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Hey Guys
I've been str8 shaving for a couple months now, but am not sure I've been doing things right so far.
I either prep by showering with conditioner - ending up with a fogged up mirror I can't see well in - or using Jack Black Pre-shave Face Buff, and feel like I'm shaving on over-dry skin. :confused:
How can you tell when you've got just the right amount of water on your face?
What should it feel like when it's ready to shave?
newb,
I wish I could help, but I prep differently than most - or all. Considering the fogged mirror phenomenon, I shave before showering. My prep is rinsing my face with water a warm as I can stand it (hands are more sensitive than is one's face), wash with soap to get rid of facial oils, and rinse again with hot water. Now I make some lather - I use tubed creams mostly cuz it's easier for me to get water to cream ratios correct and lather my face. That done, I strop my razor and shave away. Then I relather and make a second pass and I'm done shaving; at the second pass start I run the water in the shower to get that warm, so once the razor is rinsed and wiped and the brush is rinsed and shaken out, it's on to the shower.
good shaving,
Use a dry towel for your mirror and should be fine, or wipe it with hot water- the same result
+1 on the dry towel on the mirror
I typically make my lather in a bowl while periodically splashing some warm water on my face throughout the process so that my face doesn't dry, then just before I apply the lather to my face I splash some warm water over my face again.
I never really put any thought into how 'wet' your face should be for it to be shave-ready, but for me its always been the above process and it seems to work well.
I shave after showering. As far as water goes I just wet my face and apply the cream or soap. I don't worry about what it should feel like if there is such a thing. If you get a good shave that's all that matters.
Don't know that there are surefire methods that work for everyone, but it's good to hear a variety of answers so you can try different approaches. With that in mind, I personally believe that some of the prep regimens I've heard about and tried are over the top, at least for folks with sensitive skin. Way too much heat, scrubbing, exfoliation, etc. If vigourously washing one's face with soap and hot water can dry the skin out without shaving, why incorporate that into a pre-shave routine? Not only would the skin be slightly irritated before the blade even touched it, it might even be dry enough to suck some of the moisture out of the lather right at the surface, where that thin layer of water is needed most for lubrication.
In any event, what's been working for me lately is simply to splash some comfortably warm water on and then face-lather for a while. I start with a relatively moist lather that I massage around with the brush (gently) for a good 3-4 minutes. Afterwards, I let it sit while I strop. When I'm done stropping, I'm ready to go. This seems to allow plenty enough time for the soap + water to soften my whiskers, without the need to cook or overly scrub the skin in the process.
I'm seeing a BIG gap here...where's your lather? Meaning--do you not shave with soap or cream?Quote:
Originally Posted by newbiehippie
Pre-Shave means a treatment BEFORE you apply your lather...and usually, if you've got a good lather, any kind of pre-shave treatment is redundant.
Lather is a stable combination of water, soap/cream and a wee bit of air, which creates a nice slick cushion which hydrates your hair/face and gives the blade something to help it slide along without hitting your skin too directly. If you aren't getting that, then you pretty much ARE shaving over dry skin.
I'm using Mama Bear soaps with a little added Glycerin, so the soap isn't much of the problem as I see it. Maybe switching to creams would work a little better?
I can just never really tell what should be "Lubricating" when I lather up. I don't know if I'm prepping wrong or there is something wrong with how I'm actually shaving.
newb,Quote:
Originally Posted by newbiehippie
Aha! This has attracted the attention of some of the heavyweights. This is good. While I've never used any of Mama Bear's soaps I have never read anything but good reviews of them, so I think you're on the right road there. And I don't know about the "conditioner" you mention using while showering, but I imagine it's an after shampoo hair conditioner, nor am I familiar with the Jack Black face buff. Regardless, I think you could eliminate both and just use the Mama Bear lather on your shower softened stubble and get a fine shave. It may warrant a try as I'm guessing that both conditioners contain oils which may prevent water uptake in your whiskers and it's the water that softens the hairs. Once out of the shower and towelled off try re-wetting your face before lathering - the wet face before lathering seems to work for me.
This "lubricating" aspect is a function of a good lathering agent, be it cream or soap. It enables the razor to glide over your skin while it slices stubble.
more good shaving,
Hi,
After washing my face, I actually don't worry about keeping it wet-- it usually drys out by the time I'm done stropping or prepping my lather.
I lather on my face, and i start out with a pretty dry brush, then keep adding a drizzle of water into the base of the brush until I get the right mosture level. My lather is too dry if when I swipe the brush across my face it leaves distinctive tracks from the brush. It is just right when the tracks kinda melt into each other. It is too runny when the cream breaks down into a runny paste...
It has the consistancy of mayonaise when it is just right.
-Chief
Here's the thing--I really feel the number one MOST IMPORTANT part of getting a good shave here is LATHER. Once you figure out how to get a good lather, then you will be well along the path to good shaves. Hell, you can get a good shave with a bic disposable, once you figure out lather.Quote:
Originally Posted by newbiehippie
Your soap is good, by all accounts--I've never tried it, but plenty of people have and they like it.
Forget the glycerin. You're adding it because you keep seeing people talk about it on the forums, but let me ask you this: If glycerin is necessary for getting good lather, then why don't any soap makers send little bottles of glycerin out with their soap? (I'll go ahead and give you the answer--It's because they have worked their butts off to make a good soap that should lather just right with a little water, a nice brush, and some skill. If glycerin needs to be added, then the soap has NOT been made right, and it should be relegated to the shower).
I assume you're using a brush, you haven't said which one but it's not that big an issue. Unless it's falling apart on you, it'll do the job for now.
You've got soap. You've got a brush. Now you just need the skill.
Have you watched Mantic's videos? I hope so. If not, do that. Watch them over and over. See how he adds a little water sometimes? See how he checks the consistency? It should be smooth and slick, with no visible bubbles and a slight sheen. You should be able to rub it between your fingers and not feel the prints on the fingers touching each other. THAT is the key--the lather forms a slick cushion, not a thick sticky paste, not a grippy film.
Put that on your damp face, work it with the brush a bit to get the whiskers lifted and make sure they're well coated with lather, and wait a minute. Let the lather be your prep (a hot shower before doesn't hurt, but if you want to avoid it's ok). Wash that lather off, then relather. Strop, and try shaving. You razor should glide smoothly, without any drag from the lather--drag means you need a touch more water.
Your skin should still be slightly damp and a little slick after the blade passes over. If it isn't, you might need to work on your water ratio a bit--if it's too much water, then it won't be slick, it'll be slightly "grippy". Too thick, and it'll leave a sticky layer.. But the number one thing is the shave, and the feeling of the blade over your skin.
Trust your face. If it says "Too dry", then it probably is.
I hope this helps!
I have the same problem with a foggy mirror. For a couple of years I've used a product on all the bathroom mirrors in the house. It's called "cat crap" not the nicest name by far but it works. Go to any sports store and just ask them for some lens defogger it's usually either with in the water sports area or the winter sports. I get the spray bottle, it is easier to apply. But one application lasts for about 1 month and the bottle is usually good for about 3 applications. I think that it is a good deal for 3-4 bucks.
I'm probly lucky, seeing as I have a ventilation outlet situated just over my shower. (Designed to avoid increased humidity in the bathroom) So I won't really have a problem with the mirror fogging up in my flat.
Now seeing as you have that little difficulty, I'd recomend a microfiber cloth, should do a good job at removing that fog. I have to use that on my glasses... they fog up something fearce.. (Imagine trying to shave and not being able to see anything... Had it not been for the microfiber cloth I'd be a head shorter a while ago) lol
newb,
JimR's comments on entry #11 are right on. If you reread them and follow his suggestions, you will be miles ahead at this game.
I've tried several approaches to shave preparation and most of the simplest work just fine. I use the shower after shaving because I like to wash the lather residue off my face - that's the only reason. Shower befor shave works well too. The key, I believe, is to get your skin warmed and your whiskers wetted before applying lather. A good lather is very important, but I've used some poorly prepared soap lathers and have been able to shave with the results, but the result of those results was neither smooth nor was the shaving all that comfortable.
even more good shaving,
I just open the door after the shower's done to clear the mirror. Actually, I put everything but my shirt on before I start my shave. My beard doesn't get hard again that quick. Then it's lather and go!
Thanks for all the great responses! Something tells me from reading over what everyone says is that I just need more experience shaving. Lather is definitely something that should help fix all the problems with "wetness", but thanks for all the tips on prepping!