Building a kit for SWMBO

[Muscles]

Okay, I need some reccommendations from the ladies...

I am wanting to put together a noob-kit for SWMBO for her to learn how to use a DE. I have a Blue Star Lady en route for her as a surprise (is this good for a first-timer?) and am wondering what else I should get her. Should she prep with some of my Proraso etc?

Any help appreciated,

 

[Muscles]

Okay, so I found the Leg Shaving section in the Wiki and will get her to have a read through it and the threads linked at the bottom.

Perhaps I should just hand her my kit and say go for it...

 

[Luc]

It depends what your other half likes. Fruit scents, flower scents, herbal scents, etc...

I know that SWMBO likes things like TOBS Rose, Mama Bear winter grapefruit...

She didn't like Nivea. It works but the scent is too "manly"...

 

[Legion]

The blue star lady Gillette is a great newbie razor (for men too!). A medium sharp blade like red pack IP's would be good. Feathers might be asking for trouble if she is going... higher than her legs....

Soaps and creams will mainly come down to what she likes the smell of, but maybe cream is easier to lather when starting out. Get her a brush, maybe a softer badger? That might feel nicer and lather creams better. She will be probably using other things to exfoliate, so she doesn't need "scrubbieness". Go with the soft option. And then maybe some nice moisturiser with something soothing like witch-hazel. And you're done. Until she starts stealing your stuff.

 

[Leche]

I got my SWMBO a Merkur HD because she kept stealing mine. She also sampled a variety of blades finally settling on the Red Packs or Astra blades. I got her a large Omega Boar brush because, frankly she doesn't take the best care of it. But broken in it's ultra soft and if she ruins it which would take time I'm out ten bucks. Her replacement would of course have a few soap pucks thrown in for me. Now here is where she differs, she doesn't really care about the scent to much. She wants a protective and slick lather that moisturizes. Her favorite is MWF, but she also likes Arko, IK, and even VDH.

 

[Muscles]

Okay, I will give her the Blue Star Lady with a silvertip brush, if she doesn't like it I will keep it. I have a blade sampler pack here so she can try a few different blades which leaves me with figuring out which cream to give her...

She didn't mind the Maca Root cream I have from The Body Shop but I do want to get one that she can call hers.

 

[Barber-Eile]

Oooo yeay! I like men treating their ladies!

The Lady Gillette is a great razor and a lot of us women on here use them as the handle is nice and long. Adjustables are also a popular choice (I have one) as again, good long handle and you can tailor the aggresiveness.

In terms of soaps/creams it will not only depend on what scent she likes but also on how she shaves. If she creates a lather in a bowl and shaves in the bath then something nice from Mama Bear's or Prairie Creations might be good. If, like me, she shaves in the shower then she might find leg-lathering easier.
I'm hooked on using shave sticks for this and while I adore Arko as it's so, so easy to get a great lather from, the smell may not be to her liking. Gentlemen's best do a nice soft shave stick too or again, Mama Bear's do shave sticks too.
The shave sticks in the plastic twist-up containers are the best IMO as they have no wrapper which will dissolve in the water (as happened to me with Erasmic )
For the price of it though maybe get her an Arko just so she can see but also get her something nice from Mama Bear's.

What kind of smells does she like (and I'm not just talking about perfumes...)?

I love badger brushes and have a couple but my fav one had a nice big wooden handle similar to this one but bigger:
Penwork's Badger Brush
Badger hair is lovely and soft on your legs.

As for blades I would recommend getting her a sampler pack. Your fav blade may not be hers and indeed a few gals on here find Feathers (of all things!) their favourites! I like the Gillette 7 O'clocks but a sampler pack will give her a good idea of what's best for her.

 

[Muscles]

The Blue Star Lady arrived in the mail today so I will give it to SWMBO with her own badger brush, mug and a blade sampler pack. Hopefully, with her own kit she will see reason in me acquiring multiples of everything

 

[Muscles]

Woohoo! SWMBO sitting in bath with mug full of TOBS lather in one hand and the Blue Star Lady in the other, I think I have her hooked already... phase 1 of my plan complete

 

[fluffman86]

Woohoo! SWMBO sitting in bath with mug full of TOBS lather in one hand and the Blue Star Lady in the other, I think I have her hooked already... phase 1 of my plan complete

Haha, very nice. I just received a blue star for my lady as well. She's been pretty busy, so I can't wait to see how she likes it. :

 

[jsrdrnr]

Awesome...she can also leg lather creames if it is easier for her but you use quite a bit more. Again...it is up to her as to what she likes. You will have to experment. I love both soaps and creams. I love leg lathering as well as bowl lathering, it kinda depends on how much time I have. KMF is great for the shower as it is technically a brushless cream and is great for using in the shower for a "quick shave." The lady gillette is an awesome razor. I am sure she is loving it. That is my daily razor. Let us know if you have any more questions or need any more help.