Report: A few weeks in, and some new info/surprises
Backstory (for those who haven't interacted with me):
I'm a college student who needed a hobby and thought this would be $*p*i*m*p*$. And it is. (Since I started, a lot of my friends want to start, and a lot of the girls I hang out with have the usual "OMG is that dangerous? I bet you're really manly" response)
So anyway this is my boot leg shave set up:
Brush, soap, mug:
VDH combo- $10 (thanks walmart)
Razor- $10 Friedrich Wilhelm (Solingen, looks like not a full grind, not a wedge though, maybe around 4/8's, OLD) that hi_bud_gl graciously tried to hone for me. He thinks it is not shave ready... well it passed my hht and its good nough for now.
Strop- $15, Illinois 127, needs work (/oil/lather/breakin... lol...)
Other strops- 3 year old Levi's stretched real taught, newspaper on a texbook, stretched taught
Aftershave- $5 here's the shocker- Neutrogena for men post shave lotion. Haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, and I used it before with cratridge razors so it carried over. Amazing stuff. Absolutely amazing.
Cologne- $40 Armani Code obviously gifted, from/for SWMBO, never could've afforded.
So I'm str8'n it up for $40. Granted I'm looking for two better blades (I found one, a Fontenille Medaille d'Or, nice worked spine and etching and stuff) and will be getting them really honed to shave ready.
Anyway-
What've I learned? Four cuts, six nicks and one case of razor burn (which occured before hi_bud_gl graciously sharpened it) later I am getting the hang of it. And its great. I'm about to experiment with other neutrogena stuff and I'm gonna start hammering it, cus its a lot cheaper than the standard chique shaving stuff, and its amazing.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU TO ALL YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS (WHOOPS AND GIRLS) ARE AMAZING AND I NEVER EVER COULD'VE DONE THIS OR WANTED TO CONTINUE WITHOUT YOU. THIS SITE IS THE BEST. HANDS DOWN. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
