[Silver]

Good evening Ladies and Gents

As promised here are some photos of my shave earlier this evening. Some of them didn't come out very well and I ended up nicking my right leg 5 times and my left 6 (1 was more of a slice). I don't mind the nicks really. I just lost my focus and was very aware of Spike hovering with the phone camera mutant.

[Silver]

And finally here is my worst injury!

[davisbonanza]

OUCH
I noticed your lather looked quite thin. I usually have a pretty thick lather built up and I will end up reapplying a few times over the course of the shave.

I'm sure the Paparazzi hovering made it a little harder also.

[Silver]

Thanks Dave. I was reapplying the lather quite often as it seems to thin very quickly, even in between shots. Plus the photos could be a lot better. I'm going to give it another go next weekend when I can poach a proper digital camera for the day and have the room to do it properly.

One problem we have is that we have a tiny bathroom, so Spike ended up standing on the edge of the bath to take most of the shots.

[jimmyray]

It also looks like you're stretching the skin downward, with the grain. I think this would make the hair lay flat. It may not make a huge difference, but stretching the skin upward might help...

[Dicestone]

I wouldn't worry too much about cutting yourself silver. SR cuts are badges of honor !

[holli4pirating]

I used to have rather thin lather when I first started out, and when I did get it thicker it seemed to dry and thin rather quickly. I found that the problem was that I was using too much water and not picking up enough soap (it was Colonial Conk, btw). I found that once I sorted out my lather-making abilities, I started getting smoother shaves (meaning the blade would glide more smoothly over my face), which lead to closer shaves and less nicks.

[davisbonanza]

Originally Posted by jimmyray

It also looks like you're stretching the skin downward, with the grain. I think this would make the hair lay flat. It may not make a huge difference, but stretching the skin upward might help...

Since we go one pass ATG on the legs it's hard to stretch that way because there is still lather above the starting point. I have found that not to be a problem though because my leg hair is not as coarse as my beard and the hairs are spaced out a little more. Besides the back of the knees, legs are much easier than the face!

Thanks,

[Bart]

Silver,

Way to go.

Here's a few tips I learned from shaving my face and my wife's legs.

1. Your position.
Take a chair. Take a seat. Now, grab the toes of your left foot with your left hand. (I assume you hold the razor in you right hand at this moment) Pull your feet as high as you can, almost completely stretching your leg. Pull your toes down. This stretches the backside of your leg. It is less fatiguing to rest your feet on a household ladder or something else that can support your feet at a high enough point.

2. Use a mirror.
Remember that we guys also shave while looking in a mirror. It's a bit awkward at first, but it take only minutes to get used to. Get a pivoting mirror and put it on the floor, under your leg. (see tip 1) Angle it so that you get a clear view on your calf and thigh.

3. The knee points the way.
Always shave in the direction of the knee. If your razor is sharp, it will be smooth, no matter the growth direction. The only exception is the knee itself. (If it needs to be shaved at all) A razor easily catches into the wrinkles below and above the kneecap. I always shave the knee from "east to west", instead of "north to south" (hope this makes sense to you).

4. Lather well.
For leg shaving, I always fill a tub with the hottest tap water. I whip up a nice bowl of lather and let that float in the tub. The lather stays warm a long time that way. Only apply lather to the part of the leg you're shaving: I do 4 latherings per leg. (I bet you'll figure that out on your own) Complete the shave and then apply lather to the next part. Take some time, use the brush with massaging motions, and enjoy while the hot lather does its work. Don't allow the lather to dry out. Reapply when necessary.

5. Cold water rinse.
Don't skip it. It really helps with avoiding bumps. Dry with a towel without rubbing and apply a generous amount of a moisturizing balm.

Good luck & have fun,

Bart.

[Spike J]

I know exactly what you mean about the lather. It took more willpower than was pretty not to take the brush & bowl & "help". Silver needs to learn lathering, as we all have done. She uses Mama bear's soap & my bristle brush. We are awaiting our first silvertip brush, which should help some. The main problem, as I see it, is the area of skin to be lathered. A leg would need a brush the size of a mop in order to cover it all in one go. If any of the other ladies could offer any suggestions

Paparazzi? You are too kind . Although I did get into some precarious positions taking those pics. One slip & there would have been much more blood

[Utopian]

That does it, my wife is going under the knife very soon!

[sidneykidney]

That last pic looks like you got so far through the shave and got ****ed off with it so you started carving 'FFS' into your leg.

Sorry Silver. I do actually sympathize with you. Cutting yourself shaving is such a pain.

[Pearl Razor]

Congrats to Silver for being brave and sharing her shaving photos! Its a brave act because sharing means a little critique from some. I am dreading the negative comments but I know they will be helpful to improvement!

oh wow thats some ouchy looking cuts I was a little carless my last shave and got my first 3 cuts! Cuts are the reason I take so bloomin long, because I am so cautious I take almost 2hrs to do my two passes!

As for lathering for now Buckler is doing that for me until I get the shaving part straight. Just because I was getting so frustrated on HOW VERY LONG IT ALL TAKES so because he's doing the stropping and lathering for now, I am able to concerntrate on my shaving technique. Once I can have a cut free shave two passes in one hour then I will start lathering myself. Then I will also wait till I have that all into one hour to add stropping. As for how much to lather in one go you'll see what I do when Buckler has a moment to post the photos
Its up to him to do it. If you really want to see em, PM him

xx
Pearl

[freebird]

congratulations. You have the same problem I do, becoming distracted and or letting your mind wander. As soon as I let myself become distracted, that little razor decides to nibble on me.

[onimaru55]

Ouch ! Silver, I think we guys who just do our faces have it easy.

Have you checked out the tutorial on Mama Bear's website re Lathering. ? May be of help.

Good luck on the next

[Bruno]

HeySilver, another tip:
I see you only hold your index finger on the tang. Try using both your index finger and middle finger that will give you much better control.
Together with that, the angle netween the scales and the blade is a bit off imo. The scales are angled too far towards the spine. It is less than 90 degrees. Make it 100 - 110 and you will also have better blade control.

With those 2 tips you should nick yourself less because you will have more control over the blade.

[gssixgun]

Silver & Spike

Spiker I can't offer any advice from the wife on shaving technique for Silver (mine won't touch the straights) but I can pass on that she uses the lather in four sections basically ankle to knee on both legs, then knee on up on both legs (4 parts)
She loves two of the Uberlathers to shave with, according to her they are the safest and smoothest The Castle Forbes/ TOBS Lavender and the C&E and Honey Bee Spas Sandlewood......
If I happen not to be available for lather duty her goto lather is the Kiss my Face she can get a "good" smooth shave from that alone.....

[Silver]

Originally Posted by Dicestone

I wouldn't worry too much about cutting yourself silver. SR cuts are badges of honor !

LOL Thanks Dice, you should see the 3 scars on my left hand and lower arm from working on my last woodwork project when the saw slipped, hehehe.

Originally Posted by Bart

Silver,

Way to go.

Here's a few tips I learned from shaving my face and my wife's legs.

1. Your position.
Take a chair. Take a seat. Now, grab the toes of your left foot with your left hand. (I assume you hold the razor in you right hand at this moment) Pull your feet as high as you can, almost completely stretching your leg. Pull your toes down. This stretches the backside of your leg. It is less fatiguing to rest your feet on a household ladder or something else that can support your feet at a high enough point.

I was actually sitting on the toilet. I do switch between my right and left hands depending on what area i'm trying to get to. Haven't got a ladder and the highest thing I could rest my leg on is the counter top in the kitchen, but it is even smaller than the bathroom. LOL

2. Use a mirror.
Remember that we guys also shave while looking in a mirror. It's a bit awkward at first, but it take only minutes to get used to. Get a pivoting mirror and put it on the floor, under your leg. (see tip 1) Angle it so that you get a clear view on your calf and thigh.

I hadn't even thought to use a mirror, DOH!

3. The knee points the way.
Always shave in the direction of the knee. If your razor is sharp, it will be smooth, no matter the growth direction. The only exception is the knee itself. (If it needs to be shaved at all) A razor easily catches into the wrinkles below and above the kneecap. I always shave the knee from "east to west", instead of "north to south" (hope this makes sense to you).

It does and my knees are usually my nemesis, next time I will try east to west and hopefully it will be better.

4. Lather well.
For leg shaving, I always fill a tub with the hottest tap water. I whip up a nice bowl of lather and let that float in the tub. The lather stays warm a long time that way. Only apply lather to the part of the leg you're shaving: I do 4 latherings per leg. (I bet you'll figure that out on your own) Complete the shave and then apply lather to the next part. Take some time, use the brush with massaging motions, and enjoy while the hot lather does its work. Don't allow the lather to dry out. Reapply when necessary.

More practice is needed in the lathering department. I wonder if Spike will let me prep his lather so I can get some extra practice in.

5. Cold water rinse.
Don't skip it. It really helps with avoiding bumps. Dry with a towel without rubbing and apply a generous amount of a moisturizing balm.

Always do a warm the cold water rinse. I'm lucky enough not to get bumps or a shave rash on my legs (never had any using a disposable either). I was a bad girl and didn't moisturise last night though due to how long it took for the bleeding to stop.

Good luck & have fun,

Thank you Bart, some very good pointers there and I reall