Thread: Beginner in need of some advice/input

Whether the soap was up to snuff or not should not affect your issue that much. I suspect it is a technique issue. The first few shaves, if you can get through them without cuts and massive razor burn you are ahead of the game.

It just takes practice to get the routine down right with the stretching and pressure and angle.

And I ofcourse echo what thebigspendur is saying. Technique could be a big part of it. You may need to lighten the pressure and flatten the angle more. I was just commenting more on razor glide.

Thanks all, I'll take into account all this advice when I give it another go in a day or 2

It sounds to me like a mixture of improper skin stretching and lather that isn't up to snuff. Sometimes it's hard to gauge when the lather is just right, so, what I like to do is use the crook of my thumb and forefinger to squeeze everything out of my brush (over my lather bowl). If the lather slides off in a goopy mess, there's probably too much water. If the lather stays put on my hand, it more than likely needs more water. It's also a good way to even out the water and soap that's in your brush, evening out your lather. Remember to make sure your beard is wet before lathering.

Which area specifically is causing your blade to get hung up on?

Originally Posted by kwlfca

Which area specifically is causing your blade to get hung up on?

So far I've only tried the side of my face and both tries was too uneasy to go any further. I figured if the easy part wasn't working I might as well quit while I'm ahead and avoid opening my face like a can of tuna.

Just make sure your skin is nice and taut, left hand reaching over your head to stretch the right side of your face etc, and work on your lather/face prep.

You said you are experimenting with different angles. When I started shaving I did something that I had not thought much about until I read your post. I got into the hobby with one good razor and started purchasing used razors at local antique stores that I could start cleaning and restoring. With this I also started trying to learn how to hone. This is the part that may help you... As I honed I tested the razor on my arm. This definitely helped me 'discover' the appropriate angle to start with. I also developed a bald arm. I think looking in the mirror can be a bit deceiving (perceiving where the blade is in relation to your skin) while looking down at my arm was much easier to work and experiment with. It felt somewhat safer because of this so making very small adjustments was somehow more acceptable. Funny thing is I also did not use lather on my arm. This simply eliminated one of the variables while I was learning and this may have accelerated my learning curve.

Anyway, give it a try... unless bald arm syndrome causes concern...
Scott

Something that is pretty well understood but may not be vocalized is that building a good lather is a skill that can take as long as learnig how to handle your straight razor. Just as you eventually learn to wield your straight razor in a more efficient manner and acheive better results, so do you learn what factors affect your lather and how to work with them. This includes the type of water, soap, brush, and lathering technique. I know you said you will try again in a day or two, but practice in between. Sneak into the bathroom for 5 minutes and whip up a bowl of lather and try more/less water or whatever.


Here is a quick rundown of what I do when I try a new soap or cream. Soak the brush in a cup of water for 5+ minutes (or however long a shower lasts). Remove brush and squeeze out as much water as possible. Load brush with soap for a full 30 seconds. If using cream, put a dollop on and work it in the top 1/8" of the brush. Put a dribble of water in your bowl or mug, or if you are a face latherer use your wetted palm for practice. Work your brush for 10 to 20 seconds with the moisture you have. Put a dribble more water on your brush and repeat. Put some between your thumb and forefinger and give it a rub and see how it feels. Keep doing this until you reach the point where the lather "explodes". This is where it just seems to come together and feels great. THEN add another dribble of water and see what happens.

This is not something that I do on a daily basis. This is a modified technique that I read about somewhere. It is a great way to learn to lather and to find out how your new soap/cream behaves. Doing this lets you feel the lather as it is building. You learn how it looks and feels when it has a lack of water, how it feels when "correct", and how it feels when it is too hydrated. Best thing is that it only takes a 5 minutes for a test run.


Anyway..... give it a shot and see how it goes, or not. Let us know how you are progressing!