My first straight should arrive today. Are some soaps and creams better for straight razors? I have mwf, tobs Jermyn St, prorasso red and green, gft coconut, and vdh unscented. Which soap/cream and consistency?
straight soap
- Thread starter BearHeart
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Have your lather a little thinner than what you use for the DE (no thick billowy clouds) and you'll be just fine. If the lather on the straight rinses off under a small dribble of water from the faucet, you're good. If the balde doesn't come clean under the dribble, you're lather is most likely too thick.
Just pick your favorite soap and have fun!
Just pick your favorite soap and have fun!
Wetter lather works better but dont make it too watery.
I prefer soap over cream for the straight. The terms thin and watery can be subject to interpretation. I like to think "very wet" instead of watery, and "thin but dense" instead of thick and billowy. We're saying the same thing but with different words.
And I would add face lathering- I can better control the slickness on my face than I can in a bowl
Honestly, I've found that as long as it isn't too dry, it doesn't matter a lot.
I'm partial to the MWF for sure out of those listed, especially if you can lather it like you want it. For me this is one of the easiest to get a nice slick protective lather out of. It's all pretty subjective though, you will likely experiment with everything you have there and then some until you find your "go to".
+1 for the face lathering too, I think getting the lather right is more important when using a straight and face lathering makes that easier. Dry lather or thin and watery = nicks & cuts.
+1 for the face lathering too, I think getting the lather right is more important when using a straight and face lathering makes that easier. Dry lather or thin and watery = nicks & cuts.
Definitely, I have a list of soaps I like to use when shaving with DEs, SEs and MBMs and a short list of soaps that give the kind of lather that I want for a comfortable straight shave. Tabac, SIM, MdC and Wilkinson shave stick are on that list. For creams Nivea is the only cream that made the short list.
If I have a product that isn't slick enough, I add 3-5 drops of glycerin...
I agree completely. Now that I think about it, I probably started face lathering about the time I started using the straight, about a year ago.
pick what you think is best and stay with it for the first few weeks of learning straights.
Then look for what works for you. as others have said slightly wetter and you are good to go.
Then look for what works for you. as others have said slightly wetter and you are good to go.
I started face lathering, making a slicker lather, and using the left hand while shaving about a year ago in preparation for the move to straights. I will be ordering my first from Larry tomorrow.
- Thread starter
- #13
Went with the proraso red. Mwf has been my favorite for my DE but half that is the fun of swirling on my only good soap. I did find myself adding a little more water to the brush as I went along but that was expected with my snails pace shave. For glycerin could I just add a little skin food or vdh soap?
