Thread: Hi from Australia

Nothing wrong with using a pre-shave oil, but I would try it without the oil as well. I'm one for simplicity myself. I don't use and oil, but if you enjoy it, why change?!
That shave soap looks good, I might have to get some myself sometime. Might be a while though. The stuff I have already is likely to last sometime .


Mick

Hi Sharpy,
I am a newbie but did my first shave with disposable blade straight razor and sold it the next day on EBAY. It was a bloody mess. the blade is not very long and extremely sharp with points on both ends. If you dont come down on your face totally level you will cut yourself. Doing better now with a regular straight razor. I am using a beginner one with a rounded end until I get the knack of it.

Thanks for the info.
Well I guess I will see how it goes. If I master the shavette then I should be even better with the straight then

Originally Posted by sharpy

Thanks Mick.

I just ordered this soapTallow, Lanolin, & Kokum Butter Shaving Soap Tin

IM hoping it is good...

And I got the "cheapest silver tip brush on Ebay" apparently ...

Should I also use a shave oil ? I purchased more oil from Total Shaving Solutions" which I used with my disposable cartridge. I really like it only use 3 drops per shave. Maybe our will be a good pre shave oil too ...

It was that oil purchase that led me to discover straight shaving and this forum...

Hi, how are you going?
That soap is quite nice, but it took me a while to understand lathering a tallow based soap after a fling with easy to lather creams. Try it with icy cold water from the fridge on hot days...

I used to use Proraso pre-shave cream; I used to rave about it, it IS nice, but I don't use any pre-shave anymore. I am thinking about re-visiting it though...

Cheap brushes can be really nice, price possibly has little to do with the quality and feel of a brush. A cheapish boar brush would be great with that soap. Something like this.

Carl

Great thanks Carl.
Thanks for the tip.

I was looking at some semogue brushes at an Australian online store. Then I decided that if the ebay white tip brush really is a white tip then it would be worth it?
This is in the mind of someone who only a few days ago didn't know that the name "straight razor" actually referred to a cut throat, and never even considered the intricate and complicated world of shaving brushes !!

I ordered this one this one from ebay.
cost me about $32 delivered.

Well I think I have ordered everything I need for know (except a real razor), looking forward to slicing my face up a little :P

That looks like a nice brush! Mick will be loving that you're using the term 'cut throat'

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

That looks like a nice brush! Mick will be loving that you're using the term 'cut throat'

Damn straight!


Mick

Well i got my shavette today. It certainly Is a cheap piece of gear, looks like it was made by hand of course i had to use it right away, i don't have my brush yet so I had to improvisers. I an also way too impatient to take it easy
Two "passes" later and not too much blood and feeling smooth in some areas, and not too smooth in others. Feelong a little raw in a couple of spots like the chin etc I think ill get a bit of rash/ingrowns. I will post pics tomorrow.

How do you shave around/on a bumpy mole ?

Originally Posted by sharpy

...
How do you shave around/on a bumpy mole ?

With great care.

Good job on the shave!

James.

Well here are the results of my first shave !




Yes, that is in fact a basting brush ! (I couldn't wait for my silver tip to arrive)

After a shower and a little oil (that I used to use with a cartridge instead of cream)
I made up some later with the brush. It SEEMED to lather up really well, but was quite awkward as the brush is flat.
I have no idea how to tell if the lather is too dry or wet..
it seems when too wet the bubbles get bigger ??

Pre shave stubble (I pretty much don't grow hair outside of the goatee/moustache area.. little on the neck)




Lather



First pass. I really didn't know how to approach the chin, gave it a few nicks though




Second pass, I had a go at a few longer smooth passes on the cheeks and the easier areas, my left hand is pretty awkward...
I also had a bigger attempt at my chin, and tried a few XTG and ATG passes as well.
Sometimes when I first put the razor against my skin it gets kind of stuck, I guess that is basically because of a lack of feel and practice.




Overall no too bad considering I think.
The mole there was certainly tricky, I just tried to shave up to it from each direction.
I didn't bother finishing up with a cartridge, I was over it by then and my face was stinging a little (and it was past my bedtime).

I found that the shaving cream started disappearing halfway through my shave, and some areas disappeared altogether. Any tips for that ?