Hello everybody. I've been lurking on these forums and reading reviews here for a few weeks now. While I've posted once before, I thought it was time to introduce myself and actually join the community -- especially since I'm still aglow from this morning's shave, which had to have been one of the best I've ever had.
Since I began shaving, I switched every now and then from multi-blade cartridges to electric razors. Both had their own special ways of chewing up my face, but eventually, I found a combination of cartridges, shaving cream and technique that allowed me to finish a shave with only a little blood and burn. I stuck with that for years, mostly shaving every other day.
Then, a few months ago, thinking there still had to be a better way, I stopped in an Art of Shaving store (I live in Denver) and just started asking some questions. I walked out of there with a Merkur Futur and some pre-shave oil. (I've used the oil several times, and while I love the smell, I don't like using it. Feels gross.) I've since bought a vintage Gillette adjustable (not sure what model it is, but it's in great shape), some Feather blades, a pure badger brush and some Col. Conk Bay Rum glycerine soap. I've improved my technique to the point where I can get a shave like this morning -- BBS with absolutely no razor burn and only one or two small nicks that closed up with a little styptic pencil and a splash of witch hazel. And, I've been shaving every day; I no longer have to skip a day to heal between shaves.
My next purchases will be Tabac soap, which so many here think so highly of, and an alum bar, which sounds like it's a more comfortable way to close nicks than the styptic pencil I use.
Anyway, I hope to be a relatively frequent contributor here, and I really appreciate the knowledge everybody shares. Seems like a good place to hang out and spend some time.
One last thought: I came across this thread yesterday (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=51152) on the resurgence of old-time ways and I couldn't agree more with the author. Sometimes it's absolutely, totally worth it to spend a bit more time doing something right rather than trying to reinvent the wheel in order to shave a few seconds off. Pun intended. I'm glad to have found DE shaving, and glad to have found Badger & Blade.
Thanks!
Jon
Since I began shaving, I switched every now and then from multi-blade cartridges to electric razors. Both had their own special ways of chewing up my face, but eventually, I found a combination of cartridges, shaving cream and technique that allowed me to finish a shave with only a little blood and burn. I stuck with that for years, mostly shaving every other day.
Then, a few months ago, thinking there still had to be a better way, I stopped in an Art of Shaving store (I live in Denver) and just started asking some questions. I walked out of there with a Merkur Futur and some pre-shave oil. (I've used the oil several times, and while I love the smell, I don't like using it. Feels gross.) I've since bought a vintage Gillette adjustable (not sure what model it is, but it's in great shape), some Feather blades, a pure badger brush and some Col. Conk Bay Rum glycerine soap. I've improved my technique to the point where I can get a shave like this morning -- BBS with absolutely no razor burn and only one or two small nicks that closed up with a little styptic pencil and a splash of witch hazel. And, I've been shaving every day; I no longer have to skip a day to heal between shaves.
My next purchases will be Tabac soap, which so many here think so highly of, and an alum bar, which sounds like it's a more comfortable way to close nicks than the styptic pencil I use.
Anyway, I hope to be a relatively frequent contributor here, and I really appreciate the knowledge everybody shares. Seems like a good place to hang out and spend some time.
One last thought: I came across this thread yesterday (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=51152) on the resurgence of old-time ways and I couldn't agree more with the author. Sometimes it's absolutely, totally worth it to spend a bit more time doing something right rather than trying to reinvent the wheel in order to shave a few seconds off. Pun intended. I'm glad to have found DE shaving, and glad to have found Badger & Blade.
Thanks!
Jon