Hello, B&B! After a couple of false starts in 2007 (when I first joined B&B) and 2014, I finally started DE shaving in earnest in July. My first DE was a Merkur 34C, which I still have. For my third attempt at DE, I decided to start with a Parker Semi-slant after reading posts that suggested it a good fit for sensitive skin and a course beard. And that has been the case for me. Unlike my attempt in 2007, the slant has been giving me overall really good shaves, and I’m only doing the beginner two-pass, N-S. Using exclusively Astra SP at the moment, based on a suggestion I’d seen back in 2014 (though I couldn’t resist getting some mega-sampler packs off of Amazon, so if you think I should try something different, let me hear it).
Shortly after I came back in July I made the mistake of wandering into the BST. Hoo, boy. Shouldn’t have done that. “Oh, cool, that’d be neat to have a birth year razor. Oh, and there’s another slant to try. And another. Oh, hey, check it out—if I buy three shipping’s free!” And so it went. I came down with a bad case of RAD and SAD and a lesser case of BAD.
I’d like to say the RAD is over, but given that I ended up purchasing a mixed lot of three tonight after reading some good things about the Gillette Tech on B&B and then wondering how much they cost and then putting in a bid on the Bay, I’m not going to guarantee it. And I do know I still want to try a German 37 and a Fatip Lo Storto. But I am going to hold off as best I can.
Meanwhile, I’d like to set up an order in which to take the razors I've purchased for a spin. Contrary to what it looks like from the below list, my end goal is not to have all the razors in the world, but to improve my technique and focus on a core collection that give great shaves + have some variety in my shaves. And I bought each of these with some thought given to general regard in the community, reviews, and what I think I might like. I definitely do not intend to keep all of these—the majority will hit the BST or be PIF’d or donated after I’ve done some experimenting to see what works for me.
My current thinking is to keep the soap or cream (once I’ve found one I consistently get good shaves with) and blades consistent and then rotate through the razors in a set order. I may end up keeping the brush the same, too, if I see too much inconsistency in the lather as a result of different brushes.
As for the razors, I’d be curious to know what y’all thought of the following tryout order:
Merkur 34C
Muhle R89
Maggard V2 (safety bar)
Standard Razors aluminum
Wilkinson Sword TTO
Gillette Super Speed (maybe—this was included in the lot I purchased tonight and has some plating issues on one side of the safety bar that may make it unusable; won’t know for sure until I try it)
Gillette Slim
Parker Semi-slant
Fine Superlite Slant
Maggard slant
iKon X3
Gillette Tech
Parker 24C open comb
Muhle R41
Shick Injector
Gem Jr.
Gem MMOC
My overall thought is to work the DEs from mild to aggressive/efficient and then try out the SEs in the same general pattern. What do you think?
Also, how much is enough time with each—two weeks? A month? Or would I be better off sticking with one only until I’m doing consistent three-pass shaves with beard growth taken into account (versus my two-pass N-S currently)? And, if so, which one?
Curious to get your thoughts on how you might proceed or to hear how you’ve proceeded on your on journey to better shaves.
Thanks!
Shortly after I came back in July I made the mistake of wandering into the BST. Hoo, boy. Shouldn’t have done that. “Oh, cool, that’d be neat to have a birth year razor. Oh, and there’s another slant to try. And another. Oh, hey, check it out—if I buy three shipping’s free!” And so it went. I came down with a bad case of RAD and SAD and a lesser case of BAD.
I’d like to say the RAD is over, but given that I ended up purchasing a mixed lot of three tonight after reading some good things about the Gillette Tech on B&B and then wondering how much they cost and then putting in a bid on the Bay, I’m not going to guarantee it. And I do know I still want to try a German 37 and a Fatip Lo Storto. But I am going to hold off as best I can.
Meanwhile, I’d like to set up an order in which to take the razors I've purchased for a spin. Contrary to what it looks like from the below list, my end goal is not to have all the razors in the world, but to improve my technique and focus on a core collection that give great shaves + have some variety in my shaves. And I bought each of these with some thought given to general regard in the community, reviews, and what I think I might like. I definitely do not intend to keep all of these—the majority will hit the BST or be PIF’d or donated after I’ve done some experimenting to see what works for me.
My current thinking is to keep the soap or cream (once I’ve found one I consistently get good shaves with) and blades consistent and then rotate through the razors in a set order. I may end up keeping the brush the same, too, if I see too much inconsistency in the lather as a result of different brushes.
As for the razors, I’d be curious to know what y’all thought of the following tryout order:
Merkur 34C
Muhle R89
Maggard V2 (safety bar)
Standard Razors aluminum
Wilkinson Sword TTO
Gillette Super Speed (maybe—this was included in the lot I purchased tonight and has some plating issues on one side of the safety bar that may make it unusable; won’t know for sure until I try it)
Gillette Slim
Parker Semi-slant
Fine Superlite Slant
Maggard slant
iKon X3
Gillette Tech
Parker 24C open comb
Muhle R41
Shick Injector
Gem Jr.
Gem MMOC
My overall thought is to work the DEs from mild to aggressive/efficient and then try out the SEs in the same general pattern. What do you think?
Also, how much is enough time with each—two weeks? A month? Or would I be better off sticking with one only until I’m doing consistent three-pass shaves with beard growth taken into account (versus my two-pass N-S currently)? And, if so, which one?
Curious to get your thoughts on how you might proceed or to hear how you’ve proceeded on your on journey to better shaves.
Thanks!