Thread: Introduction and first question

Originally Posted by sharptonn

What lather are you using?

Typically, I go back and forth between Aveeno's shave gel for sensitive skin and Barbasol, but I have a can of Proraso in the mail and on the way, and I plan to start trying out different soaps. I prefer to change only one variable at a time (to ensure I know what does what), and since I have been fighting some pretty wicked acne for the last two years (no issues through teen years, and then BAM), my options are limited with face products. It has been slowly clearing up, though.

Rich

Edit: Before trying out a lot of different products, I wanted to get comfortable with the razor and brush using what I know already.

Edit: Just a side note: I also tried Dr. Carver's Easy Shave Butter (non-lather), and while I love it with a two-blade cartridge, I gave it to my girlfriend because I didn't care for the results with a straight razor.

Try a tube of Coate's Superior Tea Tree Shaving Cream for Problem Skin, under $4 a tube. Sent a tube to a teenage shaver with acne and he said it has helped a great deal.

Interestingly enough, after ~2.5 months with a straight razor, I have noticed some reduction in redness and breakouts are less frequent.

The problem with tea tree oil (I used to mix a few drops with neem oil - helped A LOT with the acne, but has reached a limit to its effectiveness) is that it caused my skin to dry out, and my skin reacted by ramping up oil production to post industrial revolution quantities.

Richard, The stuff in the can won't work. You are oiling up to produce glide and the tradeoff is worse, I think.
Give me a PM and I can donate you a puck of Williams and some glycerine. Smokes Barbasol!
You need lubricity IN your lather for a straight razor. That's the ticket!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Richard, The stuff in the can won't work. You are oiling up to produce glide and the tradeoff is worse, I think.
Give me a PM and I can donate you a puck of Williams and some glycerine. Smokes Barbasol!
You need lubricity IN your lather for a straight razor. That's the ticket!

I agree with Tom!!!! While others will tell you to stay clear of Williams I've used it for well over 30 years! Usually just straight as is and whipped up with a brush but the glycerine added at the end does add to the party!

You're saying you fill the brush and then put a few drops of glycerine onto it?

Originally Posted by rkuchenbecker

You're saying you fill the brush and then put a few drops of glycerine onto it?

I don't know if your question is directed to me or Tom. If it's to me I have the puck in a cup then I dip the brush in very warm water and then make lather in the cup, 'IF' I decide to use the glycerin I add a few drops at the end and whip it into the lather then apply to my face.

I put glycerine in my mixing bowl before snurdling in the cream or bringing in the soapy brush. Glycerine helps on two important fronts out here: it moisturizes my skin a little, and it prevents the lather from drying out so damn fast in this desert air.

I will also fess up to the heretical and experience-based observation that the Aveeno stuff in the can is actually pretty nice. I shave pretty often at the local rec center, and the full ritual is just a little too involved there. Aveeno products are pretty good generally.

Hi and welcome. I would ditch the oil pre shave. Personally I use soap to wash before the shave to get rid of oil, lather and rub it in and leave while stropping snd then rinse, relather and shave. Replace skin oils when you finish with your moisturizer. Cold water shaving might also help.

Ordered a new Boker, but I received an email that it was back-ordered until May - so, order cancelled.

It's probably for the better anyway, as now I'll be more motivated to tighten up the three antique razors I picked up.