1 week in and only two real cuts.

[Mirzath]

Hi All
I have been enjoying the site and learned way to much! Now I just need experience!

I have always used electric shavers and always had so so shaves and red blotchy patches on my neck. I have decided to try wet shaving to see if I like it. Luckily my dad had two old DEs and a brush he was willing to give up. The razors are (I think from looking here) a Gillette Knack and Gillette G1000 both from the 1970s. The brush is a dyed boar brush with no name. I went to a mall here in Victoria BC Canada and bought Col. Conk almond soap and a pack of ten blades from House of Knives. Oh, and my Mom gave me a cool art deco plastic shaving bowl!

So far my shaves have been OK but not as good as the electric. However my red patches are almost gone and I do not have the random long hairs the electric seems to miss. I just do not seem to be able to go against the grain yet but I figure I just need to do things slowly.

Thanks you all for the great resource

Lathering seems to be my biggest inconsistency and what I need to work on the most.

[Dennard]

That's awesome that you can use razors that your dad used. Have fun! It's good to have you here.

[mblakele]

Welcome to B&B!

[Eric V]

Phil, glad you joined and posted! Lots to read and learn here, and lots to share also.

A few sessions practicing lathering between shaves will advance your lathering skills. I'm not sure what your shave routine has been, but here is a suggestion. Keep to WTG and XTG passes right now. Your technic will improve a lot over the next 40 shaves or so. Sometime soon pick up a blade sampler pack (check our supporting vendors for their offerings). Working your way through different blades will help improve your razor technic at a quick speed!

Ah ... and have fun! Shaving is pretty rewarding, given the rather ordinary task it is. Something about the zen of it, being in the moment and taking time for our personal grooming and mental health. Yikes! I don't know how I got there to the mental health bit, but it was fun.

[ackvil]

Welcome to B&B.

If you haven't already done so, take a look at this post (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=71700). It provides an excellent road map to your shaving needs.

Also, take a look at the wikis on this site. The one on lather (http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Lathers) is particularly helpful.

[Codfish]

It's good to see you here and that was an excellent and informative first post. Welcome to B&B!

Everything will come to you in time, so try not to be impatient. The most important advice I can give you at this point is to take things slowly and try to avoid the temptation to explore everything at once. Pick a razor (and it does not matter which one) and stick with it for at least a month. Stay with your current soap and brush during that time. It is really important, no matter what the temptation, to only change one variable at a time. Otherwise, you will never know which variable makes a difference.

Get a blade sampler pack from one of the B&B vendors, and go through it in any order you'd like. Limit each blade to no more than three shaves.

When you find a blade that seems to work well and is comfortable, stick with it for a while and work on your prep, lathering, pressure and angle for at least another month. Then resist the temptation to change anything else until you are confident in what you're doing.

Technique nearly always trumps equipment. It may take you six months or more to get a great shave (it took many of us at least that long), but don't be discouraged or become impatient. Practice, practice and more practice will pay off in the end.

My best to you. Post questions if you have any, and good luck.

Codfish

[Bluebriz]

I may just be speaking for myself here, but i've never been able to go against the grain, and i've been shaving this way for 3 months now. My skin just feels like it can't take it.

[Optometrist]

Welcome to B&B, Phil!:thumbup1:

[Kwaka_Chris]

Welcome to B&B, It took me about a month before I could produce GOOD shaves with a DE, and I was coming from a wet shaving background with cartridges. I have an inconsistent lather with soaps as well, finding that creams give a much easier base to lather with, but after that I manage with 3 passes, only against the grain on my face. it gives a BBS shave on my face lasting for a long time and a good shave on my neck.

Enjoy the experience and hopefully your shaves will fulfill your wants as it will be the best thing that ever happened to your face :)

[Marco]

Welcome to B&B, Phil! :001_smile

[namonarpos]

Welcome to B&B! Don't worry about substandard shaves right now - just keep practicing and refining your technique, and your shaves will automatically improve. I also second Eric's comments about keeping to WTG and XTG. Once your technique improves, you'll be able to tell whether you even need the ATG. Good luck!

[Sledgehammer39]

Welcome Aboard.

[JCinPA]

Welcome! I am impressed! I think it is easier for a cartridge razor guy to shift to DE, they can even start with brush & mug and use their cart for a week or two practicing multiple light passes, then shift to the DE. But from an electric? That has to be a daunting transition! Keep watching the youtube videos (Mantic's and Geofatboys are the best, IMO) and don't get overconfident! You are well on the way, it sounds!

[Jiddy]

Welcome aboard mate!

Do you face or bowl lather? I found face lathering helped immensely early on with consistency, and I was also using Col. Conk. Almond. I got a white tub proraso after that, which I still find easier to lather (less fussy on the water/soap ratio), which is great for a bowl/scuttle.

Enjoy the ride!

[DaveNJ74]

The electric shavers used to tear up my skin around my neck line. I used to switch back and forth between those and cheep disposables and canned stuff. I wish I started with a DE when I started shaving.
Map your beard growth, it can only help your shaves.

[Mirzath]

Thanks for all the encouragement everyone!

I am sticking with the Gillette Knack and as much as I want to change it, using the old boar brush. The only thing I have done inconsistently is lathering and, guess what, that is where I am having the biggest problem. For the next while I will try and use a large mug and I fear with all the lathering practice runs I will need to get more soap! I swear I have used half the soap puck up already! I need an alum block or something like that to deal with the cuts and I am thinking of getting a pre-shaving oil to help with friction. Do all the Col. Conk soaps behave in the same way? I was thinking of change fragrances.

[ackvil]

Phil, you may want to try uberlather. (http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Uberlather) It produces consistently good lather.