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I've recently jumped onto the Straight Razor Shaving band wagon, whilst i've picked the Razor I intend to buy, my mind is in a 1000 pieces as to what preperation I should use ?
1) Shave Cream
2) Shave Stick
3) Shave Oil
4) Shave Foam
5) Shave Gel
6) Shave Soap
HELP ! Which is best to shave using a Shavette
Thanks :)
Never used a Shavette, but you need to make your beard soft and provide lubrication for your skin. This all depends on your face, your own skin and hair characteristics. I like to use goats milk soap on my face then cover that soap with a hot towel. nothing fancy. Worst thing about this is testing different methods until you get one you like can get costly.
I'll make this easy. Use either a quality soap or cream. I know some guys use a stick and seem to like it however for most of us it's a cream or soap. Read some of the posts on the forum for ideas as to which ones to try. I don't know your budget so I won't make suggestions.
+1 on the advice offered in the previous posts. Lather your face with a quality shaving soap or cream.
Then massage it into your face with your fingertips. Apply a warm towel or wash cloth to your face and hold it there for 2-3 minutes. That will soften your whiskers and set your beard up for shaving.
Finally, reapply your shaving lather and shave.
I haven't used a shavette (I don't 'get' them, why not use a straight?), but preparation is not just about the actual shave. I stand firmly by proraso pre-shave cream (it's excellent, in my opinion) and a prefer a cream over a soap, but I haven't really investigated soaps that much.
I'd NEVER use a gel or foam; for me, to do so would be too akin to going back to using a piece of plastic shit to shave with!
For me, in order, are:
1) Musgo Real
2) La Toja cream
3) Speick
It's going to take me YEARS to check out as many soaps and creams as I see are available, I generally buy one new cream or soap a fortnight for a while, have a rest while I get through them, and then start again. I think after maybe a year I'll be able to decide on a favorite cream and a favorite soap, but still keep investigating others.
BTW, I wouldn't use shave oil, I think that's more for a cartridge, for a straight you need cushion, and I guess the same is true for s Shavette.
If there were a single "best way", we'd all be using it.
Get a brush, and a cream or soap. Learn to make lather. Shave immediately after a hot shower.
If lather doesn't soften your beard enough for a comfortable shave, start playing with pre-shaves and oils and double-lathering and hot towels.
You need to figure out what works for you, and the only way to find out is to start simply and experiment.
. Charles
I don't want to hog the thread, but I also want to respond to cpcohen1945's post...
I agree there's no 'best way', we're all individuals with individual tastes. Expanding on that, it's actually not ALL about the technicalities of what works best. I know that sounds odd, but if wrapping your head in a hot towel makes you feel good, do it. If smearing pre-shave oil on makes you feel good, do that. The daily morning ritual has many, many facets. Sometimes we go on a bit about the scientific aspects, and sometimes we go on a bit about scents and the 'feel' of creams and such. Of course there's a middle ground, the shave does need to be somewhat comfortable, but there's so many different aspects that it's got to be about what YOU enjoy. I really like the fact that Lyn always ends his posts with 'have fun', I think that's the key, otherwise we can get a bit 'anal' about the whole deal....
I go for a hot shower. Best thing to start a shave with. And a lot of time. If I am in a hurry, no straight for me.
The main ingredients are.........hot water, more hot water & some more hot water!
I'm more of a DE guy, but I've used both a straight and a shavette. Shavettes are tricky little buggers. They'll bite if you aren't very careful, so you want an absolutely top notch lather and a very steady hand. have some styptic ready just in case, too.
For prep, opinions vary, but most people use 3 main methods, which are not mutually exclusive. They are stearic acid based prep cremes, oils, and 3 minutes of warm water soak. You can use hot towels, showers, or even splashing water on your face before lathering, and reapplying every minute or so for your 3 minutes to wet the beard. For prep cremes, Italian options like Poraso and 3P seem most popular, although a few people use canned foam as a pre shave ( which does seem to work tolerably, but involves leaving nasty chemical crud on your face for 5 minutes). In terms of pre shave oils, I'm not that familiar, to be honest.
Dunno if that helps, but good luck with your shaves.
One vote for mixing cream in a soap bowl, the best of both worlds combined!
I tried a shavette once.......never again! Butchered the hell out of my face. I guess they take some care in using one. I beleive I'll stick to the traditional str8.
Regardless of the razor, I learned a very efficientt method on a different site. It was from italy, barbers used to it like this:
MAke sure face is hydrated first, right after your shower is best.
Get your lather ready, preferably with hot water.
Lather your face. Leave the lather on for a few minutes. Do everything else you do in the morning: deodorant, brush hair, etc.
Then massage your face.
relather, if needed, or wash the initial lather with warm water then relather.
Shave using however many passes you are comfortable with.
After the last pass, relather for post.
Enjoy the closest shave ever. It made a huge difference for me.
I shave right out of the shower, the beard is saturated, lather up, strop and shave.
I like the face massaging idea, and the deodorant might give me ten seconds more of lather-sitting-time, but brushing hair for me is redundant...Quote:
Originally Posted by frenchnico
I almost gave up SR shaving when I was using a shavette, but all that changed when my wife bought me my first straight razor.Quote:
Originally Posted by DoughBoy68
Sticks are OK. I only occassionally use them at home, but for travelling, they are perfecto. I use an almond Valobra soap/creme at home and a Valobra menthol stick on the road. The both are excellent.
On work days, I wash my face with Musgo Real Glyce Lime Soap, then put on some LaToja shave stick, add a dollop of Irisch Moos cream to my brush and face lather for about a minute - that really works the lather into the whiskers and softens them up nicely.
On weekends, when I have more time, I wash my face as usual, then I like to mix Irisch Moos and Musgo Real cream in my mug, put a layer on my face, then apply a hot, moist towel for about a minute, wipe it off, and apply the lather for the shave.
The Italian barber method sounds appealing - think I'll give it a try this week-end...
Still new, but I've found a system that works well. I have sensitive skin so a good beard prep is essential. My system:
Hot shower
Hot towel on face x1 minute (make hot w/ hot tap water & wring out)
Castle Forbes pre shave (just a bit)
Pre-soaked badger brush to apply soap or cream x2 minutes
Shave w/ sharp, stropped razor: 3 passes, rinse w/ warm water between passes & reapply soap/cream w/ warm brush. I use a DirtyBird warming mug w/ insert.
Final rinse w/ cold water
Splash alcohol-free witch hazel (lavender)
Aftershave balm- AOS lavender or TOBS sensitive skin
A bit of work but makes for a great shave!
I find that shaving after a hot shower, using glycerian soap works great. What ever you do don't shave in the shower you don't want the razor falling out of your hands.:dropjaw:
Use shaving cream
Hot shower (optional: leave some hair conditioner on face while drying)
Re-hydrate with very warm (not too hot) water and coat face with a high stearic acid cream like Proraso or Barbasol.
Leave it on while preparing uberlather soap or cream with a few drops of glycerin.
Strop and prep the mighty SR.
Rinse off the Barbasol and coat face with glycerin (about a quarter size in my palm), then badger brush and uberlather all over the face.
Repeat two or three passes. I add the glycerin every time directly to my face.
Rinse with very cold water and tend to nicks with styptic if needed.
Dab dry with a towel.
Wait 10 or more minutes for pores to close up then finish with a balm.
Works for me...
Attachment 89001
I shave with cold water and get great results. My prep is to take a hot shower and scrub my face with a soapy washcloth, rinse the soap off and apply hair conditioner to my whiskers, which I leave on until the shower's finished. I wet the top of my shaving soap with cold water and let it sit for a few minutes while I go get a cup of coffee. I wet the brush in cold water, load up, then wet my face with cold water. I lather on my face and shave. Very refreshing, great results-- and if I get a nick, it stops bleeding really quickly.
All you need is 3-5 minutes of face lathering ending in a face with a half centimetre thick covering of slick, whipped cream lather and your good to go.
I have tough stubble and as long as your razor's shave ready and your lathers there, your good to go!
regards Alex
I always have a very hot shower before any shave and always be sure to apply my Proraso Pre/Post creams :) they do wonders for my face
I have finally settled on the following method, [most of the time]
Wash face, fairly hot water, lots of rinsing.
splash cold water on face, to cool down the beard/skin
put a fair amount of after/shave[I use Bay Rum, Pinouds]
when face is dry, make lots and lots of good lather, lately I have been using Cella shaving cream
rub in vigorously with brush and fingers, take time to strop you razor put on some great music
Deep Breath, get in touch with you calm, enjoy the shave.
after I use my after shave I put on a fair amount of Proraso's pre/after shave, let it soak in and then She Who Must be Obeyed will love stroking your smooth as the south end of of a newborn.
[30] tinkersd
Don't know if this would help anyone, but I thought I'd throw it in the pot. Picked up a sample of MWF with my first straight pruchase. Tiny little thing, kind like you'd get in a hotel bathroom. Smaller even.
Kinda wrestling with using it for it's intended purpose, more's the pity. Great when it works, but... One problem is that the sample size is hard to work with. What to do...
Using the sample as a pre-shave prep seems to work well. Glide it over the beard in the shower, lather it up a bit, do my other things, Bob's your uncle and off to shave.
Doesn't dry my skin out like regular soaps. Might be a good idea.
I have a shavette, then bought a dove. But my suggestion first if your going to be in a hurry forget it.... what is nice is take your time and enjoy. I take a nice long hot shower,wash my beard with Neutrogena face scrub, out of the shower, then proraso pre-shave cream, after a couple of min lather up with Proraso shaving cream. Depending on how many passes your going to make, I use the pre-shave again then lather for each pass (xtg, atg ). Finish off with Alum block, splash of as, and a good asb (Sandalwood, or Nivea post shave balm). I tried all different ways but that works the best for now...the fun thing is experimentation.. See what kind of fun your going to have :-)
My opinion for any razor is a good quality cream, but whatever you can make a good lather with will work. Good thick lather is of great importance.
I find I get the best lather out of MWF in the scuttle or TOBS sandlewood or Tabac direct to the face.
But either way, a HOT shower beforehand is a MUST :)
The only shave prep is a shower. Then lather up and shave. I think its important to simplify things.Quote:
Originally Posted by Don164
My method is I wash the heck out of my face in the shower. No kidding, I'll wash my face for about 5 minutes. My theory is oil and dirt impede the shave. Also, massaging the facial muscles I think is key. That's my prep. side note-I personally disagree with the hot water bit. Cold water is my standard.
I started out with a shavette and based on my personal experience, I had good success with the shave soap. But YMMV, so you'll need to experiment with what works the best with you.
I did have a rough time with the shavette and I almost gave up SR shaving all together until I found this site and later got my first straight razor. I do not use anything out of a can. I use shave cream out of a tube or tub.
It's your wallet and shave, you may want to check out the classifieds here and pick up a razor at a nice price that is shave ready instead of getting a shavette. I wish I did when first starting out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Don164
Pre shave… When don’t have or want to shower….
Put 2-3 wet towels/wash cloth in microwave for about 2 minutes.
Apply Pre shave oil let sit on face.. prepare lather..
Brace face for HOT TOWEL!! Try to take it as hot and long as you can….
Lather face.. I like to twist the brush while applying them tease (Slapping face with the brush) to make a thick lather on my face.
Optional step… wipe off lather, apply lather again and hot towel….
Shave…
Warm towel to wipe off face of remaining lather..
Lather … I usually shave xtg
COLD TOWEL!! Usually put this in the freezer at the beginning.. this is a great step to help close little nicks or cuts.
Witch hazel
I have a synthetic shave brush I use to apply shave power… make face nice and dry..
Aftershave balm or splash…
I was just going to write the pre shave steps, but it turns out this is pretty much how I shave all the time.
If you use a shavette or cartridge shave, I would suggest to either Derby or Shark blades. I have used them on myself and in a few barber shops and I feel they are made better and the corners are as square.
Hope this hopes.
Since I've started wet shaving, I shave after a hot shower. I usually make my lather first and brush it on my face in a circular motion and let it sit for a few minutes. I then strop my razor and do a few other bathroom duties letting the lather sit for a few minutes. I reapply some lather if needed then shave. Simple but works great.
This is my personal schema:
- enough time
- hot shower (+face wash-cleanser)
- hot towel 1 minute
- proraso pre/post
- proraso aloe vera shave soap
This setup allows me to shave every day despite the fact that I have sensitive skin.
I like it! I am testing various methods/techniques but so far my favorite is the prorazo shave soap... could be a preference to soap vs cream but so far I like it best. I also use a little prorazo pre-shave cream, the hot towel and all that and find it works great! I am currently only WTG shaving while I work up the nerve to go ATG XTG but so far same thing I can shave daily without irritation on this setup.Quote:
Originally Posted by magdalion
Here is the technique I use and it works for me. After I shower, I apply Glycerin to my beard and let it soak for a minute or two. Next, I apply hair conditioner to my beard. It lathers up a bit. I strop my razor while it soaks in. Just before I lather I apply some Joshua Tree Healing Salve. A very light coat and I rub it into my beard down to the skin. This is a beeswax based healing salve that I found for my skin. I then lather and do my shave passes. I have a steel wire beard and I find that the beard softens and allows for a very close shave with little irritation. After I finish I apply a coat of the Joshua Tree Salve to help sooth and heal the skin then apply my after shave balm.
FYI I am NOT affiliated in anyway to Joshua Tree - I am just sharing my success. Here is the link if interested - Joshua Tree Products. I purchase mine at the out store in the climbing section.
I do say it has taken a while to find a great pre-shave process for me. This works for me.
Beard hairs are very much like pasta when dry - very stiff and hard. Just like pasta the dry keratin composed whiskers will soften best in hot water. Time and temperature are important factors. You should also wash the face first with soap and water. That is why so many experienced wet shavers shave after a hot, steaming shower. Many use hair conditioner as a final beard softener. There are pre-shave chemicals and compounds that will soften the whiskers, but they are not necessary. Some of the old barbers would put a high stearic acid shave cream, like Barbasol, on a clients face then cover it with a hot, wet, steaming towel for 5-10 minutes. When your whiskers feel soft and forgiving when rubbed against the grain then you are ready to shave.
