Which do you use?
Have you always used one over the other?
Can you quantify any actual differences?
Do you have a particular technique? Prep etc.
Why did you change from one method to the other?
Steve
This is without a doubt a case of individual differences
@bald as , what works for one will almost certainly be different for another and/or some commonality maybe enjoyed between the parties.
I need to shave with warm/hot water and judicious use of a pre-shave soap i.e. high glycerine and lanolin, the Valobra Pre Shave soap is the one for me. Others are happy with a simple high glycerine soap, others use no pre-shave prep at all or may use oils which I have found produce too much blade skip and tend to 'cloy' in the warmer months.
My prep is a simple affair and is part of my 5.45am routine - I simply wash my face thoroughly with warm to hot water, build a simple lather with the pre shave soap and rub it onto my face, leaving it there for 2-3 minutes while I load my brush with shaving soap and make my lather. Prior to applying the shaving soap to my face for the first pass I briefly wash the pre-shave soap lather off, I feel a noticeable difference in my skin and my bristles from the combination of lanolin and glycerine.
I have tried on a few occasions shaving with cold water and my skin hates it, the absence of softening the thick bristles on my face invariably leads to irritation and a less than rewarding shave experience and the same goes for shaving without adequate pre-shave preparation. I have tried both methods in both hard and soft water (Sydney and Adelaide) in an attempt to investigate the variables a little more objectively, and have also run the experiments in both hot and cold weather at different times of the year with little difference to my skin, I need to shave with hot water and a pre-shave soap.
At the end of the day, this is undoubtedly an area that boils down to individual differences in skin type, whiskers and personal preference. Given these variables and preferences if we are honest there cannot be a 'right way' or 'wrong way' if we approach your questions with any objectivity as we all have different skin types, hair types and personal preferences.
Edit: Lanolin and Glycerine pre-shave soap, not tallow.