedacat]

Guess I must be the only person who likes to dip the end of the stick in water before using it.

I do that too. I think a lot of people do. Wet face, wet stick, rub stick on face gently but generously, lather it up - I get very thick and slick lather doing all that.

[red2]

I always wondered until seeing that. Seriously. Thanks. :smile:

+1! :blush:


Nice job Joel!:thumbup1:

+1

I have a shave stick as part of a travel kit which I haven't used yet. :thumbup:

[ScottyD]

Great. Something else for me to spend my hard earned money on and add to the collection on the sink. I love it!

[scoopster]

Nice tutorial.

This what I do for travel. I bring along a shave stick (severla for variety if its going to be a long trip) brush & razor. It's very compact and convenient.

[Winzzy]

I think I will be picking up a shave stick this next month... The Arko is so cheap that I can;t not try it!

[CJMaxey]

Interesting product, do they seem to last pretty long?

[joel]

Interesting product, do they seem to last pretty long?

Yep - shave sticks last a pretty long time. :smile:

[PuFFaH]

My method is:

place soap end of stick in left hand, held by the thumb and forfinger so only the soap shows in what is now a cupped hand.
Now use the cupped palm with the soap sticks end in the cup as a lather mixing bowl.

Pictures would have served my description better, hope you understood the text :)

PuFF

[BJC]

Thanks for the post. It is nice to find the answer to a question without even having to ask.

BJC

[Suzuki]

Yep - shave sticks last a pretty long time. :smile:

The QED sticks are nice and big and last a while.

The tallow-based sticks (Erasmic, Palmolive, Boots,
Arko, La Toja, etc...) are harder tha the QED sticks (which are glycerine-based) and last a very long time - great bargains - especially if you can get them locally.

The only two points I'd add to Joel's excellent tutorial:

1) If you're using a hard stick, you might find that rubbing it on your face is a little rough - if so, just dip the tip of the stick into some hot water for second and it will soften it up just enough so it goes on more smoothly.

2) I start with a drier brush and add water by lightly moistening the tip of my brush as needed (just another way to get to the same point).

Finally, there are lots of products that can be used a la shave stick - for example, I generally use my Conck pucks this way - just pop them out of the tub, rub them on my face and voila - they work very well this way, as to the trial pucks of soap from TGQ.

I'm a big fan of the shave sticks - use them for travel and at least a couple of times during the week.

[BartFromBelgium]

Well, here's my way of doing it.

I soak my brush in hot water, give a couple of rubs against the stick, so that you can see basic lather being created, then I start rubbing the brush against my face. Works like a charm, but I think your stick won't last that long by doing it like this.

Those sticks (Palmolive) are for sale at local shops, costs less than a euro, so it's not a big investment...! :wink:

[thunderball]

Great tutorial. Gonna give my new Arko stick a whirl tomorrow...

[elias_21]

Joel thanks for the how-to!

I have a question though, but not for the stick! I have the same red little spots on my cheeks, like you have. But they became red only when I am shaving, and after a while they aren't that obvious. Do you know what are these, and how I can get rid of them?

[Red Oktober]

In the pictures we only see one side of your face; do you make the lather on one side and transfer it to the other with the brush, or do you do the same on both sides?

[SMOKE]

I acquired my first and only shave stick for travelling, specifically for head shaving daily while at a different customer site every week. I had no idea what to do with it, but figured out something along the lines of your demo.

Many thanks for the great tutorial!

Regards,

[Baines93]

Thanks for the tutorial.

I am only 15, but i am going to start shaving with proper tools soon.

This was really helpful.

Thanks,

Matt

[Dog Man]

Joel,

Most excellent! I've wondered how the stick works. Now I've got to get one, two or three. Where do you suggest I look for a good shave stick?

Thanks again,

Bill

[Dirtstyle]

Would it be advisable to scrape at the stick with a brush to load it or would that completely defeat the purpose of having a stick vs puck?

[BroJohn]

Would it be advisable to scrape at the stick with a brush to load it or would that completely defeat the purpose of having a stick vs puck?

You're right --loading the brush on the stick serves no purpose over a puck. Use the stick to directly load the soap on the whiskers, then liberally use the brush to generate a lather. It works exceptionally well.

-- John Gehman

[Dirtstyle]

You're right --loading the brush on the stick serves no purpose over a puck. Use the stick to directly load the soap on the whiskers, then liberally use the brush to generate a lather. It works exceptionally well.

-- John Gehman

OK thanks, I thought it would be counter productive but just wanted to see what the consensus was.

[danstar250]

My shave stick is definitely coming along on my next vacation. Hopefully I don't forget my brush like I did on my last trip :mad:

[Kairtane]

Most excellent! I've wondered how the stick works. Now I've got to get one, two or three. Where do you suggest I look for a good shave stick?

Saint Charles Shave (http://www.saintcharlesshave.com/soap.asp) has several different sticks available.

Shaving Essentials (http://www.shavingessentials.net/shaving_soaps.html) has D.R. Harris, Ogalla Bay Rum and Speick sticks.

[Evan]

Thanks for the info. My favorite soap is a stick, and I've been using it wrong all this time. Always thought there must be a better way!

[jakko]

Joel,

Most excellent! I've wondered how the stick works. Now I've got to get one, two or three. Where do you suggest I look for a good shave stick?

Thanks again,

Bill

There's always the tabac stick :w00t:

[SRock]

Joel, thanks for another great tutorial!

[Evan]

I'm pretty new to DE shaving, bu I've used a Speick stick with a brush for years and really like it. A lot of shaving products, especially creams, make my slightly oily skin feel greasy after shaving. This one seems just right for me. Plus I like that it contains "all natural" ingredients and is inexpensive considering how long it lasts.

[theologist]

Over here in Oz we have Mennum/Palmolive shave sticks in every supermarket; they're apparently very popular, even though they are never advertised. I must confess that for a good number of years (before I discovered better products) I used to just break them in half and use in a mug as shaving soap. Not the intention, I know, but it worked OK...

[highball]

I just got my order of Ogallala Bay Rum shaving sticks from Shaving Essentials. Thanks for the tips

[GreatDane]

I really wish I could find cool stuff like this locally. :sad::sad::sad:

[dpm802]

My shave stick is definitely coming along on my next vacation. Hopefully I don't forget my brush like I did on my last trip :mad:

You don't even need a brush ... I use my Ogallala Bay Rum stick once a week or so, and rub up a nice lather with my hand. I get faster, better results than any brush I've tried, plus it saves a lot of clean-up time.

One thing about shave sticks I don't think has been mentioned ... a little bit goes a long, long way. Just one or two swipes of wet stick across each quadrant of the wet face will produce more than enough lather for several passes.

[charliebpdx]

Thanks for the tutorial. It was helpful.

[Leon]

The tallow-based sticks (Erasmic, Palmolive, Boots,
Arko, La Toja, etc...) are harder tha the QED sticks (which are glycerine-based) and last a very long time - great bargains - especially if you can get them locally.

I only have used the La Toja shave stick and I have achieve great results.
What kind of brush do you usually use with the shave stick? Or any kind of hair will do the trick?

[Masterofsparks]

Thanks for the tutorial! I was just wondering how to use a shave stick.....looked like I should use it for deodorant!

[Miles]

Good stuff! Thanks for the helpful demonstration. I too was wondering what the stick was all about.

[Obsessed]

This is indeed a helpful tutorial, as I've been meaning to say for a while. Thanks!

[Ru4scuba?]

I just ordered my Irisch Moos...glad to know how to use it now!

[bluepunk18]

Thanks for the great info Joel! I look forward to finding a few sticks to try for my next trip!:biggrin:

[Ru4scuba?]

The nice thing about this website is that this was originally posted in 2005. Yet here we are still learning from the info!

[beyboo]

Excellent tutorial and excellent timing for me !!

Today I just bought my first ever shave stick - A tabac and was really wondering how to get it working... This is really going to help me save moments of sheer agony and frustration !!

[stingray]

Ya this is great. I travel alot and always ended taking the crappy MachIII. Never thought of using the shaving stick while on the road.

Great idea for the traveler....

Thanks for the tutorial!

[Paul10]

Now, for the second pass....you think you have enough on your brush or will you go through the same routine over again?

[Goldtwins]

I just came to this section of the forums to ask such a question. I love this place. Now I need to go find one or two.

[Evbo]

Now I need to go find one or two.

That's all? :eek::biggrin:

[Goldtwins]

That's all? :eek::biggrin:
:biggrin: My wife sees what I type sometimes. I'm sure if it is like everything else I get into there will be sticks all over the place.

[elzorro]

thanks!

[TOB9595]

Another great pic tutorial
Thank you
Tom

[Koss]

Awesome! Now I know how to use my ARKO when it comes in

[barbershaveuk]

Oh dear, till I read this tutorial, I now realise that I had been using them completely the wrong way. I thought you lathered the stick with the brush not as shown in the tutorial. Time for another go correctly this time!
Thanks for enlightening me!

[newtowetshaving]

how long do one of these sticks last?

[gaj90027]

Great time to revive this thread as I have just been drooling over some SCS shave sticks today and wondering how the heck do you use a shave stick.

Thanks again B&B! :biggrin:

[heirkb]

Shavesticks are wonderful! I started in my earlier newb days as a cream and mid sized brush guy. Then I got into small brushes and soaps, but still bowl lather. Now I exclusively face lather, mostly use soaps, and am planning a big shavestick purchase.
Great job Joel! Better pictures than I could have taken while lathering

[Manos]

This is exactly the information I was seeking. It was not obvious to me how to use these mysterious deodorant-like sticks. Thank you, Joel.

[SpyvSpy]

Very good step by step. Just what I needed thanks Joel.

[blackbeard360]

Very helpful, thanks!

[gaj90027]

I finally pulled the trigger and ordered a shave stick from SCS (Bay Rum with a Twist). Had my first shave with it tonight and I'm kind of confused as well. First pass was great but I had to keep rubbing the stick on my face between passes and creating lather from scratch. Did I do something wrong?

This shave stick smelled wonderful and the lather was superb I just think my shave stick method could use some help :biggrin:


Now, for the second pass....you think you have enough on your brush or will you go through the same routine over again?

[Solemnsaint]

I'm glad that this post is still around because I didn't understand shave sticks and a nice B&B member linked me to this string. Thanks Joel.
-Mike

[Wil Dorenbos]

Guess I must be the only person who likes to dip the end of the stick in water before using it.

No, me too

[insomniac]

I just used my first shaving stick today - Valobra.

Very nice! I did wet the tip a bit, and had plenty of lather for three passes.

Thanks :001_smile

[metzmo]

I have used the SCS sticks with and without a brush. If you are using a brush it is likely that you will need an additional application of the stick to keep the lather thick enough for your taste. Remember that you can't keep thinning out the original application and keep the same result. If you apply the stick directly to the face and work it in by hand you will, of course, have to start from scratch for each pass since you will not have any lather retention in a brush. Sorry I have been away so long.

[wildwing9825]

Hey Joel,

Thanks for the tutorial. I just tried my first shave stick (Arko) using this method and it worked like a charm!

Enjoy!
~Ben

[quickie-cookie]

A german shaving-community asked Colgate-Palmolive how to go with the stick. They said, rubbing around on the face with the stick and than lather is the official way.

[fuelingthefires]

That's pretty neat.
Shave sticks seem like they would be perfect for travel. Easy to carry and no big mess in your dop kit. Plus, on the last trip I took, I figured I would just lather in hotel coffee mugs, but they ended up being these strange cone shaped things that just wouldn't get any lather going. I wasted a bit of soap and had to face lather anyway.

[GarageBoy]

That "thin" looking lather on joel's face is all it takes? I pay more attention to lathering techniques

[jrgreen]

Just a short note on travel. I just got some Arko sticks to try. I wanted to get the stick into a plastic container instead of the paper wrap it came in. Took an empty deodorant container (Mennan) and filled it with Arko shave stick. I first warmed the stick slightly with 15 sec. in the microwave. That softened it without melting. Then I sliced off chunks and packed them into the Mennon container using my fingers. Once it hardened, I twisted the bottom screw and found it went up and down fine. Used it on the face this afternoon and got a good shave although the lather was thinner than I was used to. Will need to work on that. Anyway, the deodorant case provides a good container. I just thought I'd pass it on.

[mike72]

thanks joel i was curious about how to use one. :thumbup:

[soapbuddy]

I missed this tut, thanks!

[The Antipodes]

I just bought a stick a few days ago and wondered how I should use it. What I did so far was trying to get the soap on the brush (like with a puck) and then swirl in a cup. That works as well, but it's quite hard to get enough soap on the brush. It may be obvious now that I'm a newbie :mellow:

I'll try your technique tomorrow. Can't wait...

[SjhC]

I'll have a go this weekend when the kids are still in bed.
All the best,
Scott
(SjhC)

[C.Morgan]

I love shave sticks because there the easiest thing to use in the shower lol.Ive got a few, dr harris marlbourgh not to keen on the scent but i get great lather and great shaves.Oggalla bay rum with sandalwood the lather is great but it leaves a little rash sometimes but the smell is awsome.Palmolive shave stick is just fantastic.Erasmic not to keen on this,the lather is really frothy if you know what i mean.Got a boots shave stick aswell yet to try it out but my barber uses the soap bowl and its always a good shave,plus it smells great.I bought a tabac shave stick a while ago to try it out and insantly hated it......with a passion lol.I asked my 92 year old grandad if he had ever heard of tabac and he said no but as soon as he saw it he just about took my hand off taking it from me saying "ive only ever seen this sold in germany" lol.My friend is coming over from utrecht to visit this weekend to visit so ive asked him to bring a de vergulde hand shave stick>

[Savor the Stick]

Good information here. thanks for the Tutorial.:001_smile

[Grumpy Old Git]

I'm going to have to get a stick - just to try this out...

[brg]

Thanks for all the information, I started using a shaving stick recently applying this technique and all I can say is: success! Only two shaves so far, but the results were pretty good.

The only thing I noticed is that I got bits of solid soap stuck under the blade and under the guard after the first pass (WTG). Maybe it is too much soap or too little water? I did notice that my lather is thicker than the one in the pictures.

[Dave Deluxe]

Thanks for the demo on using a "shaving stick". I was one of the ones who didn't understand how they were used & now I know.

This looks like the perfect solution for shaving while traveling.

Thanks again,

DD

[ferroburak]

They work better with hot water this way.

[Dib]

I never new. thanks

[Omnichron]

well done!:thumbup:

[Jaymo]

Great tutorial. I use Arko shave sticks as well as VdH shave soap pucks. I dip the end of the stick in hot water since Arko is a little hard for a shave stick. I then swirl my wet brush around in a tub of Wal-Mart brand Noxzema facial cleansing cream. Then I face lather after rubbing the stick around on my face and rewetting the tip as needed. I get a thick, rich, foamy, cooling lather akin to superlather. I rub the stick enough on my face to get 2-3 good applications of lather built up in my brush.
I sometimes even add 3 drops of liquid glycerin to the tip of my brush after applying the Noxzema cream. This gives me an even better lather, that doesn't dry out.

[dpm802]

I've been collecting shave sticks for about a year. I have SIM, La Toja, Arko, Erasmic, Palmolive, Ogallala Bay Rum, and most recently scored a Speick.

Believe it or not, most of them are unused, because I had so many other soaps and creams at my disposal.

I started using the Speick stick last week. I had to try it because none of the other soaps are quite like it, and I've been reading so many good reviews. Now, I see those reviews are well deserved.

I do have a question, though ... how do you store the stick in between uses? I've been putting the Spieck stick back in the box, and I only unwrapped about an inch of the tin-foil it came in ... but this seems kind of messy, and a lot of times it gets stuck to the inside of the box.

Is there a better method? My LaToja sticks came with their own little plastic container, and of course the Ogallala Bay Rum is in a twist-up tube. But nothing like that for the other brands.

So how do you store a Spieck stick?

I've been thinking about getting a prescription bottle from the pharmacy ... or is there a better method? Or maybe some product that will fit it perfectly?

[jamesdr]

Very Helpful

Thanks

[Vinlander]

Thank you for the shaving stick tutorial. I was in the grocery store yesterday and found a Valobra shaving stick, which I purchased based on the hope that a post on B&B would give me some advice. I wasn't disappointed!

I've decided that the shaving stick isn't really my cup of tea - I don't much care for the sensation of rubbing it on my face (even with both the stick and my face quite wet). But it does make a lot of lather, using just a little product, and it is convenient, so this will go into my travel bag. The fact that the stick is just 2 oz. means I should be able to include it with my other carry-on items.

[DrumrMan]

Finally, there are lots of products that can be used a la shave stick - for example, I generally use my Conck pucks this way - just pop them out of the tub, rub them on my face and voila - they work very well this way, as to the trial pucks of soap from TGQ.

I'm a big fan of the shave sticks - use them for travel and at least a couple of times during the week.

+1 Great point! :thumbup1:

[BladeDE40]

Good tutorial...very informative...thank you!

[Rivguy]

Excellent tutorial...makes the process very clear. I have never tried a shaving stick in all my years of wet shaving but I may have to change that. I can see where they would be good for travel. Hmmm more goodies. :tongue_sm

Happy shaving,

Doug

[mboschm]

I know it must work well, but still, it troubles me that it is SO thin.

[dklaiman]

I've been collecting shave sticks for about a year. I have SIM, La Toja, Arko, Erasmic, Palmolive, Ogallala Bay Rum, and most recently scored a Speick.

Believe it or not, most of them are unused, because I had so many other soaps and creams at my disposal.

I started using the Speick stick last week. I had to try it because none of the other soaps are quite like it, and I've been reading so many good reviews. Now, I see those reviews are well deserved.

I do have a question, though ... how do you store the stick in between uses? I've been putting the Spieck stick back in the box, and I only unwrapped about an inch of the tin-foil it came in ... but this seems kind of messy, and a lot of times it gets stuck to the inside of the box.

Is there a better method? My LaToja sticks came with their own little plastic container, and of course the Ogallala Bay Rum is in a twist-up tube. But nothing like that for the other brands.

So how do you store a Spieck stick?

I've been thinking about getting a prescription bottle from the pharmacy ... or is there a better method? Or maybe some product that will fit it perfectly?

I was wondering about this, too. I received 2 shave sticks as a gift and used one for the first time today. I used QED's bathtub gin because it came in a plastic tube rather than the Speick that came in foil. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

-Dave

[Luc]

To store the stick you could:


Leave it as is
Place it in a tube or container (it doesn't need to have the same shape of the stick, you will just loose room)
Find a twist-up tube such as the Mama Bear/QED twist-up container.
Find a big glue stick twist up container and transfer the stick in that empty container (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=2243713#post2243713).

[Ruru]

I have used the SCS sticks with and without a brush. If you are using a brush it is likely that you will need an additional application of the stick to keep the lather thick enough for your taste. Remember that you can't keep thinning out the original application and keep the same result. If you apply the stick directly to the face and work it in by hand you will, of course, have to start from scratch for each pass since you will not have any lather retention in a brush. Sorry I have been away so long.

So if we want a good lather for each pass, then we can't rely on the original lather on the brush, particularly if you want to do a 4 pass shave.

Is there a general rule to how many passes between each stick application and face lather, or is it completely up the shaver? Just wondering how the other chaps on the forums feel about it...

[Luc]

So if we want a good lather for each pass, then we can't rely on the original lather on the brush, particularly if you want to do a 4 pass shave.

Is there a general rule to how many passes between each stick application and face lather, or is it completely up the shaver? Just wondering how the other chaps on the forums feel about it...

I get the same amount of lather out of the shave stick than any other shaving soap or shaving cream that I use. Enough for 4 passes if required.

[LuckyR]

Bump**********

[atison]

I have a few shave sticks.

First is my Col Conk Bay Rum I melted and poured into an empty deodorant stick. Works great, but a little messy. Seems to require more soap on my face than others.

Second is an Ogallala Bay Rum I melted into a WCS stick container. Works great and better form factor than the deodorant DIY job.

Third is another WCS stick container but with MWF grated and pressed into it (soaked the container in hot water for a bit too to soften it for final pressing). For me, MWF works much better as a stick then swirling my brush on the cake of soap. It suprisingly requires very little visible soap on your face to produce 3+ passes of lather versus the bowl which I feel I never get enough product out.

Last is the Palmolive stick (Euro). This little champ is a lather bomb. Every time I use it I try to apply less and less soap when rubbing it on. And every time I wind up with gobs of slippery goodness. It is also probably the least messy of the bunch too, surprisingly, since it is not in any case. I just plop it into a glad plastic bowl when done.


For me, the stick is a great application as I face lather exclusively and I quite enjoy the feeling of applying it. It also allows me to work the soap on my face with just enough moisture as I get the best lather results when I work the soap for a bit before adding any water.

[Klopstick]

I do have a question, though ... how do you store the stick in between uses? ...
I've been thinking about getting a prescription bottle from the pharmacy ... or is there a better method? Or maybe some product that will fit it perfectly?

Yes, a prescription bottle is the way to go for this. Cheap and easy and works perfectly. Take your stick(s) with you to the pharmacy and you'll probably get the bottles without a fuss. I cut the label off my Speick box and taped it onto the bottle. Didn't cut airholes and haven't had a problem with the sticks. If it was for a brush, then you'd want some holes in the lid!

[bohemondus]

Good tutorial. Thank's

[RiddlerJim]

I kinda assumed that this was how you used a shave stick, but its great to see someone showing how. I got a Tabac shave stick for travel with my first 'proper shaving kit' purchase, which I haven't tried yet (being merely two shaves in) but I think tonight might be the night!!

[saliavin]

Thanks, I just got a Speick shave stick, and was wondering how to do it the right way the first time.:thumbup:

[emmetgilgunn]

great little bit of info there. thanks :thumbup1:

[Flavio]

10 +++ !!! Bravi !!

:thumbup:

[sunbird]

Awesome tutorial!

Now I know how to use my ARKO, Irish Moos, European Palmolive and Velobra sticks when they arrive.

Thanks

[Montecristo #2]

Joel has always been ahead of his time. Shave sticks are so hot right now.:thumbup1:

[forcemajeure]

Very interesting, thank you for sharing this, Marco.
Will try it one of these days.

[joel]

Joel has always been ahead of his time. Shave sticks are so hot right now.:thumbup1:

To think, this was done SIX years ago :scared:

Seems like just yesterday.

[Pjotr]

Joel has always been ahead of his time. Shave sticks are so hot right now.:thumbup1:

Except sticks ahave been around for donkey's years. Maybe not in the States but they're what a lot of people use day to day in Europe.

[Pjotr]

Very interesting, thank you for sharing this, Marco.
Will try it one of these days.

Where did Marko come in to this? It was Joel who put the tutorial together. Should be a must see for every newbie.

[oc_in_fw]

Awesome tutorial!

Now I know how to use my ARKO, Irish Moos, European Palmolive and Velobra sticks when they arrive.

Thanks

what, no Speick?:001_smile

[PerfectAngle]

Googled "shave stick how to use" and top of the list brings me right back here.

B&B is all over this shaving thing. Very cool.:thumbup1:

[RogerStenning]

Nice to know I've been doing it right these last few years :) Thanks :)

+1 (or it would be, if there were a rep system in place here!)

[Sledgehammer39]

Great tutorial Joel, well done sir. :thumbup1:

[Naboo32]

Actually, this post is the first thing that comes up when you Google search, 'How to use a shave stick', so it's perhaps not surprising that it has been running for 6 years now :001_tongu.

Anyway, thanks Joel! I have just bought a Palmolive shave stick to take on holiday with me and now I know what to do with it :001_tt2:.

[Teapot]

I'm liking the look of the shave sticks....

[JBagKY]

I used a shave stick for the first time today. I probably should have looked at this before hand, but common sense told me this was the way. Thankfully, I am confirmed in my use and will definitely try again. Its a pretty quick way to get started and probably does a lot of beard prep just by all the rubbing that you have to do.

[benito]

Just searched this out to figure out how to use my new Arko stick. Nice work and many thanks.

[alsutl]

There is nice video on different methods of lathering including shave stick on this site:http://vintagescent.com/

[salazch12]

After two passes I run out of lather. Will the stick still put enough soap on my face to related after two passes?

[VT_Hokie]

You're not loading enough soap


After two passes I run out of lather. Will the stick still put enough soap on my face to related after two passes?

[Go West Young Man]

After two passes I run out of lather. Will the stick still put enough soap on my face to related after two passes?


Can you go back to the puck mid-shave to get more soap? Same thing on your face....

[TAP119]

Thanks for the tutorial. I would have tried to load my brush from the stick, as I'd seen a barber do in 1978 when I was in Spain, studying.

[InsecureSpike]

this is so cool, i have Tabac, Palmolive & Erasmic sticks, never used them didn't no how to be honest,
tomorrow morning i'm gonna break-out the Tabac,
thanks guy's!!

oh, how should the stick be dried after use?

thanks

[mharris127]

You're not loading enough soap

I think part of the equation is in the brush that you use as well as the soap. I usually have to go back to the face with my stick for multiple passes, sometimes I have enough soap in my brush for the second but seldom for the third with a stick (and I load the soap to my face quite heavily). If you have to reload for subsequent passes it isn't a big deal and doesn't take a lot of time -- better to reload than have crappy lather and cut your face up!

[salazch12]

this is so cool, i have Tabac, Palmolive & Erasmic sticks, never used them didn't no how to be honest,
tomorrow morning i'm gonna break-out the Tabac,
thanks guy's!!

oh, how should the stick be dried after use?

thanks
Just let the stick dry in the open air. I've never had any problems screwing the cap back on.

[InsecureSpike]

cool thank you mate, just had the shave wow very nice the Tabac stick is... thanks

[Go West Young Man]

Is it just me, or have the pictures from the original post all disappeared?

[finotti]

Is it just me, or have the pictures from the original post all disappeared?

FWIW, I can't see them either...

[Go West Young Man]

Problem solved, thanks guys!

[goatee]

i KNEW i was doing something wrong!!!!! "take the cap OFF"..:lol: sorry, i could not resist.
the truth is i have never used a stick so,, i had no idea.

[mharris127]

Gents,
It has come to my attention that many individuals are not familiar with shave sticks and their use - so here is a picture laden tutorial!
Enjoy!

Step One - Twist off the lid :P
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010003.JPG
The Stick to be used in this tutorial is a QED Essentials Peppermint Shave Stick... this sucker has a GREAT cooling effect, and a VERY strong peppermint scent.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010004.JPG
Next get some nice hot water running.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010005.JPG
Cup some of the water with your hands and splash your face, and really try to get as much water as possible on your face. (Sorry for the non-descriptive pic - trying to cup water and take a pic on my own was a bit difficult!)

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/face.JPG
Once your face is properly moistened - begin rubbing the stick around your face with light pressure.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010010.JPG
As you begin rubbing around your beard area - you will notice some VERY light bubbling/lather beginning to form.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010011.JPG
Here is a shot of what it will look like.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010012.JPG
Next take your soaking wet brush - and give it about one shake.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010013.JPG
After one or two twists you can see lather begin in its infancy.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010016.JPG
With just a few more swirls with the big Shavemac XXL Silvertip you can see this lather start to come up.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010017.JPG
In seconds the brush is filled with lather.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010019.JPG
You can see wonderful shave-worthy lather is a cinch to make.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010020.JPG
Brush motion.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010021.JPG
Lather full brush.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010022.JPG
Brush.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shavestick/P1010023.JPG
Shavin' time!

If you have any questions - feel free to fire away!

One thing to add to this tutorial. With a tallow stick such as Palmolive it is helpful to soak the tip of the stick in water for 10-20 minutes before attempting to apply to the face. I find if I want enough soap to create that slick surface we all want and to have at it for more than one pass I need the extra soap on my face before attempting to lather. With melt and pour sticks I just reapply and re-lather after each pass as they aren't as hard and therefore apply easier to just a wet face than tallow sticks do. Of course I like at least double the thickness of lather on my face before I start shaving, some may say that is wasteful but I think my shaves are smoother and less nick-prone with the additional lather.