Originally Posted by
ryryrecords
Regarding the angle - Thank you for affirming this for me. I find that closing up the angle helps on certain areas, such as the neck. Also it helps to close up the angle on the areas where my technique doesn't feel strong (closed angle equals safer), I sometimes just need to do more passes.
I did my morning shave today with both my straight and a regular gillette razor. It went well. I did a WTG pass on my cheeks and neck and didn't incur any new cuts. Then I did the rest with my gillette and did ATG with the gillette too. Using the gillette helped because I have some almost gash like cuts from the straight, and going over them with the straight wasn't allowing them to heal and I was just adding new ones.
About my lather and prep. I prefer to do it after a shower but if not I spend 4 minutes of putting hot water on my face and rubbing it in. I soak my shaving brush for 2 minutes in really hot water. With the lather, I prefer the glycerine soap (Colonel Conk Bay Rum) over the Derby shave cream. I find it to be more hydrating. I typically will relather many times during a straight shave because I find the lather will dry up on the unshaved areas. It is very uncomfortable for me to shave when my skin isn't hydrated and the lather is drying. So I typically will relather 4 or 5 times because I'm going so slowly.
I do feel comfortable going ATG on the neck only... on the cheeks and other areas I do cut myself. Tomorrow I will bring that back into my shave and finish the rest with the gillette. Once my cuts are healed more then I can try a pass under the nose and on the chin.
These suggestions are great. You are all very appreciated for your comments!
Ryan