Thread: How to Shave These Areas?!

I've got a Proraso mug coming in the mail that should fit my Arko puck just right, I hope. Betting that lathering will be much better with that rather than the glass tupperware-type bowl I was using last night. Also have an order of green Proraso pre-shave cream coming, hoping it might help make the whiskers a bit easier to work with next time. I'll keep practising!

Originally Posted by lazyMlazyK

I've got a Proraso mug coming in the mail that should fit my Arko puck just right, I hope. Betting that lathering will be much better with that rather than the glass tupperware-type bowl I was using last night. Also have an order of green Proraso pre-shave cream coming, hoping it might help make the whiskers a bit easier to work with next time. I'll keep practising!

Not to worry with Arko. All you have to do is warm it up between your hands and it will become pliable enough to mould to the shape of your mug. All I have used for pucks of soap has been Pyrex or Anchor Hocking 1 Cup, I think, Glass container with press fit lid. They are stack-able too.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Not to worry with Arko. All you have to do is warm it up between your hands and it will become pliable enough to mould to the shape of your mug. All I have used for pucks of soap has been Pyrex or Anchor Hocking 1 Cup, I think, Glass container with press fit lid. They are stack-able too.

Bob

That's exactly what I was using, an Anchor glass container. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to put the whole puck in there and let it get soaked, so I was just taking small shavings off of it with my pocketknife and putting them in the cup. I broke in the brush a little bit on Sunday by letting it soak in hot water for about an hour, then brushing it back and forth over a washcloth, brushing in all directions. Is it normal for a brush to shed bristles quite a bit? I found a few bristles in my lather last night that I made sure to remove before trying to shave.

Yep, they shed some. But should stop for the most part.

Though I have a Van Den Hagen badger, that won't stop shedding. Sits on the shelf for looks, or a new knot.

Originally Posted by lazyMlazyK

That's exactly what I was using, an Anchor glass container. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to put the whole puck in there and let it get soaked, so I was just taking small shavings off of it with my pocketknife and putting them in the cup. I broke in the brush a little bit on Sunday by letting it soak in hot water for about an hour, then brushing it back and forth over a washcloth, brushing in all directions. Is it normal for a brush to shed bristles quite a bit? I found a few bristles in my lather last night that I made sure to remove before trying to shave.

I put a whole puck in my glass bowls. I then load the brush with soap and got to my face to make the actual lather. Sounds like you are bowl lathering where you make your lathe in the bowl and then paint it on your face. Both ways work but I just want to keep things simple and not have anything extra to clean up and put away.

I just break in a boar brush by using it. Some brushes shed a bit when new and others do not. It can also depend on how rough you are on a brush when using it. There is no need to splay a knot flat to either load it with soap or create a lather with. When you do that excessively you stress the bristles to the point where they can break. Soaking a brush in hot water for a long time, especially if the knot is completely under water, could soften the glue and allow the brush to shed bristles.

Here is a link to a video that helped my with my lather making technique and I use a variation of the dry method but either will work. There are many vids on YouTube about making a lather.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4zESTQWDuw

Bob

Good advice already. Remember you want the razor at about a 30° angle. The rule of thumb is, keep the spine 2 spine thicknesses away from your face. That and too much pressure are the most common mistakes we make as beginners.

Probably the best preshave conditioner IMO is take a shower first. Some people like creams and stuff but for me just soap and hot water.work the best, even if it is just a thorough stubble wash in the sink.

Stick with it. You'll get there. Steve's suggestion of posting a private video is a good one. You can watch his and see where he started and read the comments in the thread and that should help. Also it will probably make you feel better as he was quite new to it then and it showed (love ya Steve) and today he is an old pro.

Skin holding and stretching is an important aspect of my difficult spots and a very soft touch with my razor. Shaving the lather not the whiskers.

I found that I pressed too hard with my razor when i started.

It didn't make me bleed but it did make me red and sore in some places, my edge needed to be refreshed more often too because I was being rougher on it.

https://shavelibrary.com/w/Shaving_v...by_Lynn_Abrams
This is a link to our library. Lynn's video is no longer available here but interesting to watch. You'll find it on www like many more footage. In my experience you'll notice in problem areas first when your razor is no longer sharp enough. Pulling the skin taut is also very helpful.