Shaves improving. Face is tender???
Was having a good shave this morning. I was hearing the razor cut the whiskars. I stropped before the shave with a kangaroo strop (bare). Got finished and when I went to wipe my face off I saw 4 or 5 very small spots of blood (nicks). I use styptic pencil. A few minutes later I noticed my face had a tender feeling. This happens most of the time actually. I don't have much of a pre-shave routine. I dont have a scuttle. I put some water in a bowl and a smaller bowl in that to raise a later. I heat the bowls and water for 2 min. in the microwave. This gets a nice lather until I get a scuttle. I use a hot towel on my face for about 30 seconds max. Then I apply soap which is very warm. I let it sit for a minute then apply soap again which is still warm in my make shift scuttle. Then I shave and apply soap a time or two more to areas I haven't shaved yet just to keep the area warm. Then I wipe face. If I have nicked myself and notice it I use the styptic pencil right away. Ok, my honing/stropping seems to be improving slowly which I expected, especially the "slowly" part. My actual shaving is getting more comfortable and coordinated. I've gotten used to using my left hand for the left side of my face. I've read where other people have very extensive pre-shave habits and this may be my problem. The lack of a routine to speak of. I want to keep shaving as simple as possible right now and would prefer to add one task at a time. If my tender face is resulting from not doing something prior to shaving what would anyone suggest? I don't want to take an hour to shave. Right now from the time I decide to shave it takes me about 20 minutes. This includes 1 or 2 minutes of stropping to start. I am now shaving my cheeks chin and neck. Everything except the mustache which I plan to remove soon. May grow it back but I want to learn to shave that spot. Any help is appreciated.
Jack