Hello, my name is Tyler, and I had a problem. That problem was shaving. About a month ago found a solution to my problem. Traditional wet shaving. I started out as I'm sure many teenagers do, with a multi-blade cartridge razor and a can of foam. Cartridge replacement were expensive and I could always afford them, so I shaved infrequently. After awhile, my Mom bought me a Braun twin foil electric... It didn't get as close as a cartridge system, but the blades did last a lot longer. By the time the batter had stopped taking a charge, I was on to my second electric beard/mustache trimmer as well. I've been sporting a goatee or van dyke also most as long as I've had facial hair, and the beard/mustache trimmer was a critical tool. It was probably around this time that I got my third multi-blade cartridge razor, a Gillette Fusion. The timing was pretty good. There were some safety concerns with my then employer and the respirator I sometime had to wear. It was nothing too serious, but I had to be clean shaven where the respirator made contact with my face to ensure proper function. It's a good thing I had trimmed the 3" van dyke a few years ago! Time went by and replacement blades went unpurchased due to excessive pricing, and the battery in my beard/mustache trimmer died. Shaving was as unpleasant and in frequent as ever. I had moved away from the part of my job that required the respirator, so that wasn't an issue any more. I found myself growing out a full bead and then trimming back to a van dyke every month or so. Fast forward and I get a new job and new Conair multi function face hair remover! Beard/mustache trimmer, single foil electric razor, and even a nose/ear hair trimmer (I refuse to acknowledge this as an important, well used feature!). I still have and use the Conair but it was much of the same; grow a full beard for a month, trim to a van dyke and get yelled at by SWMBO about whiskers all over the place. Man, when I finally started to trim with the vacuum hand, I thought I had reached the height of human intelligence! I'm not too sure when I became interested in traditional wet shaving, maybe a year. I finally "took the plunge" about a month ago. I created an account here on TSD and order the basic supplies, razor, blades, cream. I think the day after I placed my order I realized I forgot to add Alum, and I couldn't find any locally. I did find a brush though, so I added that to my gear. The big day had come, I have everything I needed including two days of growth. Armed with all my knowledge from TSD and an extremely sharp $0.29 piece of metal, I did war on my face and won! So for the last month or so, I've been trying to shave every two to three days. I haven't had many bad shaves (and I'm not complaining!) or many shaves for that matter. I think I've enjoyed every single on though, even the ugly one.... This mornings shave has been my best to date. It is a bit of a struggle though. Now that I enjoy shaving, I find myself wanting to shave a lot more frequently. Not because I need to, but because I can. I do plan to increase my shave frequency to onec a day, but I'm talking about wanting to mix up some lather and shave in the middle of the day, because it's enjoyable. And then there is the dark side of traditional wet shaving. The side that's going to get me in trouble. The AD's... I though this was going to be inexpensive?! I feel like I shaved off all my will power with my first shave. So far I think I've done a good job keeping costs down, but now that I'm bitten I can see a pending problem. Even before my fist shave I was inquiring about my Grandfathers straight razor. I'm not ready for that step yet, but that's where I see my shaving going, from DE to straights. And of course I'll try some soaps instead of the cream I'm currently using, which mean I should probably invest in a mug/bowl, which I'm sure will become a scuttle... Speaking of creams and soaps, I'd like to try a pre-shave oil/cream/balm, and I finally did order that alum as well as a post shave balm. I've never been a huge fan of after shaves, but I've never really need one or looked at whats out there... Looking, why did I have to look? My name is Tyler, and I had a problem, now I have newer, bigger, better problem. And it is not a problem, it is wonderful.
to TSD Tyler...........Your "DEFINATELY" going to like it here.... How many of us I wonder have stories similar to yours ..And your correct it's not a problem, it's an "ADDICTION" and it gets "WORSE", so you have to treat it that way and "FEED IT" regularly....
I was going to call it an addiction, but that just sounds too negative to me. I'm sure I will over feed it as too...
Welcome to the wonderful world of good shaves. For a pre-shave oil, go to our Tutorial section. There is a simple, inexpensive recipe. BTW, my husband & I both use them & get good results.
Now I feel bad I forgot. Welcome to the Den. If you don't know by now you soon will that there are a wonderful group of men and women that are all willing to help with any problem or question.
We will all certainly encourage you to feed your uhhh gremlins... Mine have just taken over, so I've just given in and I'm lost....
