Thread: Hello Everyone

Hi, my name is Adam and I have recently become interested in Straight Razor shaving. Over the Christmas break, I had decided that I wanted a SR to play with, just as a toy. I began reading online and very quickly ran across this site. After reading some more, I decided that I would like to actually shave with a SR.
I have been using Gillette Mach 3 razors and shaving gel for years, and have been perfectly happy with the shave quality I get. However, I cringe every time I buy a replacement pack of blades. The idea of buying a non-disposable tool that I can maintain myself and enjoy for years appeals to me.
My research thus far has led me to place the following items on my “want” list- a Dovo razor, a Tony Miller strop, and a Norton waterstone set. I had planned on continuing to use the Gillette shave gel, but have decided to give some traditional soaps a try as well.
I don’t have a straight razor, strop, or stone set yet, but decided to conduct a little soap experiment in the meantime. As I mentioned, I really like the Gillette gel. On a trip not long ago, I needed shaving cream and was forced to buy a can of Barbasol, which I utterly despise. Since I have two points of reference in terms of canned cream, I thought I would give traditional soap a try and see how well it worked. I went to Wal-Mart and picked up a brush ($5) and puck of shaving soap ($1.50). The next time I shaved (I shave every second or third day) I did everything the same, but substituted the soap for my Gillette gel. The lather was nowhere near as rich as the Gillette, and didn’t feel as though it had as much lubricity either, but I must say it was a far sight better than the Barbasol. My next experiment is to buy a sample pack from Colleen so I can try some different scents, as well as creams. By that time, however, I may have enough money to buy my SR and strop, so I can try different razor types as well. I have to say that I was impressed that crappy Wal Mart puck soap being whipped up with a crappy brush wielded by a soaping newbie was better than Barbasol. Maybe I will find something I like better than Gillette!
I really hate shaving, so another reason I am doing this is to hopefully turn a disdainful activity into an enjoyable one. Time will tell!
I am learning a lot, this site is really great.
Adam

Adam, I hope that you get into straight razor shaving and like it as some of us do here. Building lather, although not difficult, requires a bit of practice. There are a bunch of videos on the subject that can be found in this forum. The idea is that you rub the soap with your brush and then build the lather until you get the desired consistency by using additional water. This process can be done either in the bowl containing the soap (not recommended because you waste soap), in a different bowl, in your hand or face. Unlike the canned stuff, it takes some time to build. Some people find that a bit of glycerin added to the lather produces better results, I am one of them. People also warm up their brush, bowl etc.., before or/and while they build their lather.

Al raz.

A heart welcome to SRP!

There are differences in soaps. Like many other things, the better soaps are generally more expensive than the cheap ones. You are doing the right thing in buying some of Colleen's soaps. Hers are the best I have ever experienced, both in terms of performance and scent! And they are half the price of some of the others. But at $9-$11 a puck, they are more expensive than Williams. Sue (Mama Bear) also has a large following here too. So you might want to try some of hers, too.

When you buy your razor ensure that you select the honing option (except SRD where Lynn hones them at the time of sale). You want your first razor to come shave ready. You don't want to learn your honing skills and shaving skills simultaneously. This will present the dilemna of not knowing where a problem lies. Blade edge or incorrect technique.

Welcome aboard.

You will probably never get lather as thick as the canned stuff because its formulated to expand like crazy when it comes out. Soap lather you have to build yourself and also by the way you do not need lather 4 inches thick. Its about quality not quantity. Any quality soap or cream will give you the proper lather. You just need to experiment with brush strokes and water to get it right.

It's amazing what we can come to call satisfactory. I'm convinced that once you start getting those sublime shaves from one of colleen's soaps and a good straight, you'll reassess your evaluation. You'd be in a vary small minority if you didn't. Either way, enjoy yourself through this discovery.

X

PS A straight as a toy? What games did you intend to play?

Welcome aboard, thats an interesting user name although a straight razor would be more akin to a tanto.

Lathering is strange, it is really simple but until you blunder into the grove it can be elusive. The Wal-Mart brush is not helping, but it’s ‘do-able’. Let the brush soak in hot water for about five minutes before you try to lather. Shake it twice to get rid of excess water when you do start. The Wal-Mart soap is probably Vander Hagen and actually is pretty good, especially for $1.50. Put the puck in any coffee mug that it will fit in. Splash in a few tablespoons of water to soften the soap up. Place the mug in a pan of hot water for a few minutes to warm the whole mess up. (this warm up is the real trick) Play with it, you will be close to getting some nice lather. If the later is dripping off your face and the brush, it’s too thin. If it is light and bubbly and foamy it is too thin but in a different way. Mix in more soap by aggressively pressing into the soap puck, water if you think you need it. Soon you will say ‘oh, I see….’

Thanks for the welcom, and the encouragement.

The soap is Vander Hagen, I had forgotten the name but it was all they had so I didn't have much choice.

I shaved this morning doing the following:

Run tap water as hot as it will go, put brush under running water.
Take soap out of tupperware storage container, put soap into mug.
Put mug in sink, plug and let sink partially fill with water around mug to heat mug.
Take brush out, shake excess water out, place in mug on top of soap.
Soak facecloth in water, wring out excess and hold on face until water cools (twice).
Work brush in a circular motion until lather begins to form in mug, take soap out and replace in storage container. Continue to work brush until lather looks usable (I need experience here, I appreciate the pointers above as the consistency I had this morning was too thin- it was dripping from the brush).
Repeat hot facecloth treatment once, then lather face using a swirling motion.
Shave- Gillette Mach 3, one whole face pass ATG, then touch ups in various directions to finish. Although I have never re-lathered in the past with canned cream, this time I re-lathered my chin to touch it up since I had a mugful left.

Results- a very satisfactory, smooth shave, with very little irritation.

I think the towel treatment made a difference, and only took a minute, so I will probably do that in the future.

I am very excited to get my straight, just waiting for some money to become available.

Again, thanks for all the tips!

PS I selected my username simply because it is a type of blade, not as a specific allusion to straight razors.

As far as the straight as a toy, maybe I should have said tool- letter opener, fingernail trimmer- that sort of thing. Everything BUT shaving. I still want a cheapie to do that with.

Adam