New to DE Shaving

[kwsher]

Hi all, great site and a ton of valuable information - both for the seasoned and inexperienced.

I began using a Merkur 38C two weeks ago with a Van der Hagen brush and soap set picked up at the local supermarket.

Having always viewed shaving as a chore, for 20 years I have never shaved on the weekends as I wanted the respite (used standard mass market multi-blades and cream). Now I love it!

I have much to learn but have made progress in the art of using a DE razor - read I don't nick myself except for the rare occasion and have at least learned to let the weight of the razor do the work while taking my time and enjoying the process of beard reduction.

I have been reading a lot of the old threads but thought I would ask a few questions nonetheless.

1. What is the best method for creating great lather using soap and brush? Know that opinions will vary but wanted to try a few different things.

2. What are some "must try" soaps and some "must avoid" as well?

3. What are some "must try" blades? I have tried Feather, Derby and Lords. Thus far I like the Feather best.

4. I was thinking of picking up a good brush and was leaning toward the Rooney 3/1 as a good all rounder. Any other suggestions to ad to the list?

5. What's the best non-custom stand out there?

6. Any good reference threads/sites on technique etc. that I should also visit? [I just noticed a handful of links in another new thread; great info!]

Thanks much!

[Miles]

Haven't had me coffee yet, so I'll just offer you a hearty WELCOME. Hopefully the next guy will answer your questions

[Drubbing]

1. See the soap lathering tute, but my method has worked with anything:

A soaked and well squeezed brush - this leaves enough dampness to agitate soap of the puck without creating suds. The time you spend loading it depends on how firm your bristles are. Experience will tell you. Really load up the brush. Then build lather in a bowl or face, adding water a little at a time, til consistency is yoghurty.

2. 90% will say Tabac. 10% will say anything BUT Tabac, and they'll shout it louder.
3. Personna Reds, Astra's.
4. Terrific brush. Will do soap or cream very well. I went for a 1/2.
5. Don't need one. The brush will dry the same either way up. They look pretty though.
6 Mantic on youtube. Gets you off on the right track, but nothing will replace your own experience.

[demaro]

Welcome to the group !! For Blades I have had good success with derby , shark , and bluebird. For soaps , my two favorites have been taylor of old bond street and dr harris. As mentioned in a post above tabac was mentioned. I did not try it yet , but it is supposed to be an awesome soap. Tabac is next on my list to try. I have a 38 c as well and it gives a great shave every time !!

[HokieGeek]

Welcome! Great choice with the razor. It was my first one and it's still my favorite after trying out so many other razors.

1. Jim's tutorial is exactly how I do it
2. Other than Tabac, which is great, I would suggest Mama Bear's soaps. They smell great and are really cheap.
3. I'm still trying out blades, but I do like Personnas and Feather
4. I have the Rooney 3/1 on my list as well. But the brush which I'm very glad I bought was the Semogue 2000. It's just $20 and it's great to have a quality, stiff boar brush - especially with soaps. If I were you, I would get both!
5. One you've made with your own hands!
6. Newbie sticky, Blade Angle, Pre-Shave Prep Wiki, Shave Clinic

Hi all, great site and a ton of valuable information - both for the seasoned and inexperienced.

I began using a Merkur 38C two weeks ago with a Van der Hagen brush and soap set picked up at the local supermarket.

Having always viewed shaving as a chore, for 20 years I have never shaved on the weekends as I wanted the respite (used standard mass market multi-blades and cream). Now I love it!

I have much to learn but have made progress in the art of using a DE razor - read I don't nick myself except for the rare occasion and have at least learned to let the weight of the razor do the work while taking my time and enjoying the process of beard reduction.

I have been reading a lot of the old threads but thought I would ask a few questions nonetheless.

1. What is the best method for creating great lather using soap and brush? Know that opinions will vary but wanted to try a few different things.

2. What are some "must try" soaps and some "must avoid" as well?

3. What are some "must try" blades? I have tried Feather, Derby and Lords. Thus far I like the Feather best.

4. I was thinking of picking up a good brush and was leaning toward the Rooney 3/1 as a good all rounder. Any other suggestions to ad to the list?

5. What's the best non-custom stand out there?

6. Any good reference threads/sites on technique etc. that I should also visit? [I just noticed a handful of links in another new thread; great info!]

Thanks much!

[Luc]

Welcome to B&B!

1. Best method? Depends if you are talking about face lathering, hand lathering or bowl lathering... It's a matter of preference really. I would advise to consult the tutorials: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Lathers

2. Must try? Again, matter of preference. There are great soaps out there and bad one. My great ones can be bad ones for you... I would suggest looking at the reviews: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=40 If you want a suggestion. Proraso is a classic, VDH and Williams. Some love Williams and some hate it. Same goes for VDH, those are examples of one that can be good/bad.

3. Must try blades? Again, matter of preference but I would say, try at least 4 brands. The usual small sample pack is: Derby, Personna Red, Astra SP, Feather.

4. No experience with Rooney so I can't comment. The reviews could be of some help. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=38 My recommendation would be to start with an Omega Boar brush. It's cheap and good.

5. No idea. Some re-use something like a pipe rack to hold their DEs. It depends if you want a stand for 1-2-3-4-X DEs...

6. Where to start: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index...ted_wetshaving

[NickCutlip]

Welcome to B&B !!

[ama015]

Welcome to the forum:)

[Elecid]

1. What is the best method for creating great lather using soap and brush? Know that opinions will vary but wanted to try a few different things.

Check out mantic's videos on youtube for a primer, but I prefer loading a moderately wet badger brush directly from a tub of soap, then face-lathering with a swirling motion after I've splashed myself with hot water.

2. What are some "must try" soaps and some "must avoid" as well?

I'd say you must try some Saint Charles Shave soap. It lathers (for me) like nothing else!

3. What are some "must try" blades? I have tried Feather, Derby and Lords. Thus far I like the Feather best.

Astra SP and Iridium Super.

4. I was thinking of picking up a good brush and was leaning toward the Rooney 3/1 as a good all rounder. Any other suggestions to ad to the list?

I don't spend that much money on any one shaving item O_o, but I like my Omega 10098--it works wonders on soap.

5. What's the best non-custom stand out there?

A hot dog stand!

[rm71]

Hello and welcome.

[GDCarrington]

Welcome to the good ship B&B. Take a stroll on the promenade deck and enjoy the voyage.

[zozurr]

Welcome!

[kwsher]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and great tips (the links are perfect and definitely new DE friendly).

Hokie, I took your advice and checked out the Semogue. I could only find them at Vintage Scent which seems to be a reputable supplier based on some quick "Googling". I actually ended up ordering the 1305 as an alternative based on my completely uninformed desire to have a brush with some "oomph" to it.

Based on the recommendations, also ordered some Tabac and Poraso soaps as a start but definitely like the looks (and price) of the Mama Bears lineup.

Thanks again!

P.s. I have been trying to lather on the face but getting lackluster results. I tried using the bowl with soap in it and got much closer to what seems to be the goal. Any of you more experienced shavers create lather in the same bowl as you keep the soap and is there any reason NOT to do this?

[HokieGeek]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and great tips (the links are perfect and definitely new DE friendly).

Hokie, I took your advice and checked out the Semogue. I could only find them at Vintage Scent which seems to be a reputable supplier based on some quick "Googling". I actually ended up ordering the 1305 as an alternative based on my completely uninformed desire to have a brush with some "oomph" to it.

I got my S2K from the same vendor and have no regrets. The 1305 is the brush I was going to buy before I saw the S2K. It has a lot of love in this forum and I'm sure you will not regret it.

Based on the recommendations, also ordered some Tabac and Poraso soaps as a start but definitely like the looks (and price) of the Mama Bears lineup.

Thanks again!

And don't be fooled by the price. Her products are quality products. I've never had any problems lathering up any of her soaps.

P.s. I have been trying to lather on the face but getting lackluster results. I tried using the bowl with soap in it and got much closer to what seems to be the goal. Any of you more experienced shavers create lather in the same bowl as you keep the soap and is there any reason NOT to do this?

My problems with face-lathering always have to do with not enough product or water.

As for lathering in the soap bowl, you will wind up using way more product than you need to. If you use a lathering bowl (or your face) you rub the brush on the soap to pick up some soap (load the brush) and then build the lather. If you use the soap bowl itself, you're going to just continue using more and more and more soap and you're not going to get as good of a lather. I've just been using tupperware as I decide if I want a scuttle or lathe a bowl myself. Works quite well.

[kwsher]

Thanks Andres! Looking forward to trying the new brushes - I feel like I have been missing out not having begun wet shaving sooner.

Great point on the soap bowl, I will give it a go with a separate bowl and see how that goes.

Very much appreciate all the helpful info.

Kevin

[BlackBard]

Partial quote:

1. See the soap lathering tute, but my method has worked with anything:

A soaked and well squeezed brush - this leaves enough dampness to agitate soap of the puck without creating suds. The time you spend loading it depends on how firm your bristles are. Experience will tell you. Really load up the brush. Then build lather in a bowl or face, adding water a little at a time, til consistency is yoghurty.

Good advice. It's easy to use too little product and/or too much water. Start dryer and add water a little at a time.

Welcome aboard.

[pauls51]

Welcome to B&B Mate!

[rm71]

Welcome to B&B!

[mretzloff]

Welcome to Badger & Blade!

[kwsher]

Thanks all for the welcome! Really good group on this site and very happy that I found it!