Thread: I would like to apologize!!!

Originally Posted by Brenngun

You're not unusual but I would recommend not changing a lot of things while you're still learning. Find what works and stick with the same prep & process until it becomes much easier. Then play with changes.

+1 to this. I always tell beginners pick one brush, one soap, one razor and one strop for the first couple months. It allows you to master that combination then you can sub things in one at a time.

Also don't be overly confident about your lather. I see you use a de which probably means you have been making lather for a bit. However I have found that I can make a subpar lather a still get a decent comfortable shave from a de but not so with a straight.

Agreed! overconfidence is asking for trouble with a straight, we all need to remember that a straight razor demands respect, attention, and that we remain humble, no matter how many shaves you have under your belt.

I might ask how you prep? Are you stropping properly? A big load of Proraso should be massaged into the whiskers with the brush. Try a very hot-wet towell on the face and over the lather for 1 minute, repeat.
Now lather up and shave. It works for me. Skip the prep, pulling and bad shave. Every time!

my prep is a hot shower, use conditioner on the beard let that sit for a couple of minutes rinse for a couple of minutes then get out and lather the face then I stropped the razor relathered and shaved

Originally Posted by joed65

my prep is a hot shower, use conditioner on the beard let that sit for a couple of minutes rinse for a couple of minutes then get out and lather the face then I stropped the razor relathered and shaved

Sounds like you have good prep.
What about razor/honing/stropping? Same razor? What? Perhaps some thinking about blade angle? Looks like you are on track to learn and share. I would say to always incorporate things which work. Go back to the Proraso and see? Any variable should be considered. Take them one at a time! JMO

thanks definitely going back to the proraso, but I think I may have rolled the edge with to much pressure on the strop. i don't have any stones yet so I'm going to do a lot of light strokes on the strop and see if I get better results. thanks for all the help

Been there done that. You're not alone. Maintain your concentration and remember when the blade first touches your skin use light pressure. If you have a pasted strop that might be a good place to start. Use a magnifier to check the bevel.

Hang in there, I pretty much did what you did at the start, rolled the edge of my first shave ready razor, and carved myself up a few times too. It does get better, but a big learning curve. It has taken a while, but now getting great results, and had a lot of fun along the way. Skin heals, and chicks dig scars.