Hello from a new New Orleanian... Please help

**JimmyHAD** · 01-23-2013, 02:38 PM

If the spine is touching your cheek you need to bring the spine away a little bit. What the angle is depends on where on your face/neck you are but something like 20 to 30 degrees is usually about right. Flattens out more around the knob of the chin but like I say, the spine shouldn't lay on the skin.

Welcome to SRP !

**SirStropalot** · 01-23-2013, 03:04 PM

Hey Murmie,

On the flatness of the blade, what Jimmy said is right on. I initially had put "try raising the angle of the blade a little at a time until it shaves smoothly and doesn't stick as much". I did some cutting and pasting, i.e. the edit part and lost that sentence and didn't catch it, sorry!

On pre-shave oils, I've tried them, didn't really care for it though, but many do. It made my hands slicker than I like when handling a straight, even after I washed them because you still pick up some on the blade with the lather. Getting the right consistency with the lather really negates the need for pre-shave oils, IMO. if you want to try one, I have a new Trueffit & Hill 2 oz. bottle I'll let you have. If interested, just pm me an address and I'll send it to you.

Stretching can help a lot. Generally you stretch on the opposite side of the direction of the stroke, or on the spine side and away from the direct of the stroke. Sometimes though you may have to get creative and do it a little differently.

Again,

and enjoy!!

Regards,
Howard

Here's a video of Lynn building lather with an SRD soap, but it's pretty much the same for each soap.

Building a shaving lather with a brush directly on your face. - YouTube

**Murmle** · 01-23-2013, 03:21 PM

ok... Soooo just shaved my other cheek! it went better this time taking into account the extra water and the blade angles... I think its just gonna take a little bit of experimentation to discover exactly the right angle and amount of water... as I was shaving I was analyzing what was happening with the lather, it seems that it dries out on my face very quickly and as this happens it seems to get stickier and stickier does this sound right or am I just completely Bonkers??

**JimmyHAD** · 01-23-2013, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by Murmle

as I was shaving I was analyzing what was happening with the lather, it seems that it dries out on my face very quickly and as this happens it seems to get stickier and stickier does this sound right or am I just completely Bonkers??

My first week ...... maybe more, what now takes 10 minutes took me 45 minutes. The lather would dry on one side by the time I shaved the other side. I had to relather the dry side for awhile. As my proficiency increased my time decreased and pretty soon I was getting both sides before it got too dry. Keep on truckin'.

**randydance062449** · 01-23-2013, 03:47 PM

The VDH does dry out quicker than some others and thus gets sticky. But that also is true with some other soaps if you don't use enough water. try using more water in your lather and also a preshave oil. The preshave oil approach works for me and others.

Hope this helps

**Murmle** · 01-24-2013, 03:33 AM

One last update on this thread... I just shaved my neck for the first time!!! Did both sides and I have to say it turned out GREAT!! I have really funky directions on my neck and my cart razor has never been able to handle it well... The SR took care of it with very little issue!! I may have over shaved a bit as I have a bit of burn but I kinda expected that from what I've read on here. I did end up with my first nick, very small, though it seems to be a bit of a right of passage from what people say. So I have now shaved my whole face (minus my very minimal beard and goatee area)!!!! though of course not all at once. as far as the Sticky lather goes a little more water and a better angle appear to work wonders!!! oddly enough the angle thing was easier to figure out with my neck than with my cheek even though there is that whole "DON'T SLIT YER THROAT!!" factor in there. I think my cheeks will be a lot easier in the morning now that I have a little better idea as to lather consistency and blade angle. Thank you all for yer help in getting me started and a special thanks to SirStropalot!!

**SirStropalot** · 01-24-2013, 03:47 AM

Hey Murmie,

Glad it went well. If you shaved your neck that easily, you're ahead of the curve. That's the hardest part for most all of us.

Congrats on your successes!!

Best Regards,
Howard

**Murmle** · 01-24-2013, 03:59 AM

Its all about the research!! I just kept reading and reading and using the advice ya'll give on here and it has truly been a great help!! Now I'm not saying I did the official wtg/atg/xtg, but sort of a mish-mash of all of them, it did work out though so thats ok yeah?? currently reading up on how to cut back on the razor burn... I'm guessing I just went over spots a couple too many times. just gotta practice and refine and all should be great!!

Thread: Hello from a new New Orleanian... Please help

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

Hybrid View

Posting Permissions