Would like to introduce myself and ask a few questions

Hello:

My name is Brandon. I am a 24 year old pre-med student studying to become a Psychiatrist. I joined this site because I am interested in learning how to use a straight razor as well as improving my shaving techniques. I'll go ahead and ask some questions I have after doing some initial research and would greatly appreciate any help I can get. I look forward to speaking with you!

1. I have a challenge not being able to shave every day. If I shave daily, I get terrible redness, soreness, and an overall terrible shave. Because of this I find that I must only shave twice a week. This is not always convenient if I have important meetings, etc...
I currently use a Gillete Power Fusion when I shave but this problem has occured with previous razors as well. I shave in the shower and use power fusion gel. However in order to get my neck smooth, I figured out that I have to actually rub a bar of Dove soap over the whiskers on my neck and use that to shave with. I shave with the grain twice, sideways, and against. The end result is usually a pretty good shave.

Now, you may be thinking that I have not tried premium shaving products but that is not true. Years ago, I used Art of Shaving pre-shave oil, Art of Shaving Sandalwood shaving soap, and a Merkur DE razor. I found that the pre-shave oil caused my skin to break-out and clogged my sink drain, the shaving soap was not as smooth as the Gillete gel, and the DE razor just wouldn't shave the curve of my chin well so I ended up having to use the Mach 3 or something to finish the job anyway.

As I am getting older and am more and more in the professional world, I want to figure out a way of comfortably shaving daily. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Welcome to SRP Brandon. I haven't had those problems with irritation so I cannot help there. I will say that I've never found a smoother shave with anything other than a good shave ready straight used with proper preparation and technique.

Here is the SRP Wiki where you'll find the beginner's guide and additional tutorials on all things straight razor shaving related. Other members who have dealt with some of the same issues will no doubt be along to share their experience with you. :gl:

Welcome Brandon. As Jimmy stated the Wiki and a good sharp straight razor goves the best shave with proper prep and a good shave soap or cream. While you are preparing to enter wet shaving I would suggest using your hair shampoo and hair conditioner on your beard as a prep and see how that goes. Lots of good shave soaps and creams available but most are available only off the web. Read through the SOTD and see what everyone else is using. SRD Shave soaps are really good and affordable. Maybe order some samples to find a scent you like. Other good brands are TGQ and C.O Bigalo available at Bath and Body Works, a brick and mortar store. There are lots more this is just a very few that come to mind. Most of us like a pure badger brush for soaps and they are a less expensive brush. Stay away from the brands of straights listed in the WIKI as brands to avoid and in the beginning EBay. The classified section of this site is a good place to get a straight razor as are the vendors that advertise here and in the vendor corner under the classified section. Another option would be a double edge (DE) razor from Merkur or a vintage Gillette. Going DE it is a good choice to find a web site that sells blade sample packs to find what works best for you. It's better than what you are using now and not as steep a learning curve.

Good luck!

Thank you both for your replies. I am playing around with the WIKI now and have learned some pretty neat stuff.

I just took my Merkur out from the depths of the medicine cabinet and put on a Feather Hi-Stainless Platinum blade that I just got on eBay. I used my usual cream, technique, etc... and got an amazing shave with almost zero irritation on 7 day old growth. I will try the same set-up tomorrow to see if it will make me be able to shave daily. That would be pretty great! My skin is a little dry now but nothing a good after-shave lotion couldn't help (any recommendations?) and certainly better than the results I used to get with my Fusion. All I know now is that the Gillette Fusion is in the trash.

Also, does anyone have experience with Geo F. Trumper products? I watched a TV show on them and they seemed pretty nice.

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Originally Posted by BGAndrea

Also, does anyone have experience with Geo F. Trumper products? I watched a TV show on them and they seemed pretty nice.

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I haven't tried them myself, but they have some very ardent fans here.

welcome to srp, brandon.

looks like you already did what i was going to suggest, i.e. give that merkur another try.
At the end of the day it's just a piece of steel cutting hair, so there's no reason the multiblades will be better. they don't offer almost any level of control over the process and that is only detrimental to cutting the whiskers in the best possible way. just use a light touch.

i use the skin foods from trumper and i like them in particular the sandalwood and the coral/rose. i think they may still be offering a sampler of their products, check their website.
i haven't liked any of their colognes enough to justify a buy and i don't remember if i've tried the soaps&creams.

have fun and keep us posted.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BGAndrea

Thank you both for your replies. I am playing around with the WIKI now and have learned some pretty neat stuff.

I just took my Merkur out from the depths of the medicine cabinet and put on a Feather Hi-Stainless Platinum blade that I just got on eBay. I used my usual cream, technique, etc... and got an amazing shave with almost zero irritation on 7 day old growth. I will try the same set-up tomorrow to see if it will make me be able to shave daily. That would be pretty great! My skin is a little dry now but nothing a good after-shave lotion couldn't help (any recommendations?) and certainly better than the results I used to get with my Fusion. All I know now is that the Gillette Fusion is in the trash.

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Feathers were my favorites too, but I've switched entirely to straights now. They are amazingly sharp and give a good shave for me. I'd be wary of trying it again tomorrow. The first time I used a feather, I liked the way it shaved so much, I tried to shave again too soon and had quite a bit of irritation. Especially if you aren't doing anything to your skin post shave. FOr a quick inexpensive fix for that, grab some generic witch hazel and a Nivea for Men AS of some sort. I'm partial to the balm myself.

Welcome to SRD and good luck :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BGAndrea

Also, does anyone have experience with Geo F. Trumper products? I watched a TV show on them and they seemed pretty nice.

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I recently purchased a sampler of Trumpers from barclay crocker. I have found the scents to be very nice and the lather to be excellent. Good luck with your studies.

all of the trumpers face foods are great! i get about 4 months out of 3.5 ounce bottle, and i use it every day on my face and bald head! a little goes a long way. and welcome to the club:gl:

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

Quote:

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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.

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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

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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.

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+1

It is a bargain and works wonders for me.