I have visited this site a little last year, and then a TON this past few weeks. I have decided to take the plunge and join the cult here at Badger and Blade.
Me. Ill attempt [fail!] to keep my self-introduction brief before my preliminary comments about this site. I am someone who is undisciplined. I hate wasting time [relaxing isnt wasting time], but I have noticed that the older I get, the more I LOVE ritual it helps with my discipline problem. I dont like to experiment for the most part, unless it involves wine, spirits, and food - I like to go straight to what is best based on the advice of others and I dont experiment unless it didnt work for me.
I joined this site because the abundant majority of the comments are intelligent and come from voices who seem to have done experimenting (sometimes extensive) and research themselves. I am grateful to the creator, the moderators, and the posters for the wealth of information on this very interesting subject, especially the advice and warnings of those who share their failures failures are often the best way to learn.
My shaving experience. I barely remember using an electric razor as a kid. It was messy. And as an adolescent with zits, why rub an appliance over sensitive skin? Wet shaving has been my way for years. I use gel, an Atra double blade cartridge with lubricating strip and thats it. I only started washing my face about a year ago with high quality bar soap. I ALWAYS shave in the shower. Also, I remember waaaaaay back in the 80s there was an article in GQ explaining that every man should get a professional (straight razor) shave 1-2 times a year to benefit the skin and prevent ingrown hairs. I have tried to follow this advice throughout my life.
My new voyage into a better shave experience. About two years ago, I met a great man named Farrell who runs a true old-school barber shop here in Jacksonville, Pomade and Tonic (hope you dont mind the plug). He has reaffirmed my knowledge of shaving, steered me away from false roads, and taught me new things like XTG. Thanks to you, B&B, I have learned the benefits of using a shaving brush and I just received my silvertip Edwin Jagger a week ago from Amazon ($30!!!). When I was in Vegas two months ago, Farrell told me I MUST go to the only storefront in the U.S. for Truefitt & Hill. Using the shaving soap prompted me to get the shave brush amazing how LESS than a pea-sized amount lathers my face so well with or without the brush its gonna last me forever! I liked the scent so much that I bought the cologne, the balm, and the preshave oil ($180 total yikes!). I recently purchased Clubman bay rum and the Ogallala Bay Rum sample pack, and purchased Neutrogena Mens Invigorating Face Wash. And finally, I am about to purchase a Merkur 1904 (if I can get it closed tooth) and am shopping for either a bowl or scuttle (still weighing the difference and cost).
My face: I have light to medium grow rate, with medium density, wide pores (patchy beard). Although I never have acne, my skin is somewhat oily.
Allow me to be bold as a newbie to confess I take exception (to just a small degree) to some of the commenters, their unsubstantiated notions, and their biases. I made my introduction above acknowledging that we are all different: different backgrounds, different personalities, and certainly different faces. Overall, the commenters that have shared experiences and experiments with thought out reasoning have spurred me to join the site. But, for example, I dont understand the extreme bias against cartridges. I have used an Atra twin blade cartridge with lube strip since college in the 90s and NEVER have a problem with irritation (and have never had an ingrown hair), unless I shave ATG which is only Sunday. My cartridges last forever, shaving every other day 2 to 3 weeks before replacing. I dont get 5oclock shadows and get a nick maybe at most 3 times a year. Furthermore, about 2 months ago I purchased a hydro and LOVE it. Why do people have an issue with the goo? Its soothing and especially helps ATG and youre gonna rinse your face anyway. Nevertheless, I am purchasing a DE because people swear by it on this site and frankly it looks MANLY! But I cant imagine knocking the performance of cartridges.
And whats the beef against gel? People have always made me laugh when they promote organic over non-organic products that have nothing to do with food. You know whats organic? Poop! Maybe we should put poop on our face.
Generally, manufacturers arent going to put harmful chemicals in their products its counter to protecting their reputation. So if I see chemicals in Edge gel, Im not going to panic if it works, why knock it? But dont misunderstand me. I support the promotion of shaving creams and soaps over gels and foam not because gels/foams are bad but because of the cost and the benefits of exfoliating with a brush and the good ingredients of soaps and creams.
I wonder about one other thing. Why arent there more B&B commenters that shave in the shower? To me its not just the ultimate wet shave experience, but the ONLY acceptable one. You find a place for a mirror, spraying every once in a while with a bleach solution to get rid of the soap scum. Theres no need for multiple towels to steam your face. Theres no messy hair shavings that you find in the sink when you shave. Its just so much more convenient, clean, and beneficial to your skin and your shave experience. I ...
One more benefit: you dont have to worry so much about the heat of your shave bowl because you are surrounded in heat. Shower shaving is the only way to go in my book.
And my own unsolicited advice: I wouldnt worry so much about alcohol on the face; to the contrary I recommend it for all faces. When we shave, our faces are in a hot, moist environment heaven for bacteria. Alcohol sterilizes the microscopic nicks on our faces. I nearly always use a conservative amount of scented lotion followed by a conservative amount of scented balm which I also use on the rest of my face. But before I use either of those and after I have shaved ATG I use an astringent (Seabreeze) that does indeed contain alcohol. It burns and cools at the same time, all the while tightening like a toner. Feels wonderful!
Sorry this post was so verbose, but I do LOVE this site! I look forward to continuing to learn from all of you.
Me. Ill attempt [fail!] to keep my self-introduction brief before my preliminary comments about this site. I am someone who is undisciplined. I hate wasting time [relaxing isnt wasting time], but I have noticed that the older I get, the more I LOVE ritual it helps with my discipline problem. I dont like to experiment for the most part, unless it involves wine, spirits, and food - I like to go straight to what is best based on the advice of others and I dont experiment unless it didnt work for me.
I joined this site because the abundant majority of the comments are intelligent and come from voices who seem to have done experimenting (sometimes extensive) and research themselves. I am grateful to the creator, the moderators, and the posters for the wealth of information on this very interesting subject, especially the advice and warnings of those who share their failures failures are often the best way to learn.
My shaving experience. I barely remember using an electric razor as a kid. It was messy. And as an adolescent with zits, why rub an appliance over sensitive skin? Wet shaving has been my way for years. I use gel, an Atra double blade cartridge with lubricating strip and thats it. I only started washing my face about a year ago with high quality bar soap. I ALWAYS shave in the shower. Also, I remember waaaaaay back in the 80s there was an article in GQ explaining that every man should get a professional (straight razor) shave 1-2 times a year to benefit the skin and prevent ingrown hairs. I have tried to follow this advice throughout my life.
My new voyage into a better shave experience. About two years ago, I met a great man named Farrell who runs a true old-school barber shop here in Jacksonville, Pomade and Tonic (hope you dont mind the plug). He has reaffirmed my knowledge of shaving, steered me away from false roads, and taught me new things like XTG. Thanks to you, B&B, I have learned the benefits of using a shaving brush and I just received my silvertip Edwin Jagger a week ago from Amazon ($30!!!). When I was in Vegas two months ago, Farrell told me I MUST go to the only storefront in the U.S. for Truefitt & Hill. Using the shaving soap prompted me to get the shave brush amazing how LESS than a pea-sized amount lathers my face so well with or without the brush its gonna last me forever! I liked the scent so much that I bought the cologne, the balm, and the preshave oil ($180 total yikes!). I recently purchased Clubman bay rum and the Ogallala Bay Rum sample pack, and purchased Neutrogena Mens Invigorating Face Wash. And finally, I am about to purchase a Merkur 1904 (if I can get it closed tooth) and am shopping for either a bowl or scuttle (still weighing the difference and cost).
My face: I have light to medium grow rate, with medium density, wide pores (patchy beard). Although I never have acne, my skin is somewhat oily.
Allow me to be bold as a newbie to confess I take exception (to just a small degree) to some of the commenters, their unsubstantiated notions, and their biases. I made my introduction above acknowledging that we are all different: different backgrounds, different personalities, and certainly different faces. Overall, the commenters that have shared experiences and experiments with thought out reasoning have spurred me to join the site. But, for example, I dont understand the extreme bias against cartridges. I have used an Atra twin blade cartridge with lube strip since college in the 90s and NEVER have a problem with irritation (and have never had an ingrown hair), unless I shave ATG which is only Sunday. My cartridges last forever, shaving every other day 2 to 3 weeks before replacing. I dont get 5oclock shadows and get a nick maybe at most 3 times a year. Furthermore, about 2 months ago I purchased a hydro and LOVE it. Why do people have an issue with the goo? Its soothing and especially helps ATG and youre gonna rinse your face anyway. Nevertheless, I am purchasing a DE because people swear by it on this site and frankly it looks MANLY! But I cant imagine knocking the performance of cartridges.
And whats the beef against gel? People have always made me laugh when they promote organic over non-organic products that have nothing to do with food. You know whats organic? Poop! Maybe we should put poop on our face.
Generally, manufacturers arent going to put harmful chemicals in their products its counter to protecting their reputation. So if I see chemicals in Edge gel, Im not going to panic if it works, why knock it? But dont misunderstand me. I support the promotion of shaving creams and soaps over gels and foam not because gels/foams are bad but because of the cost and the benefits of exfoliating with a brush and the good ingredients of soaps and creams.I wonder about one other thing. Why arent there more B&B commenters that shave in the shower? To me its not just the ultimate wet shave experience, but the ONLY acceptable one. You find a place for a mirror, spraying every once in a while with a bleach solution to get rid of the soap scum. Theres no need for multiple towels to steam your face. Theres no messy hair shavings that you find in the sink when you shave. Its just so much more convenient, clean, and beneficial to your skin and your shave experience. I ...
- wash my face first, then my hair.
- Then condition my hair. Whatevers left on my hands I apply to my face, mainly Paul Mitchell conditioner.
- I wash my body and then rinse my face before applying the gel or shave soap. The only time I bother with oil (excellent from T&H, but Im open to trying the homemade oils elsewhere on this site) is when I shave ATG AFTER Ive shaved WTG. [Thats another thing. I saw this guy on youtube SUPER lather his face with shave soap. I really think this is unnecessary. You dont have to look like an 8-year old boy who got into his dads Barbasol and put it on like Santa Clause to have enough lather to lubricate and soften your beard. Brush circular and ATG to make the hair stand up and thats enough].
- After I shave, I rinse my hair with cold water for the same reason you do so with your face.
- The water jets from the shower head are stronger than the sink so they clean my razor better.
One more benefit: you dont have to worry so much about the heat of your shave bowl because you are surrounded in heat. Shower shaving is the only way to go in my book.
And my own unsolicited advice: I wouldnt worry so much about alcohol on the face; to the contrary I recommend it for all faces. When we shave, our faces are in a hot, moist environment heaven for bacteria. Alcohol sterilizes the microscopic nicks on our faces. I nearly always use a conservative amount of scented lotion followed by a conservative amount of scented balm which I also use on the rest of my face. But before I use either of those and after I have shaved ATG I use an astringent (Seabreeze) that does indeed contain alcohol. It burns and cools at the same time, all the while tightening like a toner. Feels wonderful!
Sorry this post was so verbose, but I do LOVE this site! I look forward to continuing to learn from all of you.
