Thread: Extra prep needed for straights?

Was curious if extra prep is needed for straights over DEs. For you guys who switched from DEs to straights, did you have to change anything in particular about your preshave routine? Is simply showering before the shave enough?

Also besides prep, did you change anything else moving to straights? I get good comfortable shaves out of my DEs so I might assume I am doing enough prep but maybe it's not enough for straights. It is usually just a shower, and maybe some kind of preshave product.

I have never showered before shaving in my life. I have tried a few pre shaves and they did nothing for me to enhance my shave. I did switch a few years ago to shaving with cold water though. My shave routine is to wet face with cold water, load my brush and face lather. I do a 4 pass shave daily same as with a DE/SE.

For me from my experience no pre shave prep is necessary but everyone is different. What I found was really necessary for a good shave with a straight razor/DE/SE is a very good lather, sharp blade, the right angle and little to no pressure. Again, for me, if the basics are sound the rest is window dressing. As always YMMV because no two people are exactly alike.

Bob

Bob is very right. If your getting fine shaves from your routine now you will on the straight, don't make t more complicated than it is, that's when it ain't fun! You,ll be fine as is. Tc

Nope. All I do is wash my face with a face soap, lather, strop then shave. Probably doesn't even make a difference if you strip first but I hope it softens the whiskers.

Depends on where your shaving if you will need to strip. Tc

I don't change my prep, but I generally pick one of my slicker soaps, and I make sure the lather is very well hydrated when shaving with a straight vs. a DE or SE. The slicker the lather the better.

I use no pre-shave, just wet my face and go. I do spend more time on my lather with a straight, because I can kind of cheat and do ok quickly with a DE. However, I can't with a SR, I need the best lather I can build.

Hi Harold, have not seen any of your shave ready razors for the new guys in the classifieds,? you have helped lots of new guys, I admire that.

Justino, the better you prep and lather, the smoother the shave, main thing is having a truly shave ready razor, Makes ALL the difference in the World!!

Originally Posted by Sxot

Nope. All I do is wash my face with a face soap, lather, strop then shave. Probably doesn't even make a difference if you strip first but I hope it softens the whiskers.

That would have to be the wonderful North Queensland weather. Now if I "stripped" before shaving here in the South --- just doesn't bare thinking about.

When shaving with a safety razor, some get away with hardly any prep at all. Splash water in the face, slap some foam out of a can on the face and shave.
Not the best shave, but some people do it.

With a straight razor that would certainly result in a lousy shave.
At the very least, I wet (usually wash with some soap) my face with a sponge/wash cloth to let the skin absorb some moisture, then apply soap/cream with a brush and whip up a nice dense lather on my face before I start shaving. They key is to allow facial skin and stubble some time to absorb moisture and soften.

Above prep may not be strictly necessary for a shave with a safety razor, but it will certainly make for a better shave.

In order to properly answer your question, we would therefore need to know what your current preparation routine is for a shave with a safety razor.

Lastly, is a shower before a shave necessary?
No; not if you follow above routine.
But if I shower anyway and need a shave as well, I would rather shave after the shower than before.


B.




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