First DE shave......recap.

**e_town** · 03-24-2008, 09:53 PM

First off, I would like to say that this whole community is amazing. I think i was originally pointed here via digg.com and never looked back (well, not really). I was enthralled by the whole idea / culture of this "old fashioned" way of getting a daily "chore" done. What has surely after tonight been known as a chore, will now be something to look forward too.

On to the hardware (and software).

I bought a kit off amazon. Included was a Merkur HD 34C, polished steel handled badger brush (not sure of quality), and a polished brush / razor stand. Picked that up for 90 bucks + S&H. Did a lot of reading on this forum and some other sites and came up with this kit as my best starter option. Also purchased was the standard sampler pack from west coast shaving. The blades came in a couple days ago. The HD came in today (i had it shipped to work). So, there i sit all day actually wanting to go home and......shave. That was a wierd feeling all in its own.

The first shave went exceptionally well. It started pretty lame, the sink in my bathroom decided not to empty after filling it with water to warm my "mug" and towel. So, on to the 1/2 bath i went, towel, razor, brush and soap in tow. I took the pre-shave ritual pretty serious, as noted several times on this forum as a good idea. The only item i forgot to get online w/ among all of the other essentials was any type of shave cream / soap. Stopped by Meijer on the way home from the brewery (work) and picked up the only legit thing i saw. Williams mug shaving soap. Smells great. Did some research when i got home and found that some people use this as their "go-to" alternative. Left me with a good feeling about the virgin run.

After making sure to warm my face well, i lathered 'er up. This was the only procedure i was unsure about. The lather did not seem to be as "foamy" as id imagined. Although, i was re-assured that i was doing the right thing as soon as the warm badger hair brush hit my cheek. Amazing first feeling. It feels good to treat yourself every now and then. "I get to do it once a day now" runs through my head. Usually, the skin on a mans face is nothing short of abused every day. "I can get used to this" i say to myself.

Being a bit nervous of butchering the f*&k out of myself, i proceed with extreme caution on the first pass. I re-assure myself that the 6 years i spent as a chef would help me out. Wielding a much larger sharp object at much greater speeds in a much less controlled environment only turned out against my favor in a few rare occasions.

As it reads on a bottle of Kessler, "Smooth as silk"

The shave was everything i could of expected and then some. The only spot of red showing through the AGT (big terms for a newbie

) was a previous blemish i had been picking at. Not a nick.

I dont want to embelish too far, but my shave has never been this smooth or easy or just darn good feeling. Not burn, ZERO. Dare I say......BBS?

Anywho, that was a crap load of rambling. I'll be suprised if anyone actually reads that whole mess, but either way, thank you to all who wrote any review of anything, a tutorial showing how to do anything, or just said what they think about a product.

Does that work for a first post? (I swear anything after this will not be so long)

**Unit 91** · 03-24-2008, 09:59 PM

Which blade did you use?

Congrats.

**e_town** · 03-24-2008, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Unit 91

Which blade did you use?

Congrats.

Gillette Platinum Edge. And forgot to add. Didn't have much of a post shave but a hot then cold rinse followed by a touch of good old......lotion.

.eric

**kato1** · 03-25-2008, 02:13 AM

Welcome on board. Sounds like you had a great first DE experience. Always a nice way to set the ball rolling.

**R-James** · 03-25-2008, 02:25 AM

Welcome to the forum buddy

**crankymoose** · 03-25-2008, 05:50 AM

congrats, welcome and nice looking setup you got there

**Limey** · 03-25-2008, 06:02 AM

Eric - welcome. Great results for a first shave and pics..well done!

**mantic** · 03-25-2008, 06:25 AM

Welcome and congratulations!

--Mark

**BroJohn** · 03-25-2008, 05:13 PM

Well Done!!

Welcome to B&B.

-- John Gehman

**Mr. Todd** · 03-25-2008, 05:25 PM

Awesome man! Welcome to B&B. I have the exact sae set as you... as for the brush... it's bottom of the line Pure Badger... excellent size though. So far Murker and Dorco blades haven't worked with my set-up... Durby is in 1st. Still gotta try Crystal / Gillette and Feather. May you have many more awesome shaves!

**jat9096** · 03-25-2008, 07:50 PM

Glad to hear it went well. williams is kind of hard to build thick lather IMO. try another shaving soap like tabac, t&h, AoS, PdP or C&E and watch the lather grow

**e_town** · 03-26-2008, 04:26 AM

Originally Posted by jat9096

Glad to hear it went well. williams is kind of hard to build thick lather IMO. try another shaving soap like tabac, t&h, AoS, PdP or C&E and watch the lather grow

So i've noticed

Its the only thing i could find for the moment. Totally spaced getting any creams or soaps when i bought the setup online. I'm going to C&E this weekend. Also, a couple other stores around posed in the Ann Arbor / Detroit shopping section. That thread just single handedly ate the rest of my expenses for the week.