The picture looks like it. I know what you are saying about the slant...one of my favorite razors (HD not barberpole) but definitely not a good choice for a first razor. I am happy to see so many people taking the plunge ITT. Give it a few weeks to work on your technique. The first couple of shaves likely wont be great, but if you focus on using a very light touch and keeping a decent blade angle, you will be amazed at the results in time. Also, it is really good for your face with the scrubbing and natural products.
Have a 100% badger hair tweezerman brush in my amazon cart. Is that a mistake for a rookie or should I keep it in the cart?
I got into Wet Shaving about 6 months ago after getting frustrated at the prices of replacement cartridges. I did a decent amount of research and decided to go into it in stages since I did not want to spend money on entry level purchases and have that negatively impact my experience or buy something that I would replace too quickly. To start I purchased two shaving soaps from Momma Bears and put an order for with a vendor from Badger and Blade to build me a Badger Brush, going all in with a Super Silvertip. The brush was a perfect choice and working with Rudy Vey was very easy. The decision to order from Momma Bears was a bad choice that luckily worked out for me. Now I say it was a bad choice because I should have ordered samples to ensure that the soap did not irritate me. My first two selections worked well and I would recommend their products, but as TYdeFan05 said in his review some selections might not work for an individual user. I just got lucky. From there I branched out to sample C.O. Bigelow shaving cream, an Arko shaving stick that Rudy included with the brush, a selection of shaving creams from Truefitt and Hill and Queen Charlotte Soaps shaving creams, which are really a soap / cream, and some general samples from Momma Bears. In the end I like the Queen Charlotte Soaps shaving creams the best but each of the products I tried would get positive reviews on select samples. I match these up with a Edwin Jagger DE89L using either Derby or Feather blades. Prior to wet shaving I was already using mapping when shaving to reduce irritation and problems so it has just been a case of learning what works for me with the new set up. I have found that if I make two passes going with the grain and then follow that up with a final pass going against the grain that I have very few if any issues. If I dont go crazy making this a hobby I should do no worse financially than before if not better. At the end of the day I prefer how my skin feels now that I have moved beyond the can crap and the multiple blade approach.
Also, I think one of the videos mentioned that Feather blades might be too sharp for novice wet shavers. I'm planning on ordering some. Is this a mistake?
Not really. You could spend a little more and get that Edwin Jagger or something near it. However, if you want to get started that will be perfectly fine. Once you get a "nice" brush, you may want to delegate that Tweezerman to travel duty. That's what I did with a cheaper brush for a while. My expensive one stayed home and the $15 went into my travel bag in case it got lost or stolen. Just don't EVER store one wet. Probably something I should put in the brush review. Don't leave your brush shut up in a cabinet or zipped up in a travel bag or it will mold and mildew. That can attack the adhesive in the know causing it to fall out. More importantly, it can be very bad for your skin.
I wouldn't use one as your very first blade. After you get your technique down a bit, they are fine (but yes, sharp as hell...which is a good thing). I would start with sampler pack (which usually include Feathers) and work through a few others first. I started with Crystals (sometimes called Israel Personna's or IP) and thought it was good first blade.
I started with Feathers and it's all I used my first year. Derby's and some others may be a little better. I didn't need to do that, but some people think it is necessary to use a "smooth" rather than a "sharp" blade. You may not ever like Feathers for that matter. Try a sampler pack that at least includes them and go from there. I think Derby, Gillette 7 O'Clock Blue Box and Astra SP's in the white and green box all make some good starter blades too fwiw. I would not use the Merkur blades (personally). They tug and pull hair more than they cut. Others swear by them. These are just some of the blades you could start with.
What do yall think about this sampler pack? http://www.amazon.com/Blade-Sampler...L4/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1325464909&sr=8-12
I started with Feathers as well, didn't see an issue. I don't use anything else, I like what they do for me and I enjoy their longevity. and watson you really can't tell that much from a photo unless maybe you had a nice pro camera to take some macro shots. you should easily be able to tell after your first or second shave, though, especially after years and years of cartridge razor use.
Most of those blades are "just okay" to my face personally. I may have mislead some though. I think sampler packs are ideal for people who have spent maybe a month gaining good technique. I'd hate for a new person to try a great blade their first shave and label it a bad blade. You could probably start out with a 10 pack of any decent blade to get you through your first month. Then it would be time to hit up the sampler packs.
I know everyone is going through Amazon, but I've just re-looked at every blade sampler pack from ever vendor I've shopped with over the years. The two samplers I like best are these: $14.50 http://www.bullgooseshaving.net/buprdeblsapa.html * Personna Platinum (Red IP) (10 Blades) * Astra Superior Platinum (5 Blades) * Derby Extra (5 Blades) * Gillette SharpEdge (5 Blades) * Feather Hi-Stainless (10 Blades) * Treet Durasharp (10 Blades) $10.50 http://www.bullgooseshaving.net/butodeblsapa.html * Personna Platinum (Red IP) (10 Blades) * Feather Hi-Stainless (5 Blades) * Astra Superior Platinum (5 Blades) * Shark Super Chrome (5 Blades) * Treet Platinum (5 Blades) * Derby Extra (5 Blades) * Shark Stainless (5 Blades) The reason I like those two packages is there's a good mix of sharp/smooth blades that I have personally used and will definitely use again. Treet blades are in both, and those are the only ones that I probably won't buy more of. The Red IP's, Astras, Derby's, SharpEdge (Yellow box), Feathers, and Sharks are all blades that I eventually bought more boxes. Just like soaps, creams, and razors--your appreciation of these blades may differ. You may exclusively love the Merkur blades that I loathe. I'm just trying to give an example of blades that I like to see in a sampler pack.
It's very desirable once you know what you're doing. Slant bar razors (37C and 39C) are much more aggressive and require a steady hand. However, if you have several days growth or you want a shave that's as near a straight edge barber shave as you can get, some people claim the slant bar is just the trick. Here's a comparison shot of the 38C (straight bar) next to the 39C and 37C (slant bars). Slant bar razors aren't for beginners. I'd hate to lose a good poster. Close up of a slant bar: A few guys use slant bars as their daily razor, especially if they have heavy growth. I think most use them as a clean up tool after a long weekend of not shaving.
I'm still alive. I think I should have all the materials together by the end of the week, although I'd like to get a good shave or two in before school starts next week so I can start off with that strong first impression. And TYde, that Truefitt soap is on backorder, but it gives me a chance to start with a 97 cent Yardley bar instead of the $28 t&h soap haha.
i've been convinced to switch after following this thread will hit up amazon once i get paid on friday
I had a gift certificate so I went wild. Triple milled soap lasts longer than regular soap, but it's still awfully expensive. If you try a T&H sampler and like another scent better, feel free to run with one of those (Trafalgar, Grafton, Limes). They all work the same, just smell a little different. Yardley's is pretty much just as good. Hard to bear for a $1. If you can find Palmolive it's even cheaper but pretty good as well. However, if you've been checking some of the resources posted you've probably seen this by now
I'm sad. I just realized I'll be shaving through Friday until I get to try my new kit. And I need to order blades.
Is bullgoose your go-to supply site? Wondering which is the best site/best service outside of getting some basics from a amazon.
Check the third post under the section "Some vendors I've used." Phil (bullgoose) is a very nice guy and probably the fastest to ship, but I've used all of those guys listed at least once. I'm checking my e-mails to see if I've used anyone else.
itt Lou Holth reveals a lot of personal information. I got a nice razor set from my SS so the timing of this thread is impeccable
Its very cooling and i personally like the smell. My razor and brush are Baxter but their shave cream is dogshit.
no idea on the smell, I can't smell, basically just ask girls in class if they like the smell...can't figure out why they think I'm creepy though.
also this thread makes me appreciate my SS gift a lot more. brush is badger and the razor and blades are merkur NilesIrish
My next rig is going to be a slant. I don't shave on my 3 days off and have pretty heavy growth on my Monday. For you guys starting out, don't get frustrated. I've been wet shaving for over a year and still use a disposble under my nose. I've cut the dogshit out of my nostril 4 times.
Need my glasses to go ATG under my nose, but the angle is under my lens, so my glasses are no use. I seriously have scars on my nose from the feather blades.
idgi. hold your nose up or just try to tighten the skin by frowning hard and then go at it. I'd read before I began shaving that the nose was a problem area but it really just requires a little tact instead of the bull rush you can give your cheeks or neck. I like to get up close and personal with the mirror when I shave my nose, I find that helps. I don't like going ATG under my nose just like I'm not a huge fan of going E-W across my chin. just too much room for error and it's such a small payoff.
I'm really psyching myself out. I should get all equipment by Friday, and I'm starting to regret my decision.
I nick myself 10/10 times going against the grain. I don't think I do enough passes WTG. Will try when I shave next.
Seriously..listen to Tyde and don't go ATG the first few times, and only go ATG after 2-3 passes WTG. I didn't heed such advice.
Will my inevitable death count towards TMB's tactical nuke? Would just like to believe that I died for a good cause. Spoiler I ain't scurred
Depends on how thick your growth is, but you will have a good shave most likely. I wouldn't say 'great'
How hard is ATG shaving to begin with? I have a pretty steady hand. I will definitely rewatch every wet shave youtube video I can find before I have my first shave.
I do with, across, then against. Lather between each pass and rinse your razor often. One with the grain and cross grain pass will be enough for a "good enough" shave. Go slow, no pressure just let gravity do the work.
cross grain sounds like gravity could cause me to die. my dad thinks im an idiot for getting it. he says he hated shaving with those so much when he was younger....
It really just depends on how much you heed the advice here. If you go full force and get some rash on your face you may not feel like it. If nothing else, go with the DE and switch to your disposable if it's not a "socially acceptable" shave. In a month, you'll wonder why you were so worried.
I can imagine. The one difference between then and now is the blades are light years better than they used to be.
That's my hope. I feel like this could be a pretty cool thing to start doing. I'll likely keep my disposable razors for when I need a quick shave though.
Good thing about me is that I like the look of 2-3 days growth so I only shave every 2-3 days. This will not take up much time for me.
I think you have to look at it as a process, not as an event and you'll be fine. Count on taking the time to protect your face, lather up, and reduce the beard over time, rather than just ripping it off quickly (like we probably do now). I watched the videos, and I started "reducing the beard" over a few passes with a Mach 3 ever since. It's a much better shave, with fewer problems. I can imagine a better blade will get an even better result. Just be patient, and think long-term about being a better person.