Its all in the preperation!!

Hello, I have been lurking in the forum for the past year or so trying to decide whether to get my first straight or not. Well two weeks ago I finally pulled the plug after getting the ok from the wife, and I have to say it has definitely been a journey. I ordered a DOVO "Prima Klang" from SRD, and when I got it I was so exceited so I went home and shaved. As is true with most of the beiginers, the first shave was less than desirable. I followed Lynn's tips about how to start, and the first cheek was a mess. There were cuts, bumps, razor burn, and I really eflt like maybe this wasnt a good idea. The second shave was a bit better, but still tugged and scraped a lot, so I stepped back and examined my process. I checked to make sure that I was stropping well, and watched all of the stropping videos that I could to make sure that my technique was correct. I checked my angle to make sure it was good, and tried every angle in between to see what would work for my face. Then came the third shave, and still the pulling and tugging. I was ready to send the razor back to get rehoned thinking that possibly I had rolled the edge while stropping when I had a epiphany. I was prepping my face to shave, and my wife asked why I used a pre-shave oil. That is when it hit me. Perhaps I am not doing enough in the pre-shave to make my beard ready for the shave, so I experimented with that. I had always done the hot shower and pre-shave oil, but it didnt seem to be enough. So for the fifth shave I tried the following:
1. Hot shower
2. Lather in shower, and massage into beard
3. let lather sit for a minute or two to soak into beard and raise hairs
4. rinse
5. Pre-shave oil
6. Re-Lather and work lather into beard for a bit
7. SHAVE!!!

Wow was it a better experience. The blade glided through the hair like it wasnt even there. I was able to do both cheeks without any issues, and actually had to stop myself from jumping into finishing my whole face right then and there To my surprise the wife actually noticed the difference and told me that my face was really smooth when I greeted her with a hug when she got hmoe from shopping. I just wanted to thank this forum, because without being able to read up on tips and tricks, I would have for sure quit shaving with a straight, and would neveer have enjoy shaving so much. Now I just have to get the rest of the face down and I'll be set.
Thanks,
Cary

Congrats! :)

Pre shave prep seems to be a very under-rated area IMO. Most people get excited about hones, expensive strops, the brushes, the razor and so on, but not many people get excited about sitting around with a hot towel on their face..! :D

I dont know why, because thats one of the most relaxing bits of the shave IMO. Whenever I go to the barber for a shave, its the sitting there with a hot towel on my face thats the bit I really like. The shave is just the icing on the cake.

You're absolutely correct in what you say, and I think many guys would get a much better result early on if they focussed on their pre-shave prep. And I say this from experience because when I started I used to just strop, lather and shave.

Now I rub a good load of conidtioner into my beard in the shower, then use Trumpers unscented moisturizer as a pre-shave and throw a hot towel on top of that. And boy did the shaves suddenly get better when I started doing that lot..!

Congrats on your shave! :tu

You'll be pleased to hear it just gets better from here!

Congrats on the "Ta Da" moment. Sounds like you are firmly on your way. Yes, face prep is just as important as the other aspects of straight razor shaving. If you haven't already done so you should start considering buying a paste strop (along with paste or spray) and/or a barbers hone to maintain the edge. At some point stropping will not be enough and you will have to refresh your edge. You won't have to redo the bevel unless you have damaged the edge somehow. The times between hitting the pasted strop/stones are determined by use, technique and blade. Each blade (even by the same manufacturer) will have its own characteristics. When your razor begins to tug after proper face prep and stropping it's time to hit the pasted strop or barbers hone. :beer1:

Good going on the prep. Next, really make sure you are building your lather properly - neither too dry nor soupy. There are those here that believe that if your lather gets ruined, throw it out and start over. I am slowly getting to be one of them. Makes a huge difference as well.

StuBear is right. His regimen of pre shave prep is the first step(s) in getting a close, smooth shave. Although I don't do it as often as I should, using hot wet towels and a pre shave conditioner or oil really starts things off right.

"The prep's the thing
Wherein I'll catch the ..."

oh wait no

Sorry. :D

You're absolutely right though. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, not even excellent stropping is more important to a good shave than having soft saturated whiskers. Take the time to do it right. It's worth the effort.

Gentlemen:

Yes, indeed, the preparation done well is essential. Not only does good preparation soften the whiskers and provides cushion and glide for the razor, the process also adds to the pleasure of wet shaving.

Regards,
Obie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen:

Yes, indeed, the preparation done well is essential. Not only does good preparation soften the whiskers and provides cushion and glide for the razor, the process also adds to the pleasure of wet shaving.

Regards,
Obie

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How true, how true!

you are so right.
Good prep is essential to a great shaving experience!
I sometimes rush that part, and I am punished, result-wise, every time:)

I can't help contrast this thread with the one that JMS posted recently, Technique, technique, technique, in which he describes shaving with virtually no prep, just water and razor. I have to admit I do find proper preparation in shaving, as in many areas of life, makes a world of difference. Maybe when I have as many years of shaving under my belt as JMS does, I'll feel differently. Assuming I have that many left.

After 4 months of this addiction, I concur with prep being one of the most important parts of the experience. I usually start with shower (never dry the face when getting out), followed by hot cloth, sometimes use oil, lather and commence with ax. The better the prep the better the shave! :medvl:

Thanks for the support guys! Just had another shave today and this time incorporated my grandfathers antique scuttle, and man did the warm lather hit the spot.

I guess someone has to be the wet blanket here so I'll take the bullet on this one.

Yes pre shave prep is important however too often we see posts from guys starting out who do their pre shave prep to the nines and have a quality razor and just can't understand why they got a crummy shave after all they did it like they were supposed to.

You can in fact get a very good shave with really crummy pre shave prep as long as the razor is properly sharp and you are too.

So what I'm trying to say here is we need to keep things in perspective as to what the order of importance is when you discuss the shaving process so the rookie doesn't think all factors are equal or you can overdo one part to compensate for a poor showing in another part. Sometimes you can but not always.

Prep+technique+concentration=happy face!

signing on late to this thread.. but i've got to say i've started doing a combination of the cold water shave prep and the robeson bayrum method.. it ads a huge improvement to my shave.. before i would simply hot shower and then lather very well.. now after my first lather.. i massage it in with my fingers.. then rinse off the lather.. apply bayrum and lather again.. i'm not sure if the bayrum really does anything.. i just enjoy the smell..

anyway.. the finger rub makes a huge difference.. it really does stimulate my face more than the brush and really work in the lather.. i honestly notice a big difference.. i highly recommend.

I believe that I may have to try that with tomorrow mornings shave.