It is indeed the limescale in the water, also makes lathering a soap puck a bit harder though not impossible i might add.

There is a learning curve but you will find it'll reward you with a closer, cleaner shave and costs a damn sight less than gillette or others have to offer.

Others in this thread who have gone down this route have gone very quiet, so i can assume they are getting along very well.

Anyway let us know if you are interested, a typical starter kit is around £45-ish.

They are all boar bristle, for price they're a bargain but id look at a cheap badger, just my preference really i find them gentler.

Selection wise just pick what you fancy really, id say a 22mm knot and no more than 52-54mm of loft for a nice all round size.

Shaves from a single blade hmm well i get around 4 good shaves, some get 5/6 if not more, it depends on your beard and skin, besides blades are cheap.

A 150g puck of soap hmm about a year or two give or take, trust me they last an age.

Let us know what soap you fancy and i'll tell you if it's good or not.

The de87 is a good razor, cheap as well you won't get better for that price tbh.

The handle tends to make little difference, a polished one might be slippery mind but it's liveable.


Lol oh trust me that was ages ago, a typical two pass shave is say 10 minutes now. I've got it down pretty quickly, i can shave in 2-3 minutes but im liable to cut myself so id rather go easy.

The razors i have now are exceptionally sharp, i have several stones but more importantly i have refined my honing technique, i also use cromium oxide, and caesium oxide pastes on balsa wood to further refine the edge before stropping.

 

I bit the bullet yesterday and ordered the following:

Kent Best Badger Medium Shaving Brush code H8 - I had some John Lewis vouchers kicking about. I figured that a silvertip would be too soft for soap (and novice use).

Merkur HD 34c Safety Razor - decided to go for a knurled handle for grip

Connaught Popular Blade Sample Pack - 55 Blades

Kent - Luxury soap + wooden bowl

All the above has been fairly well rated @ B&B and others.

I had look at the utube vids re shaving. Following the instructions with my mach3 & king of shaves gel - I noticed a small difference. You can tell what they mean by "tug & cut" shaving.

Bizarrely looking forward to having a shave when all the kit is here.

What do you recommend for after shaving?

 

Good choice, best is indeed a wise move you can use silvertip with soaps but it can be floppy most opt for finest badger or super, i have a 28mm wide silvertip and it's a bit too big tbh.

34c a popular choice, im getting the impression you asked elsewhere.

Kent luxury soap, again nice choice, it's really michells wool fat in a different container, can be fun to lather but so long as you pre soak the puck then you're fine, meant to be better lathering directly on the face btw.

Aftershave it's tricky, i like thayers which is aloe vera and witch hazel, some prefer a solid alum block but that can sting royally especially when you're new.

Personally as i shave with a straight so don't really irritate i just throw on aqua velva musk, it's a strong aftershave with glycerine and other bits to soothe the skin, mine responds really well to it.

Though it's an ebay job to get it overseas, cost me around £8.

For balms lots of folk like nivea or trumpers coral skin food, i quite like bulldog balm, lots of good oils and it can be had cheap if on offer, plus it's not greasy and doesn't sting.

In all honesty you're better of trying for yourself, everyone is different.

You'll see me on b&b im huxley there, i usually lurk in the straight shaving section.



As for looking forward to it, that's natural you'll love trying new bits there's a ton of choice out there.

 

Loving my kit still thanks

Not sure if you bought one or not DK, but get a styptic pencil for when you do nick yourself, saves on time!

Massively cheaper than gillette and continually a much nicer, smoother shave.

With regards to balm, I had some L'Oreal men expert balm and have stuck with that, seems to cool the skin nicely and stops it becoming sore.

 

I am still pondering this, but what do the "straight" users think about something like the TondeoTM Razor which uses replaceable blades??

The convenience of a cartridge/safety (e.g. no stropping, instant replacement etc.) but the "back to nature-ness" (and far cheaper-ness) of a straight.

mb

 

Avoid, they are harder to learn and won't shave as good. You can get away with a feather dx or kai but they're different.

Something like this.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KAI-Captain-Ex...item3cae140cdf

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Feather-Artist...item20b17fb25e

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Feather-Artist...item20b17fb295

Bear in mind you lay them flat on your face, no angle is used as it's designed to be used as such.

 

That went surprisingly well.

I've a couple of nicks (due to uneven skin) and a bit of burn on the neck - but on the whole a very close shave.

I found the neck area & chin most troublesome as seeing the angle of the razor was tricky - especially ATG around the chin & mouth.

I think I managed not to Press the blade at all, and no nasty cuts.

The whole process took about 15-20 mins - I have shaved since and managed to get it to about 10 minutes - trickiest bit still being neck area and getting the lather just right.

 

You will always find the neck a tricky bit, try doing it with a straight.

Try going diagonal and down rather than going against the grain, i find that works better for me.

Im guessing you used a derby blade, once you get better step up to a personna/crystal or a gillette yellow or super iridium and a feather last as they're very sharp.

You'll find your blade when you get the best shave with the least irritation out of the bunch, if you crave more after that id suggest a mergress or futur.

 

I'm using the Merkur blade which came with the razor - seems to be doing the job.

Yes, I've heard the feathers are a bit nasty

 

Merkur ooh id ditch that, they have a bad rep personally id throw a derby in there and see how that goes.

So, are you hooked yet.

 

Yes, although the missus can't figure out the fascination - but appreciates the results.

I've gone from shaving every 5 days (scruffy bugger) to every/every-other day.

 

Well you could buy some lavender or rose creams or soaps. Many folk on B&B say their missus always pinches theirs once they catch a whiff.

I have some lavender and it's not as girly as you think, personally im a fan of p.160 but to each their own, cella is meant to be similar but has a weaker scent.

Just have nose in the reviews section, you'll be shopping before long.

 

I've just been shopping in Old Bond Street, and come home with my first straight razor.

I've just used it for the first time and I think there needs to be a lot more practise! Not quice as close as I'd like at this stage, although I didnt have the stones to go against the grain!

Also found a couple of tricky spots under the chin! Hux do you only use one hand or do you switch depending on which side you are shaving?

 

I used to use both, but now im far better i use just the one

Did you use that razor right away from the store, send it my way i'll hone it foc so long as you paypal me £3 for postage

Honestly it's unlikely to be shave ready despite their saying so, besides im damn good at honing how.

As for the spots under the chin, move your jaw around, you'll see the spots will move. Anyway you'll figure it out with some time and patience.

If im honest i shave with my gem micromatic mostly, i don't have time nor the focus to use a straight, shame really but there you go aside from that everything is still peachy.

Old bond street hmm is it an edwin jagger by any chance?

 

No its a Bismark, bought in Taylors.

I stropped it a bit first just to make sure there was no burr on the blades edge.

In comparison it took me about the same time on the first shave as with the merkur HD so I'm hoping that after some practise and gaining some confidence that I'll be able to shave some time off (pun intended).

Against the grain shall be my next hurdle!

 

A bismarck, yeah good choice im assuming it's red.

Honestly if all you did was strop it, it won't be anywhere near shave ready, and like i said pp £3 and i'll get it nice and sharp for you. You'll wind up with a better shave for it.

This is what a mate said when i honed his japanese kamisori

 

Actually its black looked at the red ones but decided against it.

Ok I'll do that, pm me your address and we can sort something out.

 

I have just been given an open razor. I may have to get a strop just so I can try it.

Les

 

Let us know how you get on les

 

Well I just received my razor back from hux, and it feels 100% better. A much keener edge, which makes it a lot easier to use. Its definately a case of practise makes perfect and its no where near as close yet as the safety razor but its getting there.

Thanks very much mate, appreciated!

 

This thread is seriously metrosexual...

/Says while leaving to buy some lavender scented face balm and rosewood infused razor oil.

 

Metrosexual - bah I'd say the opposite - more manly if anything

 

I'd have said more old school and gentlemanly, but now that you mention the soap you're probably not far from the mark either!

 

are these any good for shaving your *****

 

Off?

 

Glad you liked it. You'll find a razor from me won't feel sharp as such, that's because i take it higher up the grit range, it'll still be razor sharp but take of hairs easier and feel much smoother.

I could make it feel sharper, but that could be scratchy and defeats the whole point, some folk i honed for thought their razor wasn't working at first until they saw the hairs flying off

As for going against the grain, i wouldn't worry bout that too much, going across will be sufficient but if i really want to get close i sometimes go diagonal down the neck, can't really go atg as it's too much bother.

Anyway using a straight will make you a much better de/se shaver, as you have learned it forces you to know the layout of your face.

 

I've really enjoyed this thread! Already given my Christmas order to the wife

Did have a proper Barber hot towel/cold towel job for my birthday and really enjoyed that.

Normally I'm a basic gillette blade and foam job.Things are going to change!

 

Flipping heck...the wife listened to me!

Got that starter set.Razor,brush,soap and blades.

Only cut my thumb so far

 

Lol nice one, so what did you get?

 

Nice Merkur razor,Edwin Jagger brush and Truefitt and Hill shaving soap

Think it might be the start of an addiction!