Only using the front half of my blade.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tcrideshd

your lather should be like a whipped cream , dense and slick. Tc

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Great description!

We read a lot about lather problems on SRP.
But what we all don't tell is............is that everyday can be a good lather day or a bad lather day for anyone. It's just that those that have been doing this for a while recognize when they need more soap or more water, and then added it as need with each shave.
It is the ability to recognize which one you need for each shave is what you need to learn. That's s why learning one soap show will you what consistence the lather should be, then it's reproducible with each soap you try out.

The more variables you cut down on , the easier it is to get started. Basics basics basics first. Then add the variety.

remember to puff out your cheeks for instant skin stretching. I normally use the heel around my kisser.

Try to meet up with a more senior mentor there are a few around your parts. Or, go see Brad at Maggard razors in Adrian. I am not too far from you (most likely). Keep at it!

I am also fairly new to wet shaving with a straight razor but after reading and listening to other shavers on this forum hydration seems to be the key. I use a preshave oil after i wet my face down that helps the lather slick up for me. After each pass i wet my face again along with trying to get the lather right for me. Using the the toe or the heel of the blade is technique that will improve with time, I can say this just be patient and take your time use light pressure and the beating your face takes should fade away. Goodluck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by coachschaller

remember to puff out your cheeks for instant skin stretching. I normally use the heel around my kisser.

Try to meet up with a more senior mentor there are a few around your parts. Or, go see Brad at Maggard razors in Adrian. I am not too far from you (most likely). Keep at it!

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I have been to Maggard's and never even thought to ask Brad about anything as far as demos. That is not a bad idea, plus it would give me an excuse to go back.

And yes Milan is about 30 mins or so from me, straight up 23 which I'am about 2 mins from.

I think I am going to skip shaving today, face is in pretty rough shape.

There's some good advice on this thread. My personal opinion is that bowl lathering is a little better for beginners as you can see the shape of the lather a little easier. The brush is also a factor. You're going to get more lather with a high loft badger brush than you are with a boar. Regardless my process is as follows:

1) Fill up my shaving bowl with water and drop by brush in there while I shower
2) Dump the water from the bowl and squeeze the water out of the brush
3) Load the brush with soap/cream by swirling for a few seconds clockwise then counter-clockwise
4) Turn the faucet on to a small stream
5) Add a small amount of water to the bowl, maybe a teaspoon, by *quickly* passing it under the stream
6) Start working the lather with the brush. I swirl, pump, swirl some more, and pump some more
7) The lather will be thick and dry at first so add another teaspoon of water and repeat steps 6&7 until...

Lather is ready when it's thick like whipped cream (per tcrideshd) and has a little sheen to it. If the surface of the lather looks flat then there isn't quite enough water. If the lather is gloppy and won't stay on the brush then there is too much water so you'll have to work it a little more. There's a bit of an art to it but you'll pick up the right consistency over time.

The advice to stick to one cream or soap is pretty important because they all behave a little differently. Good luck and stick with it.

Just another note on learning to lather: I find it helpful to play with lathering on a non-shaving day. The pressure is off, since there's no shave, and I can focus on just the one thing. Especially helpful is to take a soap to the point of too much water, working it hard to keep it lathering, then add water until it "breaks" and won't lather. Very educational, I do it with every new soap. Have fun!