Thread: Matt's shave journel

Fellas thank you for the through replies. I'm kinda hot and cold on reading here on days I don't shave, but I do read the replies and try to implement the advice given.

Shave 9:
Could be my best shave to date. I decided to un-scientifically determine if the Morley was going dull. So I brought out my shave ready Clauss that only has 1 shave on it. I had about 2 1/2 days growth which was more then the last shave when I used the Morley. Everything went fantastic no tugging, or pulling. Further no cuts, nicks, or burns so I'm always pleased with that. The spot under my chin is shaved even and uniformly and that'd been giving me trouble. There is a spot further left on my jaw line I tried 2x to touch up but it didn't clean up as nice. 1 step forward 2 steps back I guess. I really felt that things kinda came together on this shave a little bit.

I've decided that I'll put the Morley on the pasted strop and see if the edge comes back compared to the Clauss. If not it's off to the hones as I'm not ready to venture into that yet.

Thanks again guys for all the advice.

Matt

Originally Posted by Morty

How is your beard prep?

Morty,

Now that I have just a minute I'll get you an answer. My routine has been, since I started using a DE about a 2 years ago, has been a hot shower. The last thing I do in the shower is let the hot water run over my face and neck for roughly 2 minutes. I then just dry my forehead and eyes, exit the shower, and begin lathering. I've started face lathering so once lather is built up on the brush I'll rinse again with hot water from the sink to make sure the beard area is well wetted, and then start working the brush in a circular motion to build lather across my face and neck. Once a good lather is built I continue and move on to painting style strokes. Then it's on to the shave.

I've used hot towels a few times, and while nice I've never noticed a difference. But that was with my DE not my straight. Also I've never used any type of pre-shave oil or anything so I can't say if I'm a believer or not believer in those things.

Matt

Shave 10

Probably the best shave to date. I used the Clauss again. Prep was hot shower as ususal. This time there were no patches that needed touch ups, or that I missed. I made 2 WTG/N-->S passes. Had 2 little bleeders on my upper lip but nothing that Whitch Hazel didn't take care of. Technique is making progress I feel. I'll keep working N-->S passes for a while. Once the shaves become consistant then I'll probably push to adding a XTG pass on my face.

Matt

Sounds like it's going really well, Matt. I used to use Proraso pre shave cream almost religiously, but then I wanted to go all natural with creams and things and gave it a miss. They've got a new formula now, but I haven't tried it yet. I basically decided at a point in time I pretty much had an almost perfect shave 'pegged', and wanted to then concentrate on technique rather than prep. There are SO many variables in shaving that I think it's wise at some stage to isolate a variable and work on it alone.

I have never actually had a 100% perfect shave; though, unless I use a DE. A DE allows me to come at each and every hair exactly opposite to its direction of growth. I don't feel, that for me, that's actually possible with a straight; not unless I use a straight with a very well rounded Spanish or French toe. A couple of my new framebacks could lend themselves to this; possibly with some toe shaping...

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

There are SO many variables in shaving that I think it's wise at some stage to isolate a variable and work on it alone.

+1 on Carl's advice. I'd go one week with without changing anything in my beard prep, then I'd add a technique to my prep and do that every day for a week. That's how I came to realize that using hair conditioner really did soften my beard more, applying 3 - 5 drops of pre shave oil to my face before lathering palpably improved the comfort of my shave and that use of a hot towel didn't seem to make much of a difference for me.

Everyone's beard and skin is different. It pays to take the time and effort to find out what works for you.

I left my puck of Williams Mug soap in the shower after using it to condition the used strop I have. The other day I took the puck and worked a crude lather with my hands and lathered my face before I got out of the shower. I let that lather sit until after I was ready to start face lathering with my other soap. I'm not sure if this made any difference or not. Based on advice from a barber, and responses here I'm thinking of picking up some noxzema to try as a pre-shave. I've never used one so I'm not sure what to really expect from pre-shave stuff. I'm also thinking of picking up some family dollar spice after shave to try out. I've only ever used a balm so that may be a nice change of pace.

Question, with the ruprazor Filly strop it comes with some green paste on the back side of the strop. Do I need to spread that throughout that side of the strop before using it as a pasted strop, or should I just leave the concentration of the pase in the center of that side of the strop and go to work. I'm wanting to put the Morley and sons razor on it to see if the edge will come back a little bit? Secondly after using the pasted side what is the best way to prevent cross contamination of the paste onto my other strop?

Matt

Matt, do you let your lather sit on your face while stropping? I know it's only a little while, but I always lather my face before stropping. I do 30/70 so I guess it's on my face for a minute or two...
Proraso pre-shave cream is excellent...

Usually not. I normally hit the strop before I hop in the shower. My strop is not located in my bathroom currently. Last part of the shower I stand letting the hot water run on my face/neck for 2 to 3 minutes. Then I re-wet my brush, and start in the soap bowl, splash hot water on my face from the sink. Finally it's on to face lathering.

When I used the Williams, which is not a soap I've shaved with, I let the water run on my face/neck for 2 to 3 minutes, then lathered it crudely with my hands and applied that to my face/neck. I then hit the soap bowl, and once ready to face lather I wiped the Williams from my face, re-wet my face with hot water, and face lathered.

I wish I had a place locally I could pick up quality products like Proraso and such. I'm stuck with VDH from Walmart, and Williams from CVS. The Bath and Body Works carried C.E. Bigelow when I started with my DE about 3 years ago but they do not any more. I'm kinda impatient and would rather not have to wait for an internet order but may have to order some of the Proraso based on your recommendations.

Matt

Originally Posted by Morty

+1 on Carl's advice. I'd go one week with without changing anything in my beard prep, then I'd add a technique to my prep and do that every day for a week. That's how I came to realize that using hair conditioner really did soften my beard more, applying 3 - 5 drops of pre shave oil to my face before lathering palpably improved the comfort of my shave and that use of a hot towel didn't seem to make much of a difference for me.

Everyone's beard and skin is different. It pays to take the time and effort to find out what works for you.

Morty, Sorry I ment to address your reply earlier. I really haven't changed my routine much since making the switch from DE to Straight. About the only difference is using a strop, which is pre-shower for me. And with my new brush I've found face lathering and getting better results then anything I've done previously with lathering. I've tried not to change razors but once I started getting the tug and pull from the Morley I used the Clauss to verify if it was me or the razor. From one shave to the next, same amount of growth, it was night and day. I can only assume I didn't improve my technique significantly enough in one shave for me to be a variable. So my conclusion was that I had some how dulled the Morley's edge with either poor stropping technique, or from several shaves.

Again Carl and Morty thank y'all for all the help and advice.

Matt

If I had to do with what's available round here I'd be a sad, SAD little man!
Normally I order something each fortnight, some cream, or soap, or aftershave. It takes about 10 working days to get stuff shipped from up there to down here, so my orders sort of 'trickle in'. It keeps the guy at the post office permanently annoyed with our constant questions about the post (no delivery here).