I’m alright as far as the blades and shave cream go, just point me in the right direction to get some good ones, thanks! Again, any advice is welcome

Welcome to the thread, Michael.

Stick around for a while and you'll get some good advice. You'll see a lot of us use double edge razors, and often of the vintage type. A Gillette Tech is a great starting point, IMO. If you want new, then something like the Razorock Mission is pretty good. With DE razors, riding the cap, maintaining a consistent angle, and keeping almost zero pressure is the key to a good shave.

I see Charlie has offered up a few freebies, you might take him up on this offer, and I am sure a few others might pitch in as well.

OK then...Here are some relatively inexpensive items you can pick up from Amazon that should work very well for you. I have suggested a shaving cream with a sandalwood scent. If that scent does not work for you, you can find many other scents and even unscented products with a little searching. I suggested a natural boar hair brush. You'll have to shampoo it a few times to remove the animal odor (this is normal). Once it is broken in, it will be a fine brush that will last you a very long time. If that is not your thing, you can pick up some nice synthetic brushes as well. Synthetic brushes are ready for use right out of the box.

Razor - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003NTHWLU/?tag=thshde-20
Brush - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HJ6CFM/?tag=thshde-20
Blades - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FGI0I2Q/?tag=thshde-20
Shaving Cream - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007MW2ZW/?tag=thshde-20
After shave balm - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014E2Q8K/?tag=thshde-20

Is this enough to get you started? Please realize these are just my suggestions. Hang around for a bit to see what others recommend. And PM me if you're interested in some blades or shaving cream/soap. I have plenty and would be glad to help you out. Most of us here have enough shaving gear to last for many lifetimes, so it makes sense and please us to share.

Here's a decent tutorial video to help you get started.

He's a day or two late from my den. I mailed out a tightly pack box to one of our new Crew members on friday. It was only two brushes, three razors, a bunch of blades, and a half dozen soap samples. Not a PIF! We worked a trade because he had a soap that caused irritation. Some Essential Oils do that but I've tested OK for this one.

@Michael Bilyard - Charlie mentioned sending a PM, that short for Private Message. If you haven't found it yet, look at the upper part of the webpage for "Inbox". This Wet Shaving thing has it's own language. Ask questions if you don't understand anything. That's why we are here.

I didn’t know that what you were offering was free! In that case, I’ll take them haha. I’ll send you a PM. Also, what do I need a brush for?

Also, whats the difference between wet and dry shaving? How do I avoid getting those embarrassing cuts all over my face?

Hi Michael. I'll jump in with my hello right here. I'm Neal, the one they refer to as their leader. Ok, so I basically keep track of this thread but leading these guys is a bit like herding cats. Trust me, if the aliens ever land and ask to be taken to "your leader", I'm probably not the one they're looking for. Unless they need bad jokes or advice on shaving anyway.

Great that you found us and your enthusiasm and energy is very welcome here! You have the chance to start shaving with the right kind of gear and technique that will save you the misery that most of us went through using the disposables and cartridges. As far as having those embarrassing cuts on your face - chicks dig scars! (Ok, that's a joke around here). Unfortunately, cuts do sometimes occur but developing great technique is the best way to avoid them.

If you ever have any questions ask them. One of us will answer. Probably more than one. We love helping newbies learn to shave whether they are 15 or 50. If there's ever anything we say that you don't understand just tell us and we'll clarify it. That goes for the shenanigans and jokes around here too. There's quite a bit of "thread lore" here that may take a bit of time to fully understand but we'll make it easy.

Welcome aboard!! Look forward to having you around!

So you used a picture of me as a birthday card to me? Bold, my friend. Stay bold.

Thanks to all of you gentlemen for the wishes. It was a beautiful wedding and I’m still walking on clouds. My 15 month old grandson is sleeping in my room tonight. My wife and I are thrilled to he his first overnight baby sitters. I’ll have to teach him how to shave in the morning Good night.

@NCoxSTL

One of the challenges in the current marketplace is the sheer number of mattress stores. Mattress Firm has over 3000 just by itself (which includes all of the Sleepy's and Sleep Trains they purchased among others.) When you add in the local and regional mattress dealers (and you don't count the national department stores like Sears) you discover there are more specialty mattress stores than there are McDonald's in this country. That's a startling fact. Then add the online retailers, the national department stores, the furniture stores who sell mattresses - why - you can't swing a dead cat without hitting someone trying to sell you a mattress.

I make a motion to the Cartel to revise the upper age limit to at least 80 years of age. Remember, we have @BaylorGator and @wchnu to think about.

OCtober Oleo and Odd Balls!!

October 7

Razor - Fatip Piccolo
Blade - (1)
Soap - Oleo Soapworks El Caballero
Brush - 30DC LE
Post - Alum

Time to change gear and start my next year off with a great setup. The Fatip is up and when loaded with a Voskhod it's ready to take on anything. Back to the El Caballero to start the three shave cycle and the LE brush was perfect to get the perfect lather again.

Two passes, very smooth and effective, just a bit of G-sliding on the neck and the baby is in the house with room to spare. The Fatip is my favorite modern razor, at least of the ones I've tried. Can it bite? Yep. Can it deliver a perfect shave? Yep. Learn to use it and you're guaranteed great shaves!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes today. I really appreciate it in spite of trying to ignore it at the same time. Age does that, I think. My sister told me when I was about 15 or 16 that I'd find out that birthdays don't matter anymore past 21. The decade ones are something to celebrate, but once you pass the big 21 they're all just another reminder a year went by. I get what she said. It's nice to have people who care enough to remind me, though, that every year here is special. This is actually a fairly important one in my lifetime as it does represent the 10 year anniversary of my return from the hospital after being near death. Considering what happened to me in 2008, and the fact I survived when I shouldn't have, every day is a bonus, and to string 10 years of them together is a blessing. I'm also happy I now have this group to share those days with too. In 365 more days I'll be at the next decade marker. We'll check in and see how I feel about that when it's here.

Have a great Monday!

​

Ok so I have no experience with an OC razor what exactly is different besides the obvious OC lol

Motion accepted. No second required as I believe an Executive Order from the desk of the Czar will handle this. We'll set the upper limit at 80 in order to accomodate Randy and Fuzzy for the next 2 or 3 years, then we can talk about raising it again if needed. Good idea Comrade!

Ummmm, that's pretty much the difference. The comb isn't a solid bar. It's actually - like a comb. Some of them do provide a more aggressive feel to the shave, i.e. the Fatip and Old Type Gillettes. Some, though, are quite mild like the NEW LC. The open comb does allow a bit more blade feel in some of them but riding the cap is still possible and can turn even the MMOC into a really nice shaver. Those are my thoughts anyway.

hmm appears this may be something I will have to acquire and give a go

Enabling complete.

Well done! Well done. Now I get the searching and deciding which I am to go for lol

I suffered thru 20 years of cartridge and electric shaving before I stumbled across this place, and it's been smooth, irritation free shaving ever since. You're in the right place @Michael Bilyard .

To answer a few of your questions.

With wet shaving you normally take a dampened shaving brush, swirl it on top of a shaving soap puck to "load" the soap into the brush and apply (swirl) the soap to your dampened face. The water and soap provide the protective lather used while shaving.

Dry shaving, on the other hand, is basically an electric razor. They work passably, but they're not efficient or overly comfortable. If I use an electric razor multiple days in a row I start to break out in razor bumps and burn. Ouch!

Tell ya what, PM me your contact info and I'll set you up (for free) with all the gear you need to get started. I have more than I could ever use in 3 lifetimes.

• Gillette Tech DE razor
• Gem 1912 SE razor
• Personna Lab Blue DE blades ×5
• Gem Stainless Steel SE blades ×5
• Shaving soap puck
• Shaving cream tube
• Old Spice shaving mug
• Shaving brush