Hello all, over the past few weeks, I've been getting more and more curious about DE razors. A couple other forums I participate in have some pretty dedicated crews of wet shavers singing the praises, and decided to give it a go. The college handout "starter sets" worked on me. In 1990, when I was checking in to Michigan Tech, I was handed a bucket of travel size items as part of the process. In the bucket were a Gillette Sensor razor and a can of Edge Gel "sensitive" cream. I stuck with those two products for over 15 years. I struggled a whole lot with what my wife and I refer to as "tree trunks" along my jaw line - ingrown hairs that were a couple times normal size. I started using witch hazel or various creams and gels to try to reduce them. Sensor cartridges became hard to find, and more expensive. I hated the 4 and 5 blade razor designs - looked like shaving with a cheese grater. Eventually I switched to Nivea shave cream, and the ingrowns decreased a bit, but not totally. Two years ago, on a business trip, I stumbled across an "Art of Shaving" shop. I looked at prices, thought it was insane, but I talked to one of the employees about my ingrown hair problem, and she told me that shaving with a brush often helped people with that, and that a razor upgrade (to one of their higher-end Gillette Mach 3-compatible handles) would help. I walked out without buying anything, but thought about it. A few weeks later, I bought a Gillette Mach 3 and a cheap Shea Moisture brush from Target. My wife got me a travel kit from AOS for Christmas that year. And I've been using AOS pre-shave oil, AOS cream, the SM brush, and that Mach 3 since. Ingrown hairs are almost completely eliminated, but I hate how much the blades cost. I've pondered a DE razor. I was nott sure which one or how to get started. This past, my wife and I were in that same AOS store where I started down this slope. They had one Merkur HD handle left. They now have none. Had my first DE shave yesterday morning and again this morning. First tries weren't as close as my old cartridge, but I can feel the potential. I know I need aftershave of some sort, so I've got some Kiehl's and Nivea to try. Also placed an order for a blade sampler, stand, and a puck of Harris Arlington. Speaking of slippery slope, I've also picked up a bowl (crate and barrel) and some VDH soap yesterday. And found out today that my local Sally Beauty sells Derby. And I think I need a new brush... So much for trying to save money on cartridges.
Since you are new to the Double Edge world, here is the advice I received when I started with a DE and so I freely give it to new users. The most important things in shaving are, your skin and technique. All other things fall in line behind those two things and to support them. Since the skin is a given fixed item, the next major item is technique. It is called THE 30 DAY RULE. THE 30 DAY RULE is as follows: Find a razor, then a blade that will not cause issues with your skin (that may take a few different blades in a sampler pack to find a suitable choice or it maybe the first out of the gate) and select a soap or cream that is easy to generate good lather. Once you find those, and it may take a couple of weeks to find this combination, order a quantity of that blade enough for 30 days, and then spend 30 days using nothing else until you build up your technique. (Note that only one brand blade is used for 30 days after each blade in the sampler pack is tested to make the decision on the blade brand to use for 30 days.) The 30 day clock starts when you have the right blade for you. After 30 days, change one and only one variable and work for another week then change another after another week. At that point you should be able to make better decisions because your technique is now in place. This will help you to avoid buying too much gear and stuff too soon without having the technique down to enjoy it all. This really does work. Oh and one more thing ... Welcome to the Den. We know you'll fit right in. So grab yourself a comfy chair, and give our threads a spin! Burma Shave
Thanks for this advice. As a former process engineer in a manufacturing facility, I know the value of changing only one thing at a time (unless you just cannot get it fixed and are hard up against a deadline - then shotgunning may work!). So I am trying to keep things as constant as possible. For now, pretty much the only thing that's changed is adding a DE razor to my existing preshave oil/brush/cream process. That and an aftershave balm (which may be causing some problems). I stuck with a Derby blade last week and am now trying a couple others as I get my sampler pack in. I do think I'd like a different brush, and I wanted to thank you for your interview on the M&B podcast. That's got me thinking hard about a synthetic brush as my next purchase (not counting soaps).
Welcome to TSD! If you stick to only one razor and brush you will definitely save money....rarely does that happen though.
Oh, I've already given up on saving money. I guess I'm justifying it to myself in that the money is (primarily) going to more permanent objects that are not just a plastic handle and cartridge. I can appreciate the craftsmanship in a well-turned brush handle more than a stamped can of gel. Now I'm lusting after a machined stainless razor and a half dozen brushes, but I'm trying to hold off for just a bit on those. Kind of like when I got into fly tying. I did it because I was tired of spending $2/each on dinky little size 18 midge flies that I KNEW I could make cheaper. Yes, I can make them for about $0.50 each. But I've put thousands into other materials "just to have". My wife is well aware of the sickness, but this is one she can get behind - I'm buying cosmetic products. LOL.
