So as some of you know I'm training to be a barber. Only two weeks in, I've yet to learn how to do the shaving etc. but I've been watching lots of shaves being done by some of the best Ireland has to offer in terms of barbers, and trying to learn as much as I can that way.
As for myself, well I shave my legs with both straights and DEs and while the DEs are quicker, I get a much smoother, longer lasting shave with a straight.
I have a close friend who came to visit me this weekend (I had to move county for barbering college) and he knows I love to shave (I'm always going on about "the forum") so he said would I like to give him a shave.
Well I jumped at the chance! I was really, really nervous thought but tried to do my best.
I picked a nice badger brush and he picked out my Mama Bears Pearberry Soap from my soap and cream collection. I used my Dovo Shavette with a turkish perma-sharp blade in it.
For the prep I firstly had a look at his face to try and do a map of beard growth. I then made a quick lather and put it on his face and rubbed it into the hair and skin using my fingertips. I then took a hot towel (soak a towel, sqeeeeeeze it until lightly damp and microwave for three minutes) and wrapped it around his face correctly. I should mention I was doing all of this in my bedroom so I did the best I could. I couldn't do multiple towels etc. While the towel was on I applied light pressure to keep it in good contact with the skin and gave him a small shoulder and neck massage too.
After a minute or so I removed the towel and used it to wipe off any remaining lather. I then built a better lather (actually one of the best bowl lathers I've ever made I think... I was even surprised at that!) and put that on his face.
Then the shave.
Well I tried my best to go slowely and confidently. If anything I was definitely over-cautious. My friend gets easily irritated skin but has a very coarse hair growth and had about 4 days worth of growth at this point so it was tricky.
I just did one WTG pass and when you rubbed your hand WTG it felt smooth but was def. very rough in any other direction. My friend didn't feel his skin would be able for a second pass so I left it at that.
On the plus side though I didn't cut him at all and didn't miss any spots either so yeay!
Not BBS, not even a CCS but it was kind of ok so that'll do me for now.
I never appreciated how hard men's facial hair can be! I'm not sure I even would have been able to do a good XTG pass as it was like cutting plastic bristles sticking out of his skin.
So - who's next in the chair ?
As for myself, well I shave my legs with both straights and DEs and while the DEs are quicker, I get a much smoother, longer lasting shave with a straight.
I have a close friend who came to visit me this weekend (I had to move county for barbering college) and he knows I love to shave (I'm always going on about "the forum") so he said would I like to give him a shave.
Well I jumped at the chance! I was really, really nervous thought but tried to do my best.
I picked a nice badger brush and he picked out my Mama Bears Pearberry Soap from my soap and cream collection. I used my Dovo Shavette with a turkish perma-sharp blade in it.
For the prep I firstly had a look at his face to try and do a map of beard growth. I then made a quick lather and put it on his face and rubbed it into the hair and skin using my fingertips. I then took a hot towel (soak a towel, sqeeeeeeze it until lightly damp and microwave for three minutes) and wrapped it around his face correctly. I should mention I was doing all of this in my bedroom so I did the best I could. I couldn't do multiple towels etc. While the towel was on I applied light pressure to keep it in good contact with the skin and gave him a small shoulder and neck massage too.
After a minute or so I removed the towel and used it to wipe off any remaining lather. I then built a better lather (actually one of the best bowl lathers I've ever made I think... I was even surprised at that!) and put that on his face.
Then the shave.
Well I tried my best to go slowely and confidently. If anything I was definitely over-cautious. My friend gets easily irritated skin but has a very coarse hair growth and had about 4 days worth of growth at this point so it was tricky.
I just did one WTG pass and when you rubbed your hand WTG it felt smooth but was def. very rough in any other direction. My friend didn't feel his skin would be able for a second pass so I left it at that.
On the plus side though I didn't cut him at all and didn't miss any spots either so yeay!
Not BBS, not even a CCS but it was kind of ok so that'll do me for now.
I never appreciated how hard men's facial hair can be! I'm not sure I even would have been able to do a good XTG pass as it was like cutting plastic bristles sticking out of his skin.
So - who's next in the chair ?
Excellent report.
