Converted a Friend to DE Shaving

S

stargawker

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Mar 1, 2014
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At Christmas, I made up a classic shaving starter kit that included a double edged safety razor, brush, home made shave oil, razor blades and some shaving cream samples and gave it to a buddy of mine. It was really just made up of a bunch of the stuff I bought when I started out before I got into buying higher quality gear for myself.

He said it was a fantastic experience. So I hooked another one. One down, a few more to go.....
 
Congrats! Another converted to the DE world. While this area seems to be mostly about straights, I've been using DE's my whole life of shaving, yet there's always something new to learn. You have photos of some of your gear? That would be fun to see.
 
I have been thinking about going to this for quite some time but not sure what to start and what to start with so any pics of equipment, costs, links, etc would be a great help.

Thx.
 
Sounds great.
I got my Dad a Merkur DE razor for Christmas and my Brother got him 100 razors. He was the one that got me interested in DE razors though cause he had mentioned a few times how much better the older safety razors were. I think he had been wanting one for some time, but no one around him had them available. As far as I know he is really happy with it.
 
Blades&Bullets said:
Sounds great.
I got my Dad a Merkur DE razor for Christmas and my Brother got him 100 razors. He was the one that got me interested in DE razors though cause he had mentioned a few times how much better the older safety razors were. I think he had been wanting one for some time, but no one around him had them available. As far as I know he is really happy with it.
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Nice! Glad to hear he's enjoying it so much.
 
It's something special to give a gift like that. I like my modern Merkurs, but to shave with my birth year (1953) Gillette Superspeed brings great pleasure to the task. Congrats!
 
After 2 years of DE shaving I tried the Hydro 5 all I can say is wow what a shave 1/2 the time and no need for all the additional products to heal cuts etc.
 
sir_mike said:
I have been thinking about going to this for quite some time but not sure what to start and what to start with so any pics of equipment, costs, links, etc would be a great help.

Thx.
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Hi Mike,

Here are a few very inexpensive ways to start DE safety razor shaving.

Brush: Omega Boar 10048 - $8-15 on Amazon
Razor: Razorock DE safety razor - $20 on Amazon - it is also fun to find vintage razors at antique shops and flea markets - usually $5-25 each.
Cream: Proraso - $6-$12 on Amazon - Cheap alternative - Nivea Sensitive - $4 a tube
Blades: Astra Platinum - 100 blades for $10 (compare that to $4 a cartridge for multibladed cartridges)

So, overall you can get started for $50 and have enough to shave for nearly 6 months. I use the blades 4 times before a change so 100 blades will last 400 days - over a year.
 
I ended up getting the following items to start with.

Merkur 38c HD Barber's Pole.
Arko soap stick (2 pack).
Perfecto badger brush.
15 blade sampler pack.

I shaved using the DE for the first time yesterday and overall it went good. First off, I didnt use the Arko, I just use Barbasol so I could get alittle feel for the razor. I did two passes, one WTG and one XTG which I think worked pretty well. Just a couple of rough spots and only one little nick in neck area (tough spot). The shave felt good and I cant wait to go again but with the Arko.

My only concern/question is that of the Merkur 38C HD. It felt very heavy but is that the way the razor should be? Is it just me and being new to DE or is it indeed too heavy and I should have went with a lighter one?

Thx. for any comments!
 
Most DEs do feel heavier than a cartridge razor. you get used to allowing the razor weight to do the work, rather than pulling the razor over your face. Over time you'll probably get used to it, but if you don't there are lighter weight razors out there.
 
Great start. I think the Merkur 38C is a heavier one. I prefer a lighter razor myself, but I have small hands. Keep your eyes out at flea markets and antique shops for some vintage razors. Clean them up and it will give you some to compare.
 
Yes, the 38C is a heavy razor. But once used to it the thing shaves beautifully. For modern razors, if you want smaller/lighter I recommend the 34C HD. The head is the same, but as a smaller offering is easier to move around the face.
 
I just bought a DE razor yesterday. nothing too fancy just a van Der Hagan handle that came with 5 blades and the soap and brush set from them as well. Today I ordered a variety pack of blades off amazon that will be in Monday. I should have came here for advice first but I hope I didn't do too bad. I'm just sick of paying the outrageous prices for the new cartridges and I understand a better shave can be achieved with the DE.
 
nemesis said:
I just bought a DE razor yesterday. nothing too fancy just a van Der Hagan handle that came with 5 blades and the soap and brush set from them as well. Today I ordered a variety pack of blades off amazon that will be in Monday. I should have came here for advice first but I hope I didn't do too bad. I'm just sick of paying the outrageous prices for the new cartridges and I understand a better shave can be achieved with the DE.
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You're starting at a good point. Congrats on your discovering of DE shaving, it's been so INCREDIBLY ENJOYABLE for me in the past two months since I started. I eagerly look forward to each day's shave now, rather than DREAD it and avoiding it like I used to.

Have you had your first shave yet? Let us know how it goes. Blade really do vary from one person to the next, so if you don't like the results then swap to another blade.

Remember these blades get replaced about every 4 or 5 shaves. At least that's what I do. They're very cheap so no need to try and milk too many uses out of a blade. As it dulls you'll get more cuts or rash. Toss and replace it every 4th shave is my policy.

Any questions ask us here or you can PM me anytime.

Have you seen the site Badger & Blade? I've learned ALOT from this site...

http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/forum.php
 
Just had my first shave, very close and very clean. I had bumps around the lower part of my neck and they weren't so much fun but that is part of the reason for the switch to the DE. Does anyone mark the sides of their razor so you could have say 2 shaves per side then toss it?

As a side note, I'm 27 and just the nostalgia of using the DE is cool to me. Takes me back to watching my grandpa lather up the shave soap and shave with a DE when I was a kid. I also recall my other grandfather shaving with a straight razor but I'm not there yet
 
nemesis said:
Just had my first shave, very close and very clean. I had bumps around the lower part of my neck and they weren't so much fun but that is part of the reason for the switch to the DE. Does anyone mark the sides of their razor so you could have say 2 shaves per side then toss it?

As a side note, I'm 27 and just the nostalgia of using the DE is cool to me. Takes me back to watching my grandpa lather up the shave soap and shave with a DE when I was a kid. I also recall my other grandfather shaving with a straight razor but I'm not there yet
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What I do is start shaving say on my right side, I carry on for a half dozen or so short strokes then I flip the razor over and do about a half dozen more short strokes then rinse it all off (both sides). Just by rotating throughout the shave, you are sure to use both sides of the blade and dont end up rinsing so often!

Then after the third day shave, replace blade! Unless you find that you dont like a certain, then replace it immediately! Blades are cheap so dont over use and dont use what doesn't feel right to you, whether it feels dull, feels like it has burr, whatever! Life is too short! :)
 
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