Thread: Hello All!

Been shaving as much as I can now that my arm is healing. I am at the point now where i can get a good lather and strop, then get a decent shave. I have nicked my face a few times, some worse than others, and my strop has suffered a few nicks, but hey, thats how you learn. Styptic pen comes in handy.

Remaining optimistic, especially since today I tried against the grain and came out with the cleanest smoothest shave i have ever shaved.

Well just a little update for you all so you know I didnt take this hobby as a fad,
I've been doing good! I have been trying to shave at least every other day, and I have only used a disposable once since my purchase! (gillette fusion, absolutely horrible results, raw and razor bumped neck)
I have gotten a lot better at making lather, but I really want some flavored soap; I have the unscented soap from the kit and a puck of Van Der Hagen, and I have learned to make decent later with both but I want something with a more lasting flavor. Recommendations accepted.
I am still waiting on buying a hone but i have the two razors so both have stayed pretty sharp between alternate use, and I still have a coupon for a free hone from Lynn.

I was thinking of trying out a DE to add to the collection/experience and I figured I could find a decent one cheap at an antique shop locally, but I want to know what to look for in them. Anyone have any links on guilds for used razors? What to look for what to avoid? Mainly, I don't care as much about brand or condition as I would care about quality build and quality of shave. Any more recommendations accepted.



And finally I went to a store at the local mall called the Art of Shaving and was very put off by the salesman there. He asked if I started shaving yet (Im young, thin, chiseled white face, and very clean cut haircut to give you an idea),
I told him i recently started wet shaving, then went off asking me what kind of canned cream I use, asked me what type of razors I have been using, and when I told him I use a soap and a Dovo Straight, and he asked if my brush was real badger or if was "badger hair like". I told him is a fine quality Simpsons real badger hair brush and then he asked if I honed my blade before every use. I said of course not, the proceeded to give me a very condescending lesson on "honing" which turned out to actually just be a stropping lesson "which I should do before every shave, ten strokes with a chromium paste on my canvas, ten strokes on the plain side of the canvas, and 15 strokes on the leather." And then he asked about aftershave and I said I use some cheap Aqua Velva, and he sail no no no alcohol is horrible for your face don't use it, but I haven't had any discomfort from it yet, and its all I have.

He assured me he had my best interest in mind, and that he made the switch to DE razors four years ago and his face is so much healthier now blah blah blah.
Then he tried to sell me a soap, cream, and balm kit and told me all of the benefits of their set ect ect ect.
In the end, I lied and told him I didn't have any spending money and walked out of the store.
The store seemed to have some quality items but the sales man made the whole store seem far to snobbish for my tastes.
So my questions are, is The Art of Shaving a store worth buying from, or am I better buying offline like I have been?
And how do I know who's advice to take, I definitely did not trust that guy.

Thanks All
Happy Shaving

Sounds to me like he's just an ignorant elitist. Making himself feel better at other people's expense. Let them make less money & buy elsewhere.

Get what makes you feel good/confident & ignore people like him. I prefer sandalwood for a scented soap. It's whatever came with my mug from classicshaving.com, nice & fresh but not overpowering. I have a tub of T&H sandalwood shaving cream, but haven't tried it yet. I wanted to work on getting a better lather with the soap before trying something new.

Stay away from that place!

Welcome, sailor. Let us know how wet shaving goes on a moving ship!

Well I dont know much, but I do know to NEVER use CrOx every time before shaving!!!

Originally Posted by parkerskouson

Well I dont know much, but I do know to NEVER use CrOx every time before shaving!!!

Yeah that was the last straw when I knew the salesman was bullshitting me.

I have been looking at a bunch of info all over the web on DE razors, it seems that most vintage razors will be fine with a good blade but I still am a bit concerned knowing very little about them.

Thanks for the replies.

Hey Sam,
Nun2sharp said it all (smile).

I happened to find the AOS store in Philadelphia a few months after I joined SRP. I went in and asked the salesman if they carried hones? They didn't. Then I pointed to the display case of T-I razors and asked who he recommended his customers take their straight razors to when they need touching up? He didn't seem to know what I was talking about.

Perhaps Art Of Shaving keeps straight razors in stock to make the store appear more "arty" when a customer comes in to buy a pack of Gillette Fusion razor blades? I really don't know. But it was obvious that the AOS in Philly provided no support for the straight razors they had for sale.

I bought a tub of AOS "Lavender Essential Oil For Sensitive Skin" shaving cream. It wasn't bad, but I have to say I found my Proraso cream much easier to whip up than the AOS. I found that I even liked the no-name tube of shaving cream that Whole Foods Market carried much better than the AOS cream. What with vendors like Straight Razor Designs, I can't see any reason to return to AOS. But that's just me.

And I'm afraid I don't have any soap recommendations for you. I discovered über lather using VdH soap, Proraso cream and a few drops of glycerine and it worked out so well that I just don't see a reason (at this time anyway) to fix what ain't broke.

I recently started using DE razors again. As far as older Gillettes go that you will find on eBay or in antique stores, the ones with solid guard bars will give you a fairly mild, comfortable shave. The open comb guard Gillettes will give you a more aggressive shave, which can require some practice before you will consider the shave comfortable.

I would recommend any of the Gillette adjustable razors for obvious reasons. "Fat Boy" adjustables generally command a higher price than "Slim" adjustables or Black Handle Super Adjustables, but they give the exact same shave. The 195 "Bottom Dial" adjustable is extremely rare and prices will reflect the high demand for them by serious collectors.

If you might like some advice on brands/types of new DE razors, post a question on the Shaving With Safety Razors forum. There are knowledgeable members there who would be happy to share their experience with you.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Hey guys, just a check in. INo longer consider myself a beginner to shaving, but I have learned a lot between this site, the badger and blade and reddit's wickedegde. I got back into the Navy, and I am in Charleston SC now.

I would say I get a pretty decent shave most days. Stuff like acne can be a pain and I have a bad habit of picking at my face, but usually isnt a big deal and my skin has been pretty clear.

Moved on from straight razors a bit, my current set up is an early gold ball end Gillette Tech, the Simpson's brush I think that is mentioned in this thread, and for lather use some AOS soap (i know I bashed AOS above, but this is their best soap and it was a gift) and a dab of Proraso. I do a two pass shave most days with good results. Still have my Dovo and my other straight (name and model escapes me atm).

Anyways just a quick thanks and check in to all those who contributed or had something nice to say.

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Oh, BTW, I'm not sure about where you're from, but here in Australia if you call a ship a boat you'll be doing 100 pushups or working in the galley quick smart!

I know this is a year later that I am responding to this but I will be serving on a sub, and In the US navy we call subs boats all the time. Topsiders work on ships though, for sure.