Thread: I Now Understand the Importance of Beard Prep

Well then, perhaps my experience was a bit misleading. I was certain there was a difference, but perhaps it was my technique improving.

With so many counter points, I may resign this thread as mislead and misleading.

I find it hard to believe that organic material like hair would cut the same despite its condition, especially regarding water and temperature, considering how much of an effect these elements can have.

Still, experience is experience, and I don't have much to stand on. Maybe the incredibly sharp edge of a razor just doesn't care about the condition of the skin and hair, it's gonna cut it easy either way.

Originally Posted by Sirnanigans

Well then, perhaps my experience was a bit misleading. I was certain there was a difference, but perhaps it was my technique improving.

With so many counter points, I may resign this thread as mislead and misleading.

I find it hard to believe that organic material like hair would cut the same despite its condition, especially regarding water and temperature, considering how much of an effect these elements can have.

Still, experience is experience, and I don't have much to stand on. Maybe the incredibly sharp edge of a razor just doesn't care about the condition of the skin and hair, it's gonna cut it easy either way.

It takes time to find the sweet spot, and believe me, you'll know when you find it, nothing like it in the world.....

The 1905 Shaving Made Easy presents an interesting case, which for me, seems to be true, cold water to presumably tighten the skin, and the lather's purpose is to raise the whiskers for cutting, rather than soften them...for me this works and makes sense.

Having said that, nothing like a shave parade once in awhile, boiling water in the scuttle for some hot lather, some type of pre-shave, a fine soap that's nice and hot...the whole she-bang....but that's one of the joys in this, mixing it up and finding multiple combinations that work for you...and that's the part that continues to evolve and which I enjoy tremendously.

Originally Posted by Sirnanigans

Still, experience is experience, and I don't have much to stand on. Maybe the incredibly sharp edge of a razor just doesn't care about the condition of the skin and hair, it's gonna cut it easy either way.

Ya got it in one in that statement. All the old sayings work (and I think they each work depending on the time of day, the stage the moon is in, the weather conditions of the moment and the way ya hold your tongue while shaving). The best is YMMV. In the world of shaving, science comes in a poor third or fourth because subjective observations, coupled with subconscious references to folk lore and superstition, rule over cold hard fact, no matter how many times it's told to you. We are but human and fraught with the errors of our ways, both grand and small.

Those who have different type beards know nothing about what prep another's beard takes, IMO. Razorfeld (Bless his soul) extols the virtues of the cold shave, while I cannot use it effectively. If I lather up and am preoccupied enough to forget my 2 hot towels over lather, the first stroke tells me something is BAD wrong! The blade acts as if it needs honing! Then, I remember I skipped the hot towel! Two applications of a hand-towel sized towel soaked with hot from the tap makes the same razor seem brand-new. To me! This is important that all should find what works for THEM as everyone has a bit different way to prep. The only way to find what works for you is to try different things! No set way to do it! JMHO

I have found that I wasn't stretching enough. As a new shavette shaver myself I found the prep is really important. I found that good prep will help get past the rough technique. I also have found that bad prep will help teach you what areas your technique needs work. If I am using my DE razor I found really hot water will give a great shave. While with my shavette I found warm water works good. Of course with all things shaving, YMMV.
Cheers,
John

I'm one year new to shaving with a straight razor, using pre-shave and/or post shave and trying hot and cold water as well as any other variable I read about on this forum. So, my thoughts on issues like this are questionable. I'm thinking that someone who has years of straight razor shaving as well as the pre-shave routines or no pre-shave routines can get great results using any routine (or none) they choose. OTOH, the newbies who haven't gotten really good at stropping and haven't developed a good technique when shaving may benefit more from a thorough pre-shave treatment. If a hot towel or warm lather or a good pre-shave lotion does make the whiskers easier to cut (softer maybe) a newbie may get better results if the razor isn't as sharp or their technique at the actual shaving isn't as refined. A couple of years (or ten) later when the newbie is now an oldie and he gets the razor super sharp when stropping and his shaving technique is better THEN he can get great results with less attention paid to pre-shave routine, hot or cold water, etc.

A perfect (if there is one) pre-shave routine may make up for the razor not being as sharp as it could be as well as the technique of scraping whiskers off the face not being as effective. As I said, my thinking is questionable at best.

Originally Posted by Jack0458

I'm one year new to shaving with a straight razor, using pre-shave and/or post shave and trying hot and cold water as well as any other variable I read about on this forum. So, my thoughts on issues like this are questionable. I'm thinking that someone who has years of straight razor shaving as well as the pre-shave routines or no pre-shave routines can get great results using any routine (or none) they choose. OTOH, the newbies who haven't gotten really good at stropping and haven't developed a good technique when shaving may benefit more from a thorough pre-shave treatment. If a hot towel or warm lather or a good pre-shave lotion does make the whiskers easier to cut (softer maybe) a newbie may get better results if the razor isn't as sharp or their technique at the actual shaving isn't as refined. A couple of years (or ten) later when the newbie is now an oldie and he gets the razor super sharp when stropping and his shaving technique is better THEN he can get great results with less attention paid to pre-shave routine, hot or cold water, etc.

A perfect (if there is one) pre-shave routine may make up for the razor not being as sharp as it could be as well as the technique of scraping whiskers off the face not being as effective. As I said, my thinking is questionable at best.

I don't think your thinking is questionable at all. The other side of that coin might be that using an elaborate pre shave routine while possibly allowing a beginner to get by with poor technique is really hindering them in the short run from gaining a good technique. Either way you will get there except one may take you a bit longer to do so. Just two different approaches to learning a new skill.

Bob

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Those who have different type beards know nothing about what prep another's beard takes, IMO. Razorfeld (Bless his soul) extols the virtues of the cold shave, while I cannot use it effectively. If I lather up and am preoccupied enough to forget my 2 hot towels over lather, the first stroke tells me something is BAD wrong! The blade acts as if it needs honing! Then, I remember I skipped the hot towel! Two applications of a hand-towel sized towel soaked with hot from the tap makes the same razor seem brand-new. To me! This is important that all should find what works for THEM as everyone has a bit different way to prep. The only way to find what works for you is to try different things! No set way to do it! JMHO

I am with you brother. A cold shave without a good prep will not work on my beard

Prep makes a huge difference for me. A new DE blade fails every time on my dry unprepared hair. Tugging and skin burn galore.

A shower shampoo with conditioner immediately before lathering makes a huge difference for ease of cutting and can salvage a shave from a blade that is just starting to fade. Warm or room temperature lather both work for me.

If I cannot shower, I wash and rinse we two or three times before lathering to remove dirt and oils as well as possible to promote effective Interaction between the lather and hairs.

Good hair hydration makes the hair as easy to cut as possible. I try to keep my lather well hydrated. When lather does not easily rinse off my SR blade, it is getting too dry.

I sometimes find strongly scented soaps to be irritating.

HTH

Originally Posted by sheajohnw

Prep makes a huge difference for me. A new DE blade fails every time on my dry unprepared hair. Tugging and skin burn galore.

A shower shampoo with conditioner immediately before lathering makes a huge difference for ease of cutting and can salvage a shave from a blade that is just starting to fade. Warm or room temperature lather both work for me.

If I cannot shower, I wash and rinse we two or three times before lathering to remove dirt and oils as well as possible to promote effective Interaction between the lather and hairs.

Good hair hydration makes the hair as easy to cut as possible. I try to keep my lather well hydrated. When lather does not easily rinse off my SR blade, it is getting too dry.

I sometimes find strongly scented soaps to be irritating.

HTH

When I first tried a cream instead of soap the lather didn't rinse off my razor easily at all. I thought it was a difference between a cream and a soap. Now I've come to realize it's a matter of having enough water or how long I work to create a lather.


I have been thinking about letting my pre-shave lotion stay on my face for a few minutes before I lather. Has anyone noticed if this helps or not? Probably (like most things), it's different between faces and possibly the pre-shave.