Thread: Not sure if anyone else does this..

Originally Posted by Desolation

I normally shower before i shave (probably like most); however, in the shower i rub water against the grain of my stubble. typically i can feel a very significant change to the stiffness of my stubble after 10-15 seconds of doing this. right before i lather / apply soap i do the same thing in the from the sink.. doesn't take but 2-3 seconds with warm water to feel the stubble soften. I also start my lather in my scuttle (partly) and then face lather.

Just to be different I shower after...

For me there is a balancing act. Too much hot water (shower) softens my skin too much
and the razor then gives me a burn especially with a very sharp razor that is not "totally smooth"
like a new DE Feather blade. So I do not do the shower thing.

My strategy is to wash my face quickly with cold water then face lather enough to get the oils that
protect my whiskers from softening... I sometimes wipe that proto lather off my face and relather. While that quick
wash or proto lather works at hydrating my whiskers I work a nice lather in a bowl. A nice lather lets me see what I am
doing and it is stiff enough to not drool onto the floor.

First pass tells me if my razor, whiskers or lathering needs work. I am not averse to letting a thin lather
dry while I restrop the razor or even switch razors. Without shame I will switch to a DE from time to time.

Totally smooth for me -- not too sharp not too dull just right. I have caught myself jumping from one
grit to another too quickly and end up with a harsh edge. I have caught myself jumping to a finisher
too quickly and get a harsh edge that more time at 3K and 8K would have solved. My 1K hones sit
idle once I have an edge that shaves. The crazy fast Shapton 16K and 30K hones will sharpen a 1K
minefield into the sharpest face nicking saw imaginable. The slightest slicing motion will give a nick.
However serious attention to grit progression down to 8k or 10k with a light hand can get totally smooth.
If I get totally smooth I can go with sharper 16K or 30K but not with soggy skin.

Soggy skin... you know the wrinkles on your fingers after too much time in the pool or bath just not
that extreme.

So what works, works.