Not new to wet shaving as I took up straight razor shaving years ago. Started collecting razors and flipped a bunch of them before things got too far out of hand, lol. Still have some Boekers, a Henckels and a CV Heljestrand for when I feel like enjoying my shave instead of just using my electric, which I dislike because it never does a good job on my neck and leaves a pretty nasty assortment of bumps. I use the electric for convenience's sake but take no pleasure in it. I started using the electric on my face and my straight on my neck.I enjoy straight razor shaving a lot better but have never had any of mine professionally honed/sharpened. Feel like I'm missing out there but just never got around to sending one in. When I do it will be my Boeker St. Regis.
Setting that aside, I felt like I might find a happy medium in terms of fun and convenience by getting a DE razor. I am making this post because I wanted to thank everyone here for being a valuable source of research. Hopefully not in error, I am acquiring the following:
- An Edwin Jagger DE razor.
- A 20 pack of Astra SP razor blades.
- A clubman styptic pencil.
I already have the following:
- This Van Der Hagen set that I bought well before I had any idea what I was doing. The brush sheds like crazy, but everything else was serviceable. The puck is long gone, replaced with Williams Mug Soap. I was thinking of replacing the brush with this. It was the cheapest "best" badger brush I could find and the reviews are very favorable. Any input, maybe?
- 2 strops. A new one that I cut to hell learning to strop that I kept because the obverse has compound on it and is not ruined, and a vintage strop that is in much better shape but is old and worn.
- Various and sundry other tonsorial items probably not of particular interest.
I have a two questions. I am utterly new to using a DE razor. Are there any pitfalls to avoid or good habits to cultivate just starting out that you wish you had been told as a newbie? I've read several primers and I'm hoping it will be easier than shaving with my straights. Also, am I missing anything that might be useful starting out?
Thanks!
Setting that aside, I felt like I might find a happy medium in terms of fun and convenience by getting a DE razor. I am making this post because I wanted to thank everyone here for being a valuable source of research. Hopefully not in error, I am acquiring the following:
- An Edwin Jagger DE razor.
- A 20 pack of Astra SP razor blades.
- A clubman styptic pencil.
I already have the following:
- This Van Der Hagen set that I bought well before I had any idea what I was doing. The brush sheds like crazy, but everything else was serviceable. The puck is long gone, replaced with Williams Mug Soap. I was thinking of replacing the brush with this. It was the cheapest "best" badger brush I could find and the reviews are very favorable. Any input, maybe?
- 2 strops. A new one that I cut to hell learning to strop that I kept because the obverse has compound on it and is not ruined, and a vintage strop that is in much better shape but is old and worn.
- Various and sundry other tonsorial items probably not of particular interest.
I have a two questions. I am utterly new to using a DE razor. Are there any pitfalls to avoid or good habits to cultivate just starting out that you wish you had been told as a newbie? I've read several primers and I'm hoping it will be easier than shaving with my straights. Also, am I missing anything that might be useful starting out?
Thanks!
