After a month of learning to shave with a str8, I tried my first (and second) str8 shaves using Hydrolast this weekend. I'm curious for you guys that have been doing this, how do you modify the use of Hydrolast for str8s? I found it disappears too quick, but I am new to str8 shaving and require 25-30 minutes to reach close to a BBS state. At the risk of asking too many questions, here are the issues I had. 1. Do you keep whole face lathered and how often do you reapply to keep face wet and shave ready? 2. How do you stretch the skin with the normal slick lather? Do you keep the same consistancy of lather, or "thicken it up" with a dryer mix. 3. Do you still use the same forms, or do you do more ATG for the third form? 4. Do you dispense with the forms and shave in same manner as you would for a normal str8 shave and just use the products? Brad
This is a tricky adjustment, but it can be done. I basicly thicken my mix up more for use with straights. You have to do so because the straight shave is a longer process and Hydrolast will collapse before you can cut it all. Basicly a little less water, add the Activator to help with the lather, and work the mix in the brush more to get it more air in to it and foamy. I really need to get my hands on a camera to demonstrate this in a video as the question has come up before. As for the forms, ditch them for the straight. Honestly, I don't really use the method 3x forms anymore even with the DE. Keep in mind those are Charles' guide to cutting that were originally intended for those who have never wet shaved before. If you know what you are doing, you will do fine without them. Skin stretching will still be a bit of a chore with the slicker mix, but once you get the consistency right and get the hang of using the straight with Hydrolast, you'll see some improvement.
I tried this again today, but don't think I got it right. Good news is the shave was pretty close. More good news is it seemed like there was less drying of my skin with the mix than I get with a normal soap or cream. Bad news is that irritation level was way higher than normal, even with one of the soft rounds rather than a hard. Felt like very little to no cusion from the blade. I'm thinking I may try this tomorrow with one of Mama Bears soaps to provide more cushion and some paste mixed in for slickness and hydrating. I also tired using some finishing balm and the entire mix basically disappeared. With a usual mix, it feels really slick but almost seems to thicken the mix a little even though the blade tracks better. Do you use the finishing balm with a str8 and if so, what is your result and when do you use it? Brad
I believe the balm just go on by itself. I get excellent results. I use it during the clean up pass just to get that BBS. Raf
I will breakdown and try the Hydrolast stuff eventually. Especially since Mike is the tester for using it with a str8! That way I know what to get.
