My experience so far with my Christmas present

Just thought I'd post a little update from a first timer.

"Santa" brought me a kit from Tony Miller (thanks to all for the recommendations and info found here). So of course I had to try it out Christmas morning. I was a little nervous, but luckily, I think all the research I did here beforehand paid off (I had nothing better to do - the wife made me wait until Christmas to open it, even though it was here for two weeks!). The first shave went very well, not super close, but I was mainly just going through the motions to see how it felt. The toughest area was the neck (I sport a goatee, so I was spared any lip/chin issues). There might have been one tiny nick, but didn't even need the styptic, cold water closed it up. I'll agree with what a few others have said, the left hand actually turned out very well, possibly because I was so carefull with it and used very little pressure.

I've had three more shaves since then, and each one seems to be getting better technique-wise. I haven't even opened the pasted paddle yet, I'm hoping that the hanging strop will keep me going for a while. I've been doing 40 passes on each side, and that seems to be working well so far.

The only issue I have is the dry Nevada air makes it difficult to keep a wet face during the shave (of course, I'm taking quite a while right now, too). I find that I shave half of my face, then re-wet the left side and re-lather. That seems to help. I'm also going to give some different soaps and cremes a try to see if that helps.

Anyway, so far so good. Here's to many more pleasant shaves!

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Originally Posted by jimmyray

The only issue I have is the dry Nevada air makes it difficult to keep a wet face during the shave (of course, I'm taking quite a while right now, too). I find that I shave half of my face, then re-wet the left side and re-lather. That seems to help. I'm also going to give some different soaps and cremes a try to see if that helps.

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Don't worry about it, just rework the lather and keep going. I do the same thing even though I'm in humid Houston.

Jimmy,
Glad it is going well. The best solution for a wetter shave is to upgrade either or both the soap and brush. The Burma is a good start for hard cake soaps but may times that type of soap can dry quickly. Maybe try a creme type soap which is best applied with a softer Badger brush. The Tweezerman for $12-15 would be a good inexpensive trail or head for a $50-60 one that will be a keeper.

Tony

I find creams are wetter that soaps. You might want top experiment in that direction.

Glad to hear it's going well. Let us know when you lose the goatee. :D

X

good stuff, keep it going!!!

as for the lather... im a soap guy by choice and the way i've found to improve my lather over time is by doing the following:

1 - apply more soap to your brush to start. do a good 15-20twists on your soap with your wet brush, get that soap into the middle holding area.

2 - start with small amount of water in your bowl where you are going ot make your lather. you can always add water. sometimes the lather seems just a tad bit watery just keep doing some twists and up/down pumps till it mixes that water up into the holding soap area of the brush. leave the lather a bit thicker. the more watery with bubbles looking lather dries out much faster then the thicker looking lather not to mention i find it protects better also.


so try that out.. more soap to start on your brush... then less water in the bowl adding very slowly to the bottom when needed till you get the lather you want.

~J

If you get some cream, you can always combine the soap and the cream. This makes a super-rich, slick lather.

The up and down pumping motions that jscott mentioned also help thicken the lather, for some reason. I will sometimes pump the brush up and down on my face as I lather. It makes a gentle suction feeling and the lather gets really creamy.

Josh