My course was very similar. I had used a cheap brush and soap year ago and enjoyed it. I had given up on carts and went electric over the last 10 years or so. I would use a cart as necessary but not daily. My electric razor died so after seeing a commercial on TV I researched DE Razors and spent several weeks lurking on forums before even ordering the razor, brush and soaps. I saw all the SOTD photos and knew enough about my personality to know this was going to be a rabbit hole but went ahead anyway. The quality of my shave has improved greatly and I do enjoy the process more. Also my face has appreciated the change and is much softer with no issues that used to arise at times. Like my other hobbies, I reach a point where my purchases go down and I just enjoy what I have on hand. I will rotate things in and out from time to time but the I am a point where I don't feel the need to buy anything unless it's something that really interests me.

Great picture, Andrew!

My introduction to wet shaving was similar. I saw the commercial for the Microtouch One. Did a little research and actually asked for and got the VdH Deluxe starter set for Christmas 2015. I used the VdH Set with my Dorco cartridge razor for a month or two before taking the safety razor plunge. I don't even think I had my 34C for a month before I bought my first vintage razor which I believe was my birth year Black Beauty, it was all downhill form there.

Thank you, Jim!

Sounds great! Thanks for the information.

Great picture Andrew. That does sound like an aggressive razor. My guess is the angle was off just a little.

It feels slightly milder to me, but smoother and with a bit more heft. It's becoming my favorite Tech and I have to admit that I like it for the unusualness factor.

I first started looking at traditional wet shaving to save money. My wife hated spending money with one of those shaving subscriptions, so she told me to figure something out. I think I remember Googling "natural shaving" as my first entry. That brought me to DE razors, soaps, and brushes. I even put together a little spreadsheet to show her how much money we would save over a year (we are both engineers, so spreadsheets speak). I used the spreadsheet and the fact that shave soaps were natural as ways to get my wife on board. After a few weeks of lurking on the forums, I knew that saving money may be a bit of a stretch, but by then I was ready to go, so my spreadsheet never actually got updated. Well, after way more money spent on shaving than I ever would have spent had I stayed with carts, I am still here. It took the place of some of my other hobbies, and this one keeps me home, so my wife is content.

I still come back to saving money as my very first interest in it, though.

Thanks Clint! Well see what happens with it next shave. You're probably right about the angle.

Razor: Above The Tie SE1 w/ Timeless (14x85) Barber Pole Handle
Blade: Feather Professional (5)
Brush: 30 Day Crew LE with MS 2 Band
Soap: Jeeves Of Husdon Street Turkish Bath
A/S: Lucky Tiger
Bowl: The Distinctive Goat Maple Cherry Bowl

Another great photo. At least you are getting some sunshine.

Doug, that looks frigid! How much snow do you have there on the ground ? Beautiful setup BTW

Thanks very much Clint.

Hard to say how much snow. It's supposed to go up to 39*F tomorrow and freezing rain.

Yikes, sounds like a combo to shelve, Andrew.

Love that bowl every time you show it, Doug!

Thanks very much Jason.

1.10.2018
Pre-shave: hot shower & Nivea Men Sensitive Face Wash
Brush: Barburys by Sibel synthetic
Soap: Williams Mug Shaving Soap
Razor: Magic by Master Barber shavette
Blade: Derby Professional (2)
Post-shave: Dickinson's Original WH, Nivea Men Sensitive PS Balm, Pinaud Clubman Classic Vanilla AS

Some of you inspired me to go with the Williams soap today and focused on the lather making. Ultimately, I was very pleased with the lather today. I went back to lathering up one section of the face and shaving, then moving on to another section of the face. First, I lathered the right cheek, shaved it. Then I lathered it again and shaved it again. I did this to the left cheek, and the neck afterwards as well. This worked well, and I concluded the shave with a comfortable, close shave... bloodless this time.

I'm less intimidated by the shavette now, but it demands respect.

Now, I have to go through the posts and try to catch up. I'm behind... again.

Enjoy your day, my friends.

Good picture, Doug! Looks like you're getting some sun today. I really like that brush & the bowl!

Awesome photo, Dan! And no blood!

I'll give it one more go just to see if it wasn't just a lapse in technique.