Veteran advice, please

So I've been practicing my with my feather for some time now. For the most part, I am happy with the results. I can get bbs on most areas. My chin and upper lip are still a bit stubbly when I rub atg, but it's ok.

So, on to my questions and complaints with my technique.

I'm a bit unhappy with my lather. I've used Proraso and Geo F. Trumper and both have the same issue. I tend to make 2-3 passes to complete one shave and I noticed that as I get to my second or third pass, I take longer. Well my lather always dries out on my face while I'm shaving. It gets all flaky. The first pass is no problem at all. Can the lather dry out in my bowl, or am I just moving too slowly when I go xtg/atg?

How do you guys trim your mustache and beard? I'm just starting to grow it out and it is rather difficult to control. Maybe I'm just too new at this so I lack the finesse, haha. But just looking for some tips.

Thanks for any help in advance.

- George Ku

Water will evaporate from the bowl, but you can always add a few drops and re-stir the lather (when I do this I wet my hand and then drip the water into the bowl; if I run water straight into the bowl I always add too much). Alternately, you can dip the tips of the bristles into some hot water or just briefly put the tips under the tap to add a bit of water and then re-stir or go straight to your face.

For trimming I use the trimmer of my electric shaver. The stubble left by the trimmer fall victim to my straight. Stubble on chin and upper lip are usually the thickest hairs and take some extra effort.

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Water will evaporate from the bowl, but you can always add a few drops and re-stir the lather (when I do this I wet my hand and then drip the water into the bowl; if I run water straight into the bowl I always add too much).

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+1 on that, exactly what I do as well. I also always check if the lather needs a few drops of water after a pass, before I reapply - more often than not, it does.

I usually trim my beard (goatee) with my straight razor while shaving, I got an electric trimmer as well but I don't enjoy it much.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Alternately, you can dip the tips of the bristles into some hot water or just briefly put the tips under the tap to add a bit of water and then re-stir or go straight to your face.

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I like to run a very thin stream of hot water briefly over the base of the bristles (where the knot enters the handle). Even though I use a scuttle this seems to help re-heat the brush/lather as the hot water hydrates the bristles. Other than that holli4pirating and I take the same approach.

Hello, Senate:

As a rule, I keep my lather in the scuttle slightly more moist than the standard, if there is such a thing. Throughout the shave, if needed, I also I run my hand under hot water and drizzle a few drops in the scuttle, swirling the brush to mix it. Finally, by wetting my face after each pass, I manage to add a touch more moisture to my lather. Experiment and see what works best for you.

Regards,

Obie

Another simple trick is to rinse your face after a pass and leave it damp while you apply lather for your next pass, allowing it to stay moist.

As for trimming, I use a Remington beard/mustache trimmer and it does a bang-up job. I can't remember the model number, but the Remi's are highly recommended.

I can't control the tip of a straight razor well enough to do fine trimming. Maybe one day . . .

I use a DE razor (Gillette Tech) -- shorter edge than a straight, and you can see what you're doing pretty well.

Charles

I keep my lather in a mug but it degrades as I shave, sometimes it just needs a few more swirls, sometimes it needs some water. I started by dripping it from my hand, but found that when it needs more water that takes several attempts. I run a hot drizzle from the tap and can pass the mug under quickly and get the right amount of water. If I'm too slow/get too much water, it's easy to load more soap, but that doesn't happen often now. I do like the idea of running the water over the base of the brush.

So far as trimming, I use the straight to trim the ends of side burns and edges of my van-dyke. I use a remington trimmer to keep things short and trim...I don't know how I could do that with a straight (or any other kind of razor, and have it turn out looking good).

Peace,

I don't use a mug, so no help from me there. For the trimming side of things I do the outter edges with a cut-throat, the line of the top lip with a pair of scissors and, while I wait for some, yet to be ordered, manual clipper combs, I use a Remington beard trimmer to control the length (Rarely), I let it grow out to do the ZZ top thing most of the time, get sick of it, trim it short and start again.


Mick

I too drip water from my hand to my scuttle to re wet my lather. It's common when your new for your lather to dry out. Either the heat from your scuttle, or you taking a bit longer to shave. After some practice, both will come around. I have a Goatee, and with practice, you can trim around it pretty good with a str8. If you have to, a beard trimmer or DE will work in the mean time...
Good Luck....

To control soap/water ratio, I leave the ever so slightly steady trickle from my sink and add water to my brush knot as needed. Works like a charm.

You can also go to walmart, shaving section and get the little bottle of shaving oil that you put on with hot water this will allow you to get a better and less skin damage to your face.

Wow! You guys are great!!

I feel kind of bad not checking in here more often. Will try my best to do so from now on. Thanks for all the great advice.

The shave tonight...getting better every time I think. My motor skills are improving. I can control the razor much more finely than in the past. It's like chopping down individual "stalks of hair" now. Haha. Chin area is still not completely bbs but most areas are getting there.

I'm gonna want much more straight razor gear now. So far my Feather No-Sharpen has treated me very well.

Thanks again for the advice and words of encouragement!


- George Ku