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boogs61
04-16-2010, 04:13 PM
So I'm 33 and have been shaving with an electric razor my whole life, and started being unhappy with the electric the 2nd day. I have had neck irritation since I started shaving way back when. Wet shaving didnt even enter my vocabulary and I like most young people had no idea what DE shaving was. Razor shaving always seemed so scary and why would I do it if my dad didnt do it.

A couple of weeks ago I felt like what the hell and decided to give my wifes Mach 3 a whirl. I got to say it was way easier than I thought. I put on just a bit of her shave gel, after all I thought who needs this stuff really, it just makes the razor move smoother. I had no idea of lather importance and I am now enlightening her to the importance, after reading all of the B&B posts.

She kept on saying, go to you tube and watch a video about shaving.
So I did, typed how to shave and up came Mark Gauvreau's video (thank you Mark if you are out there). and thanks for reccommending Cade balm by l'occitane (btw I think you are pronouncing l'occitane way wrong, took me a while to decipher what you were saying) Love that stuff so far!
I was blown away by the DE razor, who wouldve thought these old fashioned things work so good.

Then I stumbled upon Mantic59's video library of shaving wealth. Thank you too Mantic. I swear these two guys should get kickbacks from Merkur. How many people have bought Merkurs just because its what they use? Tons Im sure.
Mantic mentioned the B&B forum and I thought, are you kidding, a shaving forum.
But seriously, this forum has so much great info, I love it. I have been addicted to it for the past two weeks as I decided what stuff to buy. I also cant believe that there are many times 400+ people on this forum Amazing!
You forum guys are so helpful.

So I decided to buy a Merkur Progress, a sample pack of blades, and the 27$ eshave lavendar kit with badger brush from West Coast Shaving. I also picked up a tube of Bigelow cream.

After waiting an anxious week,my package arrived today.
I did my first practice lather with the bigelow and was disappointed with the lather I produced, I'm sure it was user error.
I then tried the eshave Lavender cream and it lathered up much nicer!

So popped in the shower, got out and used the eshave preoil and started lathering up some of their cream. My first funny shaving moment was as I was putting on the lather which seemed to multiply on my face and I got it in my nose. Tried to breath and I started sucking some foam up my nose. Not enjoyable. Let the lather sit a bit and then to my progress set to a 3 with derby blades. BTW that razor is so much heavier than I thought it would be.
So I got started and I have to say it seemed much easier than I thought it would be. I would say I got a cross between a BBS and a CCS. (check me out using those abbreviations already!) I do have to say I dont have heavy/thick stubble by any means. I went WTG and did a little XTG on the chin. Did three passes. Shaving around my adams apple was much easier than I thought. With the mach 3 the chin and adams apple area give me problems and is a bit scary to do. With my Merkur my neck was easy and the chin wasnt so bad at all, but still needed to do some XTG.
I have to say, way impressed! I feel like this was the best shave of my life and it was my first DE shave! I would say 10 times better than an electric shave and 3 times better than a Mach 3 shave.

Over the past 3 weeks of Mach 3 shaving I just got a few nicks here and there. Today I got three little ones on my chin and a little group by my adams apple. They were small though, but this was the first time using a styptic pencil actually stung. I had visions of cutting a big slice off my cheek or chin.

Overall, much easier than I thought and it is the best shave of my life. I cant stop touching my facing and smiling and saying to my wife "you wanna touch my BBS"

I know you guys say to do WTG for a month, yeah I doubt that will happen, but I will try.

A question is, how long should I test blades out for and should I stick with the same product and not experiment until I am proficient with shaving and have figured out my blade choice?

I'm sure my next razor purchase will be a fat boy (anyone got a good deal for a newbie?)
The thought of an old razor is pretty cool, and I know this is how I will be shaving for the rest of my life. And I never thought I would say that I have actually been enjoying shaving since starting wet shaving, even with the Mach 3.

Thanks again for the wealth of shaving knowledge!

Your new addicted DE shaver and B&B reader and newest real man

Matt


oh yeah and that cool silver metal case by Muhle is on the way. Got it on smallflower.com for 30$ shipped. It said it would take 4-6 weeks but was shipped in 3 days.
http://www.smallflower.com/muehle/metal-case-for-traditional-style-double-edged-razor-razor.html

Johnny Dale
04-16-2010, 04:37 PM
Welcome Aboard! Great story.

Pumpkin
04-16-2010, 04:39 PM
Hi Matt, welcome to B&B! :thumbup: Great first post...nothing better that a bit of faceturbation is there? :lol:

Omnichron
04-16-2010, 04:46 PM
nothing wrong with faceturbation... especially after shaving with MWF.:blushing:

rm71
04-16-2010, 05:15 PM
Welcome!

Walker
04-16-2010, 05:40 PM
I, also, became dissatistfied with the whole Mach 3 or 4 or 6 or 10 etc shave scene. It didn't seem very manly to me. Now when I thought of DE shaving, for some reason, I pictured true manliness. You know, the whole me standing in front of a foggy mirror with a wife beater on holding a DE razor with my fedora close by.lol The Gangter scene I guess you would call it. Call me crazy but that was a large reason for me getting into DE shaving. The ritual before the shave is as exciting as the actual shave. Shower, Preshave-Oil, Lather, Shave, Aftershave. I don't shave everyday (my job doesn't require it, my skin wouldn't allow it) But everytime I do, I love it. This forum makes up for the days I don't shave. A lot of this site has to do with "My word is my bond" You don't see that much anymore (It had alot to do with me becoming a Freemason also) I know there are crooks on here as well as in everyday life but it just seems like when something doesn't seem right on B/S/T the members doesn't hesitate to call that person out. That's great for people like me who is new to wet shaving and wouldn't know if it was a scam or not. So that's enough of me on my soapbox. Thank God for B&B.lol Good Day people.

Laz
04-16-2010, 06:20 PM
If you are getting good shaves with the blade you are using, I would use the entire pack (but save the last blade). Then move the the next pack and continue the process. By the time the sampler pack is finished, you will have one blade from each pack to try a second time and your technique will have improved as well.

Also, use the more mild blades first and work your way up to the more aggressive ones.

saltypete
04-16-2010, 06:21 PM
Welcome to B&B!

Pete

demaro
04-16-2010, 06:23 PM
Welcome to the group!! Awesome feeling to shave like a real man , is'nt it?

boogs61
04-16-2010, 06:26 PM
So in what order would you rate these blades for mildness then

merkur came with progress
Feather New Hi-Stainless Platinum (10 blades)
Crystal or "Israeli" (10 blades)
Derby Extra (5 blades)
Red Israeli Personna (5 blades)
Astra Superior Platinum (5 blades)

Laz
04-16-2010, 06:54 PM
Mild
Derby Extra (5 blades)
Crystal or "Israeli" (10 blades)
Red Israeli Personna (5 blades)
merkur
Feather New Hi-Stainless Platinum (10 blades)

I've never used the Astra blades (but I doubt they are sharper than a Feather). My favorites are Derby and Feather

kingfisher
04-16-2010, 07:50 PM
I think about blades in terms of sharpness rather than mildness. To be honest, FOR ME, the sharper the blade the better. So, I prefer Feathers, then Kai, then Astras, then the green or yellow Gillettes, then the Personna Israeli reds. I have no use for Dorcos, Derbys, etc., or any other blade that isn't [British accent] dead sharp. [/British accent]

But that's just me. YMMV.

information junkie
04-16-2010, 08:14 PM
welcome to the world of great shaves.
my blade trials go use one till that blade is done try new, if i liked the first better use another one till its done and repeat. so far i keep going back to the astra. out of your list i have not tried the crystal or the feather.

Fnord5
04-16-2010, 08:17 PM
yer not a man till you conquer the Straight Razor....

information junkie
04-16-2010, 08:24 PM
yer not a man till you conquer the Straight Razor....

in time i will

aimsport
04-16-2010, 08:31 PM
I did my first practice lather with the bigelow and was disappointed with the lather I produced, I'm sure it was user error.

With that kind of attitude you will go very very far.

Wonderful account of your first DE shave. Thanks.

Chickpea McGee
04-16-2010, 08:32 PM
From another former electric shaver, welcome!

BladeDE40
04-16-2010, 08:34 PM
Welcome!

soapbuddy
04-16-2010, 09:18 PM
Welcome! Your poor nose.

Peto
04-16-2010, 11:49 PM
Welcome Matt! Enjoy your stay there and the shaving! Let me comment one thing - yes, you are a little bit of real man now, but wait for straight :w00t:.

Trawlerman
04-17-2010, 12:20 AM
Enjoy the journey Matt. You'll certainly enjoy wetshaving and it just gets better and better as your technique improves.

It's so much more involving that using boring Mach3's etc., the sheer amount of choices available in blades, soaps, creams, balms is pretty much endless and makes for a much more personal experience.

Plus your face (and your wife too hopefully) will love you for it.

devil24
04-17-2010, 12:49 AM
From one noob to another, welcome to B&B and enjoy the wonders for DE shaving!

sproosemoose
04-17-2010, 01:05 AM
next step - straight razor :D

Jethro1984
04-17-2010, 01:51 AM
Welcome Matt....ahead lies many more great shaves (and AD's), but by truly appreciating the first, you can justify the second!

kifkroker
04-17-2010, 02:46 AM
Welcome, from a fellow DE neophyte :001_smile

I got myself a sample pack of blades to start off with (which I'm working through now), and I'm finding the different blade experiences quite an eye-opener!

DE Shaver
04-17-2010, 03:39 AM
Welcome aboard. It seems you've gotten off to a good start with DE shaving. It only get better from here.

mattbikes1
04-17-2010, 06:52 AM
Welcome to B&B! Great story, thanks for sharing. I think you are fine trying out new blades right away. Just stick to the same brand, unless you absolutely hate it, for at least a week or two. Keep everything else consistent and you will progress much quicker.

Gredge
04-17-2010, 01:01 PM
Welcome to B&B! That was a great story, and thanks for sharing. Keep coming back when you have questions and don't stop reading. Enjoy your new DE!


You know, the whole me standing in front of a foggy mirror with a wife beater on holding a DE razor with my fedora close by.

I thought this was a standard part of pre-shave prep? It definitely is for me.:thumbup1:

JdB
04-17-2010, 01:09 PM
Finally :biggrin1:

Welcome on board!

Marco
04-17-2010, 02:29 PM
Welcome to the forum!:001_smile