I apologize for the long post, but I wanted to recap my 8-month entrance into the world of DE shaving and share the wonderful ride it's been. I've been lurking these boards for about two months, familiarizing myself with techniques, reading reviews, checking out shave dens, and browsing old threads. I owe many thanks to everyone who has run this site and contributed content over the years. I just joined the other day, and I look forward to contributing.
I first learned about DE shaving about a year ago when I stumbled upon an article about shaving the way your grandfather did. I bookmarked it, and I thought, seems really cool, but I'll look into it later. It seemed like a lot to do, I'd need to get a brush, and go to antique stores?? What's that all about? Of course, later turned into weeks and then months. I was in the middle of graduate school and the job search, which all but consumed me for two years. I had been shaving with canned goo and cartridges since the beginning some 15 years ago. Looking back now, I see I was exhibiting our natural resistance to change. Walking through a mall with the wife doing some Christmas shopping last year, we came across a neat store you all know, Art of Shaving. I thought, hmmm, this sounds familiar. She says, look honey, why don't you get one of these nice brushes and one of these heavy razors, they are so classy looking, very manly. Boy, if she knew then what she was getting started. I thought back to that article I had read, and the salesman said "most comfortable shaves ever." I ended up getting a Merkur Progress and a AoS badger brush for Christmas from my wife, sister, heck, even the mother-in-law threw in on it.
When everything came in the mail, I didn't have any creams or soaps, so I just kept using my canned goo until I knew any better. Not the best way to start, but hey, I hadn't found B&B yet. I told the wife I needed some lathering cream, and she got me some Jack Black cream from Sephora, her favorite store. It's not bad stuff, and for a period of six months, it's all I used. I was finishing up grad school, stressing about the job search, and learning just enough technique to not hack my face up in the mornings. Shaving at this point, while a bit more interesting and different, was still a chore I would try to postpone. "Honey, do I need to shave?" SWMBO looks at me for two or three seconds, "Yes."
Finally finished school
, found a job , and moved into a house. Since it's just us two and no kids, we have a bit of space. SWMBO takes the master bath and makes it a pink palace of sorts, and I take the guest bath in the hall. Actually, I love our set up. I don't have to worry about make-up and hair spray everywhere or her crap spilling over into my drawers and cabinets. As you can see, I was left with three things now that I didn't have before: more time, more money, and more space. In the last couple months, I've learned this is the perfect recipe for some AD's to set in. With time, I found B&B and all of you. After much reading through these pages, I ordered a blade sampler pack since all I had experienced were the Merkurs that came with my Progress and Wally World Personnas. I got some CO Bigelow (Proraso) cream, TOBS Jermyn Street cream, Tabac Soap, Proraso AS, and Institute Karite ASB (which I love). Slowly but surely, I am building myself a shave den of my own, and I'm really enjoying trying different combinations of blade/cream/soap/AS. I'm taking a vintage barbershop theme mixed in with some nautical pieces approach to my bathroom, with some antique barbershop cabinets and display cases to hold all my gear. It's a work in progress, and I look forward to sharing pics in the future.
After reading posts here of love of old razors, I've ventured into the world of collecting vintage razors to go with my Progress. I had never stepped foot in an antique store, but I went antiquing with the wife last weekend and found myself a silver 1910 ABC Pocket with the Shell handle. Today, I found a silver 1909 ABC Pocket with the Scroll handle. How's that for a couple good first finds? I got a few others I'm still dating and identifying, including some SS's and NEW's, I believe. Picked up a few old brushes and Old Spice mugs too. Not sure if they'll hold soap, but for now, they'll decorate the den.
So I just wanted to introduce myself, express my thanks to all of you, and admit that I feel some AD's coming on. Now, shaving truly is a pleasure that I look forward to, and it's turned into a fun hobby of mine. The best thing of all, SWMBO thinks its sexy and good for me.
A few things are next on my list. Go through the rest of my blade sampler, at least most of it. I've still got to try Iridiums, Sharks, Nacets, and Feathers. My favorite right now is Gillette 7 O'clock over the Merkurs, Red IPs, Derbys, and Astras I've tried. My plan is to keep using the Progress to finish the sampler off before experimenting with any of my other razors for consistency. I need to clean all of my newly acquired razors (took me forever to find this MAAS polish). I plan to order pucks of MWF, DR Harris Arlington, and Institute Karite (since I had good luck with the ASB). Also want to start looking into restoring old vintage brushes. I've got a few threads bookmarked to read on this. And I'm thinking of getting one of those fancy pottery scuttles to keep warm lather.
I look forward to typing more in the future. Cheers.
I first learned about DE shaving about a year ago when I stumbled upon an article about shaving the way your grandfather did. I bookmarked it, and I thought, seems really cool, but I'll look into it later. It seemed like a lot to do, I'd need to get a brush, and go to antique stores?? What's that all about? Of course, later turned into weeks and then months. I was in the middle of graduate school and the job search, which all but consumed me for two years. I had been shaving with canned goo and cartridges since the beginning some 15 years ago. Looking back now, I see I was exhibiting our natural resistance to change. Walking through a mall with the wife doing some Christmas shopping last year, we came across a neat store you all know, Art of Shaving. I thought, hmmm, this sounds familiar. She says, look honey, why don't you get one of these nice brushes and one of these heavy razors, they are so classy looking, very manly. Boy, if she knew then what she was getting started. I thought back to that article I had read, and the salesman said "most comfortable shaves ever." I ended up getting a Merkur Progress and a AoS badger brush for Christmas from my wife, sister, heck, even the mother-in-law threw in on it.
When everything came in the mail, I didn't have any creams or soaps, so I just kept using my canned goo until I knew any better. Not the best way to start, but hey, I hadn't found B&B yet. I told the wife I needed some lathering cream, and she got me some Jack Black cream from Sephora, her favorite store. It's not bad stuff, and for a period of six months, it's all I used. I was finishing up grad school, stressing about the job search, and learning just enough technique to not hack my face up in the mornings. Shaving at this point, while a bit more interesting and different, was still a chore I would try to postpone. "Honey, do I need to shave?" SWMBO looks at me for two or three seconds, "Yes."
Finally finished school
, found a job , and moved into a house. Since it's just us two and no kids, we have a bit of space. SWMBO takes the master bath and makes it a pink palace of sorts, and I take the guest bath in the hall. Actually, I love our set up. I don't have to worry about make-up and hair spray everywhere or her crap spilling over into my drawers and cabinets. As you can see, I was left with three things now that I didn't have before: more time, more money, and more space. In the last couple months, I've learned this is the perfect recipe for some AD's to set in. With time, I found B&B and all of you. After much reading through these pages, I ordered a blade sampler pack since all I had experienced were the Merkurs that came with my Progress and Wally World Personnas. I got some CO Bigelow (Proraso) cream, TOBS Jermyn Street cream, Tabac Soap, Proraso AS, and Institute Karite ASB (which I love). Slowly but surely, I am building myself a shave den of my own, and I'm really enjoying trying different combinations of blade/cream/soap/AS. I'm taking a vintage barbershop theme mixed in with some nautical pieces approach to my bathroom, with some antique barbershop cabinets and display cases to hold all my gear. It's a work in progress, and I look forward to sharing pics in the future.After reading posts here of love of old razors, I've ventured into the world of collecting vintage razors to go with my Progress. I had never stepped foot in an antique store, but I went antiquing with the wife last weekend and found myself a silver 1910 ABC Pocket with the Shell handle. Today, I found a silver 1909 ABC Pocket with the Scroll handle. How's that for a couple good first finds? I got a few others I'm still dating and identifying, including some SS's and NEW's, I believe. Picked up a few old brushes and Old Spice mugs too. Not sure if they'll hold soap, but for now, they'll decorate the den.
So I just wanted to introduce myself, express my thanks to all of you, and admit that I feel some AD's coming on. Now, shaving truly is a pleasure that I look forward to, and it's turned into a fun hobby of mine. The best thing of all, SWMBO thinks its sexy and good for me.
A few things are next on my list. Go through the rest of my blade sampler, at least most of it. I've still got to try Iridiums, Sharks, Nacets, and Feathers. My favorite right now is Gillette 7 O'clock over the Merkurs, Red IPs, Derbys, and Astras I've tried. My plan is to keep using the Progress to finish the sampler off before experimenting with any of my other razors for consistency. I need to clean all of my newly acquired razors (took me forever to find this MAAS polish). I plan to order pucks of MWF, DR Harris Arlington, and Institute Karite (since I had good luck with the ASB). Also want to start looking into restoring old vintage brushes. I've got a few threads bookmarked to read on this. And I'm thinking of getting one of those fancy pottery scuttles to keep warm lather.
I look forward to typing more in the future. Cheers.
