Hello all! New to wet shaving and DE use

[Dboygoode]

Hey there everyone. Just want to let you all know that I have enjoyed reading many of the forums. They have been helpful since I have only been wet shaving for about a week now. I'm already addicted though! Found a 1930's "New" open long comb first. And I've already ordered a EJ DE89 as I've heard it's a good one to start with. Any suggestions on good soaps, creams, and blades to start with?

Thanks in advance!

[mistervee123]

Welcome. It's a great place to learn about technique and equipment. It's hard to avoid becoming a shaving junkie around here!

[sylynce]

nice razor you ordered, that is the same that I have (I'm new to the game also).
I like the Proraso (CO Bigelow from Bath and Body Works)- lightly menthol/ eucalyptus, great scent!

Welcome

[Straight Rasier User]

Welcome to B&B.

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.

[slugg77]

Welcome to you, this is the best place on the internet. Check out the Newbie check in. Ask any questions, too.

[Dboygoode]

Thanks for the responses. I'm enjoying the expiriance so far. I remember watching my grandpa shave with an old Gillette so this brings back some old memories. I'm looking forward to getting that first bbs with my new DE.

[Smott]

Welcome, Dboygoode. Join in the conversation and ask any questions you like. I'll see you around!

[Sledgehammer39]

Welcome Aboard!

[NickCutlip]

Welcome to B&B !!

[Deep Red]

Try em all. Welcome!

[dpmtherrien]

Welcome to the group.

[demaro]

Welcome to B&B !!

[nugutr57]

Welcome aboard !! I also have the Ej 89l good razor. Try several blades though everybody's skin and texture is different. I just opened my Wilkinson 10 pack i picked at Walmart, made in Germany. I thought they were pretty good, others did not like them. For me Crystals #1 , then personna red, blue medical, then Wilkinson these were very close. But the Derbys were the worst for me, rough. Others like them.
Shaving soap or cream I like Cella alot also some soaps. But anyway have fun and enjoy this crazy shaving world.

[Predict]

Welcome! C.o bigelow is a great cream! Anything proraso is great! Col conk is good too and fairly cheap.

[CorAnd]

Welcome! I would recommend Mystic Water soap. http://http://www.mystic4men.com/ I can send you a sample if you want to try it out first.
For cream, you can't go wrong with Taylor of Old Bond Street. Probably the best bang for your buck.

Blades are very YMMV, but Derby Extras, Astra Superior Platinum, and Gillette 7 O'clock Blues work great for me. The Derby Extras will be more forgiving, but some people experience tugging with them and say they're too dull. (They aren't too dull for me) The Astra SPs and 7 O'clock Blues are sharper, but for some are a little too harsh. I can also send a couple of those blades your way as well if you want to try those.

[Dboygoode]

Thanks. This site has so far proven more useful than any other way I turned to learning about wet shaving. (manic59 and geofatboy helped a lot with technique) it's made it a lot more fun than I think it would have been otherwise.

[shuasdad]

Welcome.

I picked up a New a few weeks ago and it shot to the top of my favorite razors. I've used Astras, Derbys and Sharks in it so far. I'm currently trying out a straight and use the New to clean up my missed spots.

[Oblique Human]

Welcome to B&B!

Proraso cream.. easy to lather and good performance. Order a blade sampler pack.

[Whilliam]

EJ89 is a fine razor . . . . a keeper for the rest of your life.

Rather than going crazy with a whole galaxy of soaps, creams, brushes and other paraphernalia, may I suggest a simple can of Barbasol foam lather just to get a feel for the razor and the most important aspect of the DE experience--actual shaving.

If you like it . . . if you get good results . . . if you want better results . . . and if you think a few minutes are well spend in prepping for a shave, by all means get yourself a good brush, some dishes, some soaps and creams and go to town. Just make sure town is where you want to go.

Best,

Bill
BOTOC

[armorrich]

Welcome...from one newbie to another. Hope you find it as enjoyable here as i do!!!

best, rich