michaelg931
10-18-2008, 10:54 AM
Greetings. I have been reading and researching this site for some time, nearly 5 months before I took the plunge. I have had a couple of "professional" hot towel shaves in the past which I enjoyed immensely.
I came across my father's Gillette DE and that is what started this voyage. I cleaned it up and there was still a couple of Schick blades in the blade case.
They just opened a Art of Shaving store at Union Station here in DC and I browsed around to see what they had in terms of start up kits. Their regular size kit cost a $100 so I searched online and found one on Amazon for $71 plus shipping. I had a gift certificate from Amazon, so the bottom line on the kit with shipping came to $61 and change which I felt was decent for a newbie as it came with pre-shave oil, a badgar brush, shave cream and after shave balm.
After all this research and watching mantic's videos, I was ready to go. I did have some trepadations as I must take blood thinners for the rest of my life and was concerned about nicks and cuts.
I tried to incorparte all the advice given by so many on this site. I prepared my lather bowl in hot water and soaked the brush. I took a hot shower making sure my beard was getting the most. I applied the pre-shave oil and massaged it into the beard. I had preheated a towel in the microwave and applied for 2 minutes. I got a decent lather made up and away I went. I was very gentle in the pressure to avoid any damage. Pass 1 was WTG and this worked well. I relathered and did a second pass ATG. Clearly the chin area was difficult but in the end I managed not to have a nick or cut. I was estatic. In my joy I forget the cold water finish, but did apply the after shave balm. My face seems very smooth with just a little irritation/burning sensation towards the bottom of the neck.
I'm looking forward to this "hobby" and thanks to everyone for their advice.
I came across my father's Gillette DE and that is what started this voyage. I cleaned it up and there was still a couple of Schick blades in the blade case.
They just opened a Art of Shaving store at Union Station here in DC and I browsed around to see what they had in terms of start up kits. Their regular size kit cost a $100 so I searched online and found one on Amazon for $71 plus shipping. I had a gift certificate from Amazon, so the bottom line on the kit with shipping came to $61 and change which I felt was decent for a newbie as it came with pre-shave oil, a badgar brush, shave cream and after shave balm.
After all this research and watching mantic's videos, I was ready to go. I did have some trepadations as I must take blood thinners for the rest of my life and was concerned about nicks and cuts.
I tried to incorparte all the advice given by so many on this site. I prepared my lather bowl in hot water and soaked the brush. I took a hot shower making sure my beard was getting the most. I applied the pre-shave oil and massaged it into the beard. I had preheated a towel in the microwave and applied for 2 minutes. I got a decent lather made up and away I went. I was very gentle in the pressure to avoid any damage. Pass 1 was WTG and this worked well. I relathered and did a second pass ATG. Clearly the chin area was difficult but in the end I managed not to have a nick or cut. I was estatic. In my joy I forget the cold water finish, but did apply the after shave balm. My face seems very smooth with just a little irritation/burning sensation towards the bottom of the neck.
I'm looking forward to this "hobby" and thanks to everyone for their advice.