A Razor, A Brush, and the Passion to Use It!

Hello Everyone

I'm new to wet shaving, been at it just under a month. I'm 58 years old and learning to shave all over again, sounds like a bad joke. Only it's no joke, I had to switch, couldn't stand the constant razor burn and bumps my Mach 3 constantly left me with. So I decided to give a Double Edge Safety Razor a try. I watched tons of videos on YouTube, tried to inform myself as best I could, then purchased my first razor, an Edwin Jagger DE89, and began my new life as a wet shaver.

Not so fast.

A few bumps along the way (no pun intended), such as my new razor had a flaw in the screw on the head, snapping in half after my tenth shave, cutting my thumb severely. Honest, I never over tightened it or dropped it, it just snapped. It had to be a flaw. Anyway, I was disgusted, junked the razor in the trash bin and cursed up a storm. I started to go back to the Mach 3, but another case of razor bumps convinced me to try again, so I ordered a Merkur 34c and a variety pack of blades. It's been hit and miss trying to perfect my method, not to mention a few cuts along the way -and more cursing- but I'm beginning to get it. Today I had my first true BBS shave, and it's wonderful. Now it's my Mach 3's turn to land in the bin.

Just wanted to introduce myself and say that I'm here to stay. I'll probably have a few questions along the way, some good questions, and some not so good, but bare with me, and I'll do likewise.

Thank you

 

Hi! Sorry to hear about your razor and thumb, but glad you're here!

 

Hello Marc! Welcome!
Sorry you had a rough go with your first DE razor. The DE89 has a pretty solid reputation and is often recommended for newcomers to wet-shaving. I hope you find another to take its place. Wet shaving with a quality razor, brush & top soap is a dramatic change from cheap carts and foam lather.
Glad you're here and hope you keep at it!

 

Thank you, Steve. My thumb is doing better, at least I can hold my coffee mug now. It's hard slurping my java out of a dog bowl!

Glad to be here

 

Maybe so, but ya gotta gets ya java!!

I roast my own beans. Can't get any fresher. Super easy (@richgem ) - half hour start to finish.

 

Hi Kevin,
I'm certain that you're right, it was probably just that one Razor. Law of averages states there's has to be at least one bad one in the bunch. And Marc's law states: Marc will always get the bad one!

I'll probably pick up another DE89 before long. It was gorgeous Razor.

 

Steve,
You do your own roasting? You the man! I might want to get into that for myself. Nothing tops off a great shave like an even greater cup of java!

 

Sweet Maria's is the place to go.
Here's their starter set - it's what I use, same pot for the last 5-6 years.
Check out the rest of the website for a ton of info.

 

Awesome! Thanks, Steve. Love the coffee mojo. How can I do that?

 

Welcome to TSD @Marc Bagwell

 

Ya know, I've heard something about that somewhere....

 

Blades!

So many blades, and not enough time to try them all. Honestly, didn't realize there were so many blades out there. So far Astra SP's are my favorites. Looks like Gillette is going to get my money no matter what I do.

Cmon guys, help me out, give me your favorites. I might be missing some good ones in the middle of the pack.

 

Thank you, Primo.

It's nice to be here, and away from the dark side of cartridge razors.

 

Starter set ---> https://www.sweetmarias.com/product/stovetop-roasting-starter-kit
Sweet Maria's home page ---> https://www.sweetmarias.com/
just click on a link.

 

High their, Marc, glad you have joined us.

 

Thank you

Love the art work

 

Marc, welcome to TSD.

 

I just wanna know if @macaronus knows that yet another Minion has escaped.

Oh, and welcome @Marc Bagwell !

 

Hmm.... the Blind Squirrel greeting the One-eyed Minion... seems like there should be a joke there somewhere. Probably needs a penguin or a rabbi.