Diving in slowly

[djh985]

Okay I have read some reviews and then more reviews. I am now totally confused about DE razors. I figure since my state of confusion probably will not pass anytime soon I may as well start the cheap route while getting something worthwhile. I ordered a Feather Popular DE Razor, Tweezerman Badger Brush, and some Col Conk Bay Rum Shaving Soap to start with. I have been using Williams shaving soap and a boar bristle brush for ages but figure it was time to progress a bit. I am looking at Merkurs but welcome any tips from you veterans. And BTW I am David and live in Louisiana just north of New Orleans.

[OkieStubble]

Welcome to B&B David. Well, you definitely sound like you have been doing your research, know what you want and are looking for, and have already made some sound choices. Find a starter sample pack of blades and get started honing your DE shaving skills & technique. you have everything you need to get started and you don't want to change any of the variables while learning. As the weeks go by and your experience grows, you will start getting the feel/urge of what you will want to change or upgrade. If you have a sampler pack and you start to feel like your first choice of blade isn't working for you, pop a different blade from the pack in.

you will also in time start to recognize if your Feather popular razor is too mild or aggressive. And your research of razors and their reviews that you have already done will help lead you to the best decision for you. Then, just start enjoying the different soaps, creams, aftershaves that you read about and want to pull the trigger on. But it honestly sounds like to me you already have a good handle on what you want/need. Just don't upgrade for the sake of upgrading. Upgrade when your experience and desire surpasses what you already have and will suggest to you on it's own what you should get and when.

The only way to fight AD's imo.

[Luc]

Welcome to B&B!

This page might help: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Getting_started_wetshaving

[Oblique Human]

Hello David, Welcome to B&B!

[Sledgehammer39]

Welcome Aboard!

[mistervee123]

Welcome, David. Go ahead and take the plunge, I say. I started out with a bunch of cheap shaving junk that I got from drug stores, etc., to see if this type of shaving was worth it. I ended up junking all that stuff (a waste of money) and buying good stuff within only a couple of weeks. Whatever you spend, once you have some good equipment, you'll appreciate the quality, and the hardware will last a lifetime plus....

[Useless shaver]

Welcome aboard, David!

You may want to have a look at an Edwin Jagger DE89, awesome tool.

[Prof. Moriarty]

Welcome to B&B

[Kostas1]

Welcome aboard, David!

You may want to have a look at an Edwin Jagger DE89, awesome tool.

Welcome!

+1 to the DE89. It was my first razor, and although I've acquired 6 since, it is still a regular in the rotation.

[sylynce]

Welcome- I went with a EJ89, hope it serves me well. You have some good products that should last you quite some time.
Best of luck

[NickCutlip]

Welcome to B&B !!

[dpmtherrien]

Hello David, and welcome.

[akira2a]

Hello David and welcome.

I think you have an overall good setup to start DE shaving. The Feather Popular is in my opinion a very good choice for a first DE Razor. Some might find it a bit mild but the easy blade replacement and no hassle blade alinement plus overall ease of use makes it a great razor for the price. Just make sure your lather is slick and you shave with the blade and not the safety bar and you wont have to much trouble with it. While most guys have good things to say about Merkur razors the only one I like is the Merkur 37C slant bar. Most Merkur have the bad habit of needing the blade alinement fiddled with to make it shave correctly, and I HATE that. That is why I think you made the right choice in getting the Feather Popular as your first DE. No need to worry about blade alinement Period! Just check the blade (while installed in the razor) before use and you should be good to go.

And I will echo the same advice everyone will give you: get a blade sample pack and no pressure on the razor when you shave. NONE!

[PugslyCat]

Welcome aboard!

I wish to second the advice to not be penny wise and pound foolish. I did that with my first brush and regretted it ever since. Your Tweezerman is head and shoulders above the Marvy I started with and should serve you well.

If you search the archives you will see a lot of recomendations for razors that are good for beginners and last a lifetime. The EJ DE89 is one of those and also a Merkur HD get high marks. There are also some budget razors like the Lord L6 and the Yuma that aren't bad, but you probably are past considering these if you already have a Parker and are looking for a Merkur.

If the Williams soap has been lathering for you, the Colonel Conk should be no problem.

[syngent]

Welcome to the forums, AD's (acquisition disorder) incoming, lol I can tell

many great shaves

[djh985]

Welcome to the forums, AD's (acquisition disorder) incoming, lol I can tell

many great shaves

I am also a pipe smoker so Acquisition Disorder is no new disease for me. If I wind up with as many razors as I do pipes the wife is sure to leave me.

[Straight Rasier User]

Welcome to B&B.

Everything boils down to personal preferences.


“Best Brush”

A Brush is a Brush and they perform differently and they are different. Boar, Badger, Horsehair, Horsehair/Boar/Badger Combos, or Syns. Get a Boar (cheap or expensive) or a Good Badger Brush.


“Soap/Cream/Stick”

Soap or Cream or Stick ... Stick or Cream or Soap ... cheap or expensive ... expensive or cheap ... glycerin based, cold processed, tripled milled, or tallow. Get a couple of each and see what works best for you.

“Safety Razor”

Safety Razors ... determine what you want and how much you are willing to spend - Open Comb, Closed Comb, TTOs, 2-Piece, 3-Piece or an adjustable. The Merkur HD or Edwin Jagger 89 are both good beginning Safety Razors. Or get an Old Gillette (SuperSpeed or 3-Piece).


“Razor Blades”

Blades ... Get a Sampler Pack and then ... Good Luck. The differences between whether a Blade is Good or Bad for any individual is because the Hand of God is at work. Maybe it is the shave preparation, or maybe it is the type of hairs being shaven, or maybe it is the patterns on the face being shaven, or the type of Razor being used (different angles or blade gaps are created by the different razor head being used), or the shaving technique being used (wrong angle, too much pressure being used and pushing down on the razor to "cut closer", or even not using multiple-passes to reduce hair growth first and always), or maybe there is one or two Bad Blades in the pack being used, or maybe for whatever reason it is a Bad Blade to you.


”Best Blade”

At first use only One Razor Blade ... use this blade only for a few weeks ... changing when dull.

The First Razor Blade you use is your “Best Blade.”

Get several of your First Best Blade.

Get down the Basics of Shaving – Preparation, Lathering, Shaving with the Razor – light touch, proper angle and little pressure, Multi-Passes – WTG, XTG, and Reverse-XTG.

Get more information and look at the Mantic59 Youtube videos, the GeoFatBoy videos and read the Wiki.


“Finding Your Best Blade”

After you have everything down ... then use a different blade for a week and see if it becomes your new "Best Blade".

If not go back to the other blade for a week then, use a different blade for a week.

Your Best Blade is your base line blade for your tests. When you find your “Next Best Blade” then, that is your “New Best Blade”. Continue working through your sampler pack looking for a “New Best Blade”.

Please note that Different Safety Razors may have a different “Best Blade” and if you have poor technique then it will also affect your choice of a “New Best Blade”.

“Map Your Face”

Make Sure you have Mapped Your Face because that is the only way to know which way your hair grows.

“Technique”

Also make sure that your preshave preparation is down.

Then shave WTG, XTG and Reverse-XTG.

Rinse, Lather, WTG
Rinse, Lather, XTG
Rinse, Lather, Reverse-XTG
Rinse, Lather, Buffing.

No Rinse, No Lather, No Shave.

For the first few weeks ... Do not do ATG ... Wait until you have your technique down because you could and usually will be holding the safety razor upside down when shaving your neck and this may cause you some problems when trying to maintain the correct blade angle while applying a light pressure.

Be careful of Feather blades as they are super sharp and unforgiving make sure you are confident of your technique before using them.

Have Fun Shaving and May All Your Shaves Be BBS.