newbie checking in

**ltrico** · 07-22-2007, 04:21 AM

Hi from bonnie Scotland.Been lurking around the site for a considerable time and thought i would take the plunge today.Just wanted to say that this site is a gold mine for considered advice and good old fashioned courtesy.It's also responsible for submerging me into the beauty of proraso,erasmic,trumpers,ingrams,palmolives etc,etc.
Four months ago i had no idea what a superspeed razor was,i was content to shave in the belief that the fusion was the best a man could get.How wrong i was.Thank you for opening my eyes and introducing me to the world of DE shaving.I look forward to getting more advice from the knowledgable members.

**Jim** · 07-22-2007, 05:06 AM

Welcome to the B&B!

**CapeCodJay** · 07-22-2007, 05:09 AM

Greetings and welcome!

**DoubleE** · 07-22-2007, 05:15 AM

Welcome to the family!

**Leisureguy** · 07-22-2007, 07:23 AM

Welcome. You've come to a good place.

**galpman** · 07-22-2007, 07:41 AM

Weclome to B&B. Great to have you with us.

**Kyle** · 07-22-2007, 04:11 PM

Welcome!

**fritz** · 07-22-2007, 05:45 PM

Welcome to the B&B forum! We'll be glad to offer help if you need any, but that means we need to know if you're having any particular problems or questions? And if so, what is your "kit", razor, blades, soap/cream, brush, prep, etc.?

**Boogie** · 07-22-2007, 06:18 PM

Welcome aboard, enjoy your time here.

**ltrico** · 07-23-2007, 04:18 AM

Thanks very much for your welcome and replies.One quick question i have regards brushes; since i began wet shaving i have been using a Men u brush which only costs about ten pounds.I feel that it does an okay job but obviously i don't have any experience with other brushes.Would a more expensive brush improve the quality of my shave significantly? Is there a big difference between a synthetic and a pure badger brush?

**elveeskee** · 07-23-2007, 05:51 AM

Welcome aboard!!

Heck, I use a cheap Omega boar brush and it works very well for me! Never used a badger brush so I wouldn't be able to give you a comparison.
To each his own.

**F16WarBird** · 07-23-2007, 06:16 AM

Sláinte mhath!

**Lucky7** · 07-23-2007, 07:52 AM

Welcome!!

**fritz** · 07-23-2007, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by ltrico

Thanks very much for your welcome and replies.One quick question i have regards brushes; since i began wet shaving i have been using a Men u brush which only costs about ten pounds.I feel that it does an okay job but obviously i don't have any experience with other brushes.Would a more expensive brush improve the quality of my shave significantly? Is there a big difference between a synthetic and a pure badger brush?

There is a lot of difference. However (aside from price) the differences are not a show-stopper. You can make a good lather with a boar brush, a synthetic, or a hybrid brush. It will in some cases take longer, require more skill to get a really good lather, and the luxurious feel of a badger brush on your face will not be there. It's sometimes not as easy to lather on your face unless you have a badger brush.

I think mostly it's the difference between a Kia and a Lexus or Infiniti. The Kia will get you to the grocery store, but you'll enjoy a 1200-mile car trip a lot more in the Lexus or Infiniti.

You might start with the Crabtree & Evelyn Best Badger brush, which is about $35 in the US and a little more in countries with VAT. Later, you may decide to get a slightly more luxurious brush, and the C&E can become your travel brush. Or, depending on your budget, you may decide to move directly to a $80-$150 brush. There is a forum here for brush discussion, and you can get more advice there.

Now, does it improve the quality of your shave? Perhaps, in the sense that you make better lather, it will. It also will make the lathering and shaving process much more enjoyable, which may also contribute to a better shave. It's the total experience, including how good you feel about it, that makes for a good shave. A robot properly programmed, could give you a perfect shave while you were still asleep, but that wouldn't really be a better shave!

**Leisureguy** · 07-23-2007, 09:06 AM

The Crabtree & Evelyn best badger brush is an Edwin Jagger best badger, and you have a much greater selection if you buy direct from Edwin Jagger.