Your First Traditional Shaving Kit ?

I got my first traditional shaving kit in may 2012. I do not remember how and why I pulled the trigger for this kit, but probably through a thread in a photography forum.

The kit was a typical beginners kit containing:

- Merkur HD
- 5 Derby blades
- Proraso green cream
- Proraso green Aftershave lotion
- Proraso white aftershave balm
- Proraso boar brush
- Proraso blood stopper thing

I had a wonderful, if not close, first shave, but soon realised I needed more info and hit the forums to expand my knowledge base. A sampler pack was purchased soon after and I was hooked for life

 

Merkur 38c ,Merkur blades, Rooney best badger & classic brand shaving soap .

 

My first was a cheap pure badger brush Van Der Hegan Deluxe soap and a Parker 22r

 

... any more First Traditional Shaving Kits?

 

By time I got into DE shaving (just this May 2015) there where many online shops eager to provide starter kits. It appeared a few of them got it right - provide low cost equipment meant to get the newbie started off on the right foot - with no guesswork.

I had been a 40 year cartridge and / or electric shaver.

So after a bit of research I settled on the Garry's Sample Shop Vintage Razor Starter kit:

for $40. he decides what to send so I didn't have to do the exhaustive research for "the best this" and "the best that."

He guaranteed that you would like the razor or you could send it back and he'd send a different one. My package consisted of :

Gillette Tech Fat Handle
A new Omega Pro 48 boar brush
Arko Soap
Two quarter ounce AS samples. Mine were Pinaud Musk and Special Reserve.

I couldn't be happier. Between the low-cost entry and all the TSD videos, tutorials, and great member advice, I couldn't think of a better way to break-in and get started down the path.

I've even continued to get soap and AS samples from him as he stocks most of the popular products so you can try them before taking the plunge on the full size versions.

I'm still using the Tech and the Omega brush as I delve into the wide world of blade choices (sampler packs) and different soaps and AS.

 

Marine Corps boot camp...Paris Island, 1972. My issued kit consisted of...1ea crappy razor, 10ea crappy blades, NO shave cream. A very sad face and broken heart.

 

I still have the razor and brush. I started with a Gillette Super Speed razor, Personna blades (still like them), VDH Boar brush, VDH Deluxe SS and Stetson cologne. Nice setup that worked well. I'm sure this setup would provide excellent shaves now as well.

 

My first kit

Merkur 34C a recommend this to new shavers
Tabac another good recommendation for starters
A generic Chinese best badger brush
Wilkinson Sword blades because they looked cool
Nivea after shave

I quickly added a blade sampler and then a Simpson Duke 3 in best and then.... Things got out of control.

 

Hello all, I think I have always been a wet shaver, however not a traditional wet shaver until three years ago. I did get my first DE kit in around 1977, which consisted of a Black Handle Gillette Super Speed, some Wilkinson Sword blades, and a can of Barbasol goo. I was 15 or 16. I determined at that time DE shaving wasn't for me, and proceeded to use disposable razors until three years ago. Then I inherited from a great friend a 1946/47 Gillette Aristocrat. I started my journey into the Traditional Wet Shaving Kingdome with that Aristocrat, some Gillette Edge canned goo, and some Family Dollar Dorco dispensers of blades. Here I am 150+ razors later, with a huge software supply and some good brushes too. Life is Good.