Wetshaving Tutorial Step 4 - Post shave and cleanup
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- čas přidán 24. 01. 2015
- In this wetshaving tutorial, I will guide you through the entire process of shaving with a safety razor, including how to use a brush and shaving soap. Along the way I try to answer as many of the most frequently asked questions new wetshavers have about each phase or step in the overall shave. The tutorial is split into four parts. Enjoy! See kit list at end.
Step 1: Assembly and Prep. How to assemble your razor, how to prepare your brush, and how to prep your face, including pre-shave.
• Wetshaving Tutorial St...
Step 2: Building a lather and starting the shave. First pass with the grain.
• Wetshaving Tutorial St...
Step 3: Completing your shave. Second and third passes across the grain.
• Wetshaving Tutorial St...
Step 4: Post shave and cleanup. How to take care of your brush, your razor, and your face, once you are done shaving.
• Wetshaving Tutorial St...
Boar brush by Rod Neep
www.pensoftheforest.co.uk/shav...
Mission Razor and RazoRock soap by Italian Barber
www.italianbarber.com/
Pre-shave: Proraso White pre-barba - Jak na to + styl
Just spent about 25 minutes watching a perfect stranger methodically teach me how to shave- and it was very helpful. Nice videos!
You are very welcome, glad to hear the videos were helpful!
I know it seems awkward to watch somebody do something you normally do by yourself, but that is really the issue -- shaving is not always easy and seeing somebody else demonstrate the basics can be a big help, so I thought I would see if I could make something people would find useful.
I have a very full beard but wanted to keep the underneath and above nice and neat. I was sick of local barbers taking an electric razor to it and wanted to learn how to wet shave. Bought myself a Merkur and some recommended additions and just sat in the bathroom for an hour and followed these instructions. So massively helpful, well presented and despite making a mess of the sink (first time!) I've come away nick free and with the cleanest and nicest shave I've ever had. So greatful for these tutorial videos, thank you very much! :)
Wow, well, thank you for that, really appreciate that! Very glad to hear it all went well, and if that is your beard in your profile picture, well done!!
Each time you shave, you will see the overall time you need go down, but in the beginning take your time, develop your new skills, and then as you gain confidence you will naturally see the time needed drop.
Good luck! If you run into any issues, just post again against this video and I will be happy to help out.
Thank you so much for this! Neither my father nor my step father taught me how to shave and for the last 15 years I've been waiting money on a cartridge razor.
I recently bought a safety razor to save money and also to get a better shave as I have very coarse hair, however going in blind I've been suffering terrible razor burn and nics of the skin.
You sir, have really helped me! :-D
Outstanding tutorial! I have been wet shaving with my Rockwell 6c, usually the #3 plate, for about four months now and I'm still learning new tips every day whether by trial and error, or by great video tutorials like yours. Much appreciated!
You are very welcome, and I learn new things all the time too -- that's part of the fun!!
Final notes that I forgot to mention when saying that I was surprised that you didn't get mentioned in that Top 10 List that somebody compiled.
Michael, your videos were always worthwhile, to say the least. You always informed regarding the razor, the soap/cream, each step of the entire process. In addition, your humor was always enjoyable.
I felt, simply, that, by making sure to pass these comments on to you, I was/am giving credit where credit is more than due. Best wishes, dude. Take care.
Great tutorial series.
Thank you for taking the time to create and share these videos.
For me, these along with your Lathering tutorial are must see for new DE shavers and a great refresher to guys like myself.
I've just sent links to a new convert.
I took him to Menessentials in Toronto last week and set him up with hardware and software.
This is the manual he needs to put it all together.
Cheers.
Thank you. Very informatove series of videos. Probably the best, even though already 5 years old.
I'm quite new to we shaving. There are quite a few information that is not mentioned elsewhere, like not to leave the alum block wet etc.
Very good job.
Yours are the most complete and thorough tutorials I've come across on CZcams. Thank you !
+Ritesh Roy Zacharias you are very welcome, glad you are enjoying them!
Great series, cheers
Amazing videos as usual Mickael! Really like your way to explain everything! 😊👍
Fantastic series. Covered all the bases, described and showed the process well. My only complaint is that this didn't exist when I was learning a few weeks ago! Thank you sir!
Just started using D.E. safety razors. Excellent series, very helpful. Thank you for posting these videos.
+posicp You are welcome, hope things are going well!
Thanks. It was really informative. Helped me a lot
Great quality tutorial! I'm sure it'll help me a lot! Thank you for these 4 videos!
+MTK- No worries, enjoy! Watch them as often as you need to (grin)...
This was a very helpful and great tutorial. I just got my first safety razor and other wet shave accessories and with these videos I feel very confident now in how to use to them. My one suggestion would be to include links to your favorite pre-shave and post-shave ointments. Other than that, I will definitely be referring back to these I begin to perfect my own technique.
Thank you. This was helpful. You speak clearly and concise.
You are very welcome, and I hope you are getting better shaves after watching!
Brilliant Michael Thanks
Finally, somebody who watched Step 4, almost nobody does, and it's a BRILLIANT video (or so I've heard)! Thanks so much for watching!!
thank you for a very informative set of tutorials! my friends got me a shave kit for my birthday and they sent me your videos to learn the steps :) i gave my legs the first try and aside from one itty bitty nick everything went smoothly
Excellent news, and you have good friends! Don't worry about some nicks here or there as you start out, give yourself some time to learn how to use the razor, brush, and soap, and you will soon find you are loving every shave!
a great 4 part tutorial, i'm new the DE safety razor shaving and found this very informative
wayne stockton very glad you enjoyed and found it useful - that's the best combination!
Thanks for the great tutorial!
You are very welcome, hope you are on the way to getting the shaves you were looking for!
Thanks for these! I'm waiting on my gear to show up and I'll be taking the dive after years of cartridge shaving. Can't wait!
Martin, how did it all go in the end? I hope you found the tutorial helpful, and that you are getting the kinds of shaves you were looking for!
I'm a convert! Still only a month in so I'm finding my feet still and sorting out what works for me and what doesn't but I know I can never go back to carts. This all started with a shave I had at a barber shop (a "treat") which was an awful experience; I came out of there pretty much knowing I could do better so I dove in. The one big change is that I actually look forward to shaving now. Thanks!
very useful tutorial from first to last video. thank u very much
+Guido Comi Very glad you enjoyed them -- how are your shaves going?
Great videos! I thought I had the shaving thing all figured out but I was wrong. I found that I was doing many things wrong. I can't wait for my next shave. Thank You.
Chad Turmell See, you *do* learn something new every day! Glad you found them useful, I enjoy making them and hope that they will in fact help others improve their shaves, so thank you for taking the time to let me know it worked out for you!
Thanks so much for such a helpful guide. I've just had my first DE shave and I'm really pleased with the results. My lather was a little thin I think and I missed the odd place but I'm sure this will improve. Thanks again I learnt a lot from your videos especially your tips for not going over the same place continually and using no pressure! :)
+Tom Robinson very glad to hear it! Don't sweat the little stuff, just keep shaving and you will soon see improvements!
+Michael Freedberg Thanks! Will do
Thank you so much.
You're welcome!
Thanks dad
Very nice tutorials Michael. I do have one thing I do that is different than your method. I have no proof that it has any benefits, but it's just a part of my ritual. After I clean the razor of soap and hair, I do disassemble it and take out the razorblade. I dry the razor with a towel so it does not show water stains, and using toilet paper, I dry the razorblade without disturbing the edges to avoid dulling. I do this because I believe oxidation and rusting is what accelerates blade dulling. When I dry the blade, I think it limits the rusting process due to the removal of moisture. I also turn the blade the other way when I re-install it for its second use so a slightly newer edge is used for the second shave. Just my thing. Don't know if it makes any difference.
Thank you for watching!Some do store their blades in oil after each use, or perhaps clean them in alcohol between uses to ensure the blades are completely dry. This may well eke out some more shaves, but I feel like it is more work than it is worth in the end. The fewer times you handle the blade, the better, including wiping down the blade.
I do not believe that turning the blade over does anything, because there is only one edge and not two halves to the edge. As the edge dulls, the *entire* edge dulls.
However, if this is working for you, keep going! There are no shaving laws, only guidelines (grin), and you should do what works for you.
Thanks for the incredibly informative videos! My safety razor is on the way, and I'm hoping it will be nicer to my skin.
Very glad to hear they were of use, and I hope you enjoy your new kit! What did you end up buying?
Michael Freedberg I got a Maggard starter kit. I just did my first shave with it. I didn't get the lather wet enough so it kind of dried on my face which caused some hair pulling. Even so, it was a much more comfortable shave than I've experienced with either disposables or electric razors.
Beginner here, thank you for the videos. Quick, and probably simple question, what should I do with the shaving soap once I'm all done? Put the top back on and leave it, or do I let it dry first?
To avoid mixing scents and still be able to use a post shave splash and balm together I always keep an unscented splash and a scented splash, as well as an unscented balm and scented balm. So for example if I'm in the mood for the scented balm to be on my face I first use the unscented splash. And vice versa if I want to smell of the scented splash. Hope that makes sense :)
Yes, that makes perfect sense - a great way to go!
Thank you for your videos. I'm completely new to wet shaving, and I tried to remember all the tips and steps in your tutorial, but I must have done something wrong, because my lather was too thin and sudsy, even though I didn't add any more water to the brush. As a result, it was hard to see where I passed over and I probably didn't have enough protection, so I ended up with razor burn.
Also, I'm REALLY nervous about the area of skin just below my chin. With a cartridge razor, that's where I always ended up choosing between having several nicks and ingrown hairs there or leaving a patch of beard. The same thing happened with the safety razor.
Any tips on the lather problem and the difficult patch of thin skin? I'll have to wait a few days before I have another go, but I'm determined.
+Eric By Definition Tips? But of course!
Thin lather is the result of not loading enough soap. New wetshavers will often swirl the tips of the brush lightly or gingerly over the surface of the soap, and stop loading too soon. Make sure you really get a good pasty layer of soap on the face of the brush, don't worry about using up your soap or wasting it. Once you have a good thick paste, then start adding a bit of water to the brush and build the lather. Keep adding a bit of water and lathering until the lather is creamy and thick rather than watery or thin or bubbly. Make some practice lathers in the palm of your free hand, and you will soon see the lather you are looking for!
The part right under the chin...yup.
Some simple things to try. If you are afraid of shaving in one clean stroke down onto that area, you can try shaving side to side on that part of the chin. You can also pull up the skin a bit to help with creating a flatter surface. One other thing...if you are being overly cautious and shaving very slowly, you are actually making it easier to nick yourself. Speed up a little bit and make sure you are really gliding the razor with no pressure. The nice thing about a better lather is that it really helps this part, because the lather makes the razor move that much more smoothly over your skin.
I will try to remember to offer some tips on the chin area in the next shave video...
Good luck, don't give up! This is a new skill and like all new things this will take time to master. Keep at it and you will soon see real improvement!
Thanks! I'll remember that next time.
Can I apply a toner after the alum block or would that be to irritating? Also if I use a moisturizer do I still need an aftershave balm?
+Alex you may find that the alum is already doing the work of a toner, and doubling up may not be that great for your skin. Try either the toner or the alum and see which one works best for you. Alum is really good if you have some small nicks or weepers or just a touch of irritation.
Aftershave balm is a moisturizer, just one that had been designed to help reduce skin irritation or razor burn as well as moisturize, and often is scented rather than plain. You can use or the other, no need to use both.
Thanks for the reply.
How do I thoroughly clean a safety razor? A toothbrush and some dish liquid will work? What about the brush? Some shampoo?
+Alex Yes, you can simply use some dish washing detergent and an old toothbrush to scrub your razor clean. Avoid any harsh detergents or abrasives. Hot water and soap absolutely do the trick.
To clean your brush, put two tablespoons of white vinegar in a cup and then add enough hot water to submerge your brush's knot. Let it soak five or ten minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Take a little bit of either shampoo or dish detergent and wash the knot. Again, rinse thoroughly. Want to get a little crazy? Use some conditioner on the knot and then rinse gently.
Michael Freedberg Thank you.
+Alex no problem, hope it goes well!
Michael Freedberg Can I use the same toothbrush that I use for cleaning the safety razor to clean other groomong tools (tweezers, scissors, nail tools etc.)? I ask this because of risk of germs cross contamination.
How do I clean a safety razor case like this one www.westcoastshaving.com/dopp-bags-and-cases/west-coast-shaving-leather-safety-razor-case-large-brown.html?
Apparently I do need to disassemble my razor otherwise the razor starts to get rusting.
What about the shave bowl with your soap in the bottom? Do you rinse it out? Do you wipe out the lather in the bowl with your hands or wash cloth? Do you do nothing?
I just leave it as is, with the lather in it, during the week. When it comes time to load the brush again, I just re-mix all that dried out lather back with the soap. Friday, when I am done, I rinse out the bowl so it looks more presentable on camera.
When I am completely done, I remove any remaining soap residue, rinse out the lather bowl, and then add the next soap I will be using.
Hope that helps!
Very interesting, thank you. I'm in the older cohort of Gen X, and my dad didn't really teach me to shave, just bought me an electric razor. Went through a few types, then did some cartridge / disposable razors for a few years, then gave up and grew a full beard, which I had for at least 15 years (I think...). I decided to shave it all off a couple months ago (work was doing Movember fundraising, though I had been thinking about it for a couple months.) I'd bought my husband a DE shaving kit a few years ago, but he never used it, so I have started using it. I've been using his shave foam for the past couple of months... I think I'm going to try the soap and brush that came with the kit the next time I shave.
Once you start, and you realize just how good a shave you are getting, you need to get your husband to take it up as well! Give yourself a bit of time to learn how to use the brush and soap; it's not hard, but it does take a bit of practice to get it right.
Thank you so much for this! Neither my father nor my step father taught me how to shave and for the last 15 years I've been waiting money on a cartridge razor.
I recently bought a safety razor to save money and also to get a better shave as I have very coarse hair, however going in blind I've been suffering terrible razor burn and nics of the skin.
You sir, have really helped me! :-D
+talosdarkpaladin Very glad to hear it -- and glad to hear it is going well! I know that for a lot of guys with very coarse hair who pick up a DE find themselves with irritation and razor burn, which seems to be related to the (understandable) fact that they are shaving slowly and carefully. Shaving TOO slowly, however, actually makes it hard to cut through the hair, so once they get a bit more comfortable with the razor and their speed picks up, the irritation tends to go as well.
Good luck and here is to great shaves the rest of your days :-)
+Michael Freedberg Yes it's been going well. I've been finding myself now experimenting with different blades and finding the best angles to tackle some of my beard direction (I have a spiral grain on the side of my neck!?)
I have also found a great UK site for soaps, blades and brushes so that'll be a great help.
I can't seem to find alum here though, is it worth using, or is it avoidable?
I also think I'll benefit from a preshave due to my coarse hair so I'll experiment with that next.
Thanks again!
+Michael Freedberg Yes it's been going well. I've been finding myself now experimenting with different blades and finding the best angles to tackle some of my beard direction (I have a spiral grain on the side of my neck!?)
I have also found a great UK site for soaps, blades and brushes so that'll be a great help.
I can't seem to find alum here though, is it worth using, or is it avoidable?
I also think I'll benefit from a preshave due to my coarse hair so I'll experiment with that next.
Thanks again!
Thank you so much for this! Neither my father nor my step father taught me how to shave and for the last 15 years I've been waiting money on a cartridge razor.
I recently bought a safety razor to save money and also to get a better shave as I have very coarse hair, however going in blind I've been suffering terrible razor burn and nics of the skin.
You sir, have really helped me! :-D
Thank you so much for this! Neither my father nor my step father taught me how to shave and for the last 15 years I've been waiting money on a cartridge razor.
I recently bought a safety razor to save money and also to get a better shave as I have very coarse hair, however going in blind I've been suffering terrible razor burn and nics of the skin.
You sir, have really helped me! :-D