Thread: Dumb Questions

Start to finish whats the proses? A list will be find... (Lather, shave Done)

What is a seven day set? Thiers-Issard "Bijou De France" 7 day Straight Razor Set

and why would you need one?

What lotions do you need and what do they do? (Pre-shave oil)

Welcome Warrior,
Start out in the Library section above,,,many good articles with photographs are there to help you get started.
Enjoy the journey.

Originally Posted by warrior1677

Start to finish whats the proses? A list will be find... (Lather, shave Done)

What is a seven day set? Thiers-Issard "Bijou De France" 7 day Straight Razor Set

and why would you need one?

What lotions do you need and what do they do? (Pre-shave oil)

well it will differ here but i usually
shower or hot towel , or wash face with warm water ..( im still on the fence with prep as ive had good shaves with and with out )

then i prepare my lather .. ( sometimes i will soak my brush or soap in hot water while im doing the above , sometimes i dont )

shave , clean up , dry my razor , then strop it a few times , oil and put away ..

i usually dont use any pre shave oils or lotions before my shave , and rarely any after shave or lotions when im done ..


as far as seven day set , it is just a set of razors with usually each day marked somewhere on them .. no you dont need a seven day set , but i wouldnt mind having one just to have one ..

lotion .. when i rarely use it , i use Proraso honey and ? something ? something ? something? with the white label ( i think its white ) sometimes i use it cause i like the cool feeling , or if i push my double edge safety razor blade to far i apply it to areas of discomfort and it soothes it .. other then that i cant help you with any info on the lotions

welcome aboard !!!

Everybody is going to have a different routine usually arrived at by trial and error to fit their personal needs. You have to find out what works and what doesn't work for you personally.

My routine :

Strop the razor the night before.
In the morning shave, 3 passes, using cold water.
Wet face when finished shaving and apply alum block to face.
Rinse razor blade and wipe dry with toilet paper, set aside to air dry before storing it.
Rinse brush under tap shake dry and replace in rack.
Wet face again to rinse alum off and dry face.
Apply after shave and done.

Gooser answered the 7 day set question, nice to have but not necessary at all

I don't use any pre shave oils or after shave balms but then again everyone s different in what they need/like in that department too.

Bob

As bob says everyone is different, glycerine/ glycerol is a cheap preshave, and lather improver, and if you get some in your mouth it doesn't taste disgusting.
You will need a lot less things than you want.
Witch hazel and or alum are good post shave astringents, I prefer witch hazel, it burns less, cheap as from the chemist. Alum is useful for giving grip to your fingers during the shave.
Cheap soap like palmolive is fine.
I have grown a few creams but they aren't really necessary.
Proraso post shave is nice and soothing if you feel like it.

The origin of the Seven Day Set is about as clear as the origin of the Barber's Notch..

My thought is that such sets were most used by the affluent gentleman. The set allowed a fresh razor to be at the ready for him or his valet to complete his shave while the other razors were being prepped. But, other than an affluent gentleman or his valet, who really knows?

The process? Yes, different for everyone, and many folks have more than one process. My process is slightly different if based on the razor and lather. Ask ten guys what their process looks like and you'll get about twice as many answers..
1 - Hot shower
2 - Soak brush and soften hard soap, while showering (or not)
3 - Create lather
4 - Apply lather
5 - Complete shave
6 - Repeat 4 & 5 as/if needed (rinsing between, or not)
7 - Rinse
8 - Apply post shave (or not

The pre & post shave oils, balms and astringents will vary wildly. For me, it changes with the soap/cream and absolutely changes with the weather. I tend to go for balms in the colder months and very light splashes or gels like Jack Black or Hazogel in the summer.

Lots of guys have razor rotations. Same principle. The affluent could have the butler strop them appropriately. Naming the razor by day was just a way to ensure a consistent rotation and ensure the butler or shaver knew which one was next to be stropped and shave with.

There is some value in getting all the same razor. Consistency wise.

Can you imagine having seven of the same razors and not having them labeled?

Just to mix it up, here's my no water/James Bond shave:

Hot shower
Rinse the brush, shake most out
Lather a puck of soap
Apply to dry face
2.75 passes
A little witch hazel
Put away razor
Apply Floid Amber.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Naming the razor by day was just a way to ensure a consistent rotation and ensure the butler or shaver knew which one was next to be stropped and shave with.

There is some value in getting all the same razor. Consistency wise.

Can you imagine having seven of the same razors and not having them labeled?

Probably marketing.
Can you imagine an average guy having seven different Gillette disposable razors? But when you buy refill cartridges they come in a case of five or ten. I don't think our forebears had the same obsession as us.

I'm also a noob, joined this July. My routine is:
Before shower I turn a cup warmer on w/a cup on it.
Shower
Small amount of hot water on puck of choice for that day (I rotate between MWF & Van Der Hagan Glycerin)
Mineral oil pre shave (minimal amount)
Wet brush w/hot water, shake of most
If using MWF I add a few drops of glycerin and work up a lather
Lather/scrub face and place excess lather and brush in cup on warmer. You'll appreciate the warm lather when you re-lather
Shave three passes WTG, XTG, AGT, re lathering as needed.
I take a minute and check quality of shave and re lather and shave again in trouble spots.
Hot washcloth followed by a very cold cloth to close pores
Witch hazel and then a soothing cream, gel or what have you of your choice.
I do have sensitive skin and tend to probably over fret about it when I shave and put it out of my mind for the rest of the day.

Hope this helps (or possibly confuse) you while questing for a damn good shave.