new razor gets here tomorrow!

so, I am a newbie and I already introduced myself in the beginners section. If stating/asking this in this room isnt proper forum etiquette i really apologize. Im not trying to be an ass.

i just wanted to share that my new Dovo Ebony Silver Steel Razor will be here tomorrow and I am pumped about using it! Also, I have some Williams soap from CVS that I used the first 2 times I shaved with a buddies extra razor he loaned me so I could practice using a SR before i dropped the cash on my own. I heard Williams hard to lather and you needed to use more water. I did that, and it seemed to work fine. However, I dont care as much for the smell of it. Smells kinda like my candles that keep mosquitos of my porch. (Citronella?)

Are there any other soaps that are easily available at stores I can actually go to that you would recommend over Williams? I hate ordering things because I am generally an impatient person. Id rather go somewhere and pick something up right now if thats an option. I didnt see much at Target or Walmart as far as cake style soap goes except for the Van Der Hagen brand, which is what brand my boar brush is. Its cheap like Williams, so i assume its similar. Anyone have experience with it? Is it better? Anything else stores like that, or other popular stores may carry that are worth my time which i may have overlooked?

If you want the better stuff you'll have to get used to ordering it online. Very, very few places carry wet shaving stuff edpecially the better brands.

Do search for products you'd like to try and see if they're sold in retail stores in your area.

Good luck and enjoy your new straight razor.

im located on the north side of atlanta. theres a ton fancy shopping around here because most people here are rich as crap. (not me though....) with this being the case, youd think there would be something around here. we have "the art of shaving" at lenox mall, but a lot of their stuff seems really expensive. i would just prefer to start with cheaper stuff since Im just starting out...

if there is a good, reasonably priced soap, id be willing to order it. any recommendations?

i guess the other reason I am being impatient is bc the razor gets here tomorrow! ha!

If there is a Bath & Body Works near you, they sell C.O.Bigelow shaving cream in both small and large tubes. It's fairly inexpensive, I think the last large tube I bought was $10( I've heard if you buy 2, you get one free) and it lasts a long time as you only need a small about to whip up a decent lather. It has a bit of a menthol smell, but not overpowering.

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Originally Posted by ReardenSteel

If there is a Bath & Body Works near you, they sell C.O.Bigelow shaving cream in both small and large tubes. It's fairly inexpensive, I think the last large tube I bought was $10( I've heard if you buy 2, you get one free) and it lasts a long time as you only need a small about to whip up a decent lather. It has a bit of a menthol smell, but not overpowering.

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+1 on the C.O. Bigelow, which is just rebranded Proraso. It's a good cream and last I checked I think it ran like $10 for a tube. Art of Shaving is a bit expensive for most items, but I do like their lavender cream and it comes in a nice sized tub that I consider to be fairly priced.

Creams are also a bit easier to lather, especially when starting out.

thanks guys. i almost checked bath and body works today, but i feel weird just wandering around a store thats mainly for women. now that i know they have what im lookin for, ill check it out! haha!

if anyone else reads this and has any more input, please feel free to drop a line!

Another place to look witch im suprised no one mention yet is the body shop. they have maca root cream witch is excelent. Also crab tree and evelyn has excelent soaps and creams. i use all of the above frequently.

I would recommend that you experiment with lathering whatever soap/cream you end up buying, just so you will get a better lather for your first straight shave. But then again, if you are as impatient as you claim you are probably already shaving with your new razor, so you probably never read this beforehand anyway... :w

haha. im actually about to use it right now... for some reason i enjoy shaving at night. im not a bearded wonder who has a 5 o clock shadow by noon like some people may be. so a night shave will definitely last me through tomorrow!

and i was definitely planning on doing a practice lather!

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Originally Posted by importcarguy

Another place to look witch im suprised no one mention yet is the body shop. they have maca root cream witch is excelent. Also crab tree and evelyn has excelent soaps and creams. i use all of the above frequently.

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+1 on the maca root cream, it's the only post shave cream that doesn't sting my face (that and some molton brown stuff that cost £36 a tube)

Don't foreget you can generally find Van Der Hagen shaving soap at Wal-Mart. I see it there all the time. I use it and really like the stuff. It has a nice mixture of Aloe Vera and Shea Butter and priced here at 1.54 for a round 2.5 oz soap. Comes sealed and is a delight to use.

+1 for Van der Hagen. I use it with Neutrogena cream. Lathers well.