is anyone else becoming a minimalist?

**Dave-itt** · 12-12-2008, 05:59 PM

Lately I have been relegating my longer grooming routine (including my beloved straights) to sunday afternoons (if that). Now i am becoming more minimalist, quick and more attracted to cheaper (but quality) scents like Pinaud through the week.

Typical routine:

Towel dry hair, dab of American Crew Forming Creme

Proraso Soap with Omega Travel badger

Sticky with Feather, 1 main pass with the grain, brief touch ups across where needed

Proraso P&P on top of which (and at the back and sides of neck) Pinaud Bay Rum

I can do all of this really quickly and it seems to be my tired response to a long commute. I do love a long and elaborate Trumpers experience, but at the moment i find the cheapness, quickness and quality for money afforded by this simple set-up a pleasure in itself.

Is anyone else appreciating a simple, cheapish set up?

I really love the Pinaud line.

**OldSaw** · 12-12-2008, 06:29 PM

Yep.

**Antique Hoosier** · 12-12-2008, 06:34 PM

I have attempted it on a couple of occassions. Have never been able to pull it off. Everytime I think I'm going to stick to a minimal setup, I see something I just HAVE to have.

**prewt** · 12-12-2008, 06:39 PM

I can thin it down but there is a lot I still want to try. I think I could sell my Trumper coconut SC.

**Mr. Igg** · 12-12-2008, 07:05 PM

Heading in that direction.

**Limey** · 12-12-2008, 07:12 PM

I like the idea but momentum is a hard thing to change.

**Kiel** · 12-12-2008, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by Dave-itt

Lately I have been relegating my longer grooming routine (including my beloved straights) to sunday afternoons (if that). Now i am becoming more minimalist, quick and more attracted to cheaper (but quality) scents like Pinaud through the week.

Typical routine:

Towel dry hair, dab of American Crew Forming Creme

Proraso Soap with Omega Travel badger

Sticky with Feather, 1 main pass with the grain, brief touch ups across where needed

Proraso P&P on top of which (and at the back and sides of neck) Pinaud Bay Rum

I can do all of this really quickly and it seems to be my tired response to a long commute. I do love a long and elaborate Trumpers experience, but at the moment i find the cheapness, quickness and quality for money afforded by this simple set-up a pleasure in itself.

Is anyone else appreciating a simple, cheapish set up?

I really love the Pinaud line.

I'm not claiming to be a shaving champion, but I personally believe the idea of this entire community is having your most enjoyable shave, no matter how much that may differ.

And it seems like you're enjoying yourself, so IF you're hating your minimalism, don't be!

To answer your question though, I did used to enjoy the fastest shave possible not caring about how much stubble was left over, but I've felt BBS so now I'm screwed to a long time of perfection :)

**The Seeker** · 12-13-2008, 02:53 AM

I've been seriously thinking of cutting down to one soap and one cream - Tabac and Palmolive Classic (European version) respectively. This is because they both outperform all others I've tried. I already only use one razor/blade/brush so that's sorted.

**TSWebster** · 12-13-2008, 02:57 AM

I always have the same shave during the week, I mix it up on Sundays

Most Days:

Proraso Pre Shave
Tabac Soap
Simpson Chubby 1 in Best
Merkur 38c with Gillette Swede
Alum Block
Spiek Splash

**spoon** · 12-13-2008, 03:10 AM

im using the same combination since i found it works for me, proraso cream + omega + merkur classic + derby + proraso balm + chanel (well the last part might change ;) ), but I will rather get up earlier then try to speed things up. I do consider my self a minimalist, in terms of : I do not collect stuff. I see the pleasure in the actuall process, in perfecting my skill rather then in collecting the equipement.

**johnniegold** · 12-13-2008, 04:15 AM

Everything in my routine changes daily with the exception of the following:

Razor/Blade - every 3 days.

Shaving soap - I am currently using Mitchell's Wool Fat soap. Over the last several months, I have been finding a particular soap and using it exclusively for several weeks at a time.

Witch Hazel - Thayer's Lavender is the one component of my shave routine that never changes.

That's about how minimalistic I get. Other than what I've stated above, the aftershave and cologne gets switched up daily.

As for dumping everything in favor of one set-up, I don't think I could nor care too. It's the selection process that is part of the fun for me.

**Etoyoc_Rebmos** · 12-13-2008, 04:31 AM

I plan on eventually getting to that point. But there are so many things that I haven't tried yet that I don't know when or if I will get there.

Actually, with only 16 razors, three brushes, 150 blades, 10 different soaps and 2 creams, don't I already qualify as a minimalist around here?

**skassam** · 12-13-2008, 04:50 AM

I think my routine is pretty simple:
1. Shower
2. Proraso Pre/post
3. Feather Nanka
4. 39c (Derby/Astra/Lord/Personna)
5. Alum/Rinse
6. Proraso Pre/Post

**Lynchmeister** · 12-13-2008, 05:08 AM

I enjoy the minimalism of having only one razor, brush, and blade, but to balance that, I thrive on my large cream/soap/aftershave/fragrance collections.

**ateace** · 12-13-2008, 07:06 AM

My daily setup is pretty simple, despite the major backlog of products.

I'm a Merkur fan, sticking to the fixed head models.
Blade is Gillette 7 O'Clock Russian yellow for now.

Currently, I'm working through a bottle of Shave Secret and a tub of Molle.
Finish with Nivea Extra Soothing Balm. Great shaves.

**RoyalKooparillo** · 12-13-2008, 10:19 AM

I'm not a minimalist, by any stretch of the imagination...but I have been paring down the operation lately. Getting rid of non-essentials and stuff that I don't really use. It's hard letting some things go, though.

**Ferannia** · 12-13-2008, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by skassam

I think my routine is pretty simple:
1. Shower
2. Proraso Pre/post
3. Feather Nanka
4. 39c (Derby/Astra/Lord/Personna)
5. Alum/Rinse
6. Proraso Pre/Post

My routine is
1 shower, or Williams' illegaly cheap Lectric-Shave for softening,
2 Omega boar brush,
3 VDH Select or Williams' soap,
4 Merkur 23C & Personna red pack,
5 Skin Bracer AS or Brut ASB.

**yomuppet** · 12-13-2008, 06:26 PM

Yes.

J

**metzmo** · 12-13-2008, 06:39 PM

I find that half of the joy of the shave process is the variety. Every night I pick out my next mornings grouping. On weekdays when I don't expect to impress I may go with a simple KMF cream and bargain balm/aftershave. On weekends I take more time and adjust my fragrances to the people I plan on being with and the type of occasion. My fiancee is particularly fond of Nautica Voyage and so if I plan on being with her most of the morning/day I apply complementary scents with my shave routine before applying the cologne. Every time I try to speed up the process I feel like I am half dressed. Sometimes it is unavoidable but I kick myself for letting it happen. Variety is the spice of life as they say.

**jpkunst** · 12-14-2008, 03:29 AM

Yes, I've settled on a fixed shaving setup of Proraso P/P, Tabac soap in bowl, Merkur HD, Gillette Platinum ("Swede"), Thayer's Witch Hazel, Body Shop Razor Relief (old formulation).

The only thing I "rotate" are my fragrances (currently I have and use Lalique Encre Noir, Guerlain Vétiver, Creed Original Vetiver, F. Malle Vétiver Extraordinaire, Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet).

Once my Razor Relief runs out I will have to find something else to take its place.