Hi everyone,
I've been reading the forums and reviews here for a couple of months and decided to delurkify myself.
I'd been shaving mostly with cartridge razors (Trac II and Mach 3) and canned goo, with the occasional shave using a Braun or Norelco electric. However, as may be familiar to everyone here, the quality my shaves just never felt all that great, not to mention a constant battle with skin irritation. Finally, in a fit of frustration (and after watching Don Draper wetshaving in an episode of Mad Men) I hit Google to find some relief.
To make a short story longer, I found and ordered Leisureguy's book on gourmet shaving and then hit classicshaving.com for a Parker 91R, a bowl, a five-pack of Merkur blades, and some soap. I already had a brush I'd received as a gift with a fancy wooden Trac II handle some years ago so I was set.
Thanks to Leisureguy's blog I discovered links to this site and mantic59's videos, both of which have really helped me get my technique up to speed. So far so good: only one nasty cut (razor slipped out of my hand and left me a lasting impression to pay attention) and a couple of months of shaves better than anything I'd ever had before, plus a less irritated face.
However, because of all of your inspiration/influence/Jedi mind tricks, I've also expanded my shaving kit to include the VdH shaving set (love that soap!), an extra VdH brush, a L'Occitane travel brush, a Gillette ball end tech, a Gilette travel razor, and a Personna injector that just arrived today... not to mention the tubes of C.O. Bigelow and KMF cream sitting next to them on the counter. Amazing that I am still coming out ahead money-wise! Even if I wasn't, though, the quality of my shaves more than makes up for it.
I'm looking forward to spending some more quality time with y'all!
Doug K.
I've been reading the forums and reviews here for a couple of months and decided to delurkify myself.
I'd been shaving mostly with cartridge razors (Trac II and Mach 3) and canned goo, with the occasional shave using a Braun or Norelco electric. However, as may be familiar to everyone here, the quality my shaves just never felt all that great, not to mention a constant battle with skin irritation. Finally, in a fit of frustration (and after watching Don Draper wetshaving in an episode of Mad Men) I hit Google to find some relief.
To make a short story longer, I found and ordered Leisureguy's book on gourmet shaving and then hit classicshaving.com for a Parker 91R, a bowl, a five-pack of Merkur blades, and some soap. I already had a brush I'd received as a gift with a fancy wooden Trac II handle some years ago so I was set.
Thanks to Leisureguy's blog I discovered links to this site and mantic59's videos, both of which have really helped me get my technique up to speed. So far so good: only one nasty cut (razor slipped out of my hand and left me a lasting impression to pay attention) and a couple of months of shaves better than anything I'd ever had before, plus a less irritated face.
However, because of all of your inspiration/influence/Jedi mind tricks, I've also expanded my shaving kit to include the VdH shaving set (love that soap!), an extra VdH brush, a L'Occitane travel brush, a Gillette ball end tech, a Gilette travel razor, and a Personna injector that just arrived today... not to mention the tubes of C.O. Bigelow and KMF cream sitting next to them on the counter. Amazing that I am still coming out ahead money-wise! Even if I wasn't, though, the quality of my shaves more than makes up for it.
I'm looking forward to spending some more quality time with y'all!
Doug K.
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OUCH...
