So after waiting the longest week in my life, I went and picked up my gear at the post office today. I got a Merker 23C, a badgr brush and some lime shaving soap. Don't really know what i'm doing at all so I just kind of winged it. I listened to what most people say, went NS then SN. I couldnt really do it perfectly in the direction I wanted, so hopefully I will get better at that. I cut myself a bit in the middle of my neck and around the chin area. These things are sharp! also at times I could not tell if the razor was touching my face or not haha. That sounds stupid but I am just not used to it. I kept cleaning it off after only using one side too because I forgot I was using a DE. anyways I have some quick questions. 1.) to make my lather I used a small bowl, heated it up then swirled the brush around the soap for a while, then swirled the brush in the bowl for about a minute. The lather seemed a bit thin and it was a big mess with the plastic case that the soap comes in. is there a way to keep this neater and more clean? 2.)This is not a question but I will post pictures of what I got tonight maybe. There are 2 packages that I don't really know what do do with. one is facial scrub and the other is "pre shave oil" Anyways sorry for the long post. My real shaving says have officially begun! Have a good day everyone.
Thanks for sharing with us! 1.) Sounds like you may have had too much water which will make the lather thin and / or did not work the lather long enough. 2.) Facial scrub is facial scrub, so wash your face with it. The pre-shave oil works for some people to soften the hair. I tried it and did not like it so I quit using it. As far as the cuts go, those are either from using pressure, or from to aggressive of an angle.
Congrats on your first DE shave! They'll only get better. As for your lather, yeah, too much water/not enough soap. Only practice, trial, and error will get you to where you need to be. All brushes are different, not only in material (badger, boar, synthetic), but also size. All soaps/creams are different. Everyone's water is a different hardness or softness. You can watch the videos, and I suggest you do, but only for suggestions. Doing exactly what they do will not guarantee your lather to be like theirs. Their brush is different, their soap is different...etc. For the soap, I ditch the plastic container and melt it into a small bowl - three for a buck at the $ store. Load up the brush there, then take it to a lather bowl as you did. No mess for me.
Congrats on the first shave! :happy096 As for lather, start with little water. Add as needed. You can always add water, but you can't take it away.
Sounds like too much water and not enough elbow grease. Depending on the type of brush you have, badgers like less water, boars like more, it still sounds like you have too much. Don't be bashful on your soap. More is better then less. Then work it in your bowl. Beginners tend not to work their brush long enough to give you a good lather. Most of all, practice, practice, practice. Finally, enjoy.
Sorry for the noob question guys, but how exactly is that process? I'm on the same boat as Boseero here. First shave tonight using soap which came in a plastic cup. Am I supposed to take the soap out of its plastic container and set it in a mug? And from there, use hot water to melt some of the soap? Thanks.
Hey meireles, I took my soap out of the plastic and put it in the bottom of a mug. from there put some hot water in the mug and let the soap stick to the bottom. Then have a bowl or another empty mug. Wet your brush, then swirl it in the soap for a bit till the tips of the brush are soapy. Then in your seperate mug or bowl swirl the brush around till you have a nice lather. Good luck!
I have not tried vhd soap. but can I recommend you get a cream in you arsenal. does not have to be expensive you can get some arko creams from shoebox or bullgoose. for about 2.99 each. I like to wet the brush then shake and squeeze all the water put some cream in a bowl and begin to load it. after the brush is loaded start adding drops of warm water and mix. that will make great lather. make sure your lather has no air bubbles and its not all runny. it should look like cream. well that's how I like it.
Perfect. Now I understand. Thanks so much. BTW, sorry if it seems I hijacked your thread... Mynorx, Will get to the cream ASAP. I have lots to work on first (technique and lather for instance) but thanks for the suggestion.
just ran into this site with the cheapest Arko Prices I have seen anywhere. I posted the link in the "hot deals" forum under Arko Motherload! title
VDH in a small microwave safe bowl, place in microwave and nuke for 10 second bursts. Always keep a finger on the STOP button and hit it as soon as you see the soap start to bubble. If it's not completely melted, let it set for a couple of seconds then hit it again. Once it is all melted, just let it cool on the counter. This will work for any and all glycerin type soaps. DO NOT TRY THIS WITH TALLOW SOAPS! IT WILL NOT WORK!
