Thread: Suggestions please?

I've had some difficulties in my first dozen shaves that I'm not sure how to tackle. The first is that my face and lather seem to dry a bit during my shave. I can usually get to about 1/2 to 3/4 of my face before I need to re-lather. ATM I'm using the Col. Conk soap my fiancee bought for me. I've left my face dripping, added more water to the lather, tried hot water, warmish water, and cold water. Is it possible that I'm just shaving slowly and the lather is drying up or am I missing something?

Secondly, I've gotten my cheeks (mostly) smooth and my upper lip is passable...but my lower lip and my chin are underwhelming. My lower lip angles in to where it meets my chin, and my chin then comes back out, leaving a pretty tough angle. The very bottom of my chin bone is lacking a decent shave as well. I've tried going with the grain and across the grain, I've varied my angles but it still leaves the hairs a bit too long for my liking. To be honest, more often than not, I have gone over this area far too many times, which results in some irritation.

I don't want to blame the blade (though it has no manufacturers imprint, nor a place of origin stamped on it), but I am curious as to its quality because of the above mentioned difficulties with my chin, but also because while it doesn't take a lot of pressure, I'm also not just letting the razor slide over my face. In other words, hair on my arm isn't popping when the blade touches it. I'm open to the possibility that my technique just sucks or that I've screwed up the edge because I'm a noob, but is there any possibility that my no imprint blade may just be a POS?

Try a DE sample pack...you should be able to figure out which razor works best with your razor..make sure your lather is good and not too thick and not too thin..good luck

Originally Posted by smalltank

Try a DE sample pack...you should be able to figure out which razor works best with your razor..make sure your lather is good and not too thick and not too thin..good luck

He is shaving with a straight, I don't think a DE sample pack will help much...


To the OP, I'd try a better soap, but a no-name straight sounds suspicious. How was it honed?

Originally Posted by Blix

He is shaving with a straight, I don't think a DE sample pack will help much...


To the OP, I'd try a better soap, but a no-name straight sounds suspicious. How was it honed?

+1

Also yes, it could be it's taking a while for you to shave and the lather is drying out, but also could be too much water (believe it or not..) too much makes the lather too thin and when that happens i always found that it dried out quicker because of it (maybe something to do with the water not being properly locked in the lather or something) , anyways, practice making lathers as per the wiki, paint your arm and see how long it lasts. You'll get there, all of straght shaviing are little things that need a lot of practice

As for the chin, it's the big problem area for most of us. you'll figure it out, everyone does, and most of what people tell you to do is hard to visualise, it's all avery very personal thing. However I will try

i like to use the front thirde of the blade, even less round the chin, and do tiny little short strokes and lots of them. when i say short i mean half a cm to a cm. flatten out a little area at a time and get it smooth, and really concentrate on your stretching and blade angle.

You will slice yourself round there sooner or later, we all do. Just don't go ATG there yet (or ever) because you will slice yourself sooner, then repeatedly lol

About your lather drying, it's possible that it's because the time you use when shaving. I won't say that you're slow because it takes a lot more time in the beginning, but don't try to rush it, the speed will come as your technique improves. Try to just lather one part of the face at a time, instead of the entire face.
When I first started shaving with straights I also was "slow" and after a few drying lathers I started to first lather and shave my cheeks, and then my chin and neck (I had a mustache at the time)

As long as you get your cheeks and upper lip shaven it shouldn't be a problem with the blade, at least nothing more than it might start to dull a little, should be enough to give it a few laps on a pasted strop to get it back. If I understand you correct I have the same issue with my lower lip/chin, what I do is that I suck in my lower lip to help flatten and strech the area down to the chin.
Have you mapped your beard growth? If not, I woukd recommend you to do so, it will help you a lot, especially in the problem areas. To get my chin smooth I have to do one N/S oass and two W/E passes, but that's just what I have found to work best for me.

Be patient and keep playing around with different strokes, finally you'll figure out what works best for you. But most important, don't give up, straigt shaving has a steep learning curve, it will take time before you get those great shaves, but they will som eventually.

Good luck

To the OP, I'd try a better soap, but a no-name straight sounds suspicious. How was it honed?

I bought it from the classifieds on this site, so I'm not sure, really. The seller had a perfect rating, though. I'm thinking of buying a more recognizable razor and seeing how that works.

anyways, practice making lathers as per the wiki, paint your arm and see how long it lasts. You'll get there, all of straght shaviing are little things that need a lot of practice

i like to use the front thirde of the blade, even less round the chin, and do tiny little short strokes and lots of them. when i say short i mean half a cm to a cm. flatten out a little area at a time and get it smooth, and really concentrate on your stretching and blade angle.

Will do

But most important, don't give up

I won't. The learning is a lot of fun, even if my face is uncomfortable for a few hours. As long as it's something everyone has gone through, I am fine with going through it as well.

Originally Posted by escott

I won't. The learning is a lot of fun, even if my face is uncomfortable for a few hours. As long as it's something everyone has gone through, I am fine with going through it as well.

That's exactly the attitude, good for you. You'll do fine

Hello, escott. For what it's worth, here are my thoughts. First, I don't have much regard for Colonel Conk soaps. Sure, they lather and help you shave. They are better than nothing. Get yourself a Tabac, Mitchell's wool Fat, Valobra, Provence Sante, L'Occitane . . . You see where I'm going with all this. In the meantime, since you're working with Colonel Conk, load your brush heavily, use a medium amount of water, and if the soap dries on your face, re-lather. What have you to lose?

I don't know whether your razor is as sharp as it could be. On the other hand, your technique is probably the culprit — but I'm only guessing. The area around the mouth is a problem for many people. That as well as the area on the neck just below the chin. Forget about getting a great shave. Do the best you can for a passable shave. Time will take care of your problem, time to hone your skill. Set your mind's dial on getting a comfortable shave as you hone your technique. The great shaves will come in time, even around the chin and the mustache areas.

When I first started shaving I had the same problems.
Here is a video that helped me. With no frills soap and cream you can get from your local drugstore. (rite aid is where I purchased both of them in the beginning. (a few drops of glycerin and a pre shave oil help as well)
‪Building Shave Lather‬‏ - YouTube