Getting a Good Shave

[Talltexan]

Howdy!


I am looking for a good slick soap to use. I have a very coarse bread and use a Merker 34C with Wilkinson blades from Walmart. I have the following creams:


Art of Shaving Lavender


Razorock Tabacco and Tea Tree


Razorock Boston Tea Party ( I bought this and only used once and would love to PIF it if anyone would like it please let me know)


Proraso Green (original)




What soaps can you recommend? And why soap instead of a cream? I am somewhat new to this so forgive me for asking the difference.




Also I am having a hard time getting a good smooth shave. I start off by showering then wet my face with warm water afterwards then apply either AOS Lemon Gel or AOS Sandalwood Aftershave Balm since I don't have any preshave oil. Then I use a brush and mug to generate lather. Next, I do a WTG pass then re wet my face, ATG pass and re wet my face, then diagonal from ear to jawline then the opposite way. The ATG pass. Then whatever I miss I follow up with an electric razor a Wahl 4000 with a Super Close head. Then treat with either cheap Witch Hazel or alcohol to stop bleeding. Wash with cold water then put on some original Polo (green bottle) colonge.


I am really sorry this is a double dipping questions but I really really would like some help on both a cream and technique help etc.




Best,
Jerry

 

[mharris127]

Whether to use a soap or a cream comes to personal preference. Creams are a bit easier to lather so I tend to recommend them for noobs. Try Palmolive (available at connaughtshaving.com) or Arko creams (bestshave.net), they are cheap and once you get the water ratio down they work very well. I am not impressed with TOBS cream although I have only used it a couple of times (maybe water ratio problems -- AFAIAC the jury is still out on it), my razor seems to drag on my face when I use it unlike any other cream or soap I have ever used. Soaps I recommend are Arko (smush it into a puck for best results) and Palmolive stick (not smushable). GZD is also good and smushable. Tabac lathers well but is a bit more expensive.

I would also recommend a blade sampler. I tend to go for Astra green blades but YMMV on this issue. Astras are also cheap enough where I don't really care if I only get two shaves from a blade.

EDIT: Used the TOBS again tonight. I lathered it up with an insane amount of water (what was in my soaked brush plus at least four tablespoons) and it worked much better. It didn't cause my razor to skip and drag and actually protected and cushioned my face very well. Even after washing my face with the lather I had enough for another pass (I usually make two passes plus touch-up and face washing, I could probably have used a touch less cream for my lather). I have been using the Lemon and Lime version. 10ml is enough for three to four shaves from my use, making a full 150ml tub about 50-60 shaves worth of cream. I have 10ml samples of two other varieties of TOBS, I will note if the shave is different somewhere but probably not in this thread.