The Shaving Thread

**craig** · 11-30-2011, 05:54 PM

Well, after lurking in this thread for some time, I noticed that the local drug store had Paraso soap like Paddy posted, and the Nivea shaving cream mentioned earlier. I picked up the Nivea cream because it was on sale, tried it today ... and it bugged my skin more than my usual Edge gel or shaving oil or, ah, regular soap. (I have a Gillette razor with some ridiculous number of blades.)

I suspect that because I have oily skin, only need to shave twice a week, can and do shave in all directions, and don't have much density of facial hair (my Movember mustache is pathetic), that it doesn't matter what I use?

The stuff sounds neat, though ... :-)

**GrouchM** · 05-30-2016, 02:44 PM

A five year old thread. Let's restart it:

So last Wednesday was the day. I had acquired all of the basics, a razor, blades, soap and a brush. I woke up around 8:30 am and sat everything out, excited, but hopefully about my new path to a better shave..

I had purchased a mini gift set of White Birch and tobacco butter from Burlington Coat Factory. So, it wasn't a puck, nor really cream. It all ready had the yogurt consistency in the jar. It smelled more menthol than anything. No idea what white birch smells like, and the tobacco smell was faint. I then pulled out the synthetic brush that came with the gift set and wasn't impressed..

I picked up my Shave Factory (Derby) razor bought from Sally's Beauty Supply and dropped it onto the tile floor. Should have taken that as a sign, but I inspected it and saw nothing wrong (as if I could tell) and proceeded. I placed the razor and the brush in my mug filled with warm water and took a shower.

After the shower I began. I took a dime sized mount of the cream with water and placed it is the mug and tried to work up a lather .It only made the cream more milky. Another bad sign. No matter how much I tried no lather. I checked the directions. Which were of no help. I finally stuck the brush directly in the cream and applied. I then realized this was possibly a brushless soap. I remembered a few guys mentioning that slightly in the limited reviews I had found online, but never processed what that meant to actually applying it. It proceeded to lather my face and head with the shaving soap. The smell was very minimal. The brush was able to lather ok. But, sadly I could get the blade to catch on my skin. I was able to shave without incident. I didn't have any nicks or cuts, mostly because I followed all the advice of light pressure, but the blade never really came into contact to cut any facial hair (which I had a 3-4 day growth of). Then, it happened, the cream started to run down my head into my eyes. Which made me ask should I be doing my face and head at the same time, or should it be done separately? So, now looking like Carrie (minus the red color of blood) with milky white goo running down my head into my eyes, distracting my rhythm while applying a sharp blade to my face and head-Ah, living the dream! I decided to power through, but sadly had it running down my neck to my chest and stomach. It was a bloody mess, especially compounded by the fact I didn't see any hair in the sink after each rinse. I was not impressed with the.Personna.blade (a last minute substitute from the Astra). It seemed to sit to far in and not set out far enough. Will definitely consider upgrading to VDH, Astra and possibly Feather blades-hell anything else, maybe a rusty soup can lid.

I had planned to do 2 passes WTG only (remember it my first time). But after the 2nd pass left me with a goatee stubble (under the nose, mouth and chin) and virtually no hair removed from the back of my head. I finished and went to take a nap, but couldnt sleep, because I needed to address this. So, I got up and did one final pass against the grain and not duplicating the messy disaster of earlier got mostly all of the hair that remained. I still had some very light hair on my cheeks. But, I felt it was good enough as I concluded I would also need to refine my technique by much more practice. It was the closest shave I have had in a long time.

Immediate takeaways: I got over my anxiety of having the blade contact my skin (when it did) so that's gone. The knowledge that my face has many more subtle contours than I knew, but thankfully no cuts or nicks occured. That I need to do more research on the selection and use of my tools and products. Lastly, I've got to play the long game and the goal is to improve.

So all in all, not dissuaded, just a lot discouraged, because I thought I had prepared well for my first time-not even close: "Beware mileage may vary". I'll be doing it again, but I don't know if I'm suppose to shave everyday or when I have growth after a few days.

I did feel manly, but the little girl in me died a messy death to achieve that.

**GrouchM** · 05-30-2016, 02:47 PM

My second wet shave (last Saturday morning).

I actually waited an extra day because I did have that much beard growth. But, I did have more experience and was brimming with confidence. I soaked the razor in warm water and not the brush. I actually ran into a issue when showering that the water never got cold. Normally, I would have taken that as a bad sign, I powered through and wetted the tip of the brush and dipped it into the shave butter directly and applied. It lathered ok, but I know other products would do much better. I decided to not do my head (I'll alternate days or decide to do that after more shaves). While I placed the razor where my sideburn end and tilted the razor, I still don't feel I've improved getting the best the angle from my first shave. I made to WTG passes, which resulted in patches of stubble still being on both cheeks and my lower jaw and chin (my problem areas) but they were better due to my first shave reducing the majority of the beard. I snapped to my senses and did a third pass ATG. I washed out my brush, razor and blade; I added coconut oil to the blade before storing it away. I rinsed my head with cold water under the shower spicket and patted my face dry with a face towel.

I noticed I had two weepers in the exact same spots just above the tops of the corner of my lips. But, that was all the damage done. My technique is still crap though. I will admit I have taken having a light touch to heart, which has been a godsend, but my strokes and hesitant, too long at times and I go back over the same areas too much from what I've seen in the videos (areas w/o shave foam). My other take away was the feeling I had looking forward to and after the shave. It was a mixture of confidence, as I earlier mentioned, and elation. Not, because I had another shave under my belt, but how great it felt, how I looked forward to the actual shave itself. I was pumped, like answering the bell for a prizefight. It was almost zen like during the shave itself. But, I left renewed, refreshed and feeling good. So, there's something to what several members said about shaving daily for the feeling. I'm starting to get it-it's very therapeutic. While not BBS, I was please with this second attempt.

I feel a little stupid, every time I think, "why hadn't I done this sooner or where has this been all my life?"

**GrouchM** · 05-30-2016, 02:51 PM

I had skipped shaving my head yesterday and only focused on my face. After much thought, I decided to either go back to using my multiblade on my head or alternate days with my DE.

Due to my water heater acting up after a couple of power outages during yesterday's thunderstorms. I couldn't shave my head in the shower, so tonight after a cold shower. I decided to shave my head a second time with my DE in the sink.

Intially only have my head, actually gave me a calm demenor about this shave. I lathered up with Tri-coastal White Birch and Tobacco butter. I did three passes, WTG, ATG and XTG. I took my time, swith hands when needed and the result...Wait for it!

An amazing close head shave with no nicks or cuts. I even amazed myself. I rinsed my head with cold water under the shower spicket. I finished with tea tree spray and Dove Care Men's moisturizer.

Yul Brenner, Telly Savales and Mr. Clean eat your heart's out. I'm gorgeously handsome.

Whew! Another small victory.

**Eville** · 05-30-2016, 04:15 PM

It seems like your whole process is a lot more involved than mine. I use a simple Merkur safety razor with open comb and Feather hi-stainless blades (a must). I use a boar bristle brush and Mitchel's Wool Fat soap. I soak the brush in hot water for a minute or 2 while I brush my teeth. Remove brush, load with soap, lather it on my face, then shave with the grain. Super simple, no nicks, little irritation. I either use Nivea or one of the other big name "natural" brands who's name escapes me at the moment. I found a box of really old blades at my grandma's that I'm going to try out next time I shave. Just for giggles.

**GrouchM** · 06-01-2016, 04:15 PM

So, I started to see some stubble on my chin and decided to try my third shave. A friend's suggested I shave at night before bed, to which I agreed. It allows me quiet, a relaxing state after my shower and not time constraints (rushing through the process) like the mornings.

I even added a twist by making a night of it by lighting up a Ghurka Master Blend cigar earlier, prepared and ate dinner, watched "Person of Interest" and proceeded to shower. Luckily, my neighbor, whose a handyman reset my water heater for $20, so no more cold showers.

I dipped the razor into a mug of warm water as I showered, not the brush (it's a cheap synthetic one). I used a Personna blade (third use). I lathered up w Tri-coastal White Birch and tobacco butter. I had a better handle on how to apply this brushless farce of a cream, now after three shaves. I made three masterful, but measured passes: WTG, XTG, & ATG. I felt a little tug from the razor on the start of the last pass, so realized it was time for a new razor. But, I'm going to see if I can squeeze one more shave before retiring the blade.

I washed my face with warm water in the sink, then rinsed it with cold Thirdwater under the shower spicket, and patted it dry. Not weepers, nicks or cuts. While not BBS, in three face shaves and two head shaves, the result is staggering compared to my old single blade BIC disposables, it was night and day. No irritation, rough patches, stray hairs, nothing. I also realized that in the summer my beard grows less than the winter months, so the hair reduction aspect has been perfect for me. I finished off with a tea tree oil spray and then Kiss My Face Olive & Aloe lotion. It was sheer nirvana to have my face just be calm, and not recovering from the BICs butchering-it was what you'd desire before bed-peace.

So, while not perfect, I'd score it an 86. Still reading up on wet shaving, watching the videos and thinking through what steps to incorporate to make this work best for me, but dare I say it, I'm pleased after only three full shaves to look in the mirror and see my handiwork. I've dubbed this time for me as the "golden hour".

Would welcome any feedback