Hello and a question

**Alpha Moth** · 02-12-2008, 05:50 PM

Hey, this is my first post... I'm 17 and I haven't really shaved before so you'll have to excuse me if I sound stupid. I only live with my mother...so I can't exactly ask my mum.

I just read this here;(http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...?t=25604)would it be bad or good for me to start off with wet shaving with a straight razor? I am willing to spend a tiny bit of money if its going to last me in the long run, I don't like to look of those multi bladed spaceships...
From what I can understand, I need a shaving cream or soap. A brush(I'd probably get a fine brush or pure..I'm not rich either). a razor(merkur classic HD?), blades and an after shave. Someone told me if I don't use an aftershave I'll get pimples, can anyone confirm that?
I am confident in knowing what I have to do, I've read that thread and watched several vidoes... I just want to know if its a good option. Can most of this stuff be purchased at K-mart or target? I'm in Australia and there isn't any wal marts or stuff like that!

Cheers... and please don't kill me if I posted in the wrong place or something, I'm pretty desperate and I have no other males in this household.. Thanks.

**BroJohn** · 02-12-2008, 07:39 PM

Alpha --

Welcome to B&B! That was a fine first post, and placing it in this forum is just fine. Since there aren't any guys in your household, perhaps some of the men here at B&B can help guide you along as you start your lifelong shaving journey. I'm guiding my 16yo nephew on his shaving journey, who like you, doesn't have anyone to help him in his home either.

As you've discovered, there are some fine videos on shaving and they are a great learning tool. Make sure that you view Mantic's shaving videos that he has posted on the net at YouTube.

Additionally, there are a number of instructional postings that are 'pinned' or 'stickied' at the top of several forums or sub-forums; these are a great starting point and you should certainly read through them. They contain a lot of information that will answer many of your questions.

First off, I'd recommend against starting with a straight razor, at least initially. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, the initial cost can be rather high. In addition to the other shaving requisites, the cost of a suitable razor, strop and hones can run into quite a bit of money. The learning curve is also two-fold: the effort to learn to lather and shave, and the (not inconsiderable) effort to learn sharpening/honing, stropping and care of the razor itself. Use of the Double Edge (DE) razor eliminates this double learning curve. It would be worthwhile to read and learn from the B&B Straight Razor forum, and down the road you may want to migrate to an open blade, but for now I'd say to go with the DE.

Regarding shaving soaps, traditional shaving creams, and shaving brushes, B&B has forums dedicated each of these topics, and certainly you should read them and ask questions. Acquiring a suitable brush, and a soap or cream need not be costly. Modest cost products work just fine.

At your age, just starting out, I'd recommend a vintage Gillette 3-piece Tech, or a Gillette Blue Tip Superspeed --both are mild shavers and work well for a young fellow whose beard is emerging and hasn't filled out. These are available used, via eBay, or from individual B&B members at the B&B Buy/Sell/Trade forum. I'm of the opinion that the Merkur HD, while a fine razor, may be a little bit much for a young guy who is just starting to shave. In any case, one 'must-do' item is to order the low cost razor blade sampler from www.Westcoastshaving.com You really need to try a few brands of razor blades, and this is the most advantageous way to do this.

Regarding use of an aftershave, it is a personal preference item. It isn't required, but most guys use 'something'. 'Pimples', bumps, and the like are the result of improper blade angle, or excessive pressure on the razor; *not* failing to use an aftershave. (Note that B&B has an 'Aftershave' forum, too)

Regarding Wal-marts, Targets, K-mart and other sources, I'm afraid I can't help you there. I'm in the US and not familiar with product sourcing in Australia. Not to worry, though. There are several B&B members from down-under that can point you in the right direction, possibly they'll chime in here. But most of the products are available there, or mail-order from on-line retailers.

Read a lot, ask questions, post some, let us know how you're doing!

Cheers.

-- John Gehman

**thirdeye** · 02-12-2008, 07:47 PM

+ 1... Tank you John, you have such a way with word. I simple can't ever seem to "spit it out" however this is great advice for this young man.

Welcome to B&B we are all glad your here.
Like John said, read and ask lots of questions. There is always someone here to answer the best they can.

**crankymoose** · 02-12-2008, 07:49 PM

Welcome to B&B

I agree with BroJohn on the suggestion of razors as well, as far as getting pimples from either using or not using aftershave I am no expert but besides being a part of adolescense that everyone goes through one of the other causes of them is greasy or oily clogged pores, a decent brush will help you exfoliate your skin and an alcohol based after shave may help keep your skin dry and pores cleaned, of course as you will learn here everyone's skin is different so as in all things here ymmv, do a little experimentation until you find what works best for you and enjoy

**Alpha Moth** · 02-12-2008, 08:06 PM

Thanks for the very informative posts so far, great. I don't think I would try a straight blade for a long time yet, I don't want to slice my face open. So I should go with a DE? I won't be able to order a vintage Gillette 3-piece Tech, I'd rather just go to a store and buy it... or is the safety razor like "Merkur HD" a good option, I know you recommended against it because of the cost.. but if it is good I will buy it, I don't really want to blow 20 dollars on disposable cartridges all the time, something that is more permanent I think would be a better option, and that way buying the blades would be a lot cheaper in the long run. I'm so confused with all these different razorz X__X

Generally, how long would shaving cream last me? All the threads are saying you will get a much better shave from the pressurized shit you buy in stores...

I really have to take care of my skin to avoid pimples, other wise it gets nasty...took a few months experimenting with products to not get any pimples.. I just hope that phase has nearly passed. Good to know not having an after shave will give me pimples.

If anyone in Aus can direct me to a shop where I can get decent/not too much of a rip off products that would be great. By the way I live in the Newcastle/Sydney area!

**sartoris** · 02-12-2008, 08:15 PM

Hey Brother,

Welcome to B&B! I think that the suggestion against getting a Merkur HD has more to do with the strength of your beard than the strength of the razor. No reason not to get started right, though, so I would suggest getting a DE, but I would also suggest looking on the Internet to find a Gillette SuperSpeed. It will be a little kinder to your face, and help you avoid those annoying pimples than would an HD, which is a bit more aggressive, and might make your skin break out more. A badger brush and some cream or soap will do you fine, either way, though, and I just wish I would have had the Internet to find something like B&B when I was your age. Good luck!

--D.

**crankymoose** · 02-12-2008, 08:17 PM

The Merkur HD is a great razor if you are going to buy a new one I am sure you can find several companies on line that will ship to you, may also want to check the b/s/t forums as there may be some listed but again some sellers may charge extra to ship to you.

As far as how long will a tub of shaving cream last I would say somewhere between 3-4 weeks should be your very minimum that a normal sized tub should last if that was the only shaving cream you used every day. Myself like most on these boards have too many and suffer from scad and ssad (see wiki) so it had been ages since I actually finished a tub or a puck of soap

**crichton** · 02-12-2008, 08:19 PM

Welcome to B&B! Great advice from all above - I'm a straight shaver so can't guide you too much in the DE journey, but there are plenty of others around here who are equipped to answer your DE related questions! Happy shaving!!

**BroJohn** · 02-12-2008, 08:24 PM

So I should go with a DE? I won't be able to order a vintage Gillette 3-piece Tech, I'd rather just go to a store and buy it... or is the safety razor like "Merkur HD" a good option, I know you recommended against it because of the cost.. but if it is good I will buy it, I don't really want to blow 20 dollars on disposable cartridges all the time.

Alpha --

My comment on high cost was in reference to the open blade straight razor. The Merkur HD is fine, and not very expensive. Merkur also makes other models, but avoid 'open comb' models. The lower cost 2-piece and 3-piece models with a solid safety bar such as the HD and the 'Classic' are fine. There is no need at this point for you to acquire the higher cost Merkur adjustable models.

You can check out B&B's Buy/Sell/Trade forum and see what the different members are offering. You may also find reading the threads in the 'Safety Razors' forum valuable.

I recommend you learn to shave properly with a DE type razor. Learning to shave with a DE takes a little bit more effort than using a cartridge type razor --but is easily learned and gives superior results. The multi-blade cartridges are renown for causing bumps, ingrowns, and irritation.

-- John Gehman

**Alpha Moth** · 02-12-2008, 08:41 PM

^^ thanks for the advice.

The usual recommended starter set for a new guy starting out is:

1 - A Merkur DE or some sort (Usually the HD)
2 - A good starter Badger brush ($30 range)
3 - The letterk sampler pack of blades from westcoastshaving.com
4 - A simple puck of shaving soap or cream

I think I will follow this advice. Avoiding 'open comb' models, a good safety bar, so either the HD or classic?
Is any shaving cream good to use? I'll most likely get it from k-mart or target..or anywhere else I can get my hands on them, just cream seams like an easier option to soap, just looks easier to 'lathe'

Thanks for everything so far.

**trewornan** · 02-13-2008, 03:31 AM

Swapping to a DE is a good idea for just about anybody.

Swapping to a straight is a whole different ball game. If you're not sure whether you want to try a straight or not - don't. It may be that some time in the future you'll have a rethink and decide that it's something you really want to have a go at, but if you try it without the right mindset you could easily get put off forever and that would be a shame.

PS Glad to see you're looking at an HD you can't go wrong with one of them.

**Alpha Moth** · 04-30-2008, 11:26 PM

Hallo guys, long time no post. Everything has been ok, now that I am growing a lil more facial hair then before I'd like to style it?!? Is there any special way I can do this or do I just shave the shape I want lol?

i want something like this, but i am not sure how i am suppose to do this. and once i do it, how do i maintain it? i mean how can i keep it short without shaving it clean off?

**Alpha Moth** · 04-30-2008, 11:43 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTNRYmUmXsM

just watched that, that is what i mean.. should i follow this way of doing it?

**SMOKE** · 05-01-2008, 12:27 AM

Welcome Friend.

All good advice listed above....for your age and beard,, I wouldn't spend the money on a new Merkur. The early Gillettes are the way to go. You could probably find one in an antique shop. I am a strong believer the gillette TECH is a perfect first time DE. Just look on ebay. I would say buy one here at B&B, but the shipping to AUS would seem to make it cost prohibitive. You can find them on ebay for $.99 to $10.00 all day long. There is nothing wrong with the gillette SS, they will just cost you a bit more and require a learning curve a bit longer then if you where to start with a TECH. Also make sure you get some decent blades, it makes a big difference. You might look online to see if you can find some Prorasso shave cream from an AUS website. It is easy to lather and a very good product.

Please don't hesitate to ask all the questions you want!!! We are here to help.

Regards,

**rm71** · 05-01-2008, 07:55 AM

Alpha Moth welcome to B&B. Check out his thread there are some good suggestions for shaving supplies for people in NSW as well.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...light=victoria

One of our esteemed members "Must Dash" lives in Sydney so he may also be able to help you futher. Don't bother with K-mart/ target. I did get a "Comoy" brand badger brush from Big W for $15. Not a bad brush.

As for a razor this sites shopping mall is excellent and keep looking at those antique/ thrift shops in your area.

Any questions, just ask.

Enjoy your stay

**rm71** · 05-01-2008, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by SMOKE

Welcome Friend.

All good advice listed above....for your age and beard,, I wouldn't spend the money on a new Merkur. The early Gillettes are the way to go. You could probably find one in an antique shop. I am a strong believer the gillette TECH is a perfect first time DE. Just look on ebay. I would say buy one here at B&B, but the shipping to AUS would seem to make it cost prohibitive. You can find them on ebay for $.99 to $10.00 all day long. There is nothing wrong with the gillette SS, they will just cost you a bit more and require a learning curve a bit longer then if you where to start with a TECH. Also make sure you get some decent blades, it makes a big difference. You might look online to see if you can find some Prorasso shave cream from an AUS website. It is easy to lather and a very good product.

Please don't hesitate to ask all the questions you want!!! We are here to help.

Regards,

Shipping 1 or maybe even 2 razors is rather cheap from the US. I've had numerous Gillettes shipped to Australia for about $2-$3 on top of the asking price. All arrived in about 8-10 days without any issues.

**morijinal** · 05-01-2008, 08:30 AM

Hi and welcome to B&B.

If you want the cheapest route to spaceship-shaver freedom I recommend the following:

1. It is practically unavoidable (at least if you want a good price) that at some point you will have to use the internet to acquire wet-shaving accouterments. To you, this means buying a razor. My first razor was (and still my only razor) a Merkur HD. It comes very highly recommended as both a gentle and effective razor. These can be found for about $35 (USD) from www.bestgroomingtools.com. However, if you don't mind picking up a used razor you can get one from ebay for less than half that.

2. If you want to prevent pimples I recommend using a shaving soap; such as Williams. It is cheap and widely available in the shaving section of just about any store. I puck of this soap will cost you about $1-$2 and is totally decent. Keep in mind that I live in the USA, so your soap brands may differ. The point is you don't need a $20 puck of soap for a great shave.

3. A boar hair brush can usually be found right next to the Williams soap in your local store for about $5-$10. Most B&B members (myself included) use a badger hair brush that costs anywhere between $35-$200. I consider this to be a luxury item because you still get great results with boar bristles. An added plus to using a boar brush is that its slightly stiffer bristles exfoliate your face.

4. On to the blades! It is highly recommended that you get a blade sample pack from Westcoastshaving.com. They range in prices (about $9.99-$20.99). However, this requires you to buy more things off the internet. Most local stores supply DE blades at a fair price. You will be able to get them cheaper online, but only in bulk. Most guys order a sample pack to find which blade works best for them before they drop $15-$30 on a 100-pack of their favorites.

So that's it. You should be able to get started for less than $50. Then, over time, you can add to your collection.

Drug stores are the best place to find shaving supplies.

I want to leave you with just one more tip: DON'T THROW YOUR USED BLADES IN THE TRASH without first ensuring that they can do no harm. Most blade packs come with a small slot to store them in. If that fails get creative.

Good luck.

--mike

**SMOKE** · 05-01-2008, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by rm71

Shipping 1 or maybe even 2 razors is rather cheap from the US. I've had numerous Gillettes shipped to Australia for about $2-$3 on top of the asking price. All arrived in about 8-10 days without any issues.

Good info...I wrongly assumed it would be much more. No issues with customs???

Thanks for the info.

Regards

**rm71** · 05-01-2008, 05:45 PM

Smoke I have had packages arrive from Lee's, QED and shavingessentials as well as buying about 8 razors from this site. No customs issues at all. Much better buying a DE from here than from Ebay IMO.

**Alpha Moth** · 05-01-2008, 05:56 PM

Thanks for the replies, someone was even kind enough to change Hallo to hello, sorry about that, sometimes I'm thinking in German and I'm not thinking in English..

My actual latest question was about the 'styling' of beards, a few posts above. This is the latest question I'm keen to know