wetshaving for a week.....first DE shave tonight!

**325inewbie** · 07-20-2007, 12:27 PM

Hello all,

I've recently gotten into wetshaving thanks to Mantic and his videos I found on youtube one night while I was bored. Bought some Kiss My Face (mint) shave cream and the cheap boar brush you find at CVS. Had some of the best shaves of my life just by switching to the cream....I essentially used three different razors....A M3, a Fusion....and to get a DE experience I tried only shaving with the extra blade on the back of the fusion (anybody ever try this...how close is it to a DE shave?)

Already getting sucked into the buying more things I don't need...after a few shaves with KMF (which I really loved - the mint is very cooling) I ordered some Taylor's Rose shaving cream....not a huge fan of the rose scent but the lather really is much better (IMO) than the KMF. Before I go home tonight (for my first DE shave) I found some places around me that sell Crabtree products and am hoping to smell a few before I buy one (i'm thinking sandalwood, but that's only because the description sounds cool, never actually smelled it though........)

anyway, I ordered a Merkur HD and just got it in the mail today. I also ordered a 10 pack of the Merkur blades to go with it (although I am looking forward to trying out a sampler pack).

For all that have tried the DE shave, I have a few questions:

(1) How hard was it to maintain the proper blade angle...I really liked mantic's (i think it was in the video) of holding the blade head against your face and then turning it down until the blade meets the skin)......was this difficult?

(2) Pro's vs Con's of alcohol-based aftershave.....I have started using it, I find it stings at first if I've really shaved aggressively, but has a great cooling effect once the sting goes away...I like it, but is it bad for me? To clarify...I am using Royal Lime all purpose type stuff....really liking it so far, the lime smell is very refreshing/distinct....not like most of the stuff I find at the stores

(3) Will moving up to a badger hair brush really make a big difference? I'm enjoying just using a brush now (regardless of the fact that it's boar)

(4) Will this compulsion/addiction to buy more and more shaving products ever end?!?!?!?!?

Thanks for everyone's help on this....I have to say that I am a member on several forums and this one has by far some of the nicest, most helpful/respectful members with very little "forum fights" going on..

**325inewbie** · 07-20-2007, 12:34 PM

What is all this about corking....I never heard about it until here....now I'm scared that if I don't cork, the "jagged" edges will shred my face....but that if I do cork, I'll dull the blade?

Also, I am planning on sticking with these nice creams and a brush but was wondering....are gels better shaving creams than the standard foam stuff?

Thanks again guys (and possibly gals)

**gpalasz** · 07-20-2007, 12:48 PM

Hello...Im a newb too. I ordered my HD along w/ the extra Merkur razors and some conk soaps. More people w/ more experience will chime in....being new myself I dont want to give you any wrong tips. By watching the videos...lurking on here....I felt my first two shaves were great. All I can say is hold the curved part on your face...slowly drop the handle down...little by little...you will feel it catch and can go from there, also try smaller strokes. Youll be hooked after your shave tonight.

**325inewbie** · 07-20-2007, 12:57 PM

I'm already "hooked" and enjoying my shaves immensely more after simply switching from the canned stuff to creams and brushes.....I have a feeling I will be in much deeper after using the DE though!

**Prince** · 07-20-2007, 12:59 PM

325inewbie. Welcome. So you shave your entier face with the thin fusion blade on the back? Wow. I'd say if that went well, then a DE would be better. The first soap I started with was Williams. If you are close to a Walmart, it should be less than $1 and work much better than a canned cream or gel. Enjoy.

**Leisureguy** · 07-20-2007, 01:20 PM

The technique you got from Mantic for finding the right angle works fine and is quite simple. Keep the pressure light, and as you pull the razor down your cheek, tilting the handle more toward the ground, you'll notice when it starts to cut whiskers: listen to the sound and get the feeling of that angle. Then, as you shave over your face, the sound can help guide you.

I highly recommend the sampler packs---it's always a surprise to see how great are the differences between brands, and a very pleasant surprise when you find the brand that works for you.

In the US: here and here.
In the UK: here.

I don't cork my blades. For one thing, it's easy to damage the razor's edge. For another, I would prefer to keep looking and find a blade that works fine for me without the corking. I have found a few such blades, and one in particular is a delight.

I use alcohol based aftershaves pretty much exclusively. I like them. And I have the Royall Lyme, too. :)

A badger brush will make a major difference. Here's a good selection of Edwin Jagger Best Badger brushes, which cost about $38 shipped to the US (including the shipping).

Hope this helps.

**mantic** · 07-20-2007, 01:20 PM

Welcome!!

--Mark

**Isaias** · 07-20-2007, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by 325inewbie

(1) How hard was it to maintain the proper blade angle was this difficult?

(2) Pro's vs Con's of alcohol-based aftershave

(3) Will moving up to a badger hair brush really make a big difference?

(4) Will this compulsion/addiction to buy more and more shaving products ever end?!?!?!?!?

1. Difficult if you overthink it. You should better feel it, or better yet barely feel it. After a while you will be able to adjust it no matter the area of the face that you are shaving without even looking at the angle.

2. Personally alcohol-based aftershave makes me feel better as I can take the sting like a man

Balms are more moisturizing but if you do not need it, you will be fine with ABAS

3. Yes. I mean, it is not like you cant enjoy your shave with a boar brush, but the difference btween the two is really big. I literally had to re-learn how to lather after switching to badger. It feels softer, is faster, produces more lather etc.

4. Probably yes, but by that time you will have a void in you and you will be compelled to buy fine wines, fountain pens, colognes and perfumes

**325inewbie** · 07-20-2007, 01:51 PM

thanks for all the advice leisureguy, mantic, and isaias!

leisureguy - the royall lyme does rock...I forgot about the different spelling

I'm looking to get a badger brush soon from that site - they seem very reasonably priced

this forum is great!

**325inewbie** · 07-20-2007, 01:53 PM

also, I'll update later tonight and let everyone know if it was a success.....or if my face is a hamburger

**325inewbie** · 07-20-2007, 05:27 PM

so just finished it up....here's how it went down

(1) poured a very large whiskey
(2) spent about a min rubbing hot water on face along with heating up mug and brush
(3) started whipping up some Taylor's Rose shaving cream - applied it to face
(4) I did 3 passes - with grain, then across the grain from both sides
(5) Rinsed with warm water, then cold
(6) applied Royall Lyme aftershave

some thoughts:
wow, this is the closest shave i've ever had
blade angle really isn't all that hard to maintain - just listened for the right sound and it seemed to work well
def had a little more razor burn than usual - aftershave stung pretty bad all over for a while, but feels fine now - no cuts though

oh yeah, i was using a merkur hd with merkur blades in it

**Leisureguy** · 07-20-2007, 08:02 PM

Listening to the sound of one blade shaving is exactly what's required: you can really tell when you're in the groove. Glad it went well. Maintain light pressure, and try different brands of blades as you move along. You're going to do well.

**fritz** · 07-20-2007, 09:44 PM

Sounds like a really good start! But you didn't say what you used the very large whiskey for...to sterilize the blade? Or perhaps as an after shave?

**325inewbie** · 07-21-2007, 07:22 AM

the whiskey was my pre/during/post shave beverage......it's pretty difficult to drink anything when you are all lathered up though!

**fritz** · 07-21-2007, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by 325inewbie

the whiskey was my pre/during/post shave beverage......it's pretty difficult to drink anything when you are all lathered up though!

We've got these little thingies called "straws". Cheap, and they work well!

But that should be an aprés raseur thing (sorta like aprés ski). It can get very difficult to shave when you're too "lathered".

**Limey** · 07-21-2007, 08:10 AM

Congrats on the great start.

You will learn to love that alcohol AS 'sting' and Royall Lime does 'rock'!

**Smedley** · 07-21-2007, 09:04 AM

Royall Lime is great stuff. Plus, it serves as a self-evaluation of your technique as it burns a lot more if you are scraping your skin too much.

Check out some aftershave splashes with glycerin in them. Aqua Velva is the most prevalent (and cheapest), but there are others out there. AV also has menthol in it. If you enjoy the cooling effect, menthol kicks that up several notches. Glycerin in the AS serves to help moisturise the skin after the shave.

**Magnulus** · 07-21-2007, 10:51 AM

If your face is lubricated enough with lather, pre-shave oil- blade angle is not so critical as if your face is drier feeling- it's more forgiving. The Merkur HD doesn't have a huge amount of blade exposure so it's hard to go wrong with it- it's not an aggressive razor. Now, on "against-the-grain" blade angle is alot more important because the hairs will tend to throw alot of resistance your way and if you are not carefuly you'll get razor skipping or nick yourself vs with-the-grain or cross-grain. I still haven't mastered against-the-grain, sometimes it's flat impossible purely ATG, I have to go almost against the grain.

You should try a blade a few times before you try "corking" a particular brand. I only use it on some blades and like Leisureguy I'd prefer to buy a blade that's "right" from the get-go. Done excessively it will dull or damage a blade. I just do it once per side and I found the best technique through experimentation.

**absentspace** · 07-22-2007, 01:00 AM

My first shave also went surprisingly well, followed by a week of self mutilation. Since that first week or so, my shaves have gotten consistently close and comfortable. I won't give you any "advice" since the others here are far more knowledgeable. Just beware of the post first shave "high" and keep it slow for the first week or so.

**gse123** · 07-22-2007, 01:15 AM

Originally Posted by absentspace

...snip Just beware of the post first shave "high" and keep it slow for the first week or so.

I certainly know what you mean. My first DE shave was amazing, but it took me about 2 or three weeks after to start getting shaves as good again - I think the over-confidence factor encourages you to make more mistakes.