Michelle from Mystic Water mentioned TSD and another forum. The other one seemed so normal, like really something my father would like. TSD seemed a little off kilter if you know what I mean (maybe a lot off kilter). Anyway I knew I belonged here. Dave
I found TSD as a side effect while researching DE & Straight Razor shaving, tools, techniques, and tutorials. Badger & Blade pops up in Google, but when you go to their forum on an iDevice it prompts you to install Tapatalk. I installed and while it didn't bring up B&B, when I searched for shaving in the app TSD was the first result!
I was googling info on wet shaving, trying to decide if it was something I wanted to get into. I kept finding threads from TSD and B&B, so I began creeping on both. Originally I just like the format better here, but then I began to notice how nice and helpful the member were here at TSD. That is when I decided to become a member, and I am very happy I did!
I had long been unhappy with paying $3 or $4 per cartridge for a 5 bladed Schick Hydro something. After about a week of decent shaves, I would grit my teeth and continue using the same cartridge for another week or so, because the cartridges cost so much. I also couldn't find a can of shave cream or gel that I really liked, and I would get bumps along my neckline. I had to make 2 passes with the 5 bladed razor with a little touch-up. When I would nick myself, it wouldn't be a tiny spot, there would sometimes be 5 little cuts. One day as I was reading one of my favorite gun forums, I saw a post "what bullet is in your brush?" The poster had been restoring a shaving brush and it wasn't heavy enough to suit him so he drilled out the handle a little from the top, and inserted a cast bullet to add weight. The thread continued to talk about brushes, then soaps, then double edge razors, and how inexpensively you could shave. I thought, man these folks are crazy, they'll cut their face off! But my interest had been been piqued. I remembered an ill fated attempt at using a shaving brush sometime in the 70's, an Ever-Ready C40. With my curiosity now in full gear after reading about bullets in brushes, I began to do Internet research, and began to discover some of the forums. I eventually realized that TSD had a family like, friendly atmosphere, where people could ask questions and get good advice. And so, after a short period of lurking, I joined TSD. My wife gave me an EJ 8911 for Christmas. I approached that first shave with tremendous fear and trepidation. After a very careful shave, much to my delight, my face was intact! Well there were a couple weepers that day!
I was getting sticker shock from buying cartridges and my neck irritation was getting worse. Started looking around for something better. I never do anything without endless research (drives my wife crazy). I was already looking at DE razors and then the Pawn Stars commercials showing a DE razor started. All the googling eventually led me here for information so here I am.
My last shave with one of those $0.69 Wal-Mart disposable wonders and Ivory hand soap finally made me stop and think seriously about shaving. Frankly, shaving was painful. I found Mantic on YouTube, and his beginner videos convinced me that wet shaving had to be the way to go. I did a search for "wet shaving supplies" and found my way to Jarrod's website, The Superior Shave. The large, hi-res photos and straightforward descriptions sealed the deal for me, I was in. His recommendations for newb wet shavers section urged joining a shaving forum. I lurked about for a bit and this site seemed to suit me best, so I joined. I guess you could say that Mantic set me on the correct heading, and Jarrod untied me from the dock and gave me a push.
Right - It was just interesting that the path Tapatalk leads you down isn't the way one would expect. I'd expect download the app then a web link would deep link you into the app. Instead it made me search - which led me to find TSD which has a more "open" vibe as a community.
As I was getting into wet shaving, I started obsessively researching, including reading through old threads on various forums. I joined several and mostly lurked, but the new member raffle, with its minimum post requirement, got me off the fence and actually posting here.
Random google search I think I was searching for info on reknotting out of curiosity. Don't really need to yet my brushes are new.
