Urge to shave all day

Hi Everyone,

I just got my razor in the mail the other day (a pereso 5/8) that I got off the forums from hi_bud_gl, and a filly from RupRazor. I found a nice shop in my town that sells some Art Of Shaving so I headed over and ended up picking up their starters kit (preshave oil, cream, Aftershave balm, and brush) in sandle wood (mmmm it's all I smell all day now). The brush seems alright, it says its a best badger, about a 20mm knot and 45mm loft. I also picked up a green tub of proraso soap, so I can try switching it up and see if it gives me any better results.

I find the art of shaving cream dries out fast and doesn't feel cushioning, however from reading it sounds like I just need a little more water and elbow grease. I'm also going to get some towels for a "hot towel" preshave since I'm a bachelor I haven't owned any "hand towels", haha.

My big problem isn't wanting to buy a ton of new razors like many of you have admitted, my problem is I just want to keep shaving and trying new grips, angles, lathering, etc in an attempt to get a decent shave! My first shave I easily managed the cheeks, however the chin and jaw line gave my some trouble so I finished them off with the electric razor. My second shave I managed to get every area, but still suffering a little pulling and razor burn. Which I'm pretty sure is the lather and improper angle.

Can't wait till tomorrow morning to shave again, haha!

Nice to hear you've been bitten by the bug!

Welcome to SRP!

Keep experimenting on the lather, once you get it right it will be more comfortable. Remember not to use to much pressure and watch the angle. Keep us posted as to your progress.

:gl:

Lu

I see a positive sign already. You are entering this dark side without the illusion that you will be saving money by using a straight razor!! :roflmao

Well done and congrats on the RAD!

If the lather dries out quick, it might have been a little dry when you applied it to your face. If you consistently have problems with dry lather, and not too sudsy toothpaste or bar soap, you might have hard water. If that's the case, throw a cup of distilled water in the nuke before your shave and use that instead.

My toothpaste and soap seem to lather pretty nicely.

Today's shave I used more cream (after watching a HOW TO video and saw they were using more then myself) as well I kept adding water as I mixed it up in the bowl. It came out pretty nice looking and didn't dry up this time. I think next time I shave I'll give the proraso a try and see how well that lathers up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dward

I see a positive sign already. You are entering this dark side without the illusion that you will be saving money by using a straight razor!! :roflmao

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Shhhhhhhhh! Don't tell my wife that dammit! :nono:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BingoBango

If that's the case, throw a cup of distilled water in the nuke before your shave and use that instead.

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Be careful heating distilled water in the microwave-- I saw a Mythbusters which checked if distilled water can literally explode when removed from the microwave-- myth CONFIRMED...

What happens is that since there are no minerals in the water, it might not boil and can superheat instead, then as soon as you touch it, it can blow.


-Chief

WElcome SRP and be patient. Go slowly you will get there. Remember pressure is enemy of straight razor shaving.
GL

Excellent results on day 4!

When I woke up this morning the razor burn was gone, so I figured I would give it another go. However I would change a few things up. First I went out and bought some nice face towels to give myself a hot towel treatment.

So what I did today was:
Hot shower
AoS preshave oil (sandlewood)
Strop 20 laps (feels like im getting the hang of it)
hot towel
Lathered up some Proraso green tub (had some troubles here, not a great lather and couldn't get it going)
Shaved my next every gently with the grain from what I was studying on my neck earlier
Washed face with the hot towel again
Re-lathered with the proraso. BAM! I got it right this time, plenty of nice lather. And boy did it feel amazing on my skin, the tingle of the mint and the smell. WOW.
Shaved With and Across the grain this time and it was like cutting butter with a hot knife.
I relathered my chin to try and get a bunch of spots I missed.
Cold water cloth on my face for about a minute.
Nivea sensative after shave balm.

Now I'm feeling pretty good! Not BBS but no razor burn. I'm loving this!

Add some glycerine to the mix and it helps. Look in the wiki for Uberlather.

"....Remember pressure is enemy of straight razor shaving."

hi_bud_gl,

Amen to that...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BHChieftain

Be careful heating distilled water in the microwave-- I saw a Mythbusters which checked if distilled water can literally explode when removed from the microwave-- myth CONFIRMED...

What happens is that since there are no minerals in the water, it might not boil and can superheat instead, then as soon as you touch it, it can blow.


-Chief

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In chem labs they have a thing called a boiling stone
that helps nucleate the boiling.. You can also use
a toothpick or half a chopstick.

Superheated water can boil over in an instant and hurt you.

Up to the day I got myself an inexpensive water kettle
I used my microwave to boil water and caution is in order.

Use a large Pyrex(tm) measuring cup 1/3 full with half
a wooden chopstick and you should be ok.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BHChieftain

Be careful heating distilled water in the microwave-- I saw a Mythbusters which checked if distilled water can literally explode when removed from the microwave-- myth CONFIRMED...

What happens is that since there are no minerals in the water, it might not boil and can superheat instead, then as soon as you touch it, it can blow.


-Chief

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What!?! That's awesome! I've got to try that... :mace: