Thread: Finally through lurkin--New from sunny Central Iowa!

Cheers, all!

I am new here, but excited to begin the lifetime journey!

I have always loved all things 'old', and have always wanted to shave with a straight razor.

For example:
My wife is my number one cheerleader in my quest to find the right '66 Mustang GT convertible to drive for the rest of our summers.
I love cigars, and have never met a Fuente I didn't like (I am a Hemingway junkie, and have about 30 in my humidor).
I like scotch, and nothing goes down better than a sip of neat Balvenie Doublewood 12-year-old nectar.
I have two bottles of Templeton Rye at home waiting for special occasions Templeton Rye – Prohibition Era Whiskey | Enjoy inconspicuously. and Templeton Rye - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (I was lucky to get both of them...hard to come by)
When we travel, the better half and I prefer staying in B&Bs, the closer to antebellum, the better!

So, it is natural, that with another mid-40s birthday coming, that I would finally pull the trigger on shaving like a big boy! I am ready to take the plunge, but am starting slowly...

I fully intend to get a 'sight unseen' deal from Larry at Whippeddog, and will also get the second strop. Sounds as if I cannot go wrong. It takes the worry out of brand and style, and lets me get good at shaving first, eh?

I also have my eye on a Muhle synthetic silvertip brush, but I am pretty flexible as to what brush I will end up with. I like non-animal items when possible, though.

So, my biggest question is--what soap do I get, and what do I whip it up in?

I'd rather do something where I get some sample sizes of a bunch of different soaps, rather than buying several large pucks/tubes and then trying to sell them off later. I do like peppermint and eucalyptus, but am not wedded to those either.

And, am I fine if I use an old mug? Or some pottery I get from one of my kids at school in pottery class? (I am a H.S. chemistry teacher...gone 'bad' from the world of research biochemistry). Something from the local decorate it yourself pottery store?

Looking forward to hearring from anyone with advice! I am simply mesmerized by the knowledge and friendliness here!

Thanks in advance.

Scott

Wellcome
Start with small steps,sorta like when you learned to walk go down to CVS pharmacy,you can get an inexpensive syn brush for a few bucks,call around, alot of places carry proraso soap in a tube,just face lather and learn slowly,enjoy the journey.baby steps man.

Hi and welcome to SRP!

Take a look at some of the soap vendors here in the vendor section - some of them offer sampler packs I'm sure (or at least some of them used to).

An old mug is fine - your biggest issue may be the size of the mug and the soap not matching up, but that is not really a problem so much as a small inconvenience.

I have not tried one myself, but I am sure that the synthetic brush you mention will do the job admirably.

Good luck!

James.

Scott,

Depending on what part of Iowa, I would be happy to get together with you in person, and provide any help I can. I remember when I first started shaving a little over a year ago and couldn't find anyone in central Iowa. I am in Ames Iowa if you are anywhere close.

Nathan