Thread: Will this be good for my first SR?

Originally Posted by N1ghtmare

I just use gillette... is the investing in special creams/soaps really worth it?

I had the same doubts too, and I tried shaving with just the gillette, but it doesn't glide the same as it does with a good soap, and you want a soap that provides some good glide. I would recommend the SRP soaps, they are inexpensive and awesome. I've used the same can every day for about a month and a half, and it isn't even half gone.

Originally Posted by N1ghtmare

I just use gillette... is the investing in special creams/soaps really worth it?

YES! OMG YESSSSSSSSSSSS

Even the cheapest stuff will help out a lot more than what you're using.

Go down to Walgreens and pick up the Van Der Hagen soap and brush for under $10 and you will be on your way. It's cheap, readily available and it will definitely improve your shave. Your skin will thank you.

Originally Posted by Fbones24

Go down to Walgreens and pick up the Van Der Hagen soap and brush for under $10 and you will be on your way. It's cheap, readily available and it will definitely improve your shave. Your skin will thank you.

VDH was the first soap I started with and makes a wonderful lather quite easily. It will give the blade enough glide and will outlast any Gillette or other canned goo many times over! As you progress in str8 shaving you'll experiment with many different soaps/cremes and will find a few that you particularly like (for me its Prorasso and Mitchell's Wool Fat). The list of soaps and cremes is very long, but the key is that they protect the face, FAR outlast canned, are good smelling, and provide long lasting lather with small effort. It's definitely worth it!

Wow, thats an overwhelming lot of responses... I guess that I have no choice but to use soap now

Go down to Walgreens and pick up the Van Der Hagen soap and brush for under $10

I'm afraid I can't do that... © HAL 9000. I'm from Moscow, Russia.

One more question though, is there any way to determine the age of my SR? The tang reads "62".

If you're in Russia, just look for something locally that doesn't come in a can...that's everyone's primary concern. It won't provide the protection that your face will need during the shave. As for a strop, if you don't have one, find a local leather artisan that can craft on up for you.

Oh, and that Henckels will provide a superior shave.

Originally Posted by N1ghtmare

I'm afraid I can't do that... © HAL 9000. I'm from Moscow, Russia.

If you can't buy shaving soap you could always try makeing it. the easiest way would probably be to make a glycarin based or melt and pour soap. an internet search will give you pleanty of recipes then you'll just have to find a store that sells soap making supplies.

That razor looks as if it has been ground on extensively. I would like to see the blade sides better. If it was ground as much as it looks, it would need to have a new bevel set in the least before honing. Also the scales are from a Schultes razor, while cool, they are not original. Henckles are great, but that one is "iffy" in my opinion!
If you are in Russia, get on Ebay and buy about 10 pucks of Williams soap for cheap. I like it and lots of guys do as well, whether they admit it or not! No, the stuff in the can nor tube will work! No lube there! Good Luck!

I've tried shaving with shaving soap (Muehle Pinsel with sandal) and a gillette fusion razor (I didn't get my Twins yet), and now I got irritation. Never happenned with my Gillette shaving cream.

Make sure that you are lathering correctly. You need to have something that looks like whipped cream. Read the Wiki articles on the subject and you'll be fine. Bare in mind that, for traditional soaps, you'll also need a brush.
The razor burn may be related to excessive pressure on the razor and poor lathering.
Just my 2 cents...

Oh! And welcome aboard!