Thread: Complete Noob!

Originally Posted by tonycraigo

The first thing, probably, is to pick up a brush and some real shaving soap. Check out some local drug stores and you'll probably find those items rather easily.

Learn to make a good lather with a brush and (after a shower) scrub it into your face with circular motions. This kinda sets up the whiskers, hydrates them and makes them ready to be cut.

Using a new blade in whatever razor you're using, make light strokes with almost no pressure. A new blade should wipe those hairs away instantly. Razor burn is almost always due to too much pressure... as the other guys have mentioned the fewer blades the better.

Start with only a 'with the grain' shave - with a feather light touch - and see if that helps.

A real shaving soap has ingredients that 'cushion' the blade... it also has ingredients that stick around on the skin after the shave which will help heal any boo-boos and moisturise the skin.

I doubt if the act of shaving will cure acne - those miracle acne potions around these days will do that - but the act of lathering up will clean your face and doing that every day couldn't hurt even if you don't shave every day.

Keep us posted.

Great advice there from Tony.

Find your local Walgreens. They have the VDH Shave set on for 7.99 right now. That will give you a Brush, a puck of soap and a bowl to lather in. nothing fancy but your investment will be less that a pack of cartidges for you MACH 3 or Fushion.

Van Der Hagen*Shave Set | Walgreens

One of the things you will get from following Tony's advice is a better understanding of the process and time it takes to properly prep and shave. Take the time to enjoy the process. making a good lather, proper beard prep, learning the growth patterns of the hair on your face.

Pre shave prep is critical for DE and Straight shaving. It also improves shaving with a cartridge.

So get your kit and do this.

put your brush in your bowl with the hottest tap water and let soak, I also soak my puck
Take a Hot shower
drain water from bowl and puck, shake excess water from brush and rub brush 10-20 circles over soap
Now in your drained bowl just whip a lather for 2-3 minutes. depending on how hard the water is, the brush and soap will depend on if you just whip circles or beat or what works best so you will have to play around
Now like Tony said lather circles all over your face. finishing off with some smoothing strokes.
Now take a small hand towl or face cloth and soak in hot tap water and ring out.
after 2 minutes drape the towel over your face leaving a spot for your nose to breath. Trust me breathing through a wet towel not as easy as it sounds.
Once towel is cool remove and apply more lather in circular motion then smooth out

Now begin to shave.