New member in Allentown, PA (Yup, just like the Billy Joel song)

[Artistik]

Welcome to B&B!

[acesn8s]

Love the avatar pic, welcome to B&B

Thanks! I love Flogging Molly. I hope to see them live in next year or so.

So, a quick update on my gear.

I'm slowly breaking the SOC in. It's only been a few days and it still smells a bit piggy, but only noticeable when you get the brush close to your face . . . too bad it's a shaving brush. I'm still using my old brush for shaving and just making lather in my palm with the SOC, but boy do I see the differences in the brushes. I can't wait to start using the SOC.

I'm digging the RazrRock XXX lather, not too keen on the scent though it reminds me of gym soap.

I have a question about the alum stick, does everyone usually use it after every shave or only when you have cuts or irritation. I've been using mine after each shave and boy does it dry my face out. I miss that slick hydrated feel after a shave when I use the alum.

I ordered a new razor and blade sampler from WCS. I liked the selection in the sampler WCS offered with their 65 blade extended package and since I wanted free shipping I added a Merkur Progress to my cart as well (it seems the EJ DEs I was interested in were all sold out).

[mandoman]

Welcome to B&B

[Straight Rasier User]

Welcome to B&B.

Lots to say but no time.

Map Your Face and find a razor to fit it.

[Straight Rasier User]

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.

[Straight Rasier User]

One other thing.

I have an Allentown Straight Razor made by a guy who was there when the city was named.

Nice Straight.

[Triad]

Welcome to B&B

[acesn8s]

Straight Raiser User, thanks for the informative post. I like the concept of best blade.

So, my kit is all in.



I used the Progress, set at 1, with a Merkur blade this morning.

Had a really close shave with some razor burn on my neck. I tried too hard to get too smooth. Once the razor burn subsided, about an hour later, I was pleased at how smooth I got my neck. Tomorrow I'll take it easier on the neck.

I think I'm going to use my Merkurs until I get down to 5, same with the Crystals. This way I'll have close to 3 months of shaving in before I start evaluating all the different brands at 5 blades a piece.

[acesn8s]

Was sick yesterday and didn't feel like updating.

So my 2nd shave with the Progress was a little better. I didn't go for a BBS on the neck. Still had a little irritation as I didn't account for the varying grain pattern on my neck.

This morning was my 3rd shave (I think I'll retire the Merkur blade and start a fresh one tomorrow). Today I accounted my grain pattern and did a WTG and XTG on my neck and a WTG and ATG on my face. Accept for the patches on either side of my adam's apple I have a DFS all around. I think I'm detecting a difference in aggressiveness on my Merkur. One side feels and sounds like it is really cutting, the other side not so much. I checked my alignment of the head and I have the line and triangle lined up. I'll be checking to see if switching the blade does anything.

I'm still a little inconsistent with my lather using the SOC and RazoRock XXX. I don't think I'm loading the brush enough and for the first time in over a week I had dry lather. I had to stop and reapply for my first pass.

With Father's Day approaching, I showed my wife the Georgetown Pottery, Dirty Bird, and Roberts Feats of Clay websites. Got my fingers crossed.

[acesn8s]

Shave #4. I switched to the Crystal Platinum Chrome blades. Wow! World of difference in my shave. The razor felt much smoother and both sides of the razor felt like they cut the same. So I'm chalking up the inconsistency I felt in my last two shaves to a bad Merkur blade. I think I'll probably stick to the Crystals for a couple blades and then revisit the Merkur.

I still have a little razor burn, but because of the smoothness of my shave today, I tried going for BBS on my neck. That's where the irritation is. It's not nearly as bad as shaves 1 and 2 though.

For those of you who use an Alum stone, do you rinse off after your last pass with warm or cold water before using the alum?

[rchandonnet]

Welcome - I'm right down Route 78 from you in Summit NJ. Too bad you have such an itchy trigger finger, I was going to PIF you my Progress razor. I raided my dad's medicine cabinet and found three great old Gillette SuperSpeeds, one each from the 50s, 60s and 70s, and I like them better than the Progress. (Some of that is the emotional factor of using my dad's gear)

I strongly recommend the Georgetown Pottery scuttle - I got one a month ago and it made all the difference in the world. I say skip the alum, and use the Captain's Bay Rum AS splash, you will keep the slick feel.

Happy shaving.

[acesn8s]

Thanks for thinking of me rchandonnet! Too bad my excitement got the better of me . . . I could have invested in more soaps!

I haven't even considered using AS besides the Nivea I use . . . yet. Time to hit a new section of the forum.

Here's a quick update on my shaving journey:

Over the weekend I got cocky and bumped the Progress up to 2 and 2.5. I also went with 3 passes (WtG, XtG, and AtG) along with extra time spend on my jawline and neck. Oh boy, by the time I hit my neck with the alum I new I over did it. I also had weeper, nicked the scar on my chin, and a small mole on my neck.

Monday and Tuesday I took things really light, 1 on the Progress and 2 passes (WtG and XtG). Still had irritiation and reopened the nicks, but not nearly as bad as Saturday and Sunday.

This morning I dialed up to 1.5, which was were I was at before the weekend, and had a really nice shave. The three traditional passes, really focused on no pressure, and didn't go back over the trouble spots on my neck and jawline. Hardly any burn with the alum and Nivea.

I've got some rough patches on my neck and here and there on my chin. Can't see it, but I can feel it. Learned my lesson about running before I learned how to walk. Can't wait to try again tomorrow.

[D.W.B.]

I'm glad to hear that your shaves are getting better. That alum block can really tell you a thing or two can't it? I use the block then let that dry, grab a cotton ball and do a pass with witch hazel then let that dry. I then (finally) use Proraso pre/post shave. It's quite a lot I know, but it's working for me and leaves my skin soft.

I enjoy hearing about your experiences using the Merkur Progress as I'm thinking about getting one myself. Unless of course I can bring my RAD under control. Keep up the good work, as you have discovered there is a bit of a learning curve. I have no doubts that it will come together for you.

[D.W.B.]

Wow, I didn't kill the thread did I?

[acesn8s]

Wow, I didn't kill the thread did I?

Nope.

Was a busy day for me and I just didn't have the energy to more than watch some TV.

I've read about Witch Hazel here on the forum. I have some on my wish list, along with a scuttle, a nice badger brush, another razor or two, and a selection of soaps to keep me shaving for at least 2 years. But, that's what a wish list is for, right?

Had another DFS this morning, which was a surprise because my 2 year old didn't sleep well last night and was up around 4 AM today. I was finally able to rock her back to sleep about 10 minutes after I usually jump in the shower. Needless to say, my morning shave was rushed. I ended up with a weeper on my chin and I can feel a rough patch here or there on my neck. I have hardly any burn, so I'm satisfied.

I'm looking forward to the long weekend where I can slow down and focus on my passes and maybe do a little touch up to try for the BSS.

Oh, I had originally commented that I wasn't a huge fan of the Razorock XXX smell . . . I've since acquired a taste for it (much like an Islay Single-Malt) and now look forward to opening up the tub each morning. I also transferred it to an empty TOS Almond Cream tub I had left over from my original attempt at wet shaving a few years ago. The TOS tub seals better, is more structurally sound, and gives me more room to load my brush without slopping over the sides.

Does anyone know if the D R Harris refill pucks (or MWF) fit in the TOS tubs?

[Shave A Buck]

Hello and welcome

[KMF79]

Hi acesn8s. I actually spent some time living in Allentown back in '05. Welcome to B&B, it's nice to have you here.

As far as your dilemma goes. I'm pretty new to DE shaving but jumped in full steam with great success. I purchased an EJ DE89 Barley and absolutely love it! I mean, I don't having any other razors to compare it too, but damn is it beautiful! It shaves great, for me at least and I only ever nicked myself on my first shave with it. Oh and in case you're wondering I hand picked a group of 13 different brands of blades and am currently using (started with) the Astra SP blades. I choose that due to popular opinion around here, but go with whatever floats Your boat.

You can take a look at my original aquisition with a nice pic of the EJ in presentation mode.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...t=#post4134013

With my limited experiance, I would definitely tell you to slow down, concentrate on the optimum angle, use short strokes, keep your blade hot, and try moving your head or using your free hand to make a more smooth surface when shaving your neck. Pull your face if you have too, or twist your head. The hair can often grow at different angles, so hit it from a variety of angles. But don't use too much pressure or irritation is guarenteed. Most of all, have fun learning what works for you.

[KMF79]

I got so caught up reading the first page and didn't notice there was a second page before posting. Lol. Anyway, congratulation on your razor purchace and your new found joy for shaving.

Personally I don't use alum blocks and have read you're supposed to let it sit a little after using it, then rinse it off. Don't just leave it on. It's most likely why your face feels so dry. I haven't done my next round of purchasing, so for now, all I do is rinse with warm water to remove the lather, then rinse again with cool water to help close the pours and tighten the face a little, followed by some nice Proraso aftershave splash. The splash kind of has an affect (I assume) like the alum block. It goes on with a small bite. Then after about 30 seconds to a minute, a nice cool menthol feeling presents itself. I rather enjoy it.

I'm going to encourage your AD here and say, definitely look into what aftershave products are available, both balms and splashes. Also take a look at some colognes that pair well with the soaps, creams and aftershaves we use. I think the learning process is fun.

Lastly I did some searching for you and found this:
The DRH puck measures 1" thick x 4-1/8" in diameter 3.5oz/100g.
MWF/Kent measures 0.94" or 30/32 thick x 3.15 or 3-3/20" in diameter 4.2oz/120g.
Tob puck measures 1-1/8" thick x 3-1/8" in diameter 3.5oz/100g

I couldn't specifically find the measurements for the MWF but I've read many people say that the Kent soap is the same thing rebranded. I hope this helps.

[acesn8s]

KMF79, thanks for the advice and research into soap sizes. It looks like I'll need to either mill soap or get an additional dish.

I was originally going to get an EJ89 Barley, but the site I ordered from was sold out. So I got the Progress instead. I may still pick one up later.

So where in Allentown were you? What brought you here - work, school, family?

I tried something different for my Saturday shave. I took the Crystal out of my Progress and loaded it into my Dovo Shavette. It took me about twice as long to shave, but I got a really great shave. Had a nick near my lower lip and on the jawline, but next to no irritation on my neck. And, I thoroughly enjoyed the shave and feeling of accomplishment that came with it.

[Straight Rasier User]

Welcome to B&B.

I have an Allentown Straight Razor.

Just like the Song.