G'day,
I guess this thread would be the best way to introduce myself as suggested by the Administrator. I didn't read any other "introduction" thread so I have no idea if I will be doing this right but I think if I give a little background, it should be right...
First, I am a French Canadian now living in Melbourne, Australia. So, it might be possible that I write stuff that doesnt make sense. If its the case, let me know, I will work on it! Second, Oz is awesome!
I think you know a bit about me, now I will go to the shaving experience.
My first shaver was a Braun electric foil shaver. I was always getting razor burns with that thing, started at 16 and abandoned it very quickly. I had the alcohol aftershave - Home Alone moments after every shave... I do not remember the model but it was a very very basic shaver. You could switch it On, or... Off, that is it. It was black and I had to plug it since it was not battery operated. It was pinching the skin if I was pressing with it. Thinking about it now, it had great qualities to discourage me from shaving and pushing me to grow a beard
Following this, my dad thought it might be good to take me to wet shaving. He was always a dry shaver and still his. I think he does wet shaving twice a year. I know that he knows how to do it (with lather and a Mach3) but he thinks it is a waste of time. Anyways, my first razor was a Gillette Mach2 (yeah old and it was gray). I think my parents still have it somewhere at their house. I left it there in case of an emergency when I was going to see them.
The shaving cream was the good old chemical gel can. I think I used Edge and then switched to Gillette, went back to Edge, went back to Gillette and finally ended up with Nivea. All, sensitive skin of course. I have been using those for, maybe the past 15 years now...
The aftershave was always Gillette sensitive or Nivea sensitive with low or no fragrances. Following the alcohol aftershave incidents, I tried to keep it without alcohol.
I used a straight razor with disposable blades maybe 5 years ago. I gave some free blood donations a bit, as I was doing it on my own without any knowledge. I was only using it on the weekend since it was taking me too much time to shave. I do not have that razor anymore and have no idea which brand it was. Being in the same vein (ha ha ironic - shaving with a cutthroat razor), I decided to get a shaving brush (the 1.99 brush at the grocery - Wilkinson sword) and shaving soap (the grand-pa stuff - Wilkinson sword at the grocery again).
I never knew how to make lather and I always shaved with some white water that looked like diluted water I now know how to make lather (Thanks Mantic and Youtube).
I upgraded my Mach2 to a Mach3 eventually and still have the Mach3. Great razor (well I thought). I used that one for the last 5 years with the fake cutthroat razor.
A couple weeks ago, I decided to change all my shaving equipment to go back to basics. What made me change? It was not Sweeney Todd however, funny story. I was at the cinema after a movie in the toilet (you know, they always serve you a bucket as a drink so you either cross a leg for half the movie or you go pee and miss the bad guy killing the good guy's girlfriend). So, I was in there and I saw an ad on the wall for shaving oil. Since I drank a bucket, I had time to read the whole thing, even the small print. My mom was telling me about it for the past 10 years (not kidding) but I never tried it since there was only one brand available at the pharmacy (Somerset I think) and I always thought that if I do not have a choice, it must be bad...
I read the ad and it was explaining how this Australian shaving oil had natural ingredients only versus a shaving gel with all the chemicals. I will check where I bought it, I disremember the brand, unfortunately. Since I try to buy organic food and eat healty food, I thought I should treat my face the same way. So this was the beginning of the shaving revolution.
I went from the cinema to the grocery to get some shaving oil. The advertisement said, "Find it in Coles stores". The bottle said that I would use this 15ml for months and I will not need any shaving gel/foam/soap anymore. I hoped for $7.95 (AUD). I tried it, the bottle lasted for 2 weeks. Then, I got online and find this girl's blog talking about shaving oils (http://mandypandys.blogspot.com/2008/05/pacific-shaving-company-shaving-oil.html). I thought the comparison with canola oil was gold. So from there, I decided to create my own shaving oil. I did and I am still using the first batch. I feel a difference with my razor when I use the oil, for me, it works. From what I understand, it will not necessarily make a difference for everyone. I do not know what happened with the $7.95 bottle but I am not nearly finished my homemade shaving oil... I use something like a 10 cents (American/Canadian) or 5 Cent (Australian) for every shave. I did it in a 100ml bottle. I reckon I still have a good 90ml in there. At that rate, it should last a year or so. My girlfriend also use it to shave her legs
Next step was to get rid of my Mach3 so I went to good old Shaver Shop and bought a Weishi. Now, they did not seem to have any knowledge on their DE razors. I asked for a butterfly and was given a 3 pieces. I gave it back asking for a real butterfly. I was tempted to ask for a 3 pieces and expecting a butterfly but I thought I should not push it. After all, I should blame my accent for it. BUT-HER-FLY vs TRI-PEE-CES. Anyhow, I got a Weishi, good and basic for a beginner. I have the Weishi razor blades, Merkur and Wilkinson sword. I am in the process of finding the right blade for me. I got some Derby, Feather and Astra on the way.
I will keep you updated about the shaving soap as my Wilkinson sword will have a premature end. Next Saturday I will go to the farmer's market and buy a handmade soap (no chemicals) by a lady that makes it. She started to work on a shaving soap since last October. The shaving soap is still is testing stage. From what I understood, it will be released soon as one of her regular soaps. I have been buying her regular soap for a while now but she recently started to make shaving soaps. Her soaps are very cheap and last long. The best bit, all natural ingredients, great for sensitive skins. I was really tempted by Col. Conk shaving soap but I found a Forum in German that was listing the ingredients and this is where I stopped. After consulting http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com I lost interest.
I got a new shaving brush, Omega Badger from the Shaver Shop. Expensive? Yes because it's the Shaver Shop. Better than a 1.99 Wilkinson Sword? Yes, no further comments.
I am in the process of getting another cutthroat razor with disposable blades to practice until I think I am good enough to go for the real deal. When I will be ready, I think that I will get a second hand real cut throat razor first so I do not kill a 200$ investment... I still have to do some researches about honing and the strop.
My next step is the aftershave. Now, I think an aftershave should be very simple and I think that I will have to make it (like the shaving oil) if I want it to be good. I will probably use aloe or witch hazel... I still have to work on the right formula because I want it to smell good... I am finishing my Nivea before I switch but I might get impatient and switch it before the end... I had a look at the Body Shop stuff and after checking the ingredients, well, I guess I am difficult now.
If you are still awake well, I guess I maybe did this right. I will try to contribute in the forum/reviews with the little experience I have. I am still getting razor burns with the Weishi, which is my fault because I am either applying pressure or doing long strokes. I am still working on that. I am finding new tricks at every shave on how to make it smoother. I am thinking about getting a Merkur Future or HD in a couple of months when I will get perfect shaves out of my Weishi.
The long-term plan is to shave with a cutthroat razor as much as I can. I think having a Merkur DE razor will be the travelling razor or the "a bit in a hurry" razor. However, I want to take my time on doing this because I think it is very enjoyable!
That is it for now. Thanks to the Administrator for this website and thanks all for the contribution, very helpful!
Cheers,
Luc
I guess this thread would be the best way to introduce myself as suggested by the Administrator. I didn't read any other "introduction" thread so I have no idea if I will be doing this right but I think if I give a little background, it should be right...
First, I am a French Canadian now living in Melbourne, Australia. So, it might be possible that I write stuff that doesnt make sense. If its the case, let me know, I will work on it! Second, Oz is awesome!
I think you know a bit about me, now I will go to the shaving experience.
My first shaver was a Braun electric foil shaver. I was always getting razor burns with that thing, started at 16 and abandoned it very quickly. I had the alcohol aftershave - Home Alone moments after every shave... I do not remember the model but it was a very very basic shaver. You could switch it On, or... Off, that is it. It was black and I had to plug it since it was not battery operated. It was pinching the skin if I was pressing with it. Thinking about it now, it had great qualities to discourage me from shaving and pushing me to grow a beard
Following this, my dad thought it might be good to take me to wet shaving. He was always a dry shaver and still his. I think he does wet shaving twice a year. I know that he knows how to do it (with lather and a Mach3) but he thinks it is a waste of time. Anyways, my first razor was a Gillette Mach2 (yeah old and it was gray). I think my parents still have it somewhere at their house. I left it there in case of an emergency when I was going to see them.
The shaving cream was the good old chemical gel can. I think I used Edge and then switched to Gillette, went back to Edge, went back to Gillette and finally ended up with Nivea. All, sensitive skin of course. I have been using those for, maybe the past 15 years now...
The aftershave was always Gillette sensitive or Nivea sensitive with low or no fragrances. Following the alcohol aftershave incidents, I tried to keep it without alcohol.
I used a straight razor with disposable blades maybe 5 years ago. I gave some free blood donations a bit, as I was doing it on my own without any knowledge. I was only using it on the weekend since it was taking me too much time to shave. I do not have that razor anymore and have no idea which brand it was. Being in the same vein (ha ha ironic - shaving with a cutthroat razor), I decided to get a shaving brush (the 1.99 brush at the grocery - Wilkinson sword) and shaving soap (the grand-pa stuff - Wilkinson sword at the grocery again).
I never knew how to make lather and I always shaved with some white water that looked like diluted water I now know how to make lather (Thanks Mantic and Youtube).
I upgraded my Mach2 to a Mach3 eventually and still have the Mach3. Great razor (well I thought). I used that one for the last 5 years with the fake cutthroat razor.
A couple weeks ago, I decided to change all my shaving equipment to go back to basics. What made me change? It was not Sweeney Todd however, funny story. I was at the cinema after a movie in the toilet (you know, they always serve you a bucket as a drink so you either cross a leg for half the movie or you go pee and miss the bad guy killing the good guy's girlfriend). So, I was in there and I saw an ad on the wall for shaving oil. Since I drank a bucket, I had time to read the whole thing, even the small print. My mom was telling me about it for the past 10 years (not kidding) but I never tried it since there was only one brand available at the pharmacy (Somerset I think) and I always thought that if I do not have a choice, it must be bad...
I read the ad and it was explaining how this Australian shaving oil had natural ingredients only versus a shaving gel with all the chemicals. I will check where I bought it, I disremember the brand, unfortunately. Since I try to buy organic food and eat healty food, I thought I should treat my face the same way. So this was the beginning of the shaving revolution.
I went from the cinema to the grocery to get some shaving oil. The advertisement said, "Find it in Coles stores". The bottle said that I would use this 15ml for months and I will not need any shaving gel/foam/soap anymore. I hoped for $7.95 (AUD). I tried it, the bottle lasted for 2 weeks. Then, I got online and find this girl's blog talking about shaving oils (http://mandypandys.blogspot.com/2008/05/pacific-shaving-company-shaving-oil.html). I thought the comparison with canola oil was gold. So from there, I decided to create my own shaving oil. I did and I am still using the first batch. I feel a difference with my razor when I use the oil, for me, it works. From what I understand, it will not necessarily make a difference for everyone. I do not know what happened with the $7.95 bottle but I am not nearly finished my homemade shaving oil... I use something like a 10 cents (American/Canadian) or 5 Cent (Australian) for every shave. I did it in a 100ml bottle. I reckon I still have a good 90ml in there. At that rate, it should last a year or so. My girlfriend also use it to shave her legs
Next step was to get rid of my Mach3 so I went to good old Shaver Shop and bought a Weishi. Now, they did not seem to have any knowledge on their DE razors. I asked for a butterfly and was given a 3 pieces. I gave it back asking for a real butterfly. I was tempted to ask for a 3 pieces and expecting a butterfly but I thought I should not push it. After all, I should blame my accent for it. BUT-HER-FLY vs TRI-PEE-CES. Anyhow, I got a Weishi, good and basic for a beginner. I have the Weishi razor blades, Merkur and Wilkinson sword. I am in the process of finding the right blade for me. I got some Derby, Feather and Astra on the way.
I will keep you updated about the shaving soap as my Wilkinson sword will have a premature end. Next Saturday I will go to the farmer's market and buy a handmade soap (no chemicals) by a lady that makes it. She started to work on a shaving soap since last October. The shaving soap is still is testing stage. From what I understood, it will be released soon as one of her regular soaps. I have been buying her regular soap for a while now but she recently started to make shaving soaps. Her soaps are very cheap and last long. The best bit, all natural ingredients, great for sensitive skins. I was really tempted by Col. Conk shaving soap but I found a Forum in German that was listing the ingredients and this is where I stopped. After consulting http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com I lost interest.
I got a new shaving brush, Omega Badger from the Shaver Shop. Expensive? Yes because it's the Shaver Shop. Better than a 1.99 Wilkinson Sword? Yes, no further comments.
I am in the process of getting another cutthroat razor with disposable blades to practice until I think I am good enough to go for the real deal. When I will be ready, I think that I will get a second hand real cut throat razor first so I do not kill a 200$ investment... I still have to do some researches about honing and the strop.
My next step is the aftershave. Now, I think an aftershave should be very simple and I think that I will have to make it (like the shaving oil) if I want it to be good. I will probably use aloe or witch hazel... I still have to work on the right formula because I want it to smell good... I am finishing my Nivea before I switch but I might get impatient and switch it before the end... I had a look at the Body Shop stuff and after checking the ingredients, well, I guess I am difficult now.
If you are still awake well, I guess I maybe did this right. I will try to contribute in the forum/reviews with the little experience I have. I am still getting razor burns with the Weishi, which is my fault because I am either applying pressure or doing long strokes. I am still working on that. I am finding new tricks at every shave on how to make it smoother. I am thinking about getting a Merkur Future or HD in a couple of months when I will get perfect shaves out of my Weishi.
The long-term plan is to shave with a cutthroat razor as much as I can. I think having a Merkur DE razor will be the travelling razor or the "a bit in a hurry" razor. However, I want to take my time on doing this because I think it is very enjoyable!
That is it for now. Thanks to the Administrator for this website and thanks all for the contribution, very helpful!
Cheers,
Luc
)
