Prep and lather

[mr_raider]

Hello. I have started wet shaving since last week. I read all the wikis and I don't know if I my prep sequence is right. Here is what I do, in order:


1. Pre-soak brush in bowl of hot water
2. Take shower while brush is soaking
3. Apply pre shave cream (ProRaso)
4. Empty water from bowl and prepare cream
5. Wash off Proraso
6. Lather with brush
7. Massage lather with brush on my face
8. First Pass


For subsequent passes I use what's left in the bowl.

My questions:

1. Am I soaking teh brush too long? My water gets cold.
2. Should I apply Proraso before or after the shower?
3. How long should the lather sit on myface before 1st pass?
4. Should I whip up a new bowl for each pass?


Thanks.

I am using Kiss My Face (peach cobbler?) from loblaws, and an Omega brush I bought for 12$ at Pharmaprix.

[Luc]

Welcome to B&B!

The sequence is right to me.

1. Maybe, the water shouldn't be too hot, you should be able to leave your hand in there and be comfortable. If it's too hot, it might damage the brush. You can always refresh the hot water before building the lather.

2. When I was using Proraso pre/post, I would apply it before I jumped in the shower and scrub it off before I got out of the shower.

3. 10 seconds is enough, some wait 2-3 minutes.

4. No, normally you should have enough lather for 2-3 passes, maybe 4.

[mr_raider]

2. When I was using Proraso pre/post, I would apply it before I jumped in the shower and scrub it off before I got out of the shower.


Pre/Post what? You use it after a shave too?

[Laney1566]

The thought of actually washing off the pre shave never occurred to me. I would rub it in and then apply cream.
Maybe I was doing it wrong :huh:

Welcome BTW :001_smile

[ackvil]

What Luc said except I apply Proraso pre/post on a wet face and let it set while I make my lather. I then take a hot towel and apply to my face, splash some warm water on my face, and then lather up.

[BigFoot]

What Luc said except I apply Proraso pre/post on a wet face and let it set while I make my lather. I then take a hot towel and apply to my face, splash some warm water on my face, and then lather up.

I follow Jim's routine minus the towel. I just thoroughly splash my face with warm water. I have never scrubbed off the Proraso.

[brucered]

what the heck? i always put on the proraso pre/post cream before i shave, let it sit for a minute or 2 then put on the shave cream.

i think tonight i'll try washing it off and see what happens.

[npsarros]

If you like you lather to remain warm get a Skuttle.

You can make your lather in it and keeps warm while you shave!

I got a small one, and I face lather, then put the brush in it to keep the lather warm.

[Sledgehammer39]

Welcome Aboard.. Seems good to me :thumbup:

[Luc]

Pre/Post what? You use it after a shave too?

It's a pre/post product, you can use it before and/or after the shave...

[HoosierTrooper]

Or you can simplify the whole process.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=168069

[mr_raider]

It's a pre/post product, you can use it before and/or after the shave...

Mine is "pre" only:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6TaA0hnMeGc/TS2h3lAAzbI/AAAAAAAAADw/5A_Ym3tyIyo/s400/IMG_0839.JPG

[Drubbing]

I think that's just a quirk of international packaging. AFAIK they only make a pre/post, I've never seen it marketed as different stuff on any of the proraso or vendor sites. If it's in a glass jar, dense and thick and menthol, then it's probably the same thing, no matter what they write on there.

I always found the pre use of it pretty useless, but like to add it for menthol sometimes, as it gets hot here.

[Luc]

Mine is "pre" only:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6TaA0hnMeGc/TS2h3lAAzbI/AAAAAAAAADw/5A_Ym3tyIyo/s400/IMG_0839.JPG

I've never seen it as 'pre' only. I never used it as post either... :laugh:

[mr_raider]

Another question:

I am having real issues getting a good shave on the chin and along the mandible where it curves to the under side of the chin. The flat surfaces like the cheeks, lip and neck seem OK. The angle is killer!

I'm using a Merkur HD with Merkur super platinum blades.

[rajagra]

You are probably soaking the brush more than needed, but it won't do any harm other than getting cold. Something worth trying at least once though with a boar brush - soak the brush for a short time sitting in a cup with under an inch of water in it. The tips get soft, but overall the brush stays stiffer. Makes it easy to get a good face massage while you apply lather.

To get at those tricky spots, pull the skin to a flat zone. You'll be surprised how far skin can move.

[Luc]

Another question:

I am having real issues getting a good shave on the chin and along the mandible where it curves to the under side of the chin. The flat surfaces like the cheeks, lip and neck seem OK. The angle is killer!

I'm using a Merkur HD with Merkur super platinum blades.

Practice is the key. You need to follow the skin and change the angle as the skin is going around the chin. Go slower on those spots.

[mr_raider]

Ok, so I got an exceptionally good shave yesterday after 2 weeks of trying. The result was smooth, minimal cuts, and no irritation afterwards for 24 hours. Problem is, I don't know what I did right!

I've been using the same cream, razor and blade, but varying the mix of the cream and the shaving pattern/angle of the blade. Is it because my cream water mix was right? Was it the blade angle, or was it the pattern on each pass?

[mblakele]

It sounds like you did everything right.

However, this is one reason to make just one change at a time. Otherwise how can you know what helped and what hurt?

[Luc]

Ok, so I got an exceptionally good shave yesterday after 2 weeks of trying. The result was smooth, minimal cuts, and no irritation afterwards for 24 hours. Problem is, I don't know what I did right!

I've been using the same cream, razor and blade, but varying the mix of the cream and the shaving pattern/angle of the blade. Is it because my cream water mix was right? Was it the blade angle, or was it the pattern on each pass?

Sounds like it's starting to get better! :thumbup1:

[mr_raider]

I've been using Merkur Platinum blades so far for about a month. WOuld like to try something a bit sharper. Which smapler pack would people recommend for a nice variety:

http://www.fendrihan.com/razor-blades-blade-samplers-c-116_4_14.html

[Mr. Bobblehead]

I received a large sampler pack for Christmas that has 100+ blades. It's great, but I don't like having that many different brands of blades. It's almost too overwhelming. In hindsight, I would have gone with a smaller sampler pack in the 30-50 blade range that has all the "main" brands I'm interested in trying.

[Luc]

I've been using Merkur Platinum blades so far for about a month. WOuld like to try something a bit sharper. Which smapler pack would people recommend for a nice variety:

http://www.fendrihan.com/razor-blades-blade-samplers-c-116_4_14.html

I would go with the first one...

Razor Blades Sampler: Derby, Astra Platinum, Astra Stainless, Black Feather, Dorco and Precision

[mr_raider]

I would go with the first one...

Razor Blades Sampler: Derby, Astra Platinum, Astra Stainless, Black Feather, Dorco and Precision

How would you rank them, from butter knife to samurai sword?