UK Newbie questions - ebay razor, cheap brush, lather...thanks!

[rossyl]

Hi all, and thanks for looking, greatly appreciate your help, especially if in the UK

So my girlfriend, of all people, introduced me to the world of DE Safety Razors she, for my birthday, kindly bought me:
- Dr Harris DE Safety Razor, same as the one here: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=86073
- Dr Harris Badger Brush
- Dr Harris Arlington Soap Puck.

Questions
Firstly the soap, i don't think I've ever managed to get enough lather, maybe the brush is too wet? I've had a look on the site and will follow the method on here.

"Rotation" I see this term used a lot, do people rotate raors, blades, soaps? If so, why? Purely for the fun, or for any particular reaon?


Buying a New Cheap Kit

I want to buy a new cheap kit to have at my girlfriend's place as the nice Dr Harris stuff is at mine.

I was thinking:
- Old DE shazer off ebay, but am struggling to find one. (anyone help)
- Palmolive shave cream
- Cheap Badger or Boar brush - any recommendations on where?

All recommendations appreciated.

Thanks

[Ansuz]

To answer your questions:

Soap: You are probably using too much water or too little soap. Follow the advice in the wiki but remember three things -

1) Load your brush. For your first few lathers, you are going to think you have too much soap but its hard to overload a brush. Get a thick paste on the brush before you move on.

2) Use as little water as you can. You can always add more as you go on but start with very little. As you build the lather, add just a little bit more and keep working it.

3) Work the lather. It takes time to build a good lather on your face or in a bowl. I'm a bowl guy and I work the lather for a few minutes before I get it thick enough to shave with. Patience is key.

Rotation: Yes, most of us rotate blades/soaps/razors because we like something difference about each of them. I have 2 different blades, 3 soaps and 4 razors I'm rotating through right now and I love each of them. However, as you are just starting, don't follow that practice just yet. You need to learn your technique and rotating just makes that harder. Stick with the razor/soap your girl gave you for at least a month before you go changing things.

[rossyl]

Thanks Ansuz, much appreciated.

Now all i need to do is find a another second hand razor/other bits and pieces. I guess "rotating" is kind of enforced for me as I have the Dr Harris stuff at my place, and the other stuff at her's.

I've been using the DE Dr Harris one for a while now, probably 6months.

[maxman]

I'm feeling generous today so I'll PIF (Pay It Forward) a few things to you.
how does this sound:
40's Gillette Superspeed or a Black Handled Superspeed (choose wisely, they're both nice razors)
A slightly used tube of WARS cream (from Poland)
A Synthetic Brush from The Body Shop
A brand new unused tube of Kaloderma.

That should be enough to get you going.
The only catch is you have to pay the shipping.
Times are tough and I can't afford to pay for shipping anymore.

PM me and let me know if you are interested.

Note to others: this is only for the UK newbie.

[taffy]

Omega boar brushes are great and easy to pick up on line or the bay for around £8, the erasmic brush for £3 is ok as well, tried the body shop brush and found it totally useless though having said that the above post is very generous and shows how great the folks on here are, so take it as for creams, we are lucky in the uk to have really cheap good creams/soaps to buy locally, erasmic cream/soap, palmolive cream/soap, boots cream/soap, real shaving co, the body shop cream, debenhams own soap, plus in the city centre shops you can get high end creams, and dont forget to look in tk max as well, they have high end creams/soaps for well under half price and sometimes even very good badger hair brushes going cheap.

[bombaysaph]

Omega boar brushes are great and easy to pick up on line or the bay for around £8, the erasmic brush for £3 is ok as well, tried the body shop brush and found it totally useless though having said that the above post is very generous and shows how great the folks on here are, so take it as for creams, we are lucky in the uk to have really cheap good creams/soaps to buy locally, erasmic cream/soap, palmolive cream/soap, boots cream/soap, real shaving co, the body shop cream, debenhams own soap, plus in the city centre shops you can get high end creams, and dont forget to look in tk max as well, they have high end creams/soaps for well under half price and sometimes even very good badger hair brushes going cheap.

I'll have to check out TK ; never thought it might stock our kind of stuff. (reminder to self: go alone and don't tell her)

[Pumpkin]

Welcome to B&B from a fellow Brit!

Hi all, and thanks for looking, greatly appreciate your help, especially if in the UK

So my girlfriend, of all people, introduced me to the world of DE Safety Razors she, for my birthday, kindly bought me:
- Dr Harris DE Safety Razor, same as the one here: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=86073
- Dr Harris Badger Brush
- Dr Harris Arlington Soap Puck.

Questions
Firstly the soap, i don't think I've ever managed to get enough lather, maybe the brush is too wet? I've had a look on the site and will follow the method on here.

"Rotation" I see this term used a lot, do people rotate raors, blades, soaps? If so, why? Purely for the fun, or for any particular reaon?


Buying a New Cheap Kit

I want to buy a new cheap kit to have at my girlfriend's place as the nice Dr Harris stuff is at mine.

I was thinking:
- Old DE shazer off ebay, but am struggling to find one. (anyone help)
- Palmolive shave cream
- Cheap Badger or Boar brush - any recommendations on where?

All recommendations appreciated.

Thanks

The girlfriend sounds like a "keeper"

Check out Jim's tutorials in the "sticky". Whilst you're working on your technique too much soap is better than too little!

Ansuz has already given you the info on rotation....you WILL succumb to RAD (and the rest) but keeping your set-up unchanged will pay dividends. Blades are the only thing that really benefit from changing as they can be very individual...but give each brand a decent work out before you move on.

Palmolive cream (and the soap sticks) are available in Tesco and Superdrug.
Boot's has a pretty good selection....Men-U brushes (boar) and their own label (bristle).

I'm feeling generous today so I'll PIF (Pay It Forward) a few things to you.
how does this sound:
40's Gillette Superspeed or a Black Handled Superspeed (choose wisely, they're both nice razors)
A slightly used tube of WARS cream (from Poland)
A Synthetic Brush from The Body Shop
A brand new unused tube of Kaloderma.

That should be enough to get you going.
The only catch is you have to pay the shipping.
Times are tough and I can't afford to pay for shipping anymore.

PM me and let me know if you are interested.

Note to others: this is only for the UK newbie.

An outstanding offer!! Superspeeds are great razors

[Trigger]

I'm feeling generous today so I'll PIF (Pay It Forward) a few things to you.
how does this sound:
40's Gillette Superspeed or a Black Handled Superspeed (choose wisely, they're both nice razors)
A slightly used tube of WARS cream (from Poland)
A Synthetic Brush from The Body Shop
A brand new unused tube of Kaloderma.

That should be enough to get you going.
The only catch is you have to pay the shipping.
Times are tough and I can't afford to pay for shipping anymore.

PM me and let me know if you are interested.

Note to others: this is only for the UK newbie.

You have a great girl friend, but we need more info on how she got you started. Maxman, great offer for the goods. It's member generosity like this that makes this such a great forum.

[taffy]

I'll have to check out TK ; never thought it might stock our kind of stuff. (reminder to self: go alone and don't tell her)

Some real bargains lately, trumpers lemon/lime cream £3.99, kent wooden bowl and soap £6.99, st james cream £5.99, well worth a browse.