fcolon08 (July 19, 2008 at 6:49 am)

its kinda interesting that here we all are... grown men, seeking shaving advice from other grown men on shaving. to quote Fight Club: "I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need (like 5 bladed razors that vibrate). We're the middle children of history, man." Now we must teach ourselves to survive/shave!

mantic59 (June 23, 2008 at 2:29 pm)

Utes11- The most effective angle depends on the brand of razor (actually the head geometry of the razor), but generally about 30 degrees. Try holding the razor handle parallel to the floor and rocking it down until the blade just meets the skin, then going a tiny bit more. You'll have to experiment a little. American Crew is not for use with a brush (and I've had poor luck with it in general).

Utes11 (June 19, 2008 at 10:57 pm)

Mantic-Love the videos. I just started to wetshave an i have a couple of basic questions. What handle angle is the most effective to shave at? I keep trying different angles but I am wondering what you opinion is. Also I am using American Crew shave soap and brush. I notice that the lather does not get as thick as the ones you use on the videos. Have you tried this brand?

DarkSnowman36 (June 11, 2008 at 12:25 am)

you're like an overall 99 on shaving you should be featured in a videogame

Lordboogar (May 21, 2008 at 5:58 am)

I don't find stretching necessary at all with a straight razor, but working around the chin is still a bit of a trick. Make your first reduction with the direction of the growth, then make the second pass against the grain. I use a shave oil for the second pass as the additional lubrication prevents blade grab for the shorter strokes you will use. Finish with blade buffing or J hooking the remaining patches. (J-Hooking may be tricky with a straight razor)

newyorkfish (May 17, 2008 at 11:50 pm)

I bought a safety razor last week but now I learned that I need a badger brush because I have a very cheap brush I bought years ago at the market and since I rarely used it over the years, the benefits are not there.I am a master with the MACH3, but feel like a kid again learning how to shave from scratch with the safety razor.Merkur is the brand of my razor and the same brand of razor blades I bought.I am subscribing - look forward to learning more.Thanks for the helpful video !!

sam55blue (April 6, 2008 at 6:28 pm)

thanks for your advice in shaving tips. very helpful as i dont have a dad to ask....many thanks

mantic59 (April 2, 2008 at 3:53 pm)

potionfilms- The short answer is yes, some faces aren't suited to DE shaving very well. However there are a number of things to try before you throw in the towel. I assume you're new to DE shaving, so you need to concentrate on blade pressure and angle. You may also want to try a different brand of blade. In any case it will take several weeks before your technique is good enough for a consistantly good shave. Hang in there.

potionfilms (March 29, 2008 at 2:45 am)

Hi Mantic 59.I watched all of your videos and decided to turn to safety razors. But the experience was not very good. I am a thin guy with an angular face, the DE razor felt harsh and difficult to keep at the right angle on my skin. Now I have a burning face and I feel like I wasted some money. Is it possible that some faces are just not apt for the safety razor? Or do I need to suffer for a few months before I experience the benefits of the DE razor?In any case Thanks and good job.

mantic59 (March 18, 2008 at 3:37 pm)

par1s93- Check out my "Introduction To Single Blade Shaving, Part 2" video for some suggested web sources. You also might try cutlery or knife/sword shops.