Recommendations for a newbie living out of a backpack?

[Straight Rasier User]

Welcome to B&B.

Good Luck.

Get a Cobra Classic from ClassicShaving.com.

Or Get a Shavette from Dovo.

As no stropping is required.

After that ...

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.

[Goyu]

Thanks! Nice to have all this information in one place!

[Magnaminous_G]

Just keep in mind that most countries' TSA equivalent agencies will not let you take a straight razor (or DE blades) in your carry on, so you'll have to check that backpack... which might be a scary thought if everything you own is kept inside it.

[Goyu]

Yeah, but I travel with a leatherman and a larger camp knife anyway. So there is already a bag being checked. No way around it anyway. I don't really fly that often, though. I'm mostly just busing, boating and hitchhiking. It's only really the trips into and out of the states that I fly.

[Goyu]

I don't know if anyone is still interested, or if you even get a notification when I post this, but my shave gear came in the mail yesterday, and I jumped right into a straight razor shave, hacking through a month's growth of beard. Fantastic. Didn't even need the styptic pencil. I've included a link to my gear. I ended up getting a little more than planned (I'm told it's a common thing to do), so there's an Edwin Jagger DE89L, which I haven't used yet in there. Along with a blade sampler pack and two containers of soap. That wee scot brush is VERY nice.

The last picture in the album is my book strop. It's what it sounds like: the leather is secured to the inside of a hardbacked journal to keep it from creasing, etc., when I stuff it in my backpack. My last journal was almost full anyway ^___^

Album link: http://imgur.com/a/06FlO

[coachschaller]

Great!!!! You are doing better than most. I am wondering how long you will be lugging all of it in your backpack? Great idea on the book strop!!!!! Keep it up

[shakin_jake]

Nice kit! I've had nothing but good exp. w/the Pre de Provence (I see a tub in your pics) soap, face lathering of course...


Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

[tinashubby]

I haven't seen a mirror mentioned anywhere in this thread, you have one?

Sounds like a good adventure you are on!!

[Goyu]

Coach: I'm not planning to carry all of it for long. I'm sort of kicking myself for getting so much stuff. One tub of soap would have been sufficient, I'm sure, and I'm not convinced that getting the DE AND the SR(s) was necessary. But perhaps I should reserve judgment until I've tried the DE. I just finished my second SR shave, and I feel as though it went QUITE well. I'm still sort of musing on the idea of more portable strop ideas. I'll be on the road nine months or so.

Tina: Yes! I have an REI camp mirror that I was using already before the switch to wetshaving. It's small, and doesn't have a stand, but I've been leaning it up against whatever's available.

EDIT: It IS quite a nice adventure. I'm looking forward to doing my shave with a view of the ocean next weekend.

[shakin_jake]

sorry, I mis-spoke...the one soap in the tin looked to be Pre de Provence, but on 2nd viewing, it isn't...my bad! Still, nice kit you have there, all of it


Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

[Goyu]

[QUOTE=shakin_jake;4206233]sorry, I mis-spoke...the one soap in the tin looked to be Pre de Provence, but on 2nd viewing, it isn't...my bad! Still, nice kit you have there, all of it]

I've not heard of Pre de Provence, should I try it out? I'm sort of leaning towards soaps that have these containers so I don't get the inside of my backpack all soapy.

[petr]

I don't know if anyone is still interested, or if you even get a notification when I post this, but my shave gear came in the mail yesterday, and I jumped right into a straight razor shave, hacking through a month's growth of beard. Fantastic. Didn't even need the styptic pencil. I've included a link to my gear. I ended up getting a little more than planned (I'm told it's a common thing to do), so there's an Edwin Jagger DE89L, which I haven't used yet in there. Along with a blade sampler pack and two containers of soap. That wee scot brush is VERY nice.

The last picture in the album is my book strop. It's what it sounds like: the leather is secured to the inside of a hardbacked journal to keep it from creasing, etc., when I stuff it in my backpack. My last journal was almost full anyway ^___^

Album link: http://imgur.com/a/06FlO

You just had to get that straight razor. I knew it all along. Good for you. Remember, old school barbers may be able to help you put an edge back on your straight or school you on honing. What soaps do you have? Great choices on the brush and razors. Cases and strop are ingenious. Post shave? You do need an antiseptic bro. I don't see anything. I see Pacific Shave Oil. Good product. When I backpacked that was the only thing I carried, but I wish I would have had real lather with it.

[petr]

Where are you shaving? Do you have an ample supply of water? Staying in hostels and such?

What containers are getting your pack all soapy? Thinking of some better performing product ideas for you and planning my next trip as well.

[shakin_jake]

[QUOTE=Goyu;4206287]

sorry, I mis-spoke...the one soap in the tin looked to be Pre de Provence, but on 2nd viewing, it isn't...my bad! Still, nice kit you have there, all of it]

I've not heard of Pre de Provence, should I try it out? I'm sort of leaning towards soaps that have these containers so I don't get the inside of my backpack all soapy.

~~~Since you're back packing along with your day tripping here and there, it might be in your best interest to stick with the two soap/creme products you now have, unless you're unhappy with one or the other and want to change, no sense using kit you don't like right?...and the cost shouldn't be an issue especially if you're not satisfied

Sometimes though, using a particular shave soap or a cream, not everyone has the same exp. I'd suggest you go to the reviews portion of this forum and see what multiple users of Pre de Provence have to say

My experience with Pre de Provence has been nothing short of totally pleased! This soap comes in a screw top tin so you can rest assured it will be secure under way. I have no trouble raising a sufficient lather and I face lather my soaps. Protection for me has been top notch & I've not experienced any burning from this soap. All of the ingredients used in the formula agree with my skin but I suggest again for you to peruse what others have said about their experiences using it. I don't recall any negative reviews...

I still say though that using soaps is an individual exp. Some have good results with particular products, others, not so much...You never know until you try for yourself. $15 seems to be the going price. I paid $7 for mine from a shave shop that went OOB. At this point, it's one of those soaps I'd consider replacing after it's used up

Another soap in that realm w/similar performance (speaking strictly for myself) is L'Occitane's Cade, but Cade is sold as a puck only. L'Occitane sells a soap tin seperately but I don't know if it uses a screw top, and it's priced at $28 for the aluminum container. I grated mine and pressed the flakes into a cappucchino cup. Probably not a good option for you while you're on the road but a soap worth trying (IMO) after your trip


Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

[drocu]

My vote would be for the Feather RG if you're looking for a disposable straight. If you're open to suggestions, I think the Schick injectors are great travel razors and work well on my coarse facial hair. Plus, they provide a very quick shave with a small learning curve.

[Easttexasman]

You are backpacking thru Mexico and you barely speak Spanish? You are a very brave man.

Be careful and I hope you make it out without being kidnapped.

[Goyu]

Wow! So much to respond to all of the sudden! In order:

Petr: Of course I got the straight! And I'm really glad I did, I don't think the shavette would have suited me well, but three shaves in I think the straight and I are going to get along famously. Can you expand on that antiseptic idea? Are you taking about aftershave? Is there travel friendly equivalent? Just alcohol or some such? I haven't tried JUST the oil, I'm too busy enjoying the lather. But I worked it into my pre-shave today, with good results. I'm shaving where I can, a few days ago was on the roof of a hostel with a small bowl of hot water. Today was in a decent bathroom. I'm in a fairly cosmopolitan city at the moment, back in Oaxaca. I went to the beach for a few weeks, but only just got the straight. So yes, plenty of water. And nothing is getting my pack soapy, because I was forward thinking enough to order Colonel Conk (white container) and Seattle Sundries "Filthy Rich" shave soap, which come in sealable containers. I've not tried the Filthy Rich yet, but it smells delightful. I'm in week one, so not a lot of feedback to offer re: products, but I'd be happy to make a "traveling wetshaver" post down the road. I think I'd probably only bring one soap if I had it to do again, but how can you know if you'll like a soap before you try it, right?

Jake: I was really just asking because I'd like to keep an eye out for good products when these run out, or if anything should befall them on the road. I also have this silly habit of giving things away. Last summer I gave away a shemagh scarf to this really friend Australian fellow named "Arch" because he seemed to like it so much. So knowing me, someone is going to get a nice container of Filthy Rich shave soap. But only if they're doing a wetshave. Anyway, thanks for the input, I'm liking the sound of that twist-top.

Drocu: Thanks for the input! I think the feathers look super cool, and I've definitely been planning to try them down the road, but I'm pretty committed to this blade at present. It's more stuff (strop/hone), but so far I think it's worth it. The strop is honestly a pain in the ass, though...

Easttexas: I live in Mexico, actually. I'm a linguistics student studying regional pragmalinguistic differences in Mexico and Central America. My spanish is actually quite good, but the thing about language is that you only really excel in areas with which you are comfortable and by that I mean the areas that you use a lot. There's a study about German scientists who actually find it easier to discuss their work in English than in their native tongue, because they are more accustomed to it. Fascinating. So... I had just never needed to know the appropriate verbs for discussing hair removal before ^___^ I just described my Spanish as awful because I was frustrated at my inability to communicate what I actually wanted. A really fortuitous mistranslation, though.

[Goyu]

Also, here's my brush stand ^___^ Been hanging it on the outside of my pack to let it dry.

http://i.imgur.com/0yvfc.jpg

[shakin_jake]

That's a Ritzy Shave Brush Travel Tube

Thought I'd post a pic of the screw top soaps I have/use

middle of course is the Pre de Provence...to it's right, the mighty Cella. Now if there ever was a travel soap you should carry with you, this is it. On the left, straight from Scotland...the Groom Room's Scottish Heather, glycerin based. Lotsa charactor in that one. All three have screw top lids, and all three make wonderful lather

FWIW I face lather my soaps. As of late I've been starting out using Marco's style keeping the brush loaded with water, swirling lightly on top of the surface of the soap, ever so lightly. Swirl, swirl, swirl,a good minute, even longer. The longer you swirl, the more soap your brush picks up

FWIW2, I've used all sorts of brushes in each of these soaps, a Simpsons Chubby 3 (in Best) all the way down to Mirac's $2.45 horse hair brush from Poland, w/boar in between...Omega, Semogue. All shave brushes work fine for me

One thing I don't care for...creating lather in a bowl, using shave soap. Cream (shave cream) is another story and I actually prefer to make up my shave cream in a scuttle I have but not using soap. I just prefer to face lather my soaps


Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

[petr]

Wow! So much to respond to all of the sudden! In order:

Petr: Of course I got the straight! And I'm really glad I did, I don't think the shavette would have suited me well, but three shaves in I think the straight and I are going to get along famously. Can you expand on that antiseptic idea? Are you taking about aftershave? Is there travel friendly equivalent? Just alcohol or some such? I haven't tried JUST the oil, I'm too busy enjoying the lather. But I worked it into my pre-shave today, with good results. I'm shaving where I can, a few days ago was on the roof of a hostel with a small bowl of hot water. Today was in a decent bathroom. I'm in a fairly cosmopolitan city at the moment, back in Oaxaca. I went to the beach for a few weeks, but only just got the straight. So yes, plenty of water. And nothing is getting my pack soapy, because I was forward thinking enough to order Colonel Conk (white container) and Seattle Sundries "Filthy Rich" shave soap, which come in sealable containers. I've not tried the Filthy Rich yet, but it smells delightful. I'm in week one, so not a lot of feedback to offer re: products, but I'd be happy to make a "traveling wetshaver" post down the road. I think I'd probably only bring one soap if I had it to do again, but how can you know if you'll like a soap before you try it, right?

Yes, an aftershave should disinfect first (alcohol or witch hazel or alum based) and then seal the skin. Maybe some aloe to heal, vit e to moisturize and relieve razor burn. The single biggest tip I got when first learning to use a straight was use neosporin or a triple bacteria ointment on those cuts. An infection will send you to the hospital - or home. I'm sure they have something cheap and stinky AS at the local market for aftershave. Not cologne, but a post shave skin product. A gillette gel or afta would be decent and light to carry. I'd be curious to know what products you see in the stores there. I've even used vodka when I was traveling, but can't recommend it - it burned like hell.

I've never heard of "filthy rich", but it's tallow based and should be decent. From the recipe I suspect it's going to take some work to get a good lather ... ie shake wet brush, work soap, scrub face with brush, dip tips in water, work soap dish, scrub face with brush, dip dips in water x3. You want the lather thick and creamy. It's going to take some work with that teeny brush. This may be a great soap I have no idea.

If I were on this trip I think I'd want to have tabac soap refill puck cut to fit in a water tight container and/or the new poraso shave soap in the green 75gr travel tub container. Post shave I'd have a small alum block for travel and a small container of concentrated healing balm like queen charlotte soaps AS or the travel Castle Forbes aftershave balm. If not a local grocery store gillette product gel would do I guess. These are just my choices in my travel bag for Honduras.

Let us know how you're progressing!