Hi B&B, I just started safety razor shaving as an intro to wet shaving (i'm hoping to transition to straight in a while) anyway, i ordered everything in australia (i live here) but to cut down on costs, i ordered my shaving brush from overseas, and as of yet it hasn't arrived. I've needed to shave in the meant time, and twice i've used the new stuff. The first time i tried to hand lather a cream sample without a brush which didnt really work, and my shave wasn't incredible... good, but not amazing, i was still learning the ropes, then today i used canned shaving cream due to a lack of brush, and i think my shaving was better technique wise, but the shave was worse. I find that my face doesnt stay moist so in drier areas the shaver kind of skips across the surface because its sort of clammy, and although i shaved against the grain the shave is close but not quite BBS. So when the brush comes and i start using the soap, will the shave quality improve and will the amount of moisture increase?
Newb needs some help
- Thread starter woliaj
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As far as I was aware hand lathering meant making the lather in your hand with a brush. Since you don't have your brush yet, I'd advise you to spend extra time washing your face with lots of hot water, a shower before your shave would be even better, and use a face scrub it'll help raise the hairs on your face and soften your hairs (which is what the brush is used for). I'd also suggest looking for brushless shave cream in a squeeze tube, they aren't too hard to find and they are better for your face than the stuff that comes from a pressurized can. Also as you are new to using a DE, for the first week you should only do two passes with the grain to let your face adapt to the new method of shaving, once you've gotten that down then add in an across the grain pass and once you're used to that then go for the against the grain pass, you'll get less irritation and ingrown hairs that way.
One more thing, make sure your face is still moist when applying your lather it helps to stop it from drying out and keeps your hairs soft. If you use the right amount of water when building your lather from soap/cream it should stay sufficiently moist during the shave, but if you find it starting to dry out dip the tip of your brush in water. In the mean time just apply your cream to the different parts of your face as you go to shave them to stop it from drying.
One more thing, make sure your face is still moist when applying your lather it helps to stop it from drying out and keeps your hairs soft. If you use the right amount of water when building your lather from soap/cream it should stay sufficiently moist during the shave, but if you find it starting to dry out dip the tip of your brush in water. In the mean time just apply your cream to the different parts of your face as you go to shave them to stop it from drying.
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You could get a cheap omega boar brush at the shaver shop or look at one of the local vendors. You might be lucky and live close to one so you could go and see them (save on shipping). The Australia page in wiki should help.
The canned lather versus a shave soap or shave cream is two different world... They don't work the same and in the end, your skin might prefer one over the other. Unless your shave cream is brushless, you probably won't be able to get a good lather out of it. I did not get any great brushless products in Oz, unfortunately.
For now, I'd say that you either need a shave brush or focus on your technique with the razors, believe me, it takes weeks to get right.
The canned lather versus a shave soap or shave cream is two different world... They don't work the same and in the end, your skin might prefer one over the other. Unless your shave cream is brushless, you probably won't be able to get a good lather out of it. I did not get any great brushless products in Oz, unfortunately.
For now, I'd say that you either need a shave brush or focus on your technique with the razors, believe me, it takes weeks to get right.
It will improve, but with time. It might make a difference right away, but you are expecting way to much way to soon.
You're just starting wet shaving and expect to get to BBS already.
Also, please tell us your set up. What kind of soaps and creams do you have? What kind of razor do you own?
Do you have alum and aftershave already?
You're just starting wet shaving and expect to get to BBS already.
Also, please tell us your set up. What kind of soaps and creams do you have? What kind of razor do you own?
Do you have alum and aftershave already?
I've switched to soaps after using canned lather for 30 years. Only been about a month and a half with soap, but I had to use a bit of canned stuff the other day. It is sooooo different, real thick, and not very slick at all. Had to rinse my razor after every stroke because the Barbasol was just so thick. If I continued to use canned stuff, I think I would water it down some and try to create something that resembles a soap lather.
To answer your question about soap and shave quality - You will definitely get more moisture with a soap lather, and it would be a lighter consistency lather than the canned creams which (for me) results in a better shave when using my Edwin Jagger razor. If I was using a cartridge or disposable, I think it wouldn't make much difference.
To answer your question about soap and shave quality - You will definitely get more moisture with a soap lather, and it would be a lighter consistency lather than the canned creams which (for me) results in a better shave when using my Edwin Jagger razor. If I was using a cartridge or disposable, I think it wouldn't make much difference.
- Thread starter
- #6
I have a merkur long barber shop pole safety razor (i think its called a 38c not sure though)
I got a bunch of shaving cream sample from TOBS,
and i got a bowl of TOBS soap,
then i bought trumpers skin food for after, and i moisturise as well
the brush that's coming is a simpsons one, one of the cheaper ones (although still quite pricey) i figured if im going to be using it for a while might as well spend a bit extra and get top quality equipment.
what's alum for?
I got a bunch of shaving cream sample from TOBS,
and i got a bowl of TOBS soap,
then i bought trumpers skin food for after, and i moisturise as well
the brush that's coming is a simpsons one, one of the cheaper ones (although still quite pricey) i figured if im going to be using it for a while might as well spend a bit extra and get top quality equipment.
what's alum for?
Alum is usually used during the post shave process to help your skin and often close those small cuts or nicks that you might have. It's not mandatory to have one, I used mine twice I think...
I quite like using Alum. My post shave routine involves a cold water rinse to get rid of shaving cream residue, the alum,Rinse, then witch hazel,rinse, then my aftershave.
Plus alum is dirt cheap, so no reason not to get one.
A lot of people see, like with witch hazel, a improvement of the skin.
On the other hand, put it on your list but there's no rush in getting it.
You list is very solid, everything on it is good and quality material.
You're on the right track!
A lot of people see, like with witch hazel, a improvement of the skin.
On the other hand, put it on your list but there's no rush in getting it.
You list is very solid, everything on it is good and quality material.
You're on the right track!
I would used the canned goo until your brush arrives and concentrate on doing the best you can with the razor you have. I tell a lot of newbs that have been wet shaving with disposable razors and carts to either keep using their old razor while learning to lather the soaps or to keep using their old canned goo while learning the new razor. Radically changing your lathering product and razor type at the same time can make it more difficult to troubleshoot shaving problems. Backing out the latest change to get to a good state just doesn't work so well when the last change was EVERYTHING. The preceding advice is totally meaningless to the guys ditching their electric razors.
Proper preparation is important to getting a good shave no matter what other products or techniques you are using down the road. You want your beard fully hydrated. This is best done by shaving just after a shower, but you can also hold a wet wash cloth or town to your face for a couple of minutes. That feels silly at first, but you get over it.
Take extra care to prepare your neck. It's possible that your chin and jaw line can
It may help to apply lather to your face and let it sit for a couple of minutes before shaving. If the lather collapses during those two minutes, you may need to lather up again before blade meets beard.
Don't worry about the WTG pass for the first few weeks if it gives you any trouble. Your face needs some time to adjust to the new style of shaving. Settle for a two pass shave for a while, or even do the third pass with your old razor for a while. Eventually it will come.
Don't chase the BBS right out of the gate. An OK shave beats BBS with blotchy read razor burn any day of the week. It will come in time as your technique improves. For now just be pleased if you can beat the shaves you were getting and strive for just a bit better everyday.
Using real soaps and a brush is a big step up from the canned goo as far as the shaving experience is concerned. Generally the soaps will provide more lubrication for the blade and moisturizers for your skin.
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