Thread: Would like to introduce myself and ask a few questions

I always recommend Nivea Sensitive to newcomers to traditional wetshaving. Not only is it very gentle, being alcohol free, but it's very soothing and is readily available at an affordable price at most supermarkets.

After doing some research, here is what I am going to try first:

Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort Pre-Shave Oil
Geo F. Trumper Rose Shaving Soap
My Merkur HD with Feather blade
Truefitt & Hill After Shave Balm

In the move to straight razor shaving, I think I am going to get a Dovo Shavette to start with so I can learn proper shaving technique without being able to blame my improper honing/stropping. Later, I would like to get a Dovo Classic or something to learn honing/stropping with.

I have sensitive skin, but not as bad as your skin it would appear. The best advice for me was from mantic59 on youtube: never go over the same spot twice in a row, just once nice stroke and move on to the next spot. Think of it as beard reduction passes. Heard it from him, not sure who said it first

Since switching to the straight and/or DE I have reduced my number of ingrown hairs so much that I can't remember the last time I had one.

Good luck!
jeff

Originally Posted by BGAndrea

After doing some research, here is what I am going to try first:

Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort Pre-Shave Oil
Geo F. Trumper Rose Shaving Soap
My Merkur HD with Feather blade
Truefitt & Hill After Shave Balm

In the move to straight razor shaving, I think I am going to get a Dovo Shavette to start with so I can learn proper shaving technique without being able to blame my improper honing/stropping. Later, I would like to get a Dovo Classic or something to learn honing/stropping with.

I love T&H 1805! IMHO pre shave oils don't help. When I tried them it made the shave much worse. Of course, YMMV

I like T&H shave cream the best of all the samples I've tried. Since you're getting a few things from them, why not the cream too?

One last thing that I'm sure everyone is going to agree with, don't get the shavette. Get a razor from the classified here that is pre honed. It will cost barely more thenthe Shavette, but shave 100 times better. Plus you won't be learning good technique with the shavette. Wanna know the ONLY way you will learn to shave with a straight? I bet you know.... to shave with one! lol at least that's the conclusion I came to.

If your budget can swing it, pick up an inexpensive strop to start. You WILL nick it! I made my first strop and was getting ****y thinking "hmm why do they say we will nicj it? It's been a couple weeks and my technique is good!" Famous last words :P Some strop sellers offer practice strops along with the nice ones. That's an ideal situation, but not the least expensive.

I hope you have a brush to make your lather. That Merkur is a nice razor and feathers are sharp, but go dull fast, again YMMV. I'd swap that T&H pre shave oil for some cream and mix the soap and cream to make the lather.

Good luck!

Thanks for your response! I found a strop company near my home (The Well Shaved Gentleman/Heirloom Razor Strop Company). I e-mailed them asking about a practice strop and if they would show me proper technique when I pick up my strop. I have not heard back from them as of yet. In the meantime, I will look through the classifieds and see if I can find a razor. Please let me know if you see anything there I should look into.

Welcome to SRP.

As far as beginner equipment is concerned, I would - at the time of writing - seriously consider Straight Razor Designs' offers. A bottom line Dovo and one of their strops will not necessarily cost more than a similar set from the Classifieds, but the Best Quality Dovos are often highly underrated razors (I find them visually bland, but very efficient and easy to maintain) and SRD's strops are in the same league as Tony Miller's (ie both deliver excellent value for money).

Regarding shaving paraphernalia, I would encourage you to peruse the review sections in the equipment forum. Personally, I would invest in Castle Forbes' products, especially their pre shave. Except for some exotic stuff from Italy, I have not found anything that outperforms Castle Forbes, and the difference in price to the products you suggested is negligible.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Regards,
Robin

Originally Posted by dannywonderful

I always recommend Nivea Sensitive to newcomers to traditional wetshaving. Not only is it very gentle, being alcohol free, but it's very soothing and is readily available at an affordable price at most supermarkets.

+1

It is a bargain and works wonders for me.