Thread: Is there such things as too much of the good things......?

Okay so after/during my shave tonight i noticed a bunch of things that i thought needed to be asked so here goes...

First is there such thing as TOO MUCH stretching? i noticed tonight while i was shaving my neck that i was getting a lot more irritation, something that has been starting to show up in the last few shaves, and i feel it has moe to do with stretching than either too much pressure or a dull blade, so i ask can you stretch TOO MUCH? and if so what is a good gauge on hitting the sweet spot with stretching?

Second is there such thing as TOO HOT of water in your scuttle? i usually use the tap but tonight heated water on the stove, not boiling but hotter, and while i got a good lather with proraso for the first pass when i went back it seemed to had dried, and not from lack of water in the lather because i tried to revive by adding more water and it just wasn't happy so i emptied the brush, lather and refilled the scuttle with hot tap water and it seemed to be alright so can the water be TOO HOT? i mean what did ppl do b4 hot water from a tap?

And last and maybe should be a sperate post and who knows maybe i will ask it else where too... but HOW do you use clubman moustache wax correctly?? i'm trying out handlebars and know i need wax to train the hairs but can't seem to get the wax to be my friend, any advice would be great!!!


thanks guys for all your help!!!

Originally Posted by BenjamanBarker

Okay so after/during my shave tonight i noticed a bunch of things that i thought needed to be asked so here goes...


And last and maybe should be a sperate post and who knows maybe i will ask it else where too... but HOW do you use clubman moustache wax correctly?? i'm trying out handlebars and know i need wax to train the hairs but can't seem to get the wax to be my friend, any advice would be great!!!


thanks guys for all your help!!!

The best way to get the handlebars is to get a better wax. I used the clubman for a few months since I am too cheap to buy anything else.... I needed to reapply several times per day. Look up Oregon Wild Hair or Firehouse Mustache Wax. That is what I hear from others.

I don't think you can over-stretch your skin (unless it actually starts to rip), but what can happen is that you are stretching so hard you don't realize you are using too much pressure.

The skin should be taut but it doesn't have to be stretched as far as it can go. With running a bead when you're welding or with running a line when you're tattooing better results are gotten when you're relaxed. Same with shaving I think ..... If you're pulling that hard when stretching maybe, like ace said, you're tense and unconsciously applying too much pressure ?

I've used Pinuad 'stache wax from time to time years ago. I would dab a little on and had either a little mustache comb or sometimes brush to groom it. I didn't like the way it felt on my lip , as in making the mustache so stiff. I would use it until the hair was trained enough to stay on it's own. Never tried any others and haven't worn a handlebar in thirty years. I'm a pencil mustache guy nowadays.

If your water is too hot the lather will simply break down.

As far as stretching goes nothing you do should be uncomfortable. if it is you've gone too far.

Thanks guys for the tips!!! you may be on to something Ace with the being tense and that causing "too much pressure"

And an add on i set my razors to dry after every use and then apply Chamomile oil to help prevent oxidation......how hum is too much i know it should be dripping off and i use oil in an ink well with cloth sticking out (stole from a post on here) run the blade lightly over the cloth and then wipe the excess (or so i think) off with my fingers and set it out for a bit longer before re-casing the razors. is it better to apply and then use some TP to get the excess off??

thanks!

So is the idea to flatten the skin more than stretching similar to what mantic59 teaches in his videos?

There's two schools of thought on stretching the skin - one is that it provides a flatter and hence safer surface for the razor and two is that it can help the hairs stand up hence making it easier to cut them down. Of course, to do the latter you need to stretch in a specific direction which is dependent on both you and the part of the face you are currently working on. It is also quite difficult to see how either of these points apply in any substantive way to the area immediately adjacent to the mouth (chin, upper lip).

I can quite often get a good enough stretch on the face by simply moving my head around. But especially on the neck as I get older I find using the second hand to stretch out the looser skin can be quite beneficial.

James.