1st Pass a No-Go? Try This

So once in awhile I'll lather up to start a shave with known great edges, and this happens: the blade just skips, catches, and doesn't want to cut-not good. I've had this happen a few times over the years, often with MWF but occasionally other soaps, that I think when newbies complain about a poor shave, this may sometimes be the culprit (assuming they've got a properly-honed and stropped edge-not always a safe assumption). This evening I bloomed my dedicated MWF mug with hot water about an hour ahead of time, got a huge cloud of wet lather (or so I thought) with my soap-hog brush, and applied it to a wet face, dipping the tips a few times as I face-lathered this known water-hog soap-good to go, right?

Not so fast-2 of my best shavers, a nice WB I won in the Giveaway and honed by Outback Mike, and one of my own Boker Hollow Grounds, both got majorly hung up. What the?!

Then I remembered what I have done before when this happened: rinse off most of the lather with as hot a water as I can stand, and re-apply, taking care to get it extra wet. I then tried the same blades, one for each side on all three passes-ahhhh, bliss. That MWF is as slick as any other if you work with it a bit. It seems that this water-hog soap (and come to think of it, I've had the same thing occur a couple times with Proraso, also a known water-hog) just needed another, wetter lather to allow my best blades to get their respective glides on.

So if you're relatively new, and you start off with a blade just not shaving, try this fix and see what happens. I'm betting some of you veterans have experienced this. Just my 2 cents.

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Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

So once in awhile I'll lather up to start a shave with known great edges, and this happens: the blade just skips, catches, and doesn't want to cut-not good. I've had this happen a few times over the years, often with MWF but occasionally other soaps, that I think when newbies complain about a poor shave, this may sometimes be the culprit (assuming they've got a properly-honed and stropped edge-not always a safe assumption). This evening I bloomed my dedicated MWF mug with hot water about an hour ahead of time, got a huge cloud of wet lather (or so I thought) with my soap-hog brush, and applied it to a wet face, dipping the tips a few times as I face-lathered this known water-hog soap-good to go, right?

Not so fast-2 of my best shavers, a nice WB I won in the Giveaway and honed by Outback Mike, and one of my own Boker Hollow Grounds, both got majorly hung up. What the?!

Then I remembered what I have done before when this happened: rinse off most of the lather with as hot a water as I can stand, and re-apply, taking care to get it extra wet. I then tried the same blades, one for each side on all three passes-ahhhh, bliss. That MWF is as slick as any other if you work with it a bit. It seems that this water-hog soap (and come to think of it, I've had the same thing occur a couple times with Proraso, also a known water-hog) just needed another, wetter lather to allow my best blades to get their respective glides on.

So if you're relatively new, and you start off with a blade just not shaving, try this fix and see what happens. I'm betting some of you veterans have experienced this. Just my 2 cents.

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Indeed. A good lather is key and often underrated and misunderstood. Should almost but not quite drip off the face. Even a laser sharp razor will shave much nicer when you have a slippery lather and you have your angle, stretching, and pressure optimized.

I not too long ago discovered the difference that lather can make - both in a quality soap and in improved application.

I apply the lather and then find some other things to do - brush my teeth, etc. - before starting to shave. Leaving the lather on for a while helps hydrate the beard and lubricate the skin.

It is hard to resist the temptation to just start shaving as soon as the white stuff goes on your face. Treat shaving as an enjoyable ritual, kind of like meditation. The act of shaving should be enjoyed and not be rushed.

I like to do my stropping, after I lather up. That's usually enough time for the suds to work in, for me.

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Originally Posted by outback

I like to do my stropping, after I lather up. That's usually enough time for the suds to work in, for me.

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That's what I do, too. I can't brush my teeth with lather on my face. I always get some in my mouth. Bleagh.

I like to use a fine mist spray bottle to put water on my face. I do this before the lather goes on, and if need be after too. For clean ups, I usually only use water. Just have to make sure there is enough residual slickness to allow only using water.

Might also want to try a pre-shave. I find it really makes a difference with how well my shaves go.

I like to do vitamin E oil on my face the night before when I can remember to!
Makes the hairs surrender the next day.
2 hot water towels over lather. Soften that beard!
Great shaves..