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  1. #11
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    Bnick,

    In my first few months, I had the same issue with trying to get a good lather. My first brush was a cheap Wally world boars hair brush and little did I know, it was the source of the problem. I'm not sure what kind you currently have, but a good brush is necessary to a good lather. Notice, I didn't say an expensive brush...only a good brush. If you haven't found a good brush, try to find a badger hair. At first, I didn't even bother to even look for one because I thought they were all so expensive. The boars hair fell apart in the first month or so and I was forced to look for another brush. I found the Tweezerman and was so shocked at the price for a badger hair brush, I orderd 2 of em. Here's the link where I bought mine from: Tweezerman Shaving Brush - MUHLE . The very first shave with it, I was astonished at how much of a difference a good brush will make when trying to obtain a good lather. Almost a year later, I'm still on the first brush and have yet to touch the second.

  2. #12
    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Default 'hate to recommend gear

    The reason I hate to recommend it is that gear is not what we need when learning, it's skills. I'm at 10 wks, and LOVING the shaves. The Mrs. loves them too.
    I had a real game changer when I got a 1/4 hollow razor for my bday. You'll see lots of threads about shaving where the veteran found the heavier grind enabled him to learn the moves. Then he was able to do them on a hollow with a little practice. I seem to be following that well worn path. 'Got a 6/8 1/4 hol. and it was like the shaving world changed. It wasn't just a challenge, it was now easy. And PLEASANT. 'Best shaves, no drama, no blood, unless I was trying some new moves. New moves are tempting, 'cause everything is easier. Now I'm reading about how the full hollow is just more demanding. I'm thinking that's right. The last two days, I've used the full hollow, and could duplicate almost all the moves w/ the 1/4 hollow. Yet the 1/4 H. remains my fav. tool, and I want another. It has a very very slight smile, which was new for me too. This doesn't mean blow a wad of money. There's lots of wedges in the classifieds, and they will give a similar advantage. If we both grow out of the heavy grinds? so what. We'll have shortened our learning curve.

    I'm not that good at stropping - as my leather will show. I glued some latigo on a pc of finished oak for a paddle strop, and the edges improved alot. The 3" wide strop is always smiling or frowning, leaving some portion of the blade without contact. My next strop will be no more than 2.5" wide. I understand they're less prone to cupping or bowing.

    A word of thanks for all the experienced guys that have been so kind to us noobs. It's impossible to thank you enough.

  3. #13
    Modern Day Peasant Nightblade's Avatar
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    Wink

    Jusy my 2 cent.I didn't really have the time to read everyone elses feed back ,so pardon me for just jumping in okay.If your razor was honed to shave ready ,then it sounds like a couple of problems arose here.First it might very well be your honing. Practice slow and steady ,speed comes later and you may possibly have rolled the edge.Keep your strop tight.Although I believe you said you have a balsa wood strop..I don't have any knowledge of those honestly.While lather is important , I can tell you ,it also sound like your technique more than youe lathering as I have had perfect shaves without tons of creamy lather. Remember to ease up on your pressure while still holding the blade firm.Try just holding with the thumb and first two fingers and keep to about a 30 degree angle.Don't try to force the razor,let it do the work.You should be hearing what sounds like toast being buttered when shaving which is a good indicator. and go slow and easy.Read the wiki,I'm sure you have been so just reiterating.Aslo read the threads about cold shaving which might help you and also find the article on the 1960 barbers manual..very very helpful and while you're at it checkout chimenches 30yr. anniversery shave video as it has good visual reference on technique.Very worth while..I have neck hairs that go E/W so I feel your pain but believe me I can get pretty smooth down there.Just be patient it will come.In the mean time,let your face heal and start over.Hope this helps a little? Just be patient,have fun and relax.Pre shave prep creams and post shave prep creams and all that other stuff is like icing on the cake when starting out.Remember,straight shaving is really quite primitive and straight forward albeit very efficient and excuisite IMHO.Soak yer brush ,strop yer razor slow and easy,make yer lather and ease up on that pressure. Good luck and sorry if I sound like I'm mother henning ya.Just want ya to not get frustrated and have a nice shave that's all.Again Good luck okay.Hang in there man.
    Last edited by Nightblade; 09-02-2010 at 06:35 AM.

  4. #14
    Senior Member jeffegg2's Avatar
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    Cool

    This is my favorite brush. Inexpensive Badger hair, I have a tweezerman also, but it seems a bit short and stiff. This Parker is not a silvertip, but holds water well and makes a ton of lather!

    : Amazon.com: Blue Wood Handle Shaving Brush with Black Badger Bristles and Free Stand - From Parker Safety Razor: Health & Personal Care


  5. #15
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    I went to a local barber today and the main barber guy put a good stropping on it and let me tell you all... this razor is SHARP! This is what he recommended:

    He said I needed to put a bit more pressure on the razor when stropping so instead of basically letting gravity push down the razor to the strop, he said to give the razor some pressure so there is a slight dip in the strop with every pass. This is against some other advise I have read here but the guy brought my razor back to crazy sharp with this method with just 15-20 passes so I am going to use this and see how it works for me.

    Also I have a Vulfix Super Badger brush which seems to be pretty good I think?

    Tomorrow morning I will give it a go and see what happens... I haven't shaved in 2 days and my face is all healed up. Im going to work on my lather a bit longer to get it thicker and pay special attention to my strokes, thinking about which directions works best and which hurt.

    Thanks to everyone who has contributed!!! Hopefully there are some other noobies who have or will find this helpful also.

  6. #16
    They call me Mr Bear. Stubear's Avatar
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    If you want a couple of pre-shave tips that work well for me, try these:

    - Rub a good load of conditioner into your beard in the shower.
    - Apply your lather then throw a hot towel over the top of it for a minute or two. I use water right from the kettle on a face flannel for this and its so hot it almost hurts!
    - Re-apply your lather and start to shave.

    Good luck and keep us posted!

  7. #17
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    Update:

    I shaved this morning and here was my routine...

    I decided to use all cold water after reading the 1905 booklet thing.

    1. showered (cleaned face)
    2. dried face
    3. soaked brush for few min
    4. made a lather and applied to face
    5. rubbed lather into face with fingers
    6. reapplied lather with brush
    7. wet razor and began shaving
    8. finished with Witch Hazel (which IMO doesnt smell very good but feels nice on my face) and the Corn Huskers lotion.

    Verdict: best shave yet the the SR. The blade went through my sideburns/cheeks like a red hot knife through butter.

    Then I attempted my neck, and although I still stayed away from the middle, short sideways strokes, starting from the lower portion of my neck and moving up towards the jawline was magical. I placed my other fingers below my ear to stretch the neck skin back (seems to also help stand the hair up Ive noticed).

    So I dont know if it was because of the properly stropped razor or the cold shave or a combo of both but whatever the combo, the shave was great and gave me new confidence in the razor and excitement to continue practicing.

  8. #18
    A Newbie....Forever! zepplin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by rynearnold View Post

    Should I consider using preshave oil?
    I use hair conditioner; it works great, and it is very cheap.

    I wet my face and message my beard well with whatever conditioner I am using at the time, then I apply a hot wet towel for more than a minute. I do this twice!

    * This works extremely well for me,

    Steve
    Last edited by zepplin; 09-02-2010 at 08:01 PM. Reason: clean up grammer errors

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