Originally Posted by
whiteweazel
Questions:
1. Lathering for me has been the hardest. I've been practicing for well over a month with a throw-away gillete, went through a tube of Proraso, and starting a tube of The Real Shaving Co. I really liked the smell and feel of Proraso but felt it lacked cushion and slickness. I noticed after washing the residue off my face, it felt EXTREMELY slick (unlike during the shave). I feel a bit more cushion in the RSC, it seems to be slightly more comfortable (oddly less slick after washing my face).
I know that I have ridiculously dry skin, so much so that taking a hot shower in the winter dries out my skin to the point that, unattended, small dry skin rashes develope. That said I love hot showers and take them all the time. I have a feeling that the prep of how water on my face may be drying out my skin to the point that the razor does not glide. I've tried lathering with all sorts of amounts of water, less, more, inbetween etc. I find that if I use less water, the lather dries within seconds. It goes from luscious and creamy to cracking in a matter of seconds, even when splashing my face with water in between. Too much water feels even worse, cushion and slickness wise, but doesn't dry out nearly as fast. In between is very difficult, it generally leans more to one side or the other.
I've added a grape seed oil as a pre-shave, might help a tiny bit in conditioning the skin but can't say it's helped much during the shave. I'm thinking it might possibly be the type of water (hard/soft)? I was thinking of perhaps buying and adding ~2 drops of glycerin to my lather to see if this helps?
I know my technique is also a factor, working on it as hard as I can. At this point I know lathering is my biggest obstacle into really getting into straight razor shaving.
2. Would it be a wise idea at this point to invest in a DE as a substitute shaver when not using the straight? I am thinking they are similar in concept and that it might be a good way to finish off my shave while learning the straight.
3. Do you shave you Adam's apple with the straight? Seems like asking for trouble! haha
4. I thought I had more questions, but I seem to have either forgetten them or answered them myself. I will have more later!