Pre Shave recommendations
Discussion
long story short, found the way forward was safety razors at the start of this year. I bought the Merkur 34C, shaving soap, brush blades and also a pre shave soap
this one: http://connaughtshaving.com/musgolime.html
and just ran out of it. What can you recommend for a pre shave Product that makes shaving easyer/better?
this one: http://connaughtshaving.com/musgolime.html
and just ran out of it. What can you recommend for a pre shave Product that makes shaving easyer/better?
Aah, you mean shaving soap, pre-shave is generally only necessary for cartridge razors (hateful, hateful things!) and is normally an oil or balm.
Shaving soaps you could try are;
Mitchell's Woolfat Soap (lovely, but somewhat expensive in china pot, kent do the same soap in a wood bowl for much less. But I like my china pot!) a very old recipe with good old fashioned tallow and lanolin (woolfat) for soft skin, some old school doctors prescribe the soap to folk with dry skin for washing! I use it now exclusively in the shower for a smooth gentlemans area! A lower price soap that still performs properly.
Trumpers, a mid to high price soap recently reformulated for a low tallow recipe, lathers beautifully and provides a slick cushion for your blade. Available in a number of scents (I use lime or coconut depending on my mood) and as a refill or in a wooden bowl, trumpers is probablt the last step beore triple milled soaps and a substantial jump in price!
Other soaps I havent tried that are often recommended are, Tabac, Irisch moos, col conk and proraso. I frequently hear these mentioned with praise! Also don't forget about creams, they can produce some great lathers too!
Lathering is an art and a lot of people don't quite get it right! It is generally agreed that it is better to shave after your shower/bath as the hot water will have softened the bristle, so before you get in your shower run a basin of very hot water, in to this place a shaving mug, your razor and brush (tap all the air bubbles out of the brush) and finally run some water over the soap and leave a small pool of hot water soaking into your soap!
Once out of the shower, empty the mug, shake out the brush and place your razor on the side. Empty the soapy water into your (now empty) mug and start "swiping" your soap (whirling the brush around the soap) with the brush. I usually do twenty swipes clockwise then twenty anticlockwise swapping round until I have done eighty swipes, (give or take, plenty for a three pass shave) the reason I swap directions is the brush tends to shed bristles quicker if you always swipe the bristles in one direction. Once I have loaded my brush I put it in the mug (I use a really big coffee mug) add half a dozen drops of hot water from the basin and start whirling inside the mug to make my emulsion (a nice mix of the oils in the soap and water from the basin) this is the most important step in creating luxurious, long lasting and hydrating lather. If there isn't enough water the lather will be heavy and fight the razor too much, too little water the razor will jump and the lather may dry out prematurely.
A good lather should go onto your visage in layers, when passing over a previous layer of soap the appearance should be that of conspicous "thickening" not one of wiping the soap off then replacing (you'll know it if you see it!) I personally cover my lips with lather as I am lathering and remove before a pass with the back of my thumb nail (bonus points for remembering the film where I first saw this and adopted it as I have forgotten!) this way you get all the nooks and crannies from around the mouth and wont be shaving over a piece of dry skin!
Shaving soaps you could try are;
Mitchell's Woolfat Soap (lovely, but somewhat expensive in china pot, kent do the same soap in a wood bowl for much less. But I like my china pot!) a very old recipe with good old fashioned tallow and lanolin (woolfat) for soft skin, some old school doctors prescribe the soap to folk with dry skin for washing! I use it now exclusively in the shower for a smooth gentlemans area! A lower price soap that still performs properly.
Trumpers, a mid to high price soap recently reformulated for a low tallow recipe, lathers beautifully and provides a slick cushion for your blade. Available in a number of scents (I use lime or coconut depending on my mood) and as a refill or in a wooden bowl, trumpers is probablt the last step beore triple milled soaps and a substantial jump in price!
Other soaps I havent tried that are often recommended are, Tabac, Irisch moos, col conk and proraso. I frequently hear these mentioned with praise! Also don't forget about creams, they can produce some great lathers too!
Lathering is an art and a lot of people don't quite get it right! It is generally agreed that it is better to shave after your shower/bath as the hot water will have softened the bristle, so before you get in your shower run a basin of very hot water, in to this place a shaving mug, your razor and brush (tap all the air bubbles out of the brush) and finally run some water over the soap and leave a small pool of hot water soaking into your soap!
Once out of the shower, empty the mug, shake out the brush and place your razor on the side. Empty the soapy water into your (now empty) mug and start "swiping" your soap (whirling the brush around the soap) with the brush. I usually do twenty swipes clockwise then twenty anticlockwise swapping round until I have done eighty swipes, (give or take, plenty for a three pass shave) the reason I swap directions is the brush tends to shed bristles quicker if you always swipe the bristles in one direction. Once I have loaded my brush I put it in the mug (I use a really big coffee mug) add half a dozen drops of hot water from the basin and start whirling inside the mug to make my emulsion (a nice mix of the oils in the soap and water from the basin) this is the most important step in creating luxurious, long lasting and hydrating lather. If there isn't enough water the lather will be heavy and fight the razor too much, too little water the razor will jump and the lather may dry out prematurely.
A good lather should go onto your visage in layers, when passing over a previous layer of soap the appearance should be that of conspicous "thickening" not one of wiping the soap off then replacing (you'll know it if you see it!) I personally cover my lips with lather as I am lathering and remove before a pass with the back of my thumb nail (bonus points for remembering the film where I first saw this and adopted it as I have forgotten!) this way you get all the nooks and crannies from around the mouth and wont be shaving over a piece of dry skin!
freecar said:
Shaving soaps you could try are;
Mitchell's Woolfat Soap (lovely, but somewhat expensive in china pot, kent do the same soap in a wood bowl for much less. But I like my china pot!) a very old recipe with good old fashioned tallow and lanolin (woolfat) for soft skin, some old school doctors prescribe the soap to folk with dry skin for washing! I use it now exclusively in the shower for a smooth gentlemans area! A lower price soap that still performs properly.
!
this would be the stuffMitchell's Woolfat Soap (lovely, but somewhat expensive in china pot, kent do the same soap in a wood bowl for much less. But I like my china pot!) a very old recipe with good old fashioned tallow and lanolin (woolfat) for soft skin, some old school doctors prescribe the soap to folk with dry skin for washing! I use it now exclusively in the shower for a smooth gentlemans area! A lower price soap that still performs properly.
!
http://www.shaving-shack.com/mitchells-wool-fat-sh...
RemaL said:
cheers for the feedback. I only pre shave as it was suggested as a good idea when I started on Safety razors. So always used to it. But if a waste then I shall try without . Using Tabac Soap at the moment and not bad but does dry up quick. Will have a look into your suggestions
So that musgo lime soap is supposed to be for washing before your shave? Strange! If your lather dries out, you need more water in the mix, my lather is still slick hours after shaving (sometimes I splash a dollop onto the toilet cistern without noticing!) do you use a shaving mug or scuttle to mix your lather? Or do you go straight from soap puck to face?
freecar said:
RemaL said:
cheers for the feedback. I only pre shave as it was suggested as a good idea when I started on Safety razors. So always used to it. But if a waste then I shall try without . Using Tabac Soap at the moment and not bad but does dry up quick. Will have a look into your suggestions
So that musgo lime soap is supposed to be for washing before your shave? Strange! If your lather dries out, you need more water in the mix, my lather is still slick hours after shaving (sometimes I splash a dollop onto the toilet cistern without noticing!) do you use a shaving mug or scuttle to mix your lather? Or do you go straight from soap puck to face?
as for the oil soap it has been very good and softened up my bristles before shaving. i've just used it all up today
freecar said:
Aah, you mean shaving soap, pre-shave is generally only necessary for cartridge razors (hateful, hateful things!) and is normally an oil or balm.
Shaving soaps you could try are;
Mitchell's Woolfat Soap (lovely, but somewhat expensive in china pot, kent do the same soap in a wood bowl for much less. But I like my china pot!) a very old recipe with good old fashioned tallow and lanolin (woolfat) for soft skin, some old school doctors prescribe the soap to folk with dry skin for washing! I use it now exclusively in the shower for a smooth gentlemans area! A lower price soap that still performs properly.
Trumpers, a mid to high price soap recently reformulated for a low tallow recipe, lathers beautifully and provides a slick cushion for your blade. Available in a number of scents (I use lime or coconut depending on my mood) and as a refill or in a wooden bowl, trumpers is probablt the last step beore triple milled soaps and a substantial jump in price!
Other soaps I havent tried that are often recommended are, Tabac, Irisch moos, col conk and proraso. I frequently hear these mentioned with praise! Also don't forget about creams, they can produce some great lathers too!
Lathering is an art and a lot of people don't quite get it right! It is generally agreed that it is better to shave after your shower/bath as the hot water will have softened the bristle, so before you get in your shower run a basin of very hot water, in to this place a shaving mug, your razor and brush (tap all the air bubbles out of the brush) and finally run some water over the soap and leave a small pool of hot water soaking into your soap!
Once out of the shower, empty the mug, shake out the brush and place your razor on the side. Empty the soapy water into your (now empty) mug and start "swiping" your soap (whirling the brush around the soap) with the brush. I usually do twenty swipes clockwise then twenty anticlockwise swapping round until I have done eighty swipes, (give or take, plenty for a three pass shave) the reason I swap directions is the brush tends to shed bristles quicker if you always swipe the bristles in one direction. Once I have loaded my brush I put it in the mug (I use a really big coffee mug) add half a dozen drops of hot water from the basin and start whirling inside the mug to make my emulsion (a nice mix of the oils in the soap and water from the basin) this is the most important step in creating luxurious, long lasting and hydrating lather. If there isn't enough water the lather will be heavy and fight the razor too much, too little water the razor will jump and the lather may dry out prematurely.
A good lather should go onto your visage in layers, when passing over a previous layer of soap the appearance should be that of conspicous "thickening" not one of wiping the soap off then replacing (you'll know it if you see it!) I personally cover my lips with lather as I am lathering and remove before a pass with the back of my thumb nail (bonus points for remembering the film where I first saw this and adopted it as I have forgotten!) this way you get all the nooks and crannies from around the mouth and wont be shaving over a piece of dry skin!
I'm sorry, but what a load of pretentious bShaving soaps you could try are;
Mitchell's Woolfat Soap (lovely, but somewhat expensive in china pot, kent do the same soap in a wood bowl for much less. But I like my china pot!) a very old recipe with good old fashioned tallow and lanolin (woolfat) for soft skin, some old school doctors prescribe the soap to folk with dry skin for washing! I use it now exclusively in the shower for a smooth gentlemans area! A lower price soap that still performs properly.
Trumpers, a mid to high price soap recently reformulated for a low tallow recipe, lathers beautifully and provides a slick cushion for your blade. Available in a number of scents (I use lime or coconut depending on my mood) and as a refill or in a wooden bowl, trumpers is probablt the last step beore triple milled soaps and a substantial jump in price!
Other soaps I havent tried that are often recommended are, Tabac, Irisch moos, col conk and proraso. I frequently hear these mentioned with praise! Also don't forget about creams, they can produce some great lathers too!
Lathering is an art and a lot of people don't quite get it right! It is generally agreed that it is better to shave after your shower/bath as the hot water will have softened the bristle, so before you get in your shower run a basin of very hot water, in to this place a shaving mug, your razor and brush (tap all the air bubbles out of the brush) and finally run some water over the soap and leave a small pool of hot water soaking into your soap!
Once out of the shower, empty the mug, shake out the brush and place your razor on the side. Empty the soapy water into your (now empty) mug and start "swiping" your soap (whirling the brush around the soap) with the brush. I usually do twenty swipes clockwise then twenty anticlockwise swapping round until I have done eighty swipes, (give or take, plenty for a three pass shave) the reason I swap directions is the brush tends to shed bristles quicker if you always swipe the bristles in one direction. Once I have loaded my brush I put it in the mug (I use a really big coffee mug) add half a dozen drops of hot water from the basin and start whirling inside the mug to make my emulsion (a nice mix of the oils in the soap and water from the basin) this is the most important step in creating luxurious, long lasting and hydrating lather. If there isn't enough water the lather will be heavy and fight the razor too much, too little water the razor will jump and the lather may dry out prematurely.
A good lather should go onto your visage in layers, when passing over a previous layer of soap the appearance should be that of conspicous "thickening" not one of wiping the soap off then replacing (you'll know it if you see it!) I personally cover my lips with lather as I am lathering and remove before a pass with the back of my thumb nail (bonus points for remembering the film where I first saw this and adopted it as I have forgotten!) this way you get all the nooks and crannies from around the mouth and wont be shaving over a piece of dry skin!
ks.RemaL said:
freecar said:
RemaL said:
cheers for the feedback. I only pre shave as it was suggested as a good idea when I started on Safety razors. So always used to it. But if a waste then I shall try without . Using Tabac Soap at the moment and not bad but does dry up quick. Will have a look into your suggestions
So that musgo lime soap is supposed to be for washing before your shave? Strange! If your lather dries out, you need more water in the mix, my lather is still slick hours after shaving (sometimes I splash a dollop onto the toilet cistern without noticing!) do you use a shaving mug or scuttle to mix your lather? Or do you go straight from soap puck to face?
as for the oil soap it has been very good and softened up my bristles before shaving. i've just used it all up today
DocJock said:
freecar said:
Aah, you mean shaving soap, pre-shave is generally only necessary for cartridge razors (hateful, hateful things!) and is normally an oil or balm.
Shaving soaps you could try are;
Mitchell's Woolfat Soap (lovely, but somewhat expensive in china pot, kent do the same soap in a wood bowl for much less. But I like my china pot!) a very old recipe with good old fashioned tallow and lanolin (woolfat) for soft skin, some old school doctors prescribe the soap to folk with dry skin for washing! I use it now exclusively in the shower for a smooth gentlemans area! A lower price soap that still performs properly.
Trumpers, a mid to high price soap recently reformulated for a low tallow recipe, lathers beautifully and provides a slick cushion for your blade. Available in a number of scents (I use lime or coconut depending on my mood) and as a refill or in a wooden bowl, trumpers is probablt the last step beore triple milled soaps and a substantial jump in price!
Other soaps I havent tried that are often recommended are, Tabac, Irisch moos, col conk and proraso. I frequently hear these mentioned with praise! Also don't forget about creams, they can produce some great lathers too!
Lathering is an art and a lot of people don't quite get it right! It is generally agreed that it is better to shave after your shower/bath as the hot water will have softened the bristle, so before you get in your shower run a basin of very hot water, in to this place a shaving mug, your razor and brush (tap all the air bubbles out of the brush) and finally run some water over the soap and leave a small pool of hot water soaking into your soap!
Once out of the shower, empty the mug, shake out the brush and place your razor on the side. Empty the soapy water into your (now empty) mug and start "swiping" your soap (whirling the brush around the soap) with the brush. I usually do twenty swipes clockwise then twenty anticlockwise swapping round until I have done eighty swipes, (give or take, plenty for a three pass shave) the reason I swap directions is the brush tends to shed bristles quicker if you always swipe the bristles in one direction. Once I have loaded my brush I put it in the mug (I use a really big coffee mug) add half a dozen drops of hot water from the basin and start whirling inside the mug to make my emulsion (a nice mix of the oils in the soap and water from the basin) this is the most important step in creating luxurious, long lasting and hydrating lather. If there isn't enough water the lather will be heavy and fight the razor too much, too little water the razor will jump and the lather may dry out prematurely.
A good lather should go onto your visage in layers, when passing over a previous layer of soap the appearance should be that of conspicous "thickening" not one of wiping the soap off then replacing (you'll know it if you see it!) I personally cover my lips with lather as I am lathering and remove before a pass with the back of my thumb nail (bonus points for remembering the film where I first saw this and adopted it as I have forgotten!) this way you get all the nooks and crannies from around the mouth and wont be shaving over a piece of dry skin!
I'm sorry, but what a load of pretentious bShaving soaps you could try are;
Mitchell's Woolfat Soap (lovely, but somewhat expensive in china pot, kent do the same soap in a wood bowl for much less. But I like my china pot!) a very old recipe with good old fashioned tallow and lanolin (woolfat) for soft skin, some old school doctors prescribe the soap to folk with dry skin for washing! I use it now exclusively in the shower for a smooth gentlemans area! A lower price soap that still performs properly.
Trumpers, a mid to high price soap recently reformulated for a low tallow recipe, lathers beautifully and provides a slick cushion for your blade. Available in a number of scents (I use lime or coconut depending on my mood) and as a refill or in a wooden bowl, trumpers is probablt the last step beore triple milled soaps and a substantial jump in price!
Other soaps I havent tried that are often recommended are, Tabac, Irisch moos, col conk and proraso. I frequently hear these mentioned with praise! Also don't forget about creams, they can produce some great lathers too!
Lathering is an art and a lot of people don't quite get it right! It is generally agreed that it is better to shave after your shower/bath as the hot water will have softened the bristle, so before you get in your shower run a basin of very hot water, in to this place a shaving mug, your razor and brush (tap all the air bubbles out of the brush) and finally run some water over the soap and leave a small pool of hot water soaking into your soap!
Once out of the shower, empty the mug, shake out the brush and place your razor on the side. Empty the soapy water into your (now empty) mug and start "swiping" your soap (whirling the brush around the soap) with the brush. I usually do twenty swipes clockwise then twenty anticlockwise swapping round until I have done eighty swipes, (give or take, plenty for a three pass shave) the reason I swap directions is the brush tends to shed bristles quicker if you always swipe the bristles in one direction. Once I have loaded my brush I put it in the mug (I use a really big coffee mug) add half a dozen drops of hot water from the basin and start whirling inside the mug to make my emulsion (a nice mix of the oils in the soap and water from the basin) this is the most important step in creating luxurious, long lasting and hydrating lather. If there isn't enough water the lather will be heavy and fight the razor too much, too little water the razor will jump and the lather may dry out prematurely.
A good lather should go onto your visage in layers, when passing over a previous layer of soap the appearance should be that of conspicous "thickening" not one of wiping the soap off then replacing (you'll know it if you see it!) I personally cover my lips with lather as I am lathering and remove before a pass with the back of my thumb nail (bonus points for remembering the film where I first saw this and adopted it as I have forgotten!) this way you get all the nooks and crannies from around the mouth and wont be shaving over a piece of dry skin!
ks.Or how you f
k yourself in the ass with a rusty sawblade?
freecar said:
RemaL said:
freecar said:
RemaL said:
cheers for the feedback. I only pre shave as it was suggested as a good idea when I started on Safety razors. So always used to it. But if a waste then I shall try without . Using Tabac Soap at the moment and not bad but does dry up quick. Will have a look into your suggestions
So that musgo lime soap is supposed to be for washing before your shave? Strange! If your lather dries out, you need more water in the mix, my lather is still slick hours after shaving (sometimes I splash a dollop onto the toilet cistern without noticing!) do you use a shaving mug or scuttle to mix your lather? Or do you go straight from soap puck to face?
as for the oil soap it has been very good and softened up my bristles before shaving. i've just used it all up today
RemaL said:
freecar said:
RemaL said:
freecar said:
RemaL said:
cheers for the feedback. I only pre shave as it was suggested as a good idea when I started on Safety razors. So always used to it. But if a waste then I shall try without . Using Tabac Soap at the moment and not bad but does dry up quick. Will have a look into your suggestions
So that musgo lime soap is supposed to be for washing before your shave? Strange! If your lather dries out, you need more water in the mix, my lather is still slick hours after shaving (sometimes I splash a dollop onto the toilet cistern without noticing!) do you use a shaving mug or scuttle to mix your lather? Or do you go straight from soap puck to face?
as for the oil soap it has been very good and softened up my bristles before shaving. i've just used it all up today
I now have 16 or so safety razors, vintage and modern. I currently use a merkur futur (on 1) with feather blades, was using a 1963 gillette slim adjustable with red pack personna blades. What I like about it is with all the razors and blades available there is bound to be a blade and handle combo to suit every face!
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