Thread: Hello from Melbourne, Australia.

Hi all,
I'm Bryan and have been lurking for about 6months.

I've been shaving exclusively with a Parker Shavette for over 4months and was content to stay with the disposables, being cautious about committing to the ongoing maintenance of a traditional blade.

I've been gifted a Dovo and have revisited the forums to get a realistic idea of time and effort involved with keeping the edge well tended.
Looking at the process now, I feel comfortable with stropping it myself and sending it off a couple of times a year for a touch up. So the initial apprehension was probably 'shock and awe' from the multiple learning curves rather than any genuine feeling that maintenance is onerous.

I'm shaving 'baby smooth' with a couple of passes and my whole routine is under 15mins, which I'm very happy with. Respect for the blade, focus and attention were essential in building this new skill.
Having built confidence and comfort, I'm ready to attempt another challenge.


I'd appreciate any recommendations from Australian members to local online or bricks'n'mortar stores and services. (Yes, I've seen the classifieds)

Anyway, I look forward to getting to know you all a little better now.

Hi Bryan and welcome aboard. Great to have another Melbournian, too! Not sure on the forum etiquette about naming stores etc, but I'll PM you with the ones I've dealt with so far (pretty limited, only just got started on Dec 1st, but it may help).

Cheers,
Kevin

Hi Bryan,
Welcome to the forum! There's a Down Under section at the bottom of the forum listings. In there is this link which lists a lot of good providers. I find Men's Biz pretty good; with very fast postage. Reasonably often I want something that is only available overseas, and I like buying from The Portugal Online Shop, Classic Shaving and Vintage Scent.

Carl

Welcome Bryan, glad to have you aboard. Be sure to check out that section of the Down Under forum with the link that Carl has provided.


Mick

Thanks for the links, that list thread has reached 10pages and I'm working through it now.

I was hoping to find a bricks'n'mortar shop, even a barber with a small display cabinet or perhaps a cobbler who really knew what they were doing, but it seems like relying on the community is the best way to go.

Sadly, I asked at the cosmetics/fragrance counter at Myer if they had any shave soap, and even the middle-aged woman there remarked, "Oh, with a brush? No. That's from back in the Dark Ages, isn't it?"

Well I for one wouldn't recommend the idiots in myer stores for doing the toilet cleaning, let alone providing decent customer service. It seems comments like the one you received are very common amongst myer staff.


Mick

Originally Posted by bdp

Thanks for the links, that list thread has reached 10pages and I'm working through it now.

I was hoping to find a bricks'n'mortar shop, even a barber with a small display cabinet or perhaps a cobbler who really knew what they were doing, but it seems like relying on the community is the best way to go.

Sadly, I asked at the cosmetics/fragrance counter at Myer if they had any shave soap, and even the middle-aged woman there remarked, "Oh, with a brush? No. That's from back in the Dark Ages, isn't it?"

Yeah, I wouldn't even bother with 'mainstream' stores' they don't know what you're talking about. The Shaver Shop sells straights, DEs, soaps and cream, strops and brushes...But if you want nice interesting stuff you really need to get it online...Not a bad option with the AU dollar where it is

Welcome to the "Place"
If the sales person doesn't wetshave they can't give you advice

G'day Bryan. Welcome to the forum.