New Shaver Questions

This is all great input.  So, here's my game plan, any input would be appreciated.

First, I would like to be able to use really cool vintage double edge razors, so I don't want to give up on them yet.

Does anyone know of a video for generating lather that is really good?  I want to make sure that is correct.

So for the next month:

• Good prep.  I think I've been doing this correctly.
  
• Pre-shave oil, homemade, 4 parts olive oil and 1 part mineral oil
  
• Vintage Gillette three piece made in England.  Aluminum handle, very light
  
• Feather blade
  
• Barrister & Mann Russo Soap
  
• Vie-Long horse hair shaving brush
  

I did get a good shave this morning with this setup.  One weeper, a few trouble areas that aren't as close as I would like.

Yes, look up Merkur Man's videos. Nathan really knows his stuff when it comes to making lather. I know they've been posted on this forum before, but I can't remember what threads. I believe you can find it on YouTube as well.

Well, one problem was not preparing the lather correctly. Many thanks wyze0ne for sending me to good video

This thread has a wealth of great shaving knowledge! I hope it helps you, Pete123.

I was at a similar point some time after I began wet shaving with traditional razors. The shaves just weren’t what I had hoped for. But all that has changed with time. Just keep reading the good points in this thread and give it some patience, persistence and time, and I think you will definitely get there!

Also, keep asking questions if you have them — then we get awesome threads like this one.

One more thing. In addition to the great advice already here, one thing that LegalEagle1 said some time ago, and that has really stuck in my mind, is this: Visualize shaving hair, not skin.

That may sound like simple advice, but its implications can really be profound.

Make sure you get a nice thick lather going and don't use pressure.

I have pretty sensitive skin, and I find that more aggressive razors give me less irritation because I don't need to go over the same spot as often. This of course means good technique because if I put too much pressure I'll pay for it.

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When I first started I kept things simple, one brush, one razor and one soap. About 30 shaves in everything clicked and I started getting consistently good to great shaves. From there I could experiment with different razors or soaps, knowing I could always come back and get everything sorted. DE shaving is a new skill that has to be learned and muscle memory developed. Now I go back to my starting razor and wonder "How did I cut myself with this thing".

When I first started I kept things simple, one brush, one razor and one soap.  About 30 shaves in everything clicked and I started getting consistently good to great shaves.  From there I could experiment with different razors or soaps, knowing I could always come back and get everything sorted.  DE shaving is a new skill that has to be learned and muscle memory developed.  Now I go back to my starting razor and wonder "How did I cut myself with this thing".

I did the same thing and it helped A LOT when I got back into this several years ago. Keep all of the variables the same.

When I first started I kept things simple, one brush, one razor and one soap.  About 30 shaves in everything clicked and I started getting consistently good to great shaves.  From there I could experiment with different razors or soaps, knowing I could always come back and get everything sorted.  DE shaving is a new skill that has to be learned and muscle memory developed.  Now I go back to my starting razor and wonder "How did I cut myself with this thing".

I think I might do this with my tabac soap and a gillette tech razor..just to see how it goes!

I'm thinking toward hopping to Tabac soap as well. I love the idea of visualizing cutting hair and not skin.

My advice is to rethink the Feather blades. They are just wicked sharp. I've been doing this for a long time and I get great shaves but I can't use Feathers. I get blood every time with them. If you are interested, pm me your address and I'll send you some great blades you almost certainly haven't tried yet.

I agree that you should try a Gillette tto like a slim or NDC Superspeed. Other than Techs, many vintage gillette three piece razors are very difficult to use.

Sounds like you are set for lathering. Nathan's method uses a ton of soap, but generates thick wet lather. Lather is critical.