Marine needs Senior Shaver advice

Needless to say (but I'll say it anyways), I am very new to the art of the straight.
As a Marine, the need for a shave on a daily basis is imperative. So, with that being said, I seek tips, hints and suggestions for those who have been at this game for a while.
A little bit about what I purchased (and forgive me if I purchased low quality items): Col. Conk's 5/8 perlx blade, 8k wet stone, and Col Conk's "standard" strop. Having with that is a badger brush for application, King Pre-shave oil and shea butter and some glycerine soap.
Please, point me in the right direction, so as I don't slit my throat from frustration!
Thank you in advance.
Dan
USMC

Dan, welcome aboard!!

First, let me thank you for being a Marine and serving our country. I can't tell you how proud I am of all our service men and women.

I can't speak to the stuff you listed but I believe you can get good service with it using good techniques. I would point you to a couple of threads:

1. http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=9841

Go down a few posts and I link to a couple of articles that discuss edge maintenance, stropping/honing technique and a video that demonstrates stropping.

2. http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=6759

I think the title will say it all.

If you can, order Lynn's DVD. It covers all the information about shaving with a straight, honing, stropping, creams, etc. A wonderful resource for a steal of a price.

When you get ready to purchase soaps, give Colleen a try. thegentlemensquarter@verizon.net

I wish I could offer you more advice but I'm still new at it myself.

Semper Fi :tu

Although I am still learning as well, I can tell you that Lynn's DVD is really close to indispensable. The $19.95 is money well spent on a venture like this. I learned more in 3 hours than I learned in a month of reading articles on the subject, about the "how" to do things and plenty of the "why" as well. But then again, I am a really visual creature. Also check out the newbie section of the forum, lots of good advice in there for people like myself.

Dan, I'll assume that the morning shave is a rush rush thing in the core, unless you're an officer lol. You can go for the full routine on your off-days, but here's a good time-saving routine:
1) Wash your face and apply some brushless cream (like Lush Ambrosia and Palmolive Brushless)
2) Strop
3) Rinse your face and re-apply
4) Start shaving.
This could probably cut a 2-pass shave down to about 5min.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Dan, I'll assume that the morning shave is a rush rush thing in the core, unless you're an officer lol. You can go for the full routine on your off-days, but here's a good time-saving routine:
1) Wash your face and apply some brushless cream (like Lush Ambrosia and Palmolive Brushless)
2) Strop
3) Rinse your face and re-apply
4) Start shaving.
This could probably cut a 2-pass shave down to about 5min.

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5 min for a 2 pass shave? Is that possible?

What you could also do is strop in the evening if you have a bit of time. that way your razor is instantly shaveready in the moring. At least, I don't see that it would make a difference.

I have never used pre-shave oil myself, but several people on this forum don't use it anymore because it makes it more difficult to properly stretch the skin during shaving, what with the slipperyness.

It's possible once you get the hang of it. The speed comes naturally. I've found the difference b/w stropping the night before and stropping while lathering drastic. It could be because I have substantial stubble and sensitive skin. In any case, stropping gives you something to do while waiting for the lather to do its work.

Welcome Dan, I would read up here and follow the advice that makes sense to you. It is a good idea to send your good razor to a pro for proper honing so that you have a benchmark for what a truly sharp razor feels like. Pay attention to proper stropping.

At the same time, pick up a cheap razor from ebay and learn to hone (buy Lynn's DVD. It helps immensely).

Go for comfortable shaves first. Closeness will come with practice. Touch up if needed, with a DE or whatever razor you use now.

Most of all, be patient and persistent. Enjoy :tu

Jordan

stropping immediately before the shave should be much better as otherwise the edge has all the time to get out of the realignment the stropping achieves. Sure, if you have elephant leather skin who cares.

I am concerned about your need to rush it - especially when starting. Can you shave the night before you go to bed and take some more time to be careful? Even very experienced users cut themselves occasionally when they have to rush...

Another idea - if you shave the night before going to bed, shaving in the morning *might* be much easier and faster. Joe Lerch (unfortunately not here to expound) was experimenting with this and maintained a smooth shave shaving twice / day. I also think it didn't take him much time - but I am not sure.

Best of luck
Ivo

Thanks for the welcome and swift response times...We are looking for a few good men...
...anyways, for those of you who posted with the qiestion about "shaving the night before": I can. It's convenient, I have no problem with taking my time, and I certainly don't like the morning rush.
Second, I will look into the DVD from "Lynn" in order to improve my "rusty-shave". Doesn't sound like a bad purchase...plus, I need the see-to-learn approach.
I have a few more questions:
How long would you suggest leaving the lather set before shaving?
What are some good pre-shave lotions, oils or balms to use?
A second pass is all that should be needed, with perhaps a few touch ups?? If that's the case, I've done good.

Well, regardless, thanks in advance for your replies!

Dan
USMC

If you lather up first and then do your stropping thats probably all the time the lather needs. If you start on your face and do you neck and chin last that gives additional time for the tougher areas.

I don't use pre shave preps. I've tried the oils and didn't like them. Just use a hot towel on your face after you lather up just before shaving and then reapply the lather and you should be good to go.

I'd say skip the pre-shave oils. Hot towels do two things: the whisker absorbs water and becomes easier to cut, and the heat stimulates your face to release some of its own oil.

You should be safe lathering up, stropping, refreshing the lather then shaving. I don't know how strict the Marines are about your shaves. You might be able to do one pass with a little cleanup, or you might need two passes with a little cleanup. When I'm going for baby butt smooth (That's BBS) I can get there with two passes and a little extra time on my chin.

Don't be in a rush. Shave at night for the first couple of weeks until you really get things down. Send your razor to Lynn or one of the other honemeisters so you'll know what sharp is all about. The whiskers will be so scared they'll jump out of the way of the razor.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sensei_kyle

The whiskers will be so scared they'll jump out of the way of the razor.

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Nah, these are Marine whiskers we're talking about. I think the razor will probably salute and say "excuse me" before it cuts the beard :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ClassicMarine

How long would you suggest leaving the lather set before shaving?

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Not at all. The hot water is the real prep for the beard and that's about two, two minute hot towel treatments or a shower. Then lather and go at it.

X

I don't use hot towels and generally don't shower before shaving, so I leave lather on for about 2 minutes (long enough for me to go downstairs, pick up a razor, strop it, go upstairs with it), rinse it, re-lather and shave immediately.

The choice on many of these things are up to you but this is what I do.
I strop before I shower, get out of the shower lather up my face and then shave. First with the grain and then against, proably 10 min but no more. I shave in the AM and I have a wife and two kids and one bathroom so speed is escential. The hot shower first makes all the difference.

I do the same thing as RichZ - takes me a bit longer, but its getting quicker.

I've yet to find a pre-shave product that makes any difference.

A great beard softening trick is to smear some hair conditioner on your stubble and let it sit while you're inthe shower and rinse it off just before you finish your shower.

I don't use hot towels, but I do splash hot water onto my face a few times before I apply the lather I've made separately in my mug - I also work the lather in (as opposed to just applying it from the mug), which helps soften and set up the bristles.

Just thought I'd mention another dirty trick, and this one works on detachment where the water may or may not be good to go from the tap/bucket/stream/mudhole....
Anyway it's worked for me....I wash my face, then slather on some Noxzema skin cream (yes, THAT Noxzema) then rinse that off with water hot as you can get it (I just use an old towel drenched in scalding water) Lather up, strop, and shave. Time from start of prep until completion of 3 passes is still under 10 minutes. Skip the ATG pass and it's even faster.
If the edge is as sharp as you like it to be, and your prep was good, this should be a relatively quick and painless process. The longest times for me was learning what angle did best to get some of those hairs that fight (for me the ones in the hollow of the left side of my neck do not like to cooperate....and make me try some interesting contortions sometimes to get them)
Good luck! And here I thought all Marines shaved with shards of glass....:D
John P.