Top 10 products for a n00b

[NoVaBCH]

So I was thinking about this recently as I walked a non-oenophile friend through a wine tasting. There are certain wines that provide parameters for figuring out what one does and does not like…for instance, a 2006 Napa Cabernet tends to have all the characteristics of a great Cab, a 2006 Bordeaux is going to be affordable while letting you know exactly what Bordeaux is about, always buy Riesling from the Alsace if you want minerality and earth, etc etc…If someone set me loose in a wine store and said "I've never had wine, what should I drink to figure out what I like," I'd have no huge problem suggesting some old stand-bys.

But for shaving, I'm lost. So what are the top 10 products that a n00b should try and what should he be looking for in the experience? (i.e., a particular aftershave because of the menthol character, a particular soap for lubricating qualities, etc etc)

Thanks in advance - looking forward to seeing what the common features are in everyone's top 10.

[Vivasanti]

poraso
tabac
Mitchels wool fat
any Taylor's of bond street cream

that's my few

[NoVaBCH]

Which proraso?

[TonyH]

Proraso Green
Cella
Mama Bear
MWF
Old Spice AS
Aqua Velva AS
Pinaud Clubman AS
Feather Blades
Personna Blades
Gillette Tech

There are a million combinations of ten, but I think those are great things to start with. Plus, you could buy everything I just listed for well under $100 - probably even under $75.

[turtle]

Must haves (in no particular order)....

1. Styptic pencil (stops bleeding nicks, cuts, weepers)
2. Witch hazel (soothing and antiseptic)
3. Nivea sensitive after shave balm (will put out the fires of hell razor burn)
4. Clubman after shave (the classic that NEEDS to be in every wet shaver's inventory)
5. Astra Superior Platinum DE blades (the gold standard you can judge all others from ie: "better than" or "not as good as")
6. Kiss My Face shave cream (inexpensive, available locally, slick, smooth, cushy, lathers like a mad dog)
7. Cella/Vitos/Valobra/ soft Italian soap (everyone needs to have or try the soft Italians)
8. Mitchell's Wool Fat soap (The tallow soap. You may not like it, You may love it. BUT you must try it)
9. Gillette Tech 3 piece razor (the longest in production razor and one of the mildest. Always good to have on hand)
10. Simpsons Duke 2 brush (the gold standard for face lathering. End of statement)
11. Kent BK8 brush (the gold standard for bowl lathering)
12. Pinaud Lilac Vegetal after shave (you may not like it, you may even HATE it, but you have not shaved until you TRY IT)

[xraygun]

I assume you are talking software:
Spieck, both the stick and the A/S
MWF
4711
Vulfix Sicilian Lime Cream
Thayer's
Salter's Vetiver Cream
Martin de Candre
I Coloniali Rhubarb Shave Cream
TFS Bergamotto Neroli

[DougieB]

1) Gillette TECH DE razor. Brilliantly effective shaver that is forgiving.
2) FEATHER New Hi Stainless platinum coated DE blades. Sharp and a good match for the TECH.
3) Gillette NEW DE razor. A nod to the BOTOC... More aggressive and less forgiving than the TECH but a great razor
4) ASTRA SP DE blades. A fantastic match for the NEW
5) PERSONNA Platinum DE blades.
6) Irisch Moos shave stick
7) Arko shave stick
8) Grape seed oil. Great pre and post shave.
9) Styptic pencil generic
10) Hair conditioner. Slather some on beard in shower, rinse and prep for shave as usual. Throw a little more conditioner on the blade before shaving.

11) Water of course. Both hot and cold. Hot for prep most of the time. Cold for prep occasionally and to splash after shaving.

[xraygun]

12) Air
13) Gravity

[Face&Head]

Can + Worms = This Question

Muhle R89 or Jagger DE89 Razor (same head)
Thater 49125 (works brilliantly for face or bowl so you don't need one of each and has the softest tips imaginable)
Feather Blades (they encourage good technique)
Nancy Boy Signature Shave Cream
Martin de Candre Shaving Soap. High price of admission but lasts forever yielding low per shave cost. No soap lathers more easily.
RazoRoch Alum Stick (most alum is the same but this one comes in a convenient container/applicator)
Thayer's non-alcohol unsented witch hazel with aloe.
Nancy Boy Cooling Aftershave Gel

I'm not a fan of heavy or lingering scents and none of the products above will leave any real residual aroma. If that's something you desire others will undoubtedly chime in on the topic.

As an oenophile you can appreciate that there are widely varying opinions on every product ranging from love to abject hate. You'll probably have to try 100 to find your 10 must haves. Over the last 45 years I've tried enough California Cabs to fill an ocean (my family was in the wine distribution business years ago) to realize I just don't like 99% 0f them. It doesn't mean they're bad wines, but I grew up drinking Bordeaux from the great post-war vintages so my palate seeks a very different style. The same goes with shaving gear & supplies.

[windycityshaver]

1. Nivea milde shaving creme in tube from Germany;
2. Cremo face wash;
3. Astra blades;
4. Alum bloc;
5. Musgo real aftershave;
6. Pre de provance aftershave balm;
7. Merkur Futur;
8. Musgo real cologne;
9. Simply beautiful badger brush;
10. (face lathering)
Enjoy

[taco8slo]

Razor - Gillette flare tip super speed (any year or country).
Blade - Astra SP
Soap - Tabac
Cream - CO Bigelow (Proraso green)
Brush - Brush reknot in TGN Finest
Witch hazel
Styptic pencil

[huntingdan]

I figure since you're talking about starters for keeping it pretty lower in cost until you find you're groove, so:

1. Modern Razor- EJ89
2. Vintage Razor- 40s SS
Soaps and Creams
3. MWF (tallow)
4. Mamas Bears (a light scent, for non tallow)
5. TOBS Creams
6. Cella (Italian soft soaps are a must try)
7. Alum Block
8. Witch Hazel
9. Red Box IP's
10. Feather

11. after shave AV Ice Blue for menthol and Clubman for a classic.

YMMV

[qx7bfg]

For the value-minded noob:


Lord L6
Blade Sampler


Nivea Sensitive Balm
Styptic Pencil


Omega Pro 48/49 or Semogue 1305
Frank Shaving Badger


Proraso Green Soap
Palmolive Shave Stick


Real Shave Co Cream
Arko Cream

[Predict]

Band aids?

[Uncle Brian]

As a new boy I don't have ten things to suggest but here are some that I like

Gilette Tech
Astra SP blades
Alum
Palmolive regular shave cream
Nivea Sensitive post shave balm
Hot water for shaving
Cold water to rinse the face before the balm goes on
Patience

[cpowill]

My top 10

1. Time
2. Any vintage Gillette razor, favorites New OC and Tuckaway OC. Keep looking on the BST and you will be amazed at what you can find for vintage razors.
3. Gillette Black Ninja's
4. Any TOBS or GFT cream
5. Wee Scott for face laterhing
6. Jack Beard Lube for tuch up
7. Alum Block
8. ASB, favorites, Institut Karit3, PREP, Speick
9. Floid AS, Tabac AS, Boosters AS
10. Your own den.

The last is because I am deployed and can't wait to get home to have my own den to shave in instead of sharing one with 300+ Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen.

[InHotWater]

I agree with the Gillette Tech razor - smooth shaver, well made, and affordable.
Astra SP is a sharp smooth blade- again affordable.
Arko shave soap- ease of lather, plenty slick- and affordable.
Vie-Long or Semogue shave brush-well made and affordable.
Alum block ( or at least a styptic pencil.)
If you want a menthol AS experience- look no further than Osage Rub, nice tingly feeling.
Thayer's w/aloe is also an excellent choice ( I happen to like lavender)
If you want an unscented no nonsense shave balm try Nivea sensitive

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Looking back on it, I'd say 10 items from any category is overkill. If the goal is to achieve an overall appreciation for the shave, then my suggestions are:

1. A quality razor (vintage or new)
2. Badger Hair brush (my apologies to the Boar Army)
3. Actual soap, not a cream (MWF comes to mind)
4. Alum (Razorock has a applicator that travels well)
5. AS (She will eventually tolerate the Clubman manly goodness)
6. Blades. I agree that Astra SP is the benchmark. I recommend Gillette SharpEdge.
7. Get a mug. It just has that old time feel.

Everything else is just the AD's talking.

[Frosty]

Great question and I suspect it'll do no more than confirm each responders favourites or prejudices. I think a good way to break it down might be to consider the best high, medium and low end in each category. And I'm basing high, mid and low purely on price not on their ability to deliver results which is extremely good for all of them.

So here goes:

Soaps/Creams:
1. Best High End - Martin de Candre - a gorgeous soap from France with a fabulous fragrance and easy latherability
2. Best Mid - Cella - my all time fave soap. Provides one of the best cover for easy shaving
3. Best Low end - Palmolive soap stick - such excellent results for less than a $1

Onto blades:

1. Feathers SS
2. Astras
3. Derby


Razors:
1. High End - Feather AS - considered the cream of all modern day razors. Very midly but effective
2. Best Mid - Merkur Futur Adjustable - a design classic. For me the single best razor ever made
3. Best Low End Edwin Jagger DE89 - a steady mild workhorse that should be owned by every shaver


And the 10th item I'd add to the list would be Proraso pre-shave cream. If there's one thing every shaver should do is add this to their prep. One of the most underrated but important aspect of getting the beard ready for a shave and their is nothing better than this Proraso cream

[Wasaga-Joe]

Not so sure that there needs to be low mid high. To compare to the wine analogy what is the product that would let them have experience to then start to decide what they like.

My top 10 for me would look something like this

Razorock Classic shave soap - nice smell easy to use
MWF - no explanation need on this one
Omeaga Boars hair brush - Try a boar
Franks Silvertip badger brush - Try a Badger
Dovo 6/8 Best qaulity
Vintage Wostenholm pipe Razor
Weshi DE safety Razor - it is cheap and does the job of cleanup or if you can not shave with the Sr for a day or two
Clubman A/S - Every man should try this and own a bottle
Old spice A/S
SRD Premium II strop