First Shave! Not Dead! Have Some Questions Though.

[Slafav]

Just finished my first shave with a straight razor today. I kind of did a jumble of with, across, and against the grain. The question I really have is about lather. Is there some technique to getting thick lather? I soaked the brush while I took a hot shower, then gave the brush three shakes and started to mix. The lather was thin and not really lathery, so I reapplied enough to shave with and went for it. How do you really load the brush with lather? I have mine in a small jar that is the same size as the soap puck, and I swished the brush around the top and tried to work lather on my face and the puck itself. No idea what I'm really supposed to do. Another issue I had was slicing through pimples. Not a huge deal, but is there anything to do to avoid that? Or do I just have to clear up my face somehow? Any help would be awesome!

[PLW45]

Do what I did. Watch Mantic!

http://http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=016978658069AF94

That's a list of all his lathering videos. Five in all, helped me a ton. I have a latte cup that I make lather in, after I load the brush with soap.

As for skincare, others may be able to help more.

[homh]

Try adding a dab of Kiss My Face shaving cream when you mix your lather.

[Tommy_C]

...I soaked the brush while I took a hot shower, then gave the brush three shakes and started to mix. The lather was thin and not really lathery...

It might be that you don't have enough water. That was my problem, at first: I shook far too much water out of the brush. With three decent shakes, the brush is almost dry.

I, too, highly recommend watching Mantic's lathering playlist. But pay close attention to how he shakes out his brush -- if you watch close, you'll see he's not really shaking too much out. Once I stopped shaking so much water out, and started to add some more to the mix when I'm building the lather, I get much better results.

Another thing I tried, which has helped out tremendously, is to follow Mantic's superlather routine of using a glycerine shave soap and shaving cream together. It's awesome. The lather is soooo thick and creamy, and there's so MUCH of it. More than enough for three passes, to be sure.

Good luck...

[Slafav]

Going to try and find some cream tomorrow, but I'm wondering if the size of the mug I am mixing it in could be a problem? I am just using a standard coffee cup. I also tried adding more water but the lather became a nonexistent soapy water. I'm still at it though, several bowls of "lather" just for practice. :001_smile

[scott1981]

I spend days working on getting the lather right. I am new so take it for what is it worth, but I have had a much easier time if I make the lather in a bowl where I have more room to work with it. The mug thing just was not cutting it for me, so the mug now holds my puck and that is its only purpose.

[Alacrity59]

Going to try and find some cream tomorrow, but I'm wondering if the size of the mug I am mixing it in could be a problem? I am just using a standard coffee cup. I also tried adding more water but the lather became a nonexistent soapy water. I'm still at it though, several bowls of "lather" just for practice. :001_smile

The mug shouldn't be a problem. I have a short brush so I find I hit my fingers a bit too much as a mug is a bit too deep for me. So I've been using a dollar store cereal bowl. To me it is amazing how much water the soap can absorb given patience . . . Mantic talks about taking up to two minutes to get the right lather (er. with a boar brush) . . . . patience, up and down action, don't add more water till the foam is too stiff. . . . etc. etc. etc. (hmmm makes me want to watch the king and I)

Mike

[inspectoring]

I am new to this as well but I just go ahead and take some cream on the shave brush and then just rub that on the face. If it is too dry - I end up adding a little water.
Its more of a hit or miss compared to generating the lather in a bowl...but I guess that is part of the routine. I like the uncertainty.