Second shave: getting there

So, I just had my second shave today, and it was much better than the first, although still nowhere near clean. I stropped for the first time today (last time my razor was fresh from being honed by Lynn, so I decided to isolate the stropping variable by not doing it) and that worked quite well -- the razor was definitely sharp. Last time, I'd also only done one pass. This time I did both a WTG and XTG pass. Already after the WTG pass my shave was cleaner than last time, and with the added XTG pass it ended up being much cleaner. But there's still a lot of stubble around, and it's too long for me to dare going ATG. I figure I'll do two passses only until I get a reasonably clean shave before attempting ATG.

There are two questions I have, now. First: my lather. I've been following the instructions I've read here and at badgerandblade.com, and the lather I've been producing has looked very much like the pictures I've seen of a "good lather". However, on my face, it dries out very quickly and once dry is quite sticky, which I imagine can't be good for the shave, as I'd imagine the blade is supposed to glide over my skin. This time, I lathered each cheek separately because otherwise, by the time I'm done shaving one side, the other side is dry and even a little bit cakey. Am I using too little water? Looking at videos of people wet shaving on youtube, it doesn't seem like their lather dries out quite so quickly. At the very minimum, they can do one pass without relathering. Any thoughts?

Now, as I've mentioned elsewhere previously, my strategy for learning proper technique is to grow a goatee for now and thereby reduce my shave to just cheeks and neck, which are flatter and apparently easier to shave. But I've run into a trouble spot already: how do I do an XTG pass on the area right below my goatee, under my chin? WTG is no problem, obviously, but XTG is kind of difficult. I'm a skinny guy with a defined jawline, and with the way my hair grows on my neck (straight down towards my Adam's apple) going across the grain means moving laterally. But because of the slope of my neck, doing that would shave off a bunch of hair that I want to keep on my chin. How do those of you with a goatee or chin beard do maintenance on that line? It looks like doing ATG would be no problem, if I could shave it cleanly enough with just a WTG pass. But at least currently, I don't cut the stubble short enough on just a WTG pass to attempt that.

Any thoughts on either of these two issues?

Thanks a bunch,

Alexander

Add more water to the lather and just lather one side at a time to start. Go ATG under the goatee, just use a low angle.

Lather should look like lather. You should recognize it when you see it. As silly as that sounds, the lather you create by hand in a bowl is the same lather that is in the can , appearance wise. Many people produce weak oversaturated or dry lather for years without getting it right.

Congrats, dude. Glad you're coming along...

With the lather, give it a good, solid mixing for about 1 minute, and look for the "soft peak" at the tip of your brush. My lather was also drying out EXTREMELY quickly, and becoming so solidified, you had to scrape it off. Experimenting with different consistencies and quantities of water will give you the right touch -- keep at it man.

I definately would not encourage you to move a straight razor laterally across your neck, ATG should work quite nicely. I am glad it is going well for you keep up the good work.:tu

Thanks for the feedback, guys! Can't wait to shave tomorrow. Now when was the last time I ever said that about shaving?

:)

Who'd have thought what was previously such a chore could turn out to be so much fun.

I think it's a good idea to lather half your face till you get the hang of it.
Good lather videos are on youtube from MANTIC.
Those peaks are what you want.
Different soaps/creams take different amounts of water and twirling, twisting, smashing, bashing, mixing motions to make good lather.
Face prep is important. I mean hot water or hydrating the beard. I don't use any pre shave products. I haven't found any better than my olive oil soap or hair conditioner...

Every day some improvements...
SOME day soon you'll be in the ZONE and it will be a WONDERFUL experience.


The next day you'll be cocky and overconfident and cut the heck out of your face. Least that's how I started
Hahahaha

Many guys on here also advise using a few drops of glycerin when making the lather. I have yet to try this (i'll probably grab some this week to experiment with).

Good luck!!