Noob Check-in, bearded, awaiting tools

[Norbert_Sykes]

Greetings, all!

First, the folks on this forum are very well-mannered. I'm very impressed!

After some lurking, I've gone ahead and purchased the Merkur HD and a brush/blade stand from classicshaving.com; I also bought the Jagger/Crabtree Best Badger Brush. I am excited to actually handle these shaving tools.

I'm going to head to Target to pick up the Proraso soaps, as per your recommendations to other newbies.

I've been shaving with electric razors for the past 8 years or so. Never been very pleased with the process; thus, I have avoided shaving as much as possible------I go a week to a week and a half between shaves, not for any aesthetic reason, but to avoid the displeasure of the task of mowing my face.

The notion of shaving as pleasure is novel to me. I hope it works out with minimal blood loss/permanent facial disfigurement. :ohmy:

Anyway, this is a great resource. I have a lot of searching ahead of me. I hope to be able to contribute some time in the future!

[Jonnybc]

Welcome Norbert.

Just take the shave nice and slow and you'll be fine. I wouldn't go against the grain to start with, stretch the skin and go across t's just as good.

[TomH]

Hello Norbert,

...a friendly Welcome to B&B from Germany, enjoy your time...:thumbup: :biggrin1:

Thomas

[rikrdo]

Greetings G!!

Fellow newb here, as well.

You got the goods now just respect em!!
Nice and easy....dont rush the process.
Enjoy and dont get frustrated. This takes patience and determination.
You will be rewarded if you comply !!

Good luck.:c2:

[htownmmm]

Welcome to B&B Norbert!

Resistance is futile- you will be assimilated!

Marty

[Norbert_Sykes]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Quick question. Would my first DE shave be easier if I shaved with my electric razor a day or so beforehand? I have about a week and a half's worth of beard right now, I don't know if it would be too challenging for my first go at shaving like a grown-ass man.

XOXOXO

NS

[Jonnybc]

Would my first DE shave be easier if I shaved with my electric razor a day or so beforehand?

Noot really, the whole point of DE shaving is to gradually reduce the amount of hair with each pass. You just mught have to do two or three with the grain passes to ruduce the stubble enough to start going across the grain. I shave my full beard down this way, when I have one that is!

[boboakalfb]

I think that a couple days growth is a good idea. Good luck!

[MasonM]

Another noob here, just signed up yesterday.

I agree that the people here are quite polite and very informative.

I never had any luck using an electric shaver. My beard is far too tough for them and they just never gave me anything close to a smooth shave. I have a $300 electric collecting dust because it didn't shave me any better than the $40 one.

Having a good razor really does make a difference. I've been using my Futur for a coupe of weeks now and really enjoy using it and always get a reasonably good shave. I'm sure it'll get even better as I learn, and get a proper brush, soap/cream. and utilze the excellent advice from the fine folks here.

I look forward to reading about your first experiences and what you learn from them as I am still learning proper technique myself.

Kinda sad really. 45 years old and don't know how to shave properly. :biggrin1:

[Norbert_Sykes]

Great! Thanks for the input. You guys are fast...

I may be getting over-excited, but now I'm thinking of switching from Mac OS X to Linux, trading in my automatic transmission for manual, doing away with CD's in favor of my records, etc.
:001_cool:

[jduffy]

Not to hijack your thread but Mason, don't get down on the fact that you're starting out when you are. Be grateful that you've been given an opportunity to make a change. I'm in a similar boat as you. No one taught me how to shave and I learned using those horrible multi-bladed cartridges.

Revel in the fact that you are doing it correctly now and that you can get great information here.

I used to loathe shaving with a multi-blade or electric but I'm in heaven these days, even though my technique is far from perfect. Enjoy the learning process. I know I am! :cool:

And Norbert welcome! You sound like you're well on your way to shaving nirvana.

[MasonM]

Great! Thanks for the input. You guys are fast...

I may be getting over-excited, but now I'm thinking of switching from Mac OS X to Linux, trading in my automatic transmission for manual, doing away with CD's in favor of my records, etc.
:001_cool:
:thumbup:

[MasonM]

Not to hijack your thread but Mason, don't get down on the fact that you're starting out when you are. Be grateful that you've been given an opportunity to make a change. I'm in a similar boat as you. No one taught me how to shave and I learned using those horrible multi-bladed cartridges.

Revel in the fact that you are doing it correctly now and that you can get great information here.

I used to loathe shaving with a multi-blade or electric but I'm in heaven these days, even though my technique is far from perfect. Enjoy the learning process. I know I am! :cool:

And Norbert welcome! You sound like you're well on your way to shaving nirvana.
Thanks. I'm not really down about it at all. I just wish I had discovered all of this many moons ago. :redface:

[gc_30286]

welcome to B&B

IMHO shaving a full beard is not the easiest way to start DE shaving. i would recomend giving your face a quick trim with some hair clippers or the trimmer on your razor if you have one. however it is not hard to shave a full beard and you'll be impressed at how well that HD with a sharp blade will work on even a full beard. remember though prep is the key and even more so when dealing with that much beard. i would soak the beard then lather it and place a hot towel over it for a few minutes then relather before shaving.

best of luck glad to have ya

matthew

[Norbert_Sykes]

Whoa!

Still recovering from the sting of the Clubman Bay Rum aftershave! YOWZA!!!

GEAR:

C&E Best Badger brush
Classic "Contemporary" Covered Shaving Bowl (black)
Pure Vegetable Glycerin
Proraso Shaving Cream
Merkur "Hefty Classic" Safety Razor
Merkur "Double-Edge" SS Platinum Blades
DOVO/Merkur SS Safety Razor & Brush Stand
Clubman Bay Rum aftershave
Classic Brand Pure Block Alum Styptic
Nick Relief Styptic Liquid

PRE:

I was working with a two-week old beard. Mind you, I'm half-Asian, so it isn't much, but the hairs were long and straggly.

I filled the bowl with hot water and kept the water running so that it nearly covered the bowl. I floated the brush in the sink. I showered and rinsed my face, no soap. Used hair conditioner on the beard.

I ran the alum block over my face and beard. I then added a couple drops of glycerin to the hairs.

I gave the brush a mighty good flick and lathered up in the bowl, adding a drop or two of glycerin. I've got hard water, but found that I got a pretty good lather. I wish the shaving bowl had a curved bottom----oh well.

I slathered the lather over my beard and put an almost-hot towel over my face for a couple minutes. I then removed the towel and added more cream to my beard.

It took me a great many passes to find the correct angle. I was glad my beard was long, because it gave me more to work with as I perfected my technique. I used Kyle's Grip-----but I kept finding myself unconsciously "choking up" on the handle. Anyway, I shaved north to south, angling slightly towards the direction of the grain.

I must have relathered my face and shaved five times until my face looked presentable. I did an outsanding job under my chin. I nicked myself between my jaw and ear and quite a bit over my lip, but not badly-----no blood, just a little pinkish. I got a decent shave all around, except near my lips and under my nose. I think I will do a touch up shave tomorrow morning.

The sound of a blade cutting through hair is extremely gratifying.

I followed up with an invigorating cold-water splash. I ran the Alum Bar all over my face-----love it! I then splashed on the Bay Rum aftershave and felt like I was burning in a lake of fire. But now my skin feels refreshed. Somehow I got some of that aftershave in my mouth------a truly vile taste that lingers.

The experience was alternately tense, relaxing, fun, painful and invigorating. It took me about forty-five minutes, mostly because I had to whip up the lather three times. Next time, I think I may have to use a walnut-sized dollop of shaving cream. And I am going to go get the Proraso pre/post tomorrow.

Question: for what purpose is the lid of the shaving bowl?
Should I be rinsing my face between re-lathers? I didn't, but it seemed strange not to.

Thanks everybody!

:badger:

[How did this post get so long?!]

[OldSaw]

Hi Norbert,

Congratulations and welcome. I don't think 45 minutes is too bad for a first wet shave with a DE. You'll get better with practice and soon you will have your technique down to a pretty smooth shave with one or two passes in about ten minutes. Then you will wonder what the rush is and go back to taking your time. I prefer to shave in the evening specifically so I can spend some time enjoying the lather.

[OldSaw]

Whoa!

Still recovering from the sting of the Clubman Bay Rum aftershave! YOWZA!!!

I forgot to mention you might want to try an alchohol free after shave balm. I am currently using Nivea sensitive. It is unscented and widely available. I prefer unscented after shave so I don't have to match colognes when I use them.

[moses]

A walnut size dollap might be overkill.... Especially when not needing to cut two weeks of beard. (Although, are we talking walnut whole in shell, or shelled walnut half?)

Anyway, sounds like a pretty good first shave. It should get a lot better from hear.

[Leisureguy]

Yes: rinse after every pass, then relather. Since you have glycerine on hand, you might want to rub a drop or two on the wet beard before lathering for each pass. I don't use the alum block until after the shave, and with the glycerine as a pre-shave, I don't think you need the pre-shave alum.

[gc_30286]

congrats on the great first shave. i would recomend sticking with two with the grain passes for the first week and staying away from against the grain. dont forget to change you blade after mowing down two weeks worth of beard. it will only get better from here.

matthew