Thread: I'm new to all of this

Good Beard prep? That is something that I know extra-very little about..... But that does sound like something that may help. I get all red and just plain ole irritated......

I think that I will peruse the "Beard Prep" Forum, but any advice that you guys have, oils, creams,etc.... will be greatly appreciated.

Originally Posted by Morrison

I think that I will peruse the "Beard Prep" Forum, but any advice that you guys have, oils, creams,etc.... will be greatly appreciated.

The most important part is t wash your beard with some kind of soap to remove the skin oils so that the whiskers can absorb water well, then actually let them absorb the water with hot towels etc. This is why shaving right out of the shower is common, because the bulk of the beard prep is done with no extra effort.

Oh, I almost forgot! Jhenry had mentioned just painting my lather on, rather than pressing the brush into my face to help further the lather. But, when I did this, the lather seemed to be even thinner.... I put some conditioner on my brush, and that did help (after shampooing it), but it still feels like the brush is coarse when applying the lather....but the lather does build better.

Seems like I am between a rock and a hard place.....any suggestions?

Xman, thanks for the prep advice, I will definitely remember to do that~

Oglethorpe, I am going to try the method that you mention, I will update on it later

Thanks again!!!

I wish I got to this sooner since I have a Col. Conk Badger Brush. It cost about $55 and it was adverstised as their best badger brush. I have been very impressed with it. No hairs fell out of it, the hairs hold water well and has the right balance of being soft to the face, but stiff enough to swirl up a lather. It still looks just a great as they day I got it.

The kicker on this brush is that it was made in England and I suspect some reputable people assembling this for the Col. Conk label. There are likely a few groups making the brushes for the Col. Conk line and it could change based on a number of conditions.

I think I lucked out with mine - Kudos to whomever made this one.

If you don't feel satisfied with yours, then return it. Shavemac seems to be a lot of bang for the buck and I hear a lot of positive comments from SRP members who have them.

Good Luck,

Pabster

Lots of good advice here already, so welcome to SRP

You've found a great group of people!

Originally Posted by jhenry

Morrison,

First off, welcome to SRP. If you're looking for advice about str8 razor shaving, you've come to right place.
.....
Second, when using the brush use it to apply the lather gently to your face in a painting motion. There is no need to press the brush into your face. This may help address your sensitive skin issue.
.....

+1 on the Welcome

+1 on the use the brush gently.
Use only the first 1/4 inch of the brush on your face.

Any brush does a couple of things...

• picks up soap from the puck
• works that soap or a cream into a lather in a mug, on your hand, on you face.
• lightly scrubs the face cleaner than it was and gets lather/ bubbles/ water under and around your whiskers. The lather keeps whiskers wet.

If your face does not like the scratch then building a lather on your face may be off the table. The other two methods work well. I am a mug/ tin cup man.

One solution is to build that lather on you hand then use you
hands to massage it on your face. If you have a two or three day
beard your whiskers will help build a good lather if you scrub a bit.

Brushes get better with use. It may just need to settle in.

Using only the first 1/4 inch on your face is a good thing with any brush.

I admit some days I like to scratch and scrub and on those days I grab my $7.95 drugstore special and scrub my face just short of pink.

Yes, about the brush and returning it, though many places won't allow it 'for health reasons'. I'm a little startled that a Col. Conk product was unsatisfactory, although personally, I wouldn't be put off by the boar bristles. They're a little coarser but add body and longevity (at that price point) and give a bit more bang for the buck.

If you have sensitive skin and find it unsatisfactory you should certainly return it, (given you can) and move up to a nice fat pure badger that pleases you.

If it ain't fun, there ain't much point to it.

Originally Posted by mitchshrader

Yes, about the brush and returning it, though many places won't allow it 'for health reasons'. I'm a little startled that a Col. Conk product was unsatisfactory, although personally, I wouldn't be put off by the boar bristles. They're a little coarser but add body and longevity (at that price point) and give a bit more bang for the buck.

If you have sensitive skin and find it unsatisfactory you should certainly return it, (given you can) and move up to a nice fat pure badger that pleases you.

If it ain't fun, there ain't much point to it.

+1 If it ain't fun, there ain't much point to it.