My 1st Merkur by Ex-Lurker

[RazzerRhodes]

Hi Guys (and some Gals?), I am really enjoying dipping in and out of B&B and thought I would introduce my self a little more before my evening shave. It is nice to see such a variety of threads ranging from young men just starting to shave (how lucky for them to have found this site), to old timers who have courageously admitted that, they too, are just learning!! Ironically, I started off using a Wilkinson Double Edge (plastic) when I was Sweet 15, some 31 years ago. (Jeez)! Unfortunately, I knew nothing of shave soaps/creams and my knowledge was limited to the cans of foam available on the supermarket shelves around at that time. Needless to say, with an acne problem and the perceived mess of the whole process - administering goo by digits etc -, I switched to the electric gizmos with spinning wheels so highly spoken of by the great Tony Hancock and the latest "best the man can get" con tricks. This is where I truly lost the plot. For 31 years, I got stuck in the revolving door syndrome of electic, twin blade, triple blade etc you know the story...never feeling that I had got value for money with each new bauble. I know now, thanks to this site, that I had RAD (Razor Aquisition Disorder), however not even quality razors were in my collection!

About six or seven months ago, I watched a drama on TV about Sweeney Todd. Sweeney was played by the great British actor Ray Winstone and for some reason I went online checking out cut thoat razors (as you do!). One thing led to another and I discovered sites such as The Gentleman's Shop, Trumpers and of course the great classicshaving.com. I was interested and discovered a whole world of gents shaving concealed by the supermarkets and advertising. I ordered a Merkur Futur because of the great write ups it got and a Best Badger from Taylors of Old Bond Street. I remember the Merkur arriving in its presentation tin....the weight and quality took my breath away...no plastic to be seen....shiny chrome but this was no bauble! The brush arrived a few days later and unlike some, I found the aroma of the new brush pleasing. I cannot say I was daunted when I had the first shave, I knew to treat the DE with respect. (Newcomers to DE shaving should not be put off, the worst shaving cut I have had was with a triple something and to state the bleeding obvious, any blade can cut. It is also easy to nick oneself when rushing through what most regard as a mundane chore to be gotten out of the way ASAP)! My soap was standard supermarket tub of Wilkinson and I was amazed how impossibly easy the Badger produced a lather! I have progressed to a couple of different mug soaps since and from that first "Merkur" shave, I have not looked back. As I type this, I am anticipating a relaxing, refreshing, cleansing, dare I say it, "spiritual" moment in the bathroom ! I now know that the art of shaving is a continuous learning curve of knowledge and experimentation which should be pleasurable in and of itself. There is no perfect shave but we can all strive towards it, young or old, and equip ourselves with the best tools, advice and lather we can muster !!! Thanks to all at B&B and especially all the young members who have had the good fortune to have found this site. Am going to lather up and ship out! Bye for now!

[jduffy]

Well written Lance and I couldn't agree more.

Shaving is a journey, not a destination. Some days the journey is better than others but the journey continues day after day. Do the best you can. It is after all, your journey and no one else's.

[Dinder1]

Welcome to the B&B.:001_smile
Cheers, DJ.

[boboakalfb]

Welcome Lance!

[Queen of Blades]

Welcome Lance!

[Leisureguy]

Welcome, and a terrific description of the Daily Adventure. Wishing you many more excellent shaves. :)

[mpisarcik]

when did your acne start subsiding? im 21 and its still there, not terribly bad. but i really wish that it was gone.

[RazzerRhodes]

Hi Matt

My acne subsided about 22 or 23 maybe 24. Like yourself, I played the wishing game a lot. However, my worse physical acne was probably ages 14, 15, 16. Only with hindsight do I realise I had what I call "mental acne" and this affected me more in my late teens/early 20's. For example, I may have a pimple on my nose or chin in isolation but to me it would be "severe acne". I suppose its similar to the condition some young woman (and now men I am told) have when they look in a mirror and see something totally different to the reality (body dysmorphia?). I think this "mental acne" can be worse than the spots on face kind. You have a lot going for you cos you are asking questions and are aware of a site like this. Am a newbie but from what I have seen, there are lot of guys (and gals ?) on site who know what they are talking about regards soaps, creams, lotions and I am really sure that following some of the regimes and advice stipulated would improve even the Elephant Mans skin. (sorry if thats in bad taste)!

[Queen of Blades]

Lance,

You keep typing "guys (& gals?)". Is this a question of what are we gals doing here? :smile:

[TimmyBoston]

Hi Matt

My acne subsided about 22 or 23 maybe 24. Like yourself, I played the wishing game a lot. However, my worse physical acne was probably ages 14, 15, 16. Only with hindsight do I realise I had what I call "mental acne" and this affected me more in my late teens/early 20's. For example, I may have a pimple on my nose or chin in isolation but to me it would be "severe acne". I suppose its similar to the condition some young woman (and now men I am told) have when they look in a mirror and see something totally different to the reality (body dysmorphia?). I think this "mental acne" can be worse than the spots on face kind. You have a lot going for you cos you are asking questions and are aware of a site like this. Am a newbie but from what I have seen, there are lot of guys (and gals ?) on site who know what they are talking about regards soaps, creams, lotions and I am really sure that following some of the regimes and advice stipulated would improve even the Elephant Mans skin. (sorry if thats in bad taste)!

I'm 25 and I still have some. For me my skin was terrible in junior high, pretty good in HS and very good in college, but after my undergrad it actually started to get a little worse. Its by no means awful, but I still have some today.

[TimmyBoston]

Welcome to B&B Lance!

[RazzerRhodes]

Sorry JoAnna,

its just a typo. I am really enjoying the site and thank you again for your welcome X

[Queen of Blades]

Sorry JoAnna,

its just a typo. I am really enjoying the site and thank you again for your welcome X

No apology needed. I was just curious.

[mpisarcik]

I keep thinking that i am allergic to something. Maybe soy? idk...everything is going good for a while, and then it just flares up. I think that im going to go on a 3-5 day basis of shaving, like I used to during high school. I didn’t have as bad as i have it now. also, im cutting EVERYTHING out of my routine that could be a suspect.

for now- no witch hazel, tendskin, face cleansers or special soaps or lotions. just water, regular soap, and maybe occasional regular non-comedogenic lotion. I will even use kiss my face unscented, hypo allergenic shaving cream and Gillette after shave lotion (which i used my whole adolescence.)

Maybe I need to go to the doctor/dermatologist. Haven’t been their in 4-5 years.

[Jim]

Welcome Lance!

[OldSaw]

Welcome Lance,

In the drudgery of the daily mundane it is nice to be able to take pleasure in something so ordinary. Which is perhaps the problem to begin with. Everything from microwave popcorn to slip on shoes has created an attitude of faster is better. This is one area that should not be rushed.

Thanks for sharing,

[Queen of Blades]

I keep thinking that i am allergic to something. Maybe soy? idk...everything is going good for a while, and then it just flares up. I think that im going to go on a 3-5 day basis of shaving, like I used to during high school. I didn’t have as bad as i have it now. also, im cutting EVERYTHING out of my routine that could be a suspect.

for now- no witch hazel, tendskin, face cleansers or special soaps or lotions. just water, regular soap, and maybe occasional regular non-comedogenic lotion. I will even use kiss my face unscented, hypo allergenic shaving cream and Gillette after shave lotion (which i used my whole adolescence.)

Maybe I need to go to the doctor/dermatologist. Haven’t been their in 4-5 years.

You should try not using soap or lotion on your face, if you haven't already.

Here is a link to a post about what I found works for me. YMMV, of course, as your situation is most likely different then mine. No soap and no lotion for me. HTH.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=73408#post73408

[bearbeard]

Welcome from across the pond. and er....um....is that what I think it is in the lower left hand corner of your avatar?

[PalmettoB]

Welcome aboard, Lance! Glad you're here.

[rtaylor61]

Lance,

Welcome to B&B! A Randy Rhodes fan?

Randy

[RazzerRhodes]

Welcome from across the pond. and er....um....is that what I think it is in the lower left hand corner of your avatar?
It could possibly be my fathers moustache!

[RazzerRhodes]

You should try not using soap or lotion on your face, if you haven't already.

Here is a link to a post about what I found works for me. YMMV, of course, as your situation is most likely different then mine. No soap and no lotion for me. HTH.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=73408#post73408
Matt , I think JoAnn makes a really good point. At your age, I must have had every lotion, cream, ointment etc. However, what I discovered later was that less is actually better. Keep it simple. I Hope you will never have the dilemna also of ingrown hairs. I developed the odd one or two of these nasties in my mid-thirties and although luckily not a severe case by any means, I would often make them worse by attempting to get them out with tweezers etc. A couple of months ago, they just seemed to go. Logic has told me that it must be my new shaving regime since six months ago with the double edge and decent shave soaps. I was still confused though, because why did I not get ingrown hairs before my mid-thirties? Browsing through B&B has given me a few clues....Cos I was caught up in the cycle of getting the latest twin, triple bladed toys, (especially the triples, oh the triples!) and they came out round about the time I was hitting 35 if my memory serves me. I have come to the angry-making conclusion that shaving with that stuff was actually causing me further skin problems but I believed the hype! Getting back to acne; it is not much fun getting over acne and then reaching mid-thirties to get more skin problems from a source that is advertised by smooth faced young men with nubile ladies looking adoringly over their shoulders. What a rip off!! I am certain you will come through Matt and certainly I hope B&B is helping you as much as it is helping me!

[bearbeard]

It could possibly be my fathers moustache!

Perfect perfect answer!! We need more like ya.:thumbup:

[Queen of Blades]

I found the answer disturbing, considering what the item in question is.

[dszpiro]

Welcome from across the pond. and er....um....is that what I think it is in the lower left hand corner of your avatar?

Wasn't there a thread somewhere on B&B about "Last Tango in Paris"? (I believe that tis avatar is a still from that movie).

Cheers,

[rtaylor61]

Wasn't there a thread somewhere on B&B about "Last Tango in Paris"? (I believe that tis avatar is a still from that movie).

Cheers,

Yep!

Randy

[bearbeard]

I found the answer disturbing, considering what the item in question is.

No I'm refering to the sense of humor it took to come up with that answer.......:lol: :thumbup: :a45:

[mpisarcik]

thanks for the advice-

im using a real general lotion that (as far as i can tell) works well with my skin type. see the proble is- it is both prone to drying and oily. so, i usually wash it with just warm water (sometimes a little Peppermint Pure Castile Soap) and then apply a small amount of lotion to a wet face.

im going to try this for the next several weeks, and use no witch hazel/tendskin/acne crap for a while.

[RazzerRhodes]

I hope "my fathers moustache" has not given too much offence to anyone. Apologies if so. When trimming down my avatar to the recommended specs I thought It prudent to go lightly with the trim. Is'nt the phrase well known in NY? I vaguely recollect a jazz band from 40's or 50's having a minor hit, Artie Shaw? Woody Hermann? Anyway, my answer was meant to raise a smile and perhaps an eyebrow!

[bearbeard]

Smiles and an eyebrow, kind of the way Steve Austin the six million dollar man did it.

[Queen of Blades]

No offense taken, Lance. I guess the joke just went over my head.

[bearbeard]

No offense taken, Lance. I guess the joke just went over my head.

How tall are you Mrs. chefchris?:001_tt2:

[Queen of Blades]

How tall are you Mrs. chefchris?:001_tt2:

Tall?? I've never been called tall. 5'. Petite & sweet! :wink: