Thread: New guy, first shave, intro and review

Well Hello from Massachusetts!

I have been reading through this forum for a couple weeks now after deciding I wanted to take charge of my facial care and shaving habits. A little bit about my previous shaving habits, I started shaving when I was around 13 (I know I was an early bloomer). Since I started shaving I have had some sort of facial hair, "lineup", "goat", etc... but have always used cartridge razors. The way I would do it was as soon as I got out of the shower and dried off I would wet me face down with hot water again and get to it, yea no cream or soap, just hot water and a cartridge. To be honest thats how I was able to make perfect lines with a cartridge. Anyways, fast forward to today, I am 28 and for the first time in my life starting a little over a year ago, I have a job that requires I be clean shaven every day, enter the electric... I hate having no facial hair, if I wasnt paid good money with full benefits I would probably quit for this reason only haha. So because I am not set up for a BBS clean shave I use an electric thats maybe 10 years old but never used, so if I'm too lazy to shave the night before I shave in the parking lot. I hate this thing, dry flaky skin, itchy and raw, and I have more ingrown hairs then ever before in my life. So I made the decision that if I'm going to shave 5 days a week, I'm going to enjoy it and I'm going to make my face and skin healthier.

So after doing a whole lot of research I will be in the market for a Dovo "best quality" and a whole bunch of other goodies in the coming weeks but to get started I bought, get ready to cringe, the "magic razor". Yea I said it... and on top of that, CVS brand blades lol... I also bought the VDH starter kit just so I could get started. So having just made it through my very first wet shave with a shavette I have learned a few lessons and formulated a few opinions. First, I'm sure your wondering, did I chop up my face? No, only one small nick 1/4" on my right cheek(I am right handed).

So the razor, this thing is way too light, there is no "let the weight of the blade do the work" with this thing. The blade holder sucks, it slides out easily so you have to have a steady grip on this thing as to not slide your thumb outwards and you have to be very concious of checking the holder and making sure it hasnt slid out at all. With that said, its cheap and does the job but you can not go fast with this thing at all due to these issues. As for the blades, very sharp, very thin, and very flexible. If anyone has used these blades can you let me know what they might be equivelant to as far as name brand blades go?

The starter kit, standard boar brush, stiff does the job. Would I like something softer? yea maybe a pure badger but in my opinion it wasnt overly prickly like some say. The cheap clear plastic brush holder does the job, thats about it. The mug is probably the nicest part of this kit, solid, aesthetically pleasing. And the soap, I read somewhere that the VDH basic soap isnt that good but the luxury soap is good? does anyone know if the soap in this kit is the basic or luxury? because its not that good, doesnt lather well no matter how much or little water is in the brush and the lather is thin on the face and disappears quick and I was reapplying every couple minutes...

As for my experience, It was greatly enjoyable. I had fun, a lot of fun, and definitely think this is something I will pursue for the rest of my life. I only did one pass WTG and my face feels as smooth as it would with a 5 blade cart. No dryness, no itchiness, no irritation (besides the one nick which doesnt even hurt) my face just feels good. I'm going to get a little better at WTG and maybe at the end of the week or next sunday I will try XTG. Afterwards I used Pacific Shaving co caffeinated aftershave balm, I really like this stuff, smells great, slight cooling sensation and just a very smooth balm. The biggest lesson I learned with this hunkajunka shavette is always make sure to have the blade moving completely perpendicular to the stroke with absolutely no side to side movement.

All in all I cant wait to get a real straight.

Happy shaving,
Scott

Welcome aboard mate
Great see you have had some progress
Try checking out the classifieds for a Str8 that is shave ready and might help you out a lot
Also add you location to your profile as you may haven someone close by who could help you out
Remember to check out the beginners guides etc on the home page if you haven't all ready
Keep up the progress and happy shaves

Welcome to the forum. If you have any questions be sure to ask the members here are very helpful.

Bob

Welcome Scott! You have come to the right place since you are tired of the plastic cartridges. There is a ton of info here on SRP. The classifieds here have 'shave ready' razors for reasonable prices. Straight Razor Designs, a vendor here (who is also the founder of SRP) also has straight razor kits that have everything you need to get started. Which ever razor you choose to purchase, remember 'shave ready' is the key.

Make sure to visit the library here, you will learn much. Ask questions, the folks here are more thN happy to help. Enjoy and happy shaving!

Cool. Yeah. Get a real straight...

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I actually found this site by the beginners articles that popped up on google. I have read them all and they have been very helpful. I also watched a couple of Lynn's youtube videos before i knew who he was haha.

I have also been keeping an eye on the classified section and looking at the kits on SRD.

So far everyone on this forum has been very helpful, thank you all.

Sounds like you had pretty good first experience. Congrats!

First the cvs blades are similar to shark blades very mild but decent blades.

Did you buy your vdh kit at cvs also?

It sounds like you got the dh deluxe kit cause the basic one doesn't typically come with a stand. If you did get the deluxe kit you have a pure badger hair brush that's a bit on the floppy side and is slightly black. Also a white or black apothecary mug and a white puck of soap.

If you have the basic kit you would have a boar brush with a navy or green handle white hair with a black band. Also a navy bowl with a green inside and a flesh color puck of soap. If this is your kit I would suggest a trip to target and look for the Shea moisturizer pure badger brush. It's cheap and far ahead of the vdh brush in easy of use. The vdh brush is a major lather hog.

From your post sounds like you need some help with the lather. First thing is to get an old mug and soak your brush for at least five minutes. When you lift it out let the water drip out but don't shake. Then go to your soap puck and using just the tips swirl the brush on the puck. Use no pressure just keep the tips in contact with the soap. You will do this till the tips look like the have a thick looking cream on it almost like toothpaste. Then start lathering on your face using just the tips. As your lather starts to build you can use a little pressure to add water from your brush to the mix.

Good luck

Thanks for the input on the blades, because I only bought a 10 pack I'm going to need some more in a few weeks(if I havent aquired a real straight by then), I'll probably buy a sampler pack. As I will also be aquiring a DE as well for when I'm pressed for time(once I have the technique down of course) I will need blades anyways.

As for the kit, I bought it at rite aid. Orange box that says Ven Der Hagen Shave Set, black mug, black handle brush and it does specify boar brush, I have no experience with shaving brushes but from what I've read this brush feels exactly what I would expect a boar brush to feel like, stiff, kinda prickly but it doesnt seem to bother my face but i'll see if I can pick up a pure badger and compare notes. The soap is white and smells nice and the plexi-stand is a nice bonus. I'm going to take a trip to target since I have the day off and see what they have.

With my lather technique I thought I was doing it correctly from what I've seen on youtube but maybe I was getting too aggressive with the brush on the puck and not getting enough on the tips. I did have the brush soaking in a bowl of hot water while I was in the shower and didnt think I was removing too much water before lather but its definitely possible, guess I'll just have to keep experimenting. I'll probably be picking up some razorock soaps in the near future, their price/scents/reviews seem like a good buy and they are cheap enough I wont regret it if I dont like it...

Welcome to the forum. You've already made the first step by deciding to shave properly! Well done. Since you're in the US, I'd get in touch with SRD for your first SR and strop. You know your SR will be shave ready. The classified ads here too are a safe bet. Until you actually have your SR, keep practicing with the shavette. I find the SR easier to use, so if you can manage the shavette, maybe you'll find the SR easier to use too. Good luck.

Interesting they must of changed their new kit to have the boar brush.

The Shea moisturizer brush and after shave is good. The shave cream wont lather but you can paint it on with the brush and will give a decent shave. Not one I really would recommend.

However since you have a rite aid near you they carry real shave company shave cream and that is an excellent lathering cream that gives a good shave.