Thread: Greetings from Colorado

Day 2:

I went for the entire face and neck today. It isn't necessarily as good of a shave as I did yesterday, but I had the confidence to expand my area. Weakest part continues to by my lather. I can make plenty of it, but it is thin and dries out quite quickly. I did find that a soft touch in the bowl tended to make a lather more like what I have seen in videos before, but the fullness is still not there. Practice makes perfect, I suppose. Ironically, most of the few places that I managed to nick today were leftover nicks from my Gillette. That thing still manages to cause me pain, well after I decided to quit it. Does anyone have some insight into the lathering business? Mine is going on so thin that it is dry in four minutes, before I can even get to where I applied it.

We'll try again tomorrow

Originally Posted by wolfcobra

Does anyone have some insight into the lathering business? Mine is going on so thin that it is dry in four minutes, before I can even get to where I applied it.

I had the same problem with my lather drying out quickly. How much water do you think you use when you make your lather? In one of the posts I read, it was mentioned that up to a tablespoon of water may be required. One demo in the Wiki said to use an almond size bit of cream while another member's video showed him taking a much larger scoop. So I decided to experiment.

Using more than an almond size bit of cream and shaking out my brush that I soaked in hot water, I worked up a very stiff lather in a small bowl. Then to see if it really took up to a tablespoon of water, I used a measuring spoon and added hot water to the bowl, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, while watching how the lather developed as I swirled the brush.

Sure enough, by the time I had added a tablespoon of water, I had a pretty good lather that didn't dry out as I went through my three passes shaving. The trick is to not add too much water at a time. Add it in small increments as you build your lather, watching how the lather improves. I used a measuring spoon at first just so I could have an idea as to how the lather looked as I built up to a full tablespoon of water. It isn't necessary to continue measuring. One's eye let's you know when you've got a good bowl of lather. Just don't add the water too quickly.

While my lather now stayed wet, it didn't get that thick consistency I saw in many of the demo videos. Part of that is just experience, I would imagine. But if you want to have a really thick lather that stays thick, you need to get into making über lather. That requires working some shaving soap into the wet brush first, then adding a few drops of glycerine along with the shaving cream to the bowl and working the three together. Then adding the water as above. You're not trying to make lather from the shaving soap, just work a good bit of it into the brush so it can be mixed with the shaving cream. The combination of the four -- shaving soap, shaving cream, glycerine and water is what gives that thick, creamy lather that stays moist and thick throughout three passes of shaving.

You can use a cheap shaving soap like Williams or Van der Hagen, available in drugstores or Walmart. You'll find glycerine in the first aid section of a drugstore. I read a recommendation to use just 3 - 5 drops of glycerine. In experimenting, I found that using somewhat more than that was what worked for me. Experiment yourself to find what works for you.

One last comment -- I wanted my lather to stay warm for all three passes, so I eventually bought a shaving scuttle. Now my prep is a far cry from shaking that can of Barbasol. ;-)

Whatever you do -- have a great time doing it!
Namaste,
Morty -_-

good reognition is always a good thing....only 3 more years at the academy..do you knwo what your job is going to be yet? i also hear that they keep yall pretty busy there at the academy

I still have two years until I learn what my job in the Air Force will be, and yes, they DEFINITELY keep us busy.

you should try for CE maybe..... but whatever you do dont get stuck being a cop!

I'm going to try to get a pilot slot. It's certainly reachable at this stage.

nice! just dont be that pilot that drank to much soju and thought he could fly off the 3rd floor without his jet.....thanks to that 8 ball no more soju in our rooms

I'm assuming you are stationed in South Korea... Osan?

Furthermore, I stay away from the alcohol. Doesn't do my face much good, so I figure it won't do my body much better. Also a good way to be saying goodbye to the Academy.

even worse...im at Kunsan