Taking control, so here's the plan.

[brothers]

Just to sort out the details so far:

The list of (currently known) American shaving creams I have compiled includes:

Nancy Boy
The Shave Den
St. Charles Shave
The Art of Shaving
Kiss my Face
Tom's of Maine

From what I have read in everyone's comments, and from reading websites of all of the above, what we have so far tells me that anyone who hasn't at least tried all of the above is certainly missing the big picture.

Speaking just for myself, I must say that something must change in my purchasing practices, in support of my fun and necessary wet-shaving activities. I've haphazardly acquired some stuff based on knee-jerk reactions and biased and unbiased reports I've read on the internet shaving forums.

I am working to narrow down the number of shaving products I use. Nobody needs or wants "everything". I do know that I personally prefer and enjoy shaving with creams and soft soaps more than I do the hard soaps. I will certainly tolerate them, however, due to the fact that some of the best in the world only come in a hard soap.

My variety at the present time is lacking in two major areas: 1) high end English/Scottish products, and 2) to my embarrassment, American products. (exception: Tom's. I tried it, enjoyed it, eliminated it from my repertoire.)

Right now I've narrowed my active preferred product rotation down to just 7 products, mostly creams. I've got to concentrate on using these 7 exclusively, while I focus and budget my future acquisitions (as replacements as the current ones are used up) to target between 3 and 6 additional products, specifically 1 or 2 American products, 1, maybe 2 "big-name" English/Scottish products, and 1 or possibly 2 "other origin" (Italy, India, Turkey, or Germany) products.

My new acquisitions will be deliberative and "serially" acquired (one at a time, as a replacement), as opposed to "mass" scattered random impulsive purchases like it has been up until now

As I transition into that stage, I will absolutely stop the madness of purchasing any new products with two exceptions: I either run out/use up/or throw away one of my approved products, or, something new, previously unknown, or spectacularly different appears on the market.

Otherwise you'll see me desperately posting in the buy/sell/trade catagory that I've (my wife, really) cleaned out my closet to make room for more stuff, and am offering up a myriad of partially used impulsively acquired odds and ends at give-away prices.

[ChemErik]

I like the idea of a reasonable supply and only buy more as items are used up. Once I've tried enough to have a good idea what I like, I think I'll follow suit.

Also, your list is missing The Shave Den cream. I know it's smaller production so I don't know if that was intentional or not - just an FYI.

[brothers]

I think I've got the Shave Den listed right after Nancy Boy. They have one of the most comprehensive websites.

[Baloosh]

The Gentlemen's Quarter:
http://www.thegentlemensquarter.com/

My Time Bath & Body:
http://www.mytimebathandbody.com/

There's two more for your list. I'm sure I'm missing some others as well.

[notthesharpest]

Just to sort out the details so far:

The list of (currently known) American shaving creams I have compiled includes:

Nancy Boy
The Shave Den
St. Charles Shave
The Art of Shaving
Kiss my Face
Tom's of Maine

From what I have read in everyone's comments, and from reading websites of all of the above, what we have so far tells me that anyone who hasn't at least tried all of the above is certainly missing the big picture.

No, he just hasn’t tried everything. But if you want to try everything, and you have the money, why not?

[drmoss_ca]

Gary,
I don't understand from the original post in what sense you are 'taking control.' Are you wanting to restrict yourself to US-made creams? It's your party and I have no objection if that is the case, but I could both understand and sympathise better if you were to say 'I want only the best/US-made/English/Scottish/Italian/French/Canadian/Uzbekistani/cheapest/name-your-criterion-here creams in future.'
There are many good sources of shaving creams, and almost any restriction will still allow for a good choice (excepting 'Usbekistani' at the present state of my knowledge). But I'm not sure what your restriction is, and thus cannot comment sensibly.
If this is it:

My variety at the present time is lacking in two major areas: 1) high end English/Scottish products, and 2) to my embarrassment, American products. (exception: Tom's. I tried it, enjoyed it, eliminated it from my repertoire.)

then tell us what you have and we will spend your money gladly!

Chris

[loueedacat1]

Just to sort out the details so far:

The list of (currently known) American shaving creams I have compiled includes:

Nancy Boy
The Shave Den
St. Charles Shave
The Art of Shaving
Kiss my Face
Tom's of Maine

From what I have read in everyone's comments, and from reading websites of all of the above, what we have so far tells me that anyone who hasn't at least tried all of the above is certainly missing the big picture.

My friend, the entire point of this journey is that we are ALL missing the big picture, and therefore must keep trying EVERYTHING!

Speaking just for myself, I must say that something must change in my purchasing practices, in support of my fun and necessary wet-shaving activities. I've haphazardly acquired some stuff based on knee-jerk reactions and biased and unbiased reports I've read on the internet shaving forums.

I'm still waiting for what the issue is here....

I am working to narrow down the number of shaving products I use.

Heresy!

Nobody needs or wants "everything".

I do!

I do know that I personally prefer and enjoy shaving with creams and soft soaps more than I do the hard soaps. I will certainly tolerate them, however, due to the fact that some of the best in the world only come in a hard soap.

My variety at the present time is lacking in two major areas: 1) high end English/Scottish products, and 2) to my embarrassment, American products. (exception: Tom's. I tried it, enjoyed it, eliminated it from my repertoire.)

Right now I've narrowed my active preferred product rotation down to just 7 products, mostly creams. I've got to concentrate on using these 7 exclusively, while I focus and budget my future acquisitions (as replacements as the current ones are used up) to target between 3 and 6 additional products, specifically 1 or 2 American products, 1, maybe 2 "big-name" English/Scottish products, and 1 or possibly 2 "other origin" (Italy, India, Turkey, or Germany) products.

My new acquisitions will be deliberative and "serially" acquired (one at a time, as a replacement), as opposed to "mass" scattered random impulsive purchases like it has been up until now

As I transition into that stage, I will absolutely stop the madness of purchasing any new products with two exceptions: I either run out/use up/or throw away one of my approved products, or, something new, previously unknown, or spectacularly different appears on the market.

Yeah right!

Otherwise you'll see me desperately posting in the buy/sell/trade catagory that I've (my wife, really) cleaned out my closet to make room for more stuff, and am offering up a myriad of partially used impulsively acquired odds and ends at give-away prices.

[brothers]

The only thing I'm even halfway equipped to try to control is myself, at least everybody else sort of expects most adults to control themselves to some degree. I'm gallantly going to try to control my impulse to have every shaving product that anybody else even halfway acknowleges. It's SCAD, I believe is the proper medical term.

I'm just declaring my weakness and my awareness of my weakness, and my embarrassing admission that while I was in the fiery glow of my acquisition madness, I didn't purchase any of the products from any of the most prominently noted manufacturers that I have listed. I hovered and lurked on the outskirts of convention to some degree. I got the Tabac, the Bigelow, Arko, Musgo, Williams, VDH, and a couple of others, but never actually plunged off and got the ones that I have now publicly stated that I shall get, as specified when I say I'm going to use what I do have, and as they fall by the wayside, I'm going to research and find the best (in MY opinion, for me to use and enjoy) of the American/English/Scottish/etc. in the limited quantities that I have stated, for a total of between 3 and absolutely less than 6.

That's my declaration of my plan to exert control over my bio/psycho addiction to "the hunt" for the elusive/non-existent golden fleece of the shaving universe. Sorry for your confusion. I'm not confused in the slightest. Crazy, yes, confused, never! Or is it the other way around? Best Regards,

[loueedacat1]

You should get one or two things you really want, and don't waste money buying things that people say are "good for the price." ie buy two great soaps/creams rather than 10 ok soaps/creams, which will cost more in the end.

[loueedacat1]

You should get one or two things you really want, and don't waste money buying things that people say are "good for the price." ie buy two great soaps/creams rather than 10 ok soaps/creams, which will cost more in the end.

If I was going to get just two shaving creams, having tried many more, I'd go with [and both happen to be ok on price]:

1. Nancy Boy Signature
2. JMFraser (regular, not the polar ice special)

And for soaps I'd get [much harder for me to narrow to two]:

1. DRH Arlington
2. Valobra Almond [which I consider a soap]

[ScottS]

Honestly, I've never been attracted to artisan products. People talk about how nice they shave, and how good they smell, but I've never been tempted to try them. They might be the best products in the world, for I know, but I've never had the urge to delve into that area. Obviously, given this, I have no basis to comment on any of their qualities.

With respect to the rest of the list, some I've tried, and some I haven't, and there are dozens of similar products that might as well be on that list. At some point, though, you just stop casting a wide net and home in on a few very good products that you enjoy using. I'd say for about a year or so, I haven't been real motivated to go out and try something new. If I do, it would probably be to see if something that becomes available locally in big market stores suits my needs, because availability and price have risen on my list of needs and wants. Real Shaving was my last such venture.

[GA Russell]

I sense that the problem with the various ADs is the speed with which one acquires the products. Compared to most here, I'm taking it slow.

In each category of razor, brush, blade and soap/cream, I have found at least one product that is satisfactory. So I continue to occasionally buy more to see what is available, moving up the ladder. But I am content with the knowledge that if I never try something new again, I will enjoy my shaves with what I have now.

That wasn't true my first month of DE wetshaving. But time will pass regardless, and there is no need to be in a hurry to find the perfect shave.