Thanks a lot man. This is very helpful. Just read your line to my wife about spending time on products and she said you are absolutely right lol. The explanation helps a lot. Usually with cartridge based I've done hot a towel, then applied a shaving cream from nutrogena for sensitive skin. Followed that up with ice cold water application to the face then nutrogena sensitive after shave cream. This world provides so many different options which can be daunting to say the least. Very similar to what you mentioned in terms of how you use what you have is more important that what you have. In photography we say the following "Beginners worry about gear, professionals worry about skill and masters worry about light" I can totally relate.
Here is some advice for you Omar, don't steal my thunder! Kind regards, Omar =) Jokes aside, you have gotten some very nice advice already. Another piece of advice is to keep to your basic kit as long as you can before buying new gear. Sticking to the same gear will help you develop that technique you need for the best shave =)
Thanks a lot! Yeah im trying to nail down my basic kit and then taking it from there. I go back to photography because its similar advice. We say buy a basic camera with a basic lens. Shoot a lot and learn what you like/dont like. Then invest once you have that figured out. So ill keep my basic for a long time until i can begin to form some kind of preference. Great advice. =)
Welcome Omar I'm new to both DE shaving and TSD I was DE shaving for a month before discovering TSD and in one week of being here my shaves have vastly improved. It's all good solid advice from genuine people the only down side is my shaving addiction has also vastly increased as has my want for all things related thankfully it's not an overly expensive hobby. Enjoy the beginnings of great shaving
to TSD "OmarT" I hope you enjoy it here. First a selection of mild, efficient and affordable safety razors I've used, that should also work well for you: Gillette "FAT" handle tech(vintage) Edwin Jagger 89(modern) Parker 97R(modern) Merkur 34C(modern) A large blade sample pack is very important. The more different blades you can try the better. After trying examples of badger, boar, horse and synthetic shave brushes, the only brush I now use is the bestshave #6 horse(?) hair(I've used my original brush for about 5 years now). It works very well for me and is VERY inexpensive, although QC on the brush is a bit hit or miss, for $5 shipped I feel it's worth a shot especially for a starter brush. Preshave: Corn Huskers Lotion Shave soap: Arko. Van der Hagan "Delux" is also a good quality affordable soap and you can find it locally. Postshave: Nivea post shave balm Time, technique, practice and patience are key to a good DE shave.
+1 on that, very happy stuff also everything Kerry said up top. AND, don't use ANY pressure with your DE and if your neck is sensitive only two passes on it no matter what. give it a break, when your technique is rocking you will be able to get a DFS with two passes no problem but in the mean time...... and use witch hazel after your shave. did i forget to say welcome to TSD
Love it man! Thanks a lot for the tips. You all are filling in a lot of the blanks i have had in the process!
+1 on this -- I would only add that many people find hanging on to their multi-blade razor during the early transition to DE razors can be a smart move. No reason not to continue using what you're accustomed to on the more difficult portions of facial topography. I found it very helpful when making that transition -- it has also proved to be beneficial for my excursions into using straight razors and shavettes. Have fun with it -- it can quickly develop into a skill to be proud of. A Hydro or Fusion will work fine for most people, but there is great fun to be had with a more challenging razor. I think you will find it similar to learning to drive a car with a standard transmission -- just makes driving more interesting and more fun (not during rush hour LOL). It's still nice to drive an automatic now and again.
Oh! Don't expect your early shaves to b better than your cart shaves. They will be but it takes a few weeks to really get it good so two passes perhaps three and live with it. If you try to bbs in the beginning you will get irritation
Welcome. Being fairly new to DE shaving (a month or so) I can't impart a ton of wisdom but I'll tell you what I learned either from reading here or on my own: Take your time. Learn to appreciate the process. Some people like smoking cigars, some like running and some like massages. I happen to like showers so incorporating DE shaving into my (long) showers was a plus. Until you learn the feel of the tool in hand and how to control it, go slow. No matter what razor you choose, no matter what blade you choose, take the time to learn to use it properly. I was super lucky in that from the get-go DE shaving was never a struggle and other than my very first shave (which I admit to pushing by applying more than needed pressure) I've had nothing but great shaves. With that said, never DE shave when in a rush. You'll need to retrain yourself as it comes to muscle memory cause like me you're used to cartridge shaving and those years of muscle memory is what got me in trouble on my first shave. Even thought I read it over and over, I put too much pressure and didn't let the tool do the work. I find now, after a month's or so worth of shaves that I can move faster with my razor but I still prefer to take my time as the single blade is a heck of a lot sharper than the 5 in the cartridge. Lastly, and this stems from my ignorance with a new tool, mind the blade! After getting the razor and inserting a blade I was admiring the tool and saw a small speck of lint on top. So I instinctively swiped it away with my finger... next thing I know there's blood on the walls, the ceiling, the sink... I'm in an ambulance with an IV and the paramedic it preparing to shock me. Good luck!
Omar, Welcome to TSD. All good advice above and from experience vintage Gillette Techs still deliver a great shave, I also still have the Edwin Jagger DE89 I bought as my first "serious" DE razor. As a bargain shave cream I'd have to recommend Palmolive Classic, lathers superbly well and at the price it's a steal! I'll always have a Palmolive tube and shave stick in the rotation, convenient to take on holidays too. For preshave some swear by ordinary hair conditioner, others get by without. It's a continuing process of trial and error to find what works for you. If you haven't already, I recommend the tuition videos from Mantic59 on Youtube and his "The Sharpologist" web site for useful advice and reviews. Good luck, welcome to a lifelong, fascinating hobby. Regards, Chris
