What's up fellas, I've been shaving with a DE razor for over a month, and I can't get the hang of it yet. The first pass with the razors leaves my face dry, so with the second pass it feels like the blade is pulling my hair rather than shaving it off. As far as the creams am using AOS and C.O Bigalow and also that's will a boar brush. I try using more water, but them the shaving cream just slops all over my face, dose this mean that the creams I am using are no good for me.??? I still get a good shaving but not perfect!!
Shaving cream..drying my face..??
- Thread starter petercle
- Start date
How is your lathering process? Maybe adding a bit more product will help. At first it's a bit hard to hit the sweet spot.
Do you re-lather between passes? That's essential.
Do you re-lather between passes? That's essential.
Have you watched the Mantic59 videos on youtube? Mark has awesome tutorials.
Relather immediately. Don't wait to complete the pass. Hair dries out fast. Keep it wet & lathered.
As time passes your shavings get better, since you'll understand by yourself what is the correct quantity of cream needed and water to by used.
A great improvement to your shave will be reached by purchasing a badger brush in place of the boar brush.
If you do not have a badger brush get one quickly!
A great improvement to your shave will be reached by purchasing a badger brush in place of the boar brush.
If you do not have a badger brush get one quickly!
Are you at altitude or in a dry climate? What was a perfectly acceptable shaving cream for me at home (sea level) failed miserably on a business trip (Colorado Springs). As others have posted, keeping your beard and skin hydrated is essential.
make sure to rewet your face with warm water before relathering for another pass. If you start rubbing on lather immediately after shaving without any water, your face will dry out.
+1 for sure. Just a couple of quickies:
Are you lathering on the face or in a bowl? I find that the bowl method works best for me for both creams and soaps, since I can adjust the amount of water to obtain precisely the right degree of wetness to the lather---not too stiff/dry, and certainly not runny. I "rotate" so many different creams, that I can get it right the first time using a bowl, and I can also nest the lather bowl into a second bowl of hot water to keep the lather warm for a second pass application.
Are you using a pre-shave oil? Here, too, I find that especially with a weekend stubble, a little pre-shave oil goes a long way to holding the moisture on the skin/beard. After a thorough beard-softening face wash, apply 10-15 drops of the oil to the beard area. The oil not only softens the beard, but since oil and water don't mingle well, the thin oil film keeps the skin hydrated. (Women have been doing this for centuries with their oil-based "moisturizing creams"). Next, "layer" or "paint" your pre-made lather over the treated beard. Don't brush-in the lather, or you will only emulsify the oil into the soap and thereby negate any beneficial effects of the pre-shave. This method also minimizes any oil load-up on the brush bristles.
As always, YMMV, but get back to us here w/ more details and I'm sure help will abound.
- Thread starter
- #10
Well I first put my brush in a mug of warm water before I shower, when I get out of the shower I splash some more warm water on my face and begin to lather my shaving cream in a bowl. I apply the lather all over my face and begin to shave, with the grain of my beard, For the second past I once again apply more shaving cream to my face, but this time I shave againts the grain. And thats where the razor feels like it's pull the hairs of my beard it dosen't feel smoth..it's almost like when I do the first past with the razor it sucks up all the moister from my face...am thinking that am just not lathering proper...??? KMF shaving cream any good.???
1) Rinse your face with warm water before applying cream for the 2nd pass
2) Against the grain on the second pass is asking for trouble, try shaving across the grain instead. The "smoothness" and "pulling" problem you are describing probably has nothing to do with the cream and more to do with shaving technique.
3) You might not be using enough water in your lather. Experiment with adding a tiny bit of water at a time. Like a 1/2 teaspoon at a time. Mix it and check it before adding anymore water.
What do you do with your bowl after you mix the lather? Do you set it in a sink of hot water? If so, make sure the water isn't too hot. If it is, it will cause the lather in your bowl/mug to dry out.
Also, how much cream are you using?. When you say drying out, do you mean the cream turns stiff, gummy and/or crusty, or do you mean the lather disappears?
2) Against the grain on the second pass is asking for trouble, try shaving across the grain instead. The "smoothness" and "pulling" problem you are describing probably has nothing to do with the cream and more to do with shaving technique.
3) You might not be using enough water in your lather. Experiment with adding a tiny bit of water at a time. Like a 1/2 teaspoon at a time. Mix it and check it before adding anymore water.
What do you do with your bowl after you mix the lather? Do you set it in a sink of hot water? If so, make sure the water isn't too hot. If it is, it will cause the lather in your bowl/mug to dry out.
Also, how much cream are you using?. When you say drying out, do you mean the cream turns stiff, gummy and/or crusty, or do you mean the lather disappears?
- Thread starter
- #12
Well the lather disappears on the first pass when i shave, well I mean that it gets removed when I go for a pass. But am going t shave today, I really think that am not using enough water in my lather. And also I never rinse after each pass, I just conitne to lather up a shave agian. So I'll give it another try
thanks
thanks
do you guys suggest an oil to use for the op?
You may be allergic to the soaps/creams you're using. I bought a few of my first creams that were cologne based and dried my face out real bad during the winter.
I would try something with lanolin or aloe like Musgo Real.
I would try something with lanolin or aloe like Musgo Real.
What type of blade are you using?
+ 1.
Also - I learned this the hard way but make sure you do not let your face dry - I mean after shower and before shave. If you let your face dry - no matter how much water you use to wet the face - it will never be as soft as it was when you first stepped out of shower
KMF creams are excellent, but so are the ones you already have. Wouldn't hurt to grab them for your collection though. I have 3 KMF "flavors" myself in the rotation.
My problem was simple..I use more product...keep the lather up. also a sharp blade, i have given up on some blades after only 1 shave.
