Thread: Complete Noob!

I have enjoyed reading this thread
Picked up some things I was doing wrong making up the shaving soap lather
Will be trying it on my next shave

cheers for now

Important to note that the VDH kit has a meager boar at best, really not a good enough brush for a wet shaving makeover.

Originally Posted by AxelH

Important to note that the VDH kit has a meager boar at best, really not a good enough brush for a wet shaving makeover.

For 8 dollars it's way better than the 50 year old brush of Dad's I was using, whips up a servicable lather with the puck of Williams I have in the tea cup and has made for some great shaves.

For a young fellow moving up from gelgoop a real soap, a real brush and few tips might make all the difference. After we get him actually enjoying a shave he can explore the vast world of dumping lots of cash into the shaving experience.



Of course, there are much better brushes, but it is a brush, it does work, and it doesn't break the bank.

Originally Posted by tonycraigo

For 8 dollars it's way better than the 50 year old brush of Dad's I was using, whips up a servicable lather with the puck of Williams I have in the tea cup and has made for some great shaves.

For a young fellow moving up from gelgoop a real soap, a real brush and few tips might make all the difference. After we get him actually enjoying a shave he can explore the vast world of dumping lots of cash into the shaving experience.



Of course, there are much better brushes, but it is a brush, it does work, and it doesn't break the bank.

I agree. There is no need for a young fellow to feel that he needs to drop a wack of cash to at least get his feet wet. My personal feeling is in order to stick with this you need to commit to your shaves taking longer than 90 seconds. Until that decision has been made why suggest spending more than needed. Maybe because I am a father of a broke ass college kid and I know the struggles they can face. $30.00 can be a difference between eating and going hungry for a week for some of these kids.

Get your feet wet for 8 bucks. If you like it and want to stick with it and can afford some nicer luxury brushes, soaps and razors you will have a ton of choices ahead of you. If your on a budget that works too. There really is something for everyone in this

Originally Posted by AxelH

Important to note that the VDH kit has a meager boar at best, really not a good enough brush for a wet shaving makeover.

I own scads of razors and some vintage brushes for display, but have been using the same Wallygreens brush for 11 years. Yes, every day! Cheep plastic green handle! Thing works the lather up and in super! Drys to a fluff fast! I lose a hair out of it a week, maybe! I do not like Badger hair brushes as they are too soft. Less brushes, more razors! JMHO
Maybe someone will feel sorry for me and send me some boar brushes?

[QUOTE=Edgeof40;789642]Zach,
The shave gels and foam in aerosols really dont do the job that they are supposed to (ie they dont hydrate or soften the whiskers before you shave) so the soap and brush will be key.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

AH HA! That's the reason why my lather with this canned shave gel dried out too quick. I couldn't explain it but I knew it wouldn't hold water very well. It held the GEL well enough, but dried out too quick LOL. 'Twas a good learning experience for me to discover what works and what doesn't.

PondRacer

Besides the basic equipment make sure you stretch your skin, it helps a lot

I suggest you consider a DE razor and some shaving soap with a brush.

That's what I was thinking. Straight-razor shaving has a steep learning curve; you'll get similar results with a DE (safety) razor, faster, with less
education.

DE razors range from "mild" to "aggressive", depending on how much of the blade is exposed.[*] I only have two DE razors:

. . . a Weishi (from China, about $12 on eBay) is very mild. It works well with a Feather blade (which is very sharp).

. . . a Gillette "Tech" (US-made, 3-piece, I paid $5 in an antique store). It's not as mild as the Weishi, but it's still considered
. . . a fairly mild razor. Works nicely with Feather blades _if you're careful_; works nicely with other blades.

There are lots of old Gillette razors in antique stores / junk shops. Most people find that most of them are OK. Many are adjustable -- from "mild" to "aggressive" in a single razor. There are lots of reviews on this website.

If you want to spend more money, I'm sure other people will chime in!

charles




Charles
[*] The "Badger and Blade" ratings rely on throat width, which isn't exactly the same thing. But the idea is clear, I hope.

These are some great tips to get you started. I would also start off with the cheap kit to see if this is something that you are going to want to continue. I first began with DE before straight razor for some of the same reasons. I had terrible irritation from the multi blade and drying out from the aerosol. Like others said, it will take a little time to get used to so give yourself some time and be patient. Also, if you are a visual person like me, Mantic has some good videos on youtube. Best of luck!

You've come to the right place to start your life-long shaving bliss Zack!

First thing - stay away from the multi-bladed razors, and the canned shaving goo, and always make sure to moisturise your skin properly after shaving.

Use a good cream/lotion after shaving. (If you're on a budget, even a little aqueous cream will be better than nothing) As a matter of interest, you can even use aqueous cream as a shaving prep to your skin, then rinse it off before you shave with a good shaving cream / shaving soap lathered up with a brush.

I've posted a video here, but have a look at the other videos about lathering and shaving on youtube that "Mantic59" has posted. You will learn a lot from them, they are great to use as a learning tool.

Spend some time and watch this video, it will be worth a lot for you - YouTube - ‪How To Build And Apply Traditional Shaving Lather‬‏