Hello all. I'm beginner DE shaver and i think i pretty much got a good thing going on, as i'm confident about my technique, preparation, i'm pretty much able of getting constant shaves without nicks or bad stuff. Only time when i have problems is when i try the whole "prepare a lot" thing. I always read about preparation, that is important to stay hydrated, to shave right after shower and all that. I must say that i find a lot of those things not working for me at all. Less preparation, meaning a thorough wash of my face with hot water and shave = great shave, can go 3 passes, BBS at the end of them, no problems; More preparation, shower, shaving right after shower in steamy bathroom = bad shave, can't go more than 2 passes, get nicks, some rash and not even close of BBS; At first i was thinking maybe it's because of the blades i was using at that moment, as i keep experimenting with those. But i found out it's all about over-preparation, in my case. Not sure that i can explain the cause, but gonna go and say that my whiskers are getting too much moisture and they bend under the blade too much before getting cut. Don't have an explanation for nicks or rash though. I'm just curious if more of you encountered this kind of paradox. I think it's closer of the "cold water shaving" explanations. Did not tried that one, as it's still winter, not so fan of cold water at the moment. But i must admit that the temperature of the water does not make too much difference for me either, from warm to hot. Don't get better shave with hot water and don't get bad shaves with warm.
It's your shave. Enjoy it your way. Do what works for you and ignore what everyone says you should do.
welcome to the shave den. while I'm not sure about the mechanics of it all. I get a better shave after a warm/ hot water wash than I do after a shower. I don't think it's over hydration or temperature. I attributed my better results to the facial wash that I normally use. I have had good results with nivea face wash and also dove+ care. it works for me.....
Welcome aboard. The cold water method has some merit, I toned down the temp and had an improvement. Cold does not have to be absolute zero. I start hot with a face wash, then immediately cool it off and finish on the cooler side of that. Seasons are changing and so will the shave, at least for me. Have fun.
I personally notice no difference between just washing my face and doing the whole shower thing. I only shave after a shower now if I have a particular reason to... Welcome tomTSD!!!!!
Glad that you landed here at TSD. Join us on The Shave of the Day thread. It is fun, and you will see all kinds of products. And please Mark YOUR location on the TSD map - instructions here. My only preparation now is just a cold water wash. I do the cold water shave thing too. It works very well for me.
Like you, I get best results from minimal prep and cold water. Your face will tell you when you are on the right track! And Welcome to TSD!
Well, today i gave a try to cold shaving. It was actually a mix, as i used warm water to soak the brush and to mix the lather. It went great. Can't say that is too different than warm water shaving. Did not saw huge improvements, but it was a good shave. I actually showered before, and i thought as i had problems with shaving right after shower before, to try it. I kinda have an idea on what was bringing me bad shaves before, after the shower, that being that i was using shampoo too wash my face and whiskers, with the idea that i will get them softer. I actually saw an video that explained the problem. The ingredients from shampoo offer an coating for the hairs, so, they will not get soaked with water so easy. This might be good for head, but for shaving, you want your hairs hydrated, so they will actually raise and be easier to cut.
Welcome to the forum! Regarding prep, just do what works for you and don't worry about what others suggest you should do! I only splash water on my face, apply my shave-sticks and start face-lathering; nothing more!
