Hello from the Carolina Hills!

[radioguy]

Josh here in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. Well, I don't know if anyone ever told ya'll this but up at this elevation shaving takes a little bit longer, as do most things, on account of we're not in much of a hurry to do anything. So I was very attracted to the idea of an old-fashioned safety razor shave with some nice warm lather. My old man used to say that a face full of shaving soap lather was the best a man was going to feel all day. My life has been a little too fast paced for a little too long to take heed to much of what he said, but nowadays his wisdom trickles back to me in spurts and sinks in. Truthfully, I'm very interested in learning to do anything that doesn't require batteries or cartridges or fuel, because all those things just add up to get a man poor and keep him there, not to mention hauling all that garbage out every week is about as unpleasant a chore as I can imagine. Naturally then, I was interested in wet shaving.



Here is my Gillette Super Speed TTO I picked up on a well-known auction site for around $20 with shipping. There was a little bit of gunk under the head when it arrived this morning, but the mechanism worked flawlessly. A few alternate soakings in Kaboom shower/tub cleaner and warm soapy water, and a couple sessions with a toothbrush got it cleaned up real nice.

I rinsed it real good and let it dry out, and then this afternoon I took the plunge and had my first shave. I did not shower beforehand, so my face was dry before lathering, but that only made the results I got that much more impressive. I used a Derby blade I got as part of a sampler pack, a cheap boar hair brush purchased from the big box store, and some Williams Shave Soap from the grocery store. I've been using the brush and soap for about a week with my regular multi-blade razor and I enjoy it, although from my research it seems like Williams' lather is not as rich as some others. The first shave was simple awe-some in a very literal sense. The last time my face was this smooth my mama still had to drive me to school. I got brave and did four passes: one with, two across, and one against the grain. There is a little bit of irritation on my neck which I attribute to this being my first time and not having showered before-hand. It's nothing worse than what I would normally get with my multi-blade cartridge razor.

So, I'm hooked! My old lady was so impressed she even wants her own wet shave razor now!

[NickCutlip]

Welcome to B&B !!

[HydroWVU]

Welcome to the B&B

[Straight Rasier User]

Welcome to B&B.

Yummy Williams ... used it for many years until I discovered there were many others.

Cheap Boar Brush ... used it for many years and still use it. Have acquired a couple more brushes and look to get some others.

Gillette SuperSpeed ... nice gentle razor ... used that one for a while too.

Gillette made a Lady's Razor.

You are on the right track ... here is some additional information.

Everything boils down to personal preferences.


“Best Brush”

A Brush is a Brush and they perform differently and they are different. Boar, Badger, Horsehair, Horsehair/Boar/Badger Combos, or Syns. Get a Boar (cheap or expensive) or a Good Badger Brush.


“Soap/Cream/Stick”

Soap or Cream or Stick ... Stick or Cream or Soap ... cheap or expensive ... expensive or cheap ... glycerin based, cold processed, tripled milled, or tallow. Get a couple of each and see what works best for you.

“Safety Razor”

Safety Razors ... determine what you want and how much you are willing to spend - Open Comb, Closed Comb, TTOs, 2-Piece, 3-Piece or an adjustable. The Merkur HD or Edwin Jagger 89 are both good beginning Safety Razors. Or get an Old Gillette (SuperSpeed or 3-Piece).


“Razor Blades”

Blades ... Get a Sampler Pack and then ... Good Luck. The differences between whether a Blade is Good or Bad for any individual is because the Hand of God is at work. Maybe it is the shave preparation, or maybe it is the type of hairs being shaven, or maybe it is the patterns on the face being shaven, or the type of Razor being used (different angles or blade gaps are created by the different razor head being used), or the shaving technique being used (wrong angle, too much pressure being used and pushing down on the razor to "cut closer", or even not using multiple-passes to reduce hair growth first and always), or maybe there is one or two Bad Blades in the pack being used, or maybe for whatever reason it is a Bad Blade to you.


”Best Blade”

At first use only One Razor Blade ... use this blade only for a few weeks ... changing when dull.

The First Razor Blade you use is your “Best Blade.”

Get several of your First Best Blade.

Get down the Basics of Shaving – Preparation, Lathering, Shaving with the Razor – light touch, proper angle and little pressure, Multi-Passes – WTG, XTG, and Reverse-XTG.

Get more information and look at the Mantic59 Youtube videos, the GeoFatBoy videos and read the Wiki.


“Finding Your Best Blade”

After you have everything down ... then use a different blade for a week and see if it becomes your new "Best Blade".

If not go back to the other blade for a week then, use a different blade for a week.

Your Best Blade is your base line blade for your tests. When you find your “Next Best Blade” then, that is your “New Best Blade”. Continue working through your sampler pack looking for a “New Best Blade”.

Please note that Different Safety Razors may have a different “Best Blade” and if you have poor technique then it will also affect your choice of a “New Best Blade”.

“Map Your Face”

Make Sure you have Mapped Your Face because that is the only way to know which way your hair grows.

“Technique”

Also make sure that your preshave preparation is down.

Then shave WTG, XTG and Reverse-XTG.

Rinse, Lather, WTG
Rinse, Lather, XTG
Rinse, Lather, Reverse-XTG
Rinse, Lather, Buffing.

No Rinse, No Lather, No Shave.

For the first few weeks ... Do not do ATG ... Wait until you have your technique down because you could and usually will be holding the safety razor upside down when shaving your neck and this may cause you some problems when trying to maintain the correct blade angle while applying a light pressure.

Be careful of Feather blades as they are super sharp and unforgiving make sure you are confident of your technique before using them.

Have Fun Shaving and May All Your Shaves Be BBS.

[mistervee123]

Nice deal on the SS. I like my vintage razors also. I currently have three that I hold dear: a 1956 Super Speed, a 1961 Fat Boy, and a 1963 Slim. I like my "modern" DE's, but I always find myself picking up and admiring those vintage razors...hard to believe they still look and function as well as they do even though they're more than 50 years old. A neat connection to the past too.

[Sledgehammer39]

Welcome Aboard! Sweet Razor.

[stuble]

Welcome. I too have just started wet shaving and can't believe how enjoyable shaving has become. While I am using a modern razor right now I can't wait to branch out into vintage razors once I have the technique down.

[stuart12dz]

Welcome!

[bakerbk73]

My first vintage razor was a 40's superspeed too. I didn't have the first clue what the name of the razor was at first, so I did some searching and found B&B. Seems like every single time I've had questions, the answer is on this forum somewhere.

[warhawk]

Welcome 2 B&B. I hope U enjoy your DE journey.

WARHAWK

[huntingdan]

Good job on the razor, those are one of my favorites. Gets the job done with out being to aggressive which is really nice if you have sensitive skin. Nonetheless, great find and hope you enjoy your future shaves.

Welcome to B&&B!

[PugslyCat]

Welcome to B&B!

It sounds like you have learned the lesson that preparation is key to a good shave. See the Mantic videos and tutorials at this site and follow them to get your whiskers hydrated and generate a good lather and you are most of the way to a good shave.

It's great that your wife is gettig into the wet shaving as well, except now she's going to know what your hobby actually costs!

[RailroadMan]

Nice to have a neighbor here. I'm about halfway between you and Boone. Started in Feb., and what a wonderful journey. Go get some Proraso or Bigelow (Bath and Body Works) cream. You will be glad, good price, wonderful cream. Look around here, lots of info and PIFs to help you get going. Ask questions, people here love to help. Maybe the nicest group of people on the net.

[dfollett_98]

Radioguy:

Welcome to B&B. Sounds like you are off to a great start with a superb selection for your first razor.

As previously stated don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have. Lots of really nice folks here that are more than willing to help you along on your shaving journey.

Have fun and enjoy your shaves.

Don

[Oblique Human]

Welcome to B&B!

[demaro]

Welcome to B&B !!

[dpmtherrien]

Welcome to the forum.

[radioguy]

Wow! What a warm welcome! Ya'll sure made this old boy feel right at home. I'm about to embark on my second DE shave in a short while, but since it's been over 36 hours since my first (and last) shave, there's something I've been, ahem, itching to ask for a few hours. Has anyone noticed their beard growing back a good deal thicker than before? The stubble that's coming in on my face seems a lot more robust that it used to be, and I'm curious if taking care of my face a lot better for the past week has had a steroid effect on my chinny chin chin. I could just be imagining things though, it's been awful hot here past couple days and ya'll know how that can make a body a little cuckoo.

[Prof. Moriarty]

Welcome to B&B, Josh.

[Artistik]

Welcome to B&B!