First wet shave.

I switched from an electric razor and I just got into this wet shaving thing.

I went and bought some nice soap and a badger brush from a local store. I didnt receive my straight edge razor yet, so I went ahead and used a brand new gillette mach 3.

I was expecting to have better results with the badger brush and real shaving soap instead of the canned stuff, but it wasnt that different.

the results are still basically the same. if i shave with the grain i dont get a close shave at all. if i go against the grain i get a close shave, but of course its too close and i cut myself all over (mainly around the jawline and neck).

im not a complete idiot...i watched and read stuff on the net and foamed up pretty good...took my time too.

any suggestions or tips?

I wet shaved for years with a Mach 3. The only thing I can say is to stretch the skin of your kneck by tilting your head back and to the side. That should flatten out the skin under the jawline. The other thing is "Go Slow" it isn't a race...I cut myself more going fast than slowing down and concentrating.

Hope that helps.

Ray

Check out the videos section from the front page or GoogleVideo and watch Lynn's shaving video. Stretching the skin makes a noticeable difference in the quality of the shave even with the Mach-3.

I'm in the process of switching from Mach3 to a straight, am new to using soaps & brushes like yourself. My results with shaving soap haven't been spectacular yet either. I've used M3 for a long time and about the worst I ever chewed my face up with it was just earlier this week when I shaved with a too thin shaving soap lather.

I've had very good results however with the Prorasso cream sold in a toothpaste sized tube at Target for about 6 bucks. It's better than anything I've used out of a can and seems easier to get consistently good results with than achieving the ideal soap/water ratio when whipping it up. It'll allow me to go against the grain with a M3 when I need to, which is usually if I'm shaving daily instead of every other day. A M3 works better for me if I let the whiskers grow longer than a day for some reason.

Let the lather soak in for a minute or so, so it has a chance to soften your beard. If you're shaving with a straight you can lather up before stropping so you don't lose any time.

some of the admittedly more experienced members here disagree with me, but after three or four months of wet shaving with a straight razor, i've never noticed that any particular soap or cream mattered as much as the razor you use (that's strike one against you since you're using a mach3), and your technique. it's possible, if you ask me, that you might get marginally better results if you learn how to stretch and all that, and it certainly pays to learn since you'll need to do so to get a good shave with a straight or DE, but until you move up to a more sophisticated razor your shaves will not really improve in any significant way. i can get just as good a shave in the shower by wiping a little castile soap on my face as i can when i put a lot of time and trouble into lathering and such. it's just there to lubricate (the soap), and it isn't hard to get nearly as much lubrication with a bar of zest. i think a lot of the guys here spend money on fancy soaps and creams because, for them, it's fun. in fact, i think there was a thread a while ago where some people found that when they tried it, plain soap and water wasn't all that much different, but that wouldn't stop them from getting nicer stuff. Personally, i use colleen's coconut cream soap. it only costs six bucks, and it's fantastic smelling stuff, and it has a lot glycerin, which does make a little difference from a bar of coast.

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I've had very good results however with the Prorasso cream sold in a toothpaste sized tube at Target for about 6 bucks

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What section is it in? Where do you live? I couldn't find Proraso in the toiletry section.

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Originally Posted by mparker762

Let the lather soak in for a minute or so, so it has a chance to soften your beard. If you're shaving with a straight you can lather up before stropping so you don't lose any time.

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I will try stretching the skin more.

One thing is that the hairs around my chin and jaw are a lot thicker than the ones on my cheeks, as I am sure is the case with everyone else. I notice that the skin around the hairs in this area pops up forming a little bump. This is where I usually cut myself. Am I the only one like this?

Second thing is the question of how close a shave is. Perhaps it is because I have black hair and fair skin, but even when my shave feels smooth, I can still see tiny little dots. Is this normal? I'm guessing it is because we aren't shaving sub-dermis...but I just want to ask and make sure.

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Originally Posted by clam61

What section is it in? Where do you live? I couldn't find Proraso in the toiletry section.

I will try stretching the skin more.

One thing is that the hairs around my chin and jaw are a lot thicker than the ones on my cheeks, as I am sure is the case with everyone else. I notice that the skin around the hairs in this area pops up forming a little bump. This is where I usually cut myself. Am I the only one like this?

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It's a little hard to find since they don't keep it with the rest of the shaving supplies. Look near the cosmetics (Spa?) section, it's in the last row of that area at the Target I go to in Houston.

Don't know about the bumps but they may be due to some ingrown hairs or very possibly from using an electric razor - those things are not kind to your face.

they arent ingrown hairs, although they look similar. those bumps have hair coming OUT of it.

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Originally Posted by clam61

they arent ingrown hairs, although they look similar. those bumps have hair coming OUT of it.

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could be due to shaving with lather that is too dry, with a VERY sharp straight razor this will just shave skin off, with a less sharp razor (like not quite shave ready razor, or disposable) it will really irritate the skin, this can cause bumps and/or red marks

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Originally Posted by clam61

Second thing is the question of how close a shave is. Perhaps it is because I have black hair and fair skin, but even when my shave feels smooth, I can still see tiny little dots. Is this normal? I'm guessing it is because we aren't shaving sub-dermis...but I just want to ask and make sure.

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It's normal if you have a heavy, dark beard.

Hi Clam, I've never been able to shave directly against the grain, but can get very close shaves by going across the grain. Try making your first pass with the grain, then re-lather and go across the grain. At some point you may want to switch to a DE razor or straight. The single blades made all the difference for me. And, be patient. You're learning to shave again and it takes a little time. :)

Jordan

thanks guys. im in the process of getting a straight. seems like you have to buy a lot of stuff. besides the razor you need a strop, then cream for the strop, then pumice to clean the strop, a honing stone...what else?

im thinkin about this one

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...940/190280.htm

stainless steel or high carbon? ive read things on the net that say stainless steel holds and edge better and ive read things that say it holds an edge worse.

what are your two cents?

Take your time and enjoy the shave. You need to develop a feel for all the different aspects of a good wet shave. Prep. Nice hot towel and a clean face.
Use the brush. Make nice creamy wet lather. Start with no pressure on the blade at all, after a few shaves, you'll get the feel of the razor. Look in the mirror. I'm not being a wiseguy but you would be supprized if you actually watch yourself shave instead of just shaving in front of a mirror. You'll see the angle of the razor and how it's cutting. Pay attention to how your beard grows, this way you can tell which way to go with the razor to clean it up.

Remember, it takes time. after a little time, your beard won't grow fast enough for you to shave again.

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Originally Posted by clam61

thanks guys. im in the process of getting a straight. seems like you have to buy a lot of stuff. besides the razor you need a strop, then cream for the strop, then pumice to clean the strop, a honing stone...what else?

im thinkin about this one

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...940/190280.htm

stainless steel or high carbon? ive read things on the net that say stainless steel holds and edge better and ive read things that say it holds an edge worse.

what are your two cents?

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I think Tony Miller's strops come with the dressing. I've found a pasted paddle strop to be useful for touching up my razors while I learn to hone on a stone with junkie blades.

If you're like 99.9% of us, you're going to end up with a bunch of different razors anyway. So I don't know that it really matters which you start with. Just make sure its been honed and is shave-ready (if you get one from Classic Shaving be sure to select the honing service from Lynn). I'll let more experienced members address this more thouroughly. Good luck and enjoy.

EDIT: You might want to keep your first razor in the 5/8-6/8 size range. They're easier to manuver than the meat choppers - in my experience anyway.

Jordan

i have a theory..maybe its not new. i think its this lift and cut BS with the mach3

i have really coarse black hair (its like .5 pencil lead) so when i go against the grain i get a closer shave, but i feel it tugging and i cut myself EVERYWHERE.

im thinking that since my hair is thick and it tugs, the first blade pulls the hair and with it the skin higher and then the second and third blades cut the skin.

does this sound plausible?

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Originally Posted by clam61

I will try stretching the skin more.

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That's your answer...

Nenad

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Originally Posted by superfly

That's your answer...

Nenad

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well i did stretch the skin the last time, but i guess next time ill pull it even more