Thread: First shave was great....Second was terrible

I just wanted to post an update, I spent the last several days working on stropping. I tried shaving again last night and it went much better than last time. I think a big part of it was my stropping technique. I'm pretty sure the stropping i was doing before didn't really do anything.

Now if i can only figure out how to get a good lather. It seems like the soap is really hard and not enough of it transfers to the brush.

Originally Posted by vededju

I just wanted to post an update, I spent the last several days working on stropping. I tried shaving again last night and it went much better than last time. I think a big part of it was my stropping technique. I'm pretty sure the stropping i was doing before didn't really do anything.

Now if i can only figure out how to get a good lather. It seems like the soap is really hard and not enough of it transfers to the brush.

As with most things, practice makes perfect. Try stropping with a butter knife for practice. Works wonders.

What soap are you using? I've found that with a soap like MWF, letting a bit of warm warm sit on the puck for a while helps soften it and will let more be picked up by my brush.

Originally Posted by vededju

I just wanted to post an update, I spent the last several days working on stropping. I tried shaving again last night and it went much better than last time. I think a big part of it was my stropping technique. I'm pretty sure the stropping i was doing before didn't really do anything.

Now if i can only figure out how to get a good lather. It seems like the soap is really hard and not enough of it transfers to the brush.

You do not need a lot of soap on the brush. A little will go a long way. I dont even bother trying to scrape the soap anymore.

here is what has been working good for me. YMMV

hot water and wet the brush, shake off excess and quick swirl on the soap

bathe

properly soak the brush in water, let drain and a bit of a snap downward to force a bit more water out (i find it easier to add more water than basically start over making lather)

i absentmindely swirl the brush on top of the soap for like a minutes.

I then continue the swirl but add a pumping motion. i normally add a little splash of water to it here if it is still resistant to the pumping motion after a few pumps.

when it loosens and the bristles start going up the side and lather starts to form, i add a twisting motion to the swirling pump. i notice i seem to have a rhythm that dont fully lather the brush and the twist gets it all lathered up.

continue with this for a few moments and it should swell considerably, maybe a few more drops of water if its looking too dry.

ANSWER: Practice, trial, error & try different things.

DISCLAIMER: My HOT water is just hot, a bit beyond warm & not scalding hot from the faucet.

Another possibility is that because the first went so well you dove in and tried to accomplish too much on the second shave. Take your time and be patient. Its all about muscle memory.

Don't give up though, Str8 razor shaving is by far the best feeling shave you will ever get. Plus when done successfully it makes you feel like a real man.