Is extra prep needed for straights?

I'm wondering if maybe I need to spend more time on prep when it comes to straights over DEs. Is a shower and a preshave product simply enough for shaving with a straight razor or should more be done? What should I add to my preshave routine to get a better shave out of a straight?

I've been working on my lather, pressure, angle, and still the shave isn't as comfortable as I'd like. I don't believe it to have to do with the sharpness of the blade.

My prep is the same (i.e shower and face lather), whether I use a straight, DE, Injector or my Sensor.

My prep is excessive. While I was learning to shave, my evening wash included a witch hazel splash, or perhaps some aloe gel. Both really help skin heal, and may make your skin a bit "readier" to be shaved again the next morning.

. . . . oh, and use less pressure and a closer angle.

I think it depends on your whiskers. I prep excessively any time I shave whether with a straight or not and for me with a straight it's definitely needed.

Wetter lather works better with a straight.

Nope, nothing extra is needed really...what ever you do now is just fine. I like the others here like the ritual of hot towels, pre-shave oils etc...not sure if it really matters but it matters to me....hahaha.

I use the same procedure and products for DE and straight, but prefer a wetter lather for straights...
br,
ToM

Use the same routine as you always do. The difference is that straight razors take more time to master than a DE, but once there you'll get smoother and far closer shaves. Oh yes and whetter lather. In short I'm just repeating what's already stated above [emoji12]

Skin stretching is what matters. IMO

When I first started wet shaving I was all into skin prep, now, not so much. If not after a shower, just splash hot water on the face and go for it! As others have said, a wetter lather, skin stretching and use of an alum block to facilitate skin stretching is all that is needed, other than a sharp blade and good technique, YMMV greatly.

I just use some 100 grit sandpaper, that's all the prep I need before my straight shave.

My preshave prep is as followsfor DE, SE or SR) -- I wet my face with warm water, then I massage in some Proraso preshave cream, then I take a hot facecloth and hold it on my face and enjoy the heat and the scent, then I wipe off the preshave cream and then face lather with whatever soap I am using that day. It takes another minute or two to prep this way, but it is worth it. And yes, as others have said, I tend to leave my lather wetter for SR shaving.