Thread: First couple DE shaves in the book. I'm smitten!

I just was given my grandfather-in-laws 1967 Gillette Slim Adjustable. I cleaned the decades of scum and tarnish off the razor. There is a little spot where the nickel has worn off and brass copper is showing. I amy get it replated eventually but not any time soon. I picked myself up some Crabtree and Evelyn shave cream samples and a Van Der Hagen set with a badger brush, mug and stand and some store brand USA made Personna blades cause it what I could find.

After the first shave, I looked and my Braun electric and told it we should think about seeing other people. After the second shave I broke up with it.

I'm still learning, ATG nicks up under the chin, but man oh man does this feel good. I can't imagine my face after I get my first straight fixed up this month! Can it get better!?!


can't get this to upload correctly. Its fine on my computer

Congratulations. Looks like you are a self starter. Can't answer for straights but for DE over time the results of your shaves should get better and better.
If you able, at first stick with the same tools:razor, brush, soap(looks like you already have a couple), and use just those for a month or two. Maybe get a cream in a week or two so you can get a feel for that too. Stick with one soap or cream for at least a week at a time so you'll know any varibles in your shave are from your technique and you can learn to correct them.
3 to 6 six shaves a blade is average. DE blades are cheap so, change 'em every week or less depending how far performance degrades after 3 shaves.

Congratulations! Looks like you're off to a good start. It's always cool when people start with their father or grandfather's tools. Won't be long till you contract RAD or SAD. Haha. Good Luck!

Originally Posted by bgirdler

can't get this to upload correctly. Its fine on my computer

The techie stuff behind this is that your operating system is reading the data stored in the photo, and making the necessary alterations for you. I'll put money on your taking the photo with the camera being held vertically, hence the photo appearing sideways.

Nice razor, btw.

Originally Posted by bgirdler

I'm still learning, ATG nicks up under the chin, but man oh man does this feel good. I can't imagine my face after I get my first straight fixed up this month! Can it get better!?!

Imagine it cut !

No really, just joking... but... don't think you will get results on par with what you experienced the first time you DE shaved. They are not the same beasts, and they don't require the same set of skills. I'd advise you to get your face to get used to the contact of a raw blade while DE shaving a bit of time before you think about using a straight. And also getting used to stretch the face correctly, prepare and apply a decent lather, yadda yadda. It will take time, and you should be patient.

But if I did learn how to use a straight, so can you. I'm about to be five months in (3-4 straight shaves by week, so that puts me in the 60-70 shaves ballpark now !), and I'm just getting the feel for the factors leading to what is merely a decent straight shave.

Good show, bgirdler. Once you embrace wet shaving with the DE or the straight razor you'll never look back to what you had before. Now it's time to explore and experiment. Any help we can give you please don't hesitate to ask. Stay well.

Originally Posted by bgirdler

After the first shave, I looked and my Braun electric and told it we should think about seeing other people. After the second shave I broke up with it.

Lol that's the funniest thing I've read here all day

Just to echo what Obie said, between my straights and my DE's I'll never have a use for any other type of razor, ever. Of course, now the danger is buying more straights and DE's....

Lol, yes, it can get better. I have a slim like yours, its a fine razor. In fact, its my favorite DE. But for shave comfort and quality my personal preference is straight razor, followed by GEM single edge safety razor, then the slim. Disposables and electrics aren't even considered as long as I have a choice.

One recommendation though, get a blade sampler. Try them all. There are a lot of options, and they have different qualities. My personal favorite is the Wilkinson Sword sold at Walmart, even though it isn't the most highly regarded blade, I love it. My other favorite is the Feather Hi-Stainless. It does have quite a following, but its expensive and super sharp (read - unforgiving).