Just wanted to say "Hello!" to all the fine folks here at B&B, introduce myself, and hopefully get some suggestions for Christmas gift ideas to help me get started in the world of DE wetshaving.
First, a little background... I'm a 24yo with significantly less facial hair than you'd expect on your average 24yo
... let's just say that I've been mistaken for a high school senior before. Nevertheless, the facial hair I *do* have (upper lip, chin/jawline, and small patches on my cheeks) does need shaving and ever since that has been necessary (when I was 18 or so) I've been using a Norelco rotary; I just didn't see the need to put any effort into the whole ordeal because the electric got it close enough (and my hair didn't grow fast enough) to have to worry about 5 o'clock shadow or anything like that, and the few times I did wetshave I always ended up with nicks and razor burn and it itched something fierce at the end of the day (I was never really taught how to wetshave, just picked it up myself remembering what my Dad did). Recently, however, 5 o'clock shadow has become somewhat of an issue, and the electric just isn't doing it for me anymore (plus using it every morning isn't so nice on my skin, either). I've been wetshaving nearly every morning for the past month and I'm almost through the stash of free sample cartridge razors I accumulated when they all came flooding in the mail around my 18th birthday (Thanks Gillette and Shick!). I've gotten quite a bit better at not nicking myself and the razor burn isn't nearly as bad, but I just couldn't believe "well, that's the way it is", so I hit the internet looking for some tips on improving my shaves and getting rid of the irritation. Lo and behold, I stumble upon B&B...
So, I've been lurking and reading for almost two weeks, and I definitely want to give DE shaving a try. I'm hoping to order some equipment very soon, mainly because, as I said, I'm on my last free sample, a Fusion (seriously? 5 blades? o-v-e-r-k-i-l-l). I've narrowed my first razor down to a Merkur (34c or 23c) or the much-touted EJ DE89L... just need to make a decision and pull the trigger there. I'll pick up a sampler pack of blades to go along with whichever one I end up getting, as well. Since all I really *need* is a razor to replace the Fusion in a week or so, I haven't been paying as much attention to where I should start as far as brushes, cream/soaps, and pre/post "product(s)". I figure I still have half a can of Gillette Sensitive Skin Foam and plenty of aftershave with aloe vera, so I can get by with that until I can spend the time researching where to start with the other stuff.
But then I got to thinking, I have a tendency to be pretty... conservative... with money (unnecessarily), so spending even $35-40 on a brush, $15+ on a brush/razor stand, and any more than $10 on cream or soap is not something I'm likely to do. However, with Christmas coming up and my family constantly asking, "What do you want for Christmas," and having relatively few ideas for them, why not ask for some nicer shaving equipment to get me off to a good start? Here's where you all come in (and I know you will!)... what do you suggest for gift ideas? Specifically, a good all-around brush to start with, some recommended soaps and/or creams, etc? I've been eyeing the Edwin Jagger 3- and 4-piece gift sets, but I know there's a nearly infinite selection to choose from, so I'm open to any and all suggestions. I'm tired of that Gillette foam drying out on my face 30 seconds after I put it on, so the sooner I can start really pampering myself with rich creamy lather that actually helps and smells good to boot, the better
Oh, and thanks in advance... I'm hoping this is the beginning of a "new era" (for my face, lol)
First, a little background... I'm a 24yo with significantly less facial hair than you'd expect on your average 24yo
... let's just say that I've been mistaken for a high school senior before. Nevertheless, the facial hair I *do* have (upper lip, chin/jawline, and small patches on my cheeks) does need shaving and ever since that has been necessary (when I was 18 or so) I've been using a Norelco rotary; I just didn't see the need to put any effort into the whole ordeal because the electric got it close enough (and my hair didn't grow fast enough) to have to worry about 5 o'clock shadow or anything like that, and the few times I did wetshave I always ended up with nicks and razor burn and it itched something fierce at the end of the day (I was never really taught how to wetshave, just picked it up myself remembering what my Dad did). Recently, however, 5 o'clock shadow has become somewhat of an issue, and the electric just isn't doing it for me anymore (plus using it every morning isn't so nice on my skin, either). I've been wetshaving nearly every morning for the past month and I'm almost through the stash of free sample cartridge razors I accumulated when they all came flooding in the mail around my 18th birthday (Thanks Gillette and Shick!). I've gotten quite a bit better at not nicking myself and the razor burn isn't nearly as bad, but I just couldn't believe "well, that's the way it is", so I hit the internet looking for some tips on improving my shaves and getting rid of the irritation. Lo and behold, I stumble upon B&B...So, I've been lurking and reading for almost two weeks, and I definitely want to give DE shaving a try. I'm hoping to order some equipment very soon, mainly because, as I said, I'm on my last free sample, a Fusion (seriously? 5 blades? o-v-e-r-k-i-l-l). I've narrowed my first razor down to a Merkur (34c or 23c) or the much-touted EJ DE89L... just need to make a decision and pull the trigger there. I'll pick up a sampler pack of blades to go along with whichever one I end up getting, as well. Since all I really *need* is a razor to replace the Fusion in a week or so, I haven't been paying as much attention to where I should start as far as brushes, cream/soaps, and pre/post "product(s)". I figure I still have half a can of Gillette Sensitive Skin Foam and plenty of aftershave with aloe vera, so I can get by with that until I can spend the time researching where to start with the other stuff.
But then I got to thinking, I have a tendency to be pretty... conservative... with money (unnecessarily), so spending even $35-40 on a brush, $15+ on a brush/razor stand, and any more than $10 on cream or soap is not something I'm likely to do. However, with Christmas coming up and my family constantly asking, "What do you want for Christmas," and having relatively few ideas for them, why not ask for some nicer shaving equipment to get me off to a good start? Here's where you all come in (and I know you will!)... what do you suggest for gift ideas? Specifically, a good all-around brush to start with, some recommended soaps and/or creams, etc? I've been eyeing the Edwin Jagger 3- and 4-piece gift sets, but I know there's a nearly infinite selection to choose from, so I'm open to any and all suggestions. I'm tired of that Gillette foam drying out on my face 30 seconds after I put it on, so the sooner I can start really pampering myself with rich creamy lather that actually helps and smells good to boot, the better
Oh, and thanks in advance... I'm hoping this is the beginning of a "new era" (for my face, lol)
and it sounds like you're off to a great start, but please do take your time because Wet-Shaving is a 'journey' and not a race (oh by the way..I love my Merkurs 23C & 38C).
