General Recommendation Request

[jbasl]

So I've already posted some specific questions elsewhere but I thought this might be the appropriate place to ask if anyone has some recommendations that I could make to my current rig for little cost that would make a noticeable difference. Below is my rig and general shaving approach.

For reference I have moderately sensitive skin. I can shave against the grain every third day or so with little to no irriration, but every day against the grain causes irrirtation. My skin is neither too dry nor too oily though tends towards oily if it tends anywhere. I usually do three shaving passes (1 with grain, one cross, and then touchups and twice per week against the grain).

Rig

Merkur Hefty Classic
Merker Blades
Crabtree and Evelyn Best Badger Brush
Taylor of O. B. S Shave Cream (lavendar)
Truefitt and Hill A/S Balm (Indian Lime)

[htownmmm]

pm LetterK for a sampler pack of blades-they will make the largest difference for the least cost.

Welcome to B & B.


Marty

[mrob]

Looks like a great set up.

A cheap, easy and great addition to your rig would be some Thayers Witch Hazel. I have the lavender and its the only part of my routine that doesn't change from shave to shave. Just pour a bit into a plastic spray bottle, and spritz a bit on your face after your cold water splash at the end of the shave and before you apply any after shave.

Try it and let us know what you think.:wink:

[jbasl]

What does the witch hazel do and where is a good place to order it from?

[Kyle]

If you are looking for some different shave creams or soaps there are many affordable options available. You could, of course, check out Scotto's shave cream sampler. Also, you may want to begin visiting health food stores in your area. Typically you will be able to find Tom's of Maine and Kiss My Face shaving creams. Additionally, Palmolive shave cream can be a fun product. Any way you go, you definitely need to swing by a Target and pick up the entire Proraso line.

[rtaylor61]

I'll probably get stoned for this (meaning rocks thrown at me), but stop by Wal Mart and pick up a bottle of Shave Secret, and use it as a pre-shave oil. Apply before each pass. I evaluated several different products, and this actually made a difference. However, be prepared to wash your hands with soap between passes as Shave Secret will leave your hands "greasy". It's between $3-4 bucks a bottle, and worth a try.

Randy

[jbasl]

Thanks for the tips. Wal-mart is a hike with no car, but I'll stop by target for the proraso products. I actually don't mind spending extra money on creams because they feel better on my face that the stuff I can get at walgreen's and the tub actually lasts much longer so I think the value is there. When I said relatively low cost I meant I'm not in a position to upgrade to a 200 dollar brush and vision razor. I mention this so nobody hesitates to recommend a product that is a bit pricey. As long as it lasts a long time and gives good results I consider it a worthwhile investment. Besides I'm starting to realize I've gotten myself into a potentially expensive habit.

[mrob]

You can get the Thayers at many health food stores and natural groceries, GNC, etc.

[rtaylor61]

jbasl (do you have a first name?),

If getting to Wal Mart is an issue, definitely pick up the Proraso Pre-Shave Cream. Small jar, but will last for some time. Use it both pre and post shave. Not as slick as Shave Secret, but definitely a keeper! And cooling during the heatwave!

Randy

[Kyle]

I'll probably get stoned for this (meaning rocks thrown at me), but stop by Wal Mart and pick up a bottle of Shave Secret, and use it as a pre-shave oil. Apply before each pass. I evaluated several different products, and this actually made a difference. However, be prepared to wash your hands with soap between passes as Shave Secret will leave your hands "greasy". It's between $3-4 bucks a bottle, and worth a try.

Randy
Is that the stuff located between the feminine products and the finger condoms?

[htownmmm]

As long as it lasts a long time and gives good results I consider it a worthwhile investment. Besides I'm starting to realize I've gotten myself into a potentially expensive habit.


Resistance is futile- you will be assimilated!



Marty

[rtaylor61]

Kyle,

No. At Wal Mart, it is located with the King of Shaves items.

Randy

[jbasl]

First name, right I usually sign posts. Bad manners, sorry. John.

Do you guys know of any shops in the boston area (besides colonial) that sell shave products from the usual suspects (Taylor, Coates, Trumper..). Also an online store that sells these items at a good price so I can smell them in person then order them at more moderate price (I've already bookmarked classicshaving.com and quedusa).

Also, as I posted in the a/s forum, is there any avocado scented aftershave or cologne that is close the cream scent of Taylors avocado?

Thanks again,

John

[deadgoon]

I have a suggestion that will cost exactly ZERO dollars.

First, forget that "against the grain" stuff and download this PDF file: http://www.enchanteonline.com/pages/faqs/cuttingforms.pdf

Study the diagrams. These are shaving forms. Each form represents a pass. Simply shave in the directions indicated on the diagrams. Do a fourth "free form" pass to clean up. Use short, swift, and light strokes. My rash was on my neck in lower Q3 and Q4 on the diagrams. Starting out I have been doing one North/South pass over that area to reduce irritation. Today I upped it to 2 passes and no irritaion.

[jbasl]

OK, I'll consider that. However, shouldn't the passes depend on the direction of hair growth and what your face can handle? I'll give it a try in my quest for bbs.

[roughrider]

If you have a C&E store or The Body Shop store near you, stop by and get some samples of their shave creams and a/s balms.

[deadgoon]

However, shouldn't the passes depend on the direction of hair growth and what your face can handle?

Nope, it doesn't matter. What DOES matter is that your face is wet enough to allow the blade to glide. If it's not wet enough.. well, you'll know pretty quickly. :biggrin:

I use CAR's Hydrolast products which are designed with exactly these forms in mind. I haven't tried using the forms with other products, but I assume they work as long as there is a sufficient amount of water present to allow the blade to glide across the top of your skin. Others on here might have more experience than me in that regard.

[boboakalfb]

I second the blade sampler pack...I have found that the Derbys work better for me then the Merkurs....and for the price of 30 Merkurs you can get 100 Derbys..so thats a no brainer.

Other than that you have a pretty solid set of equipment. You will find you don't really NEED anything else...but you will WANT a new brush...new razors...creams...soaps...balms...colognes.

[moses]

Definitely the sample pack.

Also, I notice you have only one shaving cream (unless you have picked up some proraso yet). This is unacceptable. Seriously though, I doubt adding any others will improve your shave - there is much argument about which is best, but it is widely held that Taylors is very hard to beat. That said, variety is the spice of life. You should try some soaps. The great thing about handmade gylcerin soaps (other than a great shave, and terrific aromas), it that they are so cheap, it is easy to get a bunch of different flavors. I highly recommend QED, but I have not tried SCS or Mama Bear yet, which many others seem to like equally as well. I suspect you can't go wrong with any of the three.

[Jonnybc]

Also, I notice you have only one shaving cream (unless you have picked up some proraso yet). This is unacceptable.

Moses, you certainly have entered into the spirit of things!

[jbasl]

I'm planning to pick up some of the proraso. Before buying my tub of Taylor's I did use a soap (not of high quality) and liked it but my face seems to feel better after using a cream. Also the soap destroyed my old boar brushes (probably my fault).

In any case, once I have a little more capital I'll pick up some more creams. Also now that I've found a shop that has samples of all the Taylor's varieties (as well as Coates, and some others) I'm sure I'll be in there sampling and buying them by the tub. Hopefully not too soon, as my wallet is getting thinner with each visit to this forum.

[bigDee]

No one answered the question, where is the best place to buy Thayer's Witch Hazel?

[mrob]

See post #8 above.

[mrob]

I have a suggestion that will cost exactly ZERO dollars.

First, forget that "against the grain" stuff and download this PDF file: http://www.enchanteonline.com/pages/faqs/cuttingforms.pdf

Study the diagrams. These are shaving forms. Each form represents a pass. Simply shave in the directions indicated on the diagrams. Do a fourth "free form" pass to clean up. Use short, swift, and light strokes. My rash was on my neck in lower Q3 and Q4 on the diagrams. Starting out I have been doing one North/South pass over that area to reduce irritation. Today I upped it to 2 passes and no irritaion.

I may just be dense--OK, I *am* dense--but this doesn't appear very different from Ron's 4-pass approach; and both the "Cutting Forms" and Ron's advice really boil down to good sense in terms of making multiple passes from different directions.

When I look at my neck I don't see much in the way of consistent hair growth patterns anywhere--so the notion of dividing the face into sections and swiping them from multiple directions seems like a pretty solid approach to me. At least Ron had the good taste not to try to gussy it up with a fancy name that doesn't really mean anything (Cutting Forms???).

This is not to say that this advice isn't helpful--just making a picky point about those--not you, Ron!--who try to make this into a scientific endeavor. Its just shaving for goodness sake!:biggrin: It should be fun, not something you need to study for. IMHO, of course.:smile:

[moses]

Moses, you certainly have entered into the spirit of things!

Indeed I have, now owning, let's see (haven't added this up before): 5 creams, and 7 soaps (not including samples). Hmmmm.... that isn't so much after all, I guess (just a good three year supply). I need more.

[Joedy]

I'm planning to pick up some of the proraso...

John,

I know that Proaso is highly regarded here on the forums, but be sure to sniff it at the store before purchasing it. To me, the odor is very similar to Vick's Vapor Rub, something that I hated when I was a boy and something that continues to make me cringe.

Scents are very personal, so don't be afraid or self-conscious about placing your sniffer in the products before purchasing them.

-joedy

[jbasl]

Thanks for the tip. I actually picked up some poraso pre shave tonight and the menthol is a bit strong. However, since its pre-shave I'm thinking it will be overwhelmed by the smell of my Taylor's lav. I don't plan on trying proraso shave cream because of the smell and because I'm already hooked on some of the scents from the three T's. Everyone seems to love the proraso cream, so I hope I'm not missing out (maybe I'll sample it someday), but currently I'm waiting on a sample pack from Scotto and I think I'll order up a tub of Taylor's avacado.

On another note, I'm not seeking general recommendations on post shave care. The Wisconsin winters have me thinking I'll need to add a moisturizer to my T&H a/s balm. Any suggestions?

[mrob]

Another non-requested tip--don't use the Proraso pre/post as a pre shave product--for me, its very tough to apply before the shave.

Its real value is as an after shave cream--with wet hands, get a small, pea sized dollop and rub it between your palms, then rub all over your face.

Coooooool.:cool:

[jbasl]

What is so hard about using it preshave? I don't think I can handle the smell of it as an aftershave...unless you think it would smell ok to add the proraso and then some T&H west indian limes aftershave balm. I was planning to use the proraso as a preshave, then finish off with the balm. Even though I like the cooling effect of the pro..its just too vapor rub for me. I'm still holding out to find some Taylor avacado scented after shave. They sell a shower gel that I"m considering.

[guenron]

THat our general answer tends to be along the lines of buy more and try more?:lol:

[Jonnybc]

THat our general answer tends to be along the lines of buy more and try more?:lol:


Indeed it does. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Dinder1]

My vote goes for the blade sample pack as well, finding the right blade was key for me.
Cheers, DJ.

[ada8356]

John,

I noticed that no one mentioned (or at least I didn't see it) the addition of an Alum Bar to your kit. They are pretty cheap and really seem to help reduce post-shave irritation... I would think more important than additional creams (although not as fun!)

There's a bunch of Alum Bar usage discussion in this POST (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3965).

[jbasl]

What does the alum bar do? I've been using some a/s balm (T&H) which helps soothe the little irritation I get and am planning to add some Thayer's witch hazel to my shave routine (pre balm).

It turns out I don't use the proraso pre shave cream. I just don't really have a use for it as a pre and I like tend to like the balms. I might keep the tub around for dry winter days (i've heard its good for that) but I'm thinking of trading it off. We'll see.

[Jonnybc]

I posted this in the ALUM Block thread:

I use an alum block every day regardless of whether I've nicked myself. The Alum block is an antisceptic, reduces razor burn, stops minor bleeds and tells you how well you've shaved, the more it stings the harsher the shave. My shave isn't complete without one.

[misterjoshua]

John: as far as Boston area shops go, you might take a look at C.O. Bigelow in the Copley Mall.

http://www.bigelowchemists.com/

Josh

[jbasl]

Oh NO!!!!! Not another shop for me to visit. This is bad for my ADs.

It looks as far as creams that they have some stuff. I'll have to take a look.

I've really grown fond of Colonial because of the people there, so I think I'll try to purchase most of the stuff I can there.

[Leisureguy]

Thayer's Witch Hazel: I found it at Whole Foods, and I've read that any health food store will have it.

[jbasl]

Yeah I was hoping to pick some up at GNC because its really cheap there. I'll check whole foods too.

[Jonnybc]

Oh NO!!!!! Not another shop for me to visit. This is bad for my ADs.

It looks as far as creams that they have some stuff. I'll have to take a look.

I've really grown fond of Colonial because of the people there, so I think I'll try to purchase most of the stuff I can there.

Apart from a few different shapes of crystal Alum Block Addiction (ABAD???) is easily curable, you just need one at all your addresses!