With regard to pre-shave, the best thing you can use is (almost) free - plenty of hot, though not scalding-hot, water. Being disabled, I can't take a shower very easily prior to shaving, which is the best idea. Whether you shower or just wash your beard area at the washbasin prior to shaving, you want to use something that softens the growth and doesn't strip moisture from your skin, so don't use ordinary hand or bath soap. There are several options - softening hair conditioner, glycerine face or pre-shave soaps and tube face wash products are fine. For many men, that's all that's necessary, albeit it's always a good idea to keep your beard area moist while loading your brush (if you're face-lathering your soap or cream), or lathering in a mug, bowl or shaving scuttle. You don't really want to prep your face and then let it dry off again prior to lathering your face. I and some others find that, without a pre-shave product, the razor can stick slightly. I used to use Proraso pre-shave cream, but I find that the 'green' version, which is menthol and eucalyptus-scented, overwhelms the scent of the shaving cream or soap I'm using, and the "Sensitive" (white) version, which is milder in the aroma department is too firm to be easily rubbed-in to the beard growth, so I've recently switched to a pre-shave oil. Bear in mind that, if you try oil as a pre-shave, using too much will kill lather - 2-3 drops is enough. You don't want to be able to feel an oily film on your face before you apply lather.Thanks for the welcomes, tips & links everyone. Will watch the vids. Some great advice! I must say I'm liking the idea of switching gradually - moving away from gel onto soap or cream & a brush whilst initially staying with the WS 3-blade cart razor I used for years, learning to lather etc and then at some point getting a DE razor.
So keep the soap / cream and brush ideas coming & Ill try and pick these up soon & make a start. What about pre-shave oil? Do I need to think about that yet?
Thanks guys !
Indeed, Johnny. I only mentioned using products as I always find the razor sticks slightly to my skin if I don't use some form of pre-shave, no matter how thorough my prep.Truthfully, I wouldn't faff about with oils or balms at this stage Dave. A couple of weeks of decent soap and water with a razor proven to suit you and hopefully your skin will be in the best condition of recent years. Remember this forum caters for a lot of members for whom shsving is a pleasant hobby as well as a grooming technique. Just the basics are all that is really needed to get a result. After that the rabbit hole can go as deep as your pocket allows. As Chris said, warm water works just fine.
JohnnyO. o/
Another good AliExpress purchase is the Yaqi brushes - they're synthetic and don't cost a huge amount so punch way above their price point. Another brush maker which is pretty cheap is RazoRock synthetics. Very soft and capable.Thanks for the welcomes, tips & links everyone. Will watch the vids. Some great advice! I must say I'm liking the idea of switching gradually - moving away from gel onto soap or cream & a brush whilst initially staying with the WS 3-blade cart razor I used for years, learning to lather etc and then at some point getting a DE razor.
So keep the soap / cream and brush ideas coming & Ill try and pick these up soon & make a start. What about pre-shave oil? Do I need to think about that yet?
Thanks guys !
Too many good suggestions but I will give the best advice: When you are relaxing in the evening at the comfort of your home in front of the computer especially after few alcoholic drinks, just get your card and search for razors, blades, soaps, creams, aftershaves, brushes.. and very soon you will have plenty of gear to try
Thanks for the welcomes, tips & links everyone. Will watch the vids. Some great advice! I must say I'm liking the idea of switching gradually - moving away from gel onto soap or cream & a brush whilst initially staying with the WS 3-blade cart razor I used for years, learning to lather etc and then at some point getting a DE razor.
So keep the soap / cream and brush ideas coming & Ill try and pick these up soon & make a start. What about pre-shave oil? Do I need to think about that yet?
Thanks guys !
There's a razor that's been under some huge scrutiny here which can be bought on AliExpress from china. Takes a couple of weeks to deliver but it's adjustable so you can make it as aggressive or not as you please. I would say I can lend you mine but for £5.50 or so delivered from China, the postage to you and back from you comes to that sort of price anyway...
Spent £5.50 on a Qshave last night, couple of beers, visa card, internet, no need for yet another razor but seemed like a good idea at the time...
Is a good idea, great shaver and excellent at that price. I liked mine so much I have a spare stashed away.
Done my best to map my beard & started watching some of these YouTube vids, so thanks to all. Got a beginners kit en route, many thanks to @Digimonkey
In the meantime I'll use up some more canned goo shaving gel before hopefully banishing it from my house
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