First post and first DE wet shave

**tempetoro** · 01-21-2012, 03:55 PM

So this is what it feels like being a man!

I've been hanging out on this site for a couple weeks and have put together some tips and tricks that I thought would work for me and wet shaving. I got everything but the razor and practiced working lather and technique on my Fusion while I waited for my razor to come.

This afternoon, my delivery from Amazon came and I went in to shower and have my first DE shave after. It was a lot less stressful then I thought it would be and it went great! No cuts or nicks and everything went as planned. Afterword, I finally felt like a real man and wanted to share my experience with all my friends. Unfortunately, they are not as receptive about wet shaving as I was but hopefully they will turn. Either way, I won't mind. This board seems to be a great place to discuss all things shaving!

For my gear, I bought a Art of Shaving travel kit and used the sandalwood pre-shave oil and after shave balm. For cream, I used Proraso (Bigelow & Co. from Bath and Body Works), A Parker pure badger brush and my brand new Edwin Jagger De89bl! All worked great and I'm really looking forward to exploring more product and continuing into my DE shaving life!

Thanks to everyone on this board for the tons of information. Here's a pic of my setup (which I think classes up my bathroom like nothing before)

**OldSaw** · 01-21-2012, 04:02 PM

Welcome to B&B.

Nice set up. I just recently got the same razor and it is getting much more use these days than my beloved 40's style Superspeeds.

Don't worry about your friends. This is a very private and personal hobby. I never shared my shaving thoughts with anyone for many, many years until I found B&B. Keep your shave life here and your social life with your friends over there and you will be just fine.

**nemo** · 01-21-2012, 04:03 PM

Welcome to B&B! Great first post and a nice looking kit you've shown!

**Mendel** · 01-21-2012, 04:06 PM

Welcome! You have some very nice stuff. And you will continue to bond with your Edwin Jagger razor.

**Stevo** · 01-21-2012, 04:09 PM

The C.O. Bigelow/Proraso is a great choice in shaving cream. Bath and Body Works occasionally runs a buy 2 and get 2 free promotion on it and you can pick up 4 tubes for $20.00+tax. What you have and a good blade sampler pack will keep you busy for a while

. Welcome aboard.

**tempetoro** · 01-21-2012, 04:19 PM

Yeah I got that deal when I was there but instead of buying all cream, I tried some of Bigelow & Co. Body wash and lotion. I figured since I'm buying high quality shave products, I should try soaps as well instead of my old Dial. Turns out, I also like the soaps and lotions better than the old cheap stuff.

**demaro** · 01-21-2012, 04:31 PM

Welcome to B&B !!

**Sledgehammer39** · 01-21-2012, 04:47 PM

Welcome Aboard!

**GladiusGSF** · 01-21-2012, 05:07 PM

Congrats....I bought a buddy a DE89 and a VDH premium shave set for Christmas. I also gave him some tubes of cream I had and then guilted him into using it...lol. Now he is converted! His big fear was that he would butcher himself with it. He had only used Gillette Good News razors for all of his adult life and knew nothing else. Keep in mind that there was a lot of negative propaganda put out about DE shaving when they started marketing cartridge razors and disposables so you have about 40 years of multi million dollar advertising to overcome. Don't get discouraged, a couple will come around. You have a great set up by the way....

**Dennard** · 01-21-2012, 05:35 PM

Welcome and congrats on a good first shave!

**Gunslinger** · 01-21-2012, 05:54 PM

How did that Bigelow work out for you?

I just picked up a tube this afternoon, and I can't wait to use it.

Also, when I was in B&BW today, I couldn't resist trying the Bigelow lotion. My four year old and I loved it. Manly and clean smelling, I think.

Congratulations on an awesome first wet shave, and welcome to this awesome world. I'm new to it, too, but I'm hooked. I did like you and practiced my lather for a while before I got my first DE, and when I was done, I felt like my face was the smoothest it had been since I was twelve years old.

**dgerson** · 01-21-2012, 06:04 PM

Welcome to B&B! Sounds like a great setup. Don't worry about your friends or family "getting it." They rarely do, and it makes this place all the more special for it!

**tempetoro** · 01-21-2012, 07:09 PM

Slinger: I love the bigelow and I got the lotion too at B&BW. I agree it does smell manly.

**KyMash** · 01-21-2012, 07:20 PM

Welcome to B&B. Looks like you have yourself a good foundation there!

**colaim** · 01-21-2012, 07:32 PM

Congrats, and welcome to the club! It only gets better.

**rxonmymind** · 01-21-2012, 07:49 PM

Welcome to B&B! Great first set up there you have. Bravo & hardware & software. As for your freinds, eh, so you broke away from the crowd. That say's something. Good luck & wish you many years of great shaves!

**elderberry99** · 01-21-2012, 08:38 PM

Welcome to the family. Nice collection of stuff already. The razor is a fantastic shaver.
Frank

**TSDPaulie** · 01-21-2012, 09:55 PM

Welcome aboard B&B, and enjoy the journey!!

**Songwind** · 01-21-2012, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by tempetoro

Yeah I got that deal when I was there but instead of buying all cream, I tried some of Bigelow & Co. Body wash and lotion. I figured since I'm buying high quality shave products, I should try soaps as well instead of my old Dial. Turns out, I also like the soaps and lotions better than the old cheap stuff.

I've been having similar trains of thought. "If I'm worrying about my face anyway, may as well fine tune how I wash it," etc. Luckily, my wife has kept me from getting *too* far gone into cheap crap for the rest of my body.

Welcome aboard!