Hi everyone,
Thank you all for the very warm welcome and let me start by saying that you have created an amazing community here on the forums. I found I travelled here more and more and learned so much already from all the advice and experiences I read here.
Let me tell a bit about myself. I'm in my fourties, from the Netherlands but living in Berlin these days where I work as a Software Engineer.
I've had a short beard for several years and shaved both electrically and with cartridges in different periods before that. This spring, with the nice warm weather, I felt like a big change and enjoy the freshness of a great shave again. So I bought a whole bunch of Fusion blades and Gillette Gel. But I hadn't even used a single cartridge when I decided to go DE, with proper soap, a proper brush... Get a real shave!
So I got a Merkur Futur as it is adjustable, Feather blades, an expensive Floris Elite soap and a proper badger brush and I was off. I quickly found I did not like the Futur that much, mainly because of the thick head, heavy weight and long stem; with my cartridge technique I also quickly learned I made better roast-beef than smooth skin that way:S So I've been watching and reading a lot and experimenting to get things right.
I found myself a refurbished Gillette Flathead L2 from 1966 on e-Bay and that was the first big improvement. I love that razor!
Then I found one of those wonderful artisan-style shops here in Berlin (called Soul Objects) that really got me started with supplies and advice. You probably know these kinds of stores where the owners know everything about every product they sell. Nothing to get you more into the shaving-mood than a place like that!
I got a good lather bowl, alum stone, and all kinds of other supplies to have a great setup. I had bought a 200ml Boss Bottled, but after I had bought a balm there, Panama 1924 by Boellis, I think that bottle will go the same route as the Fusion did. I just love that smell so much that I'll be switching to their EdT soon! I want to get one of those old-fashioned atomisers, so if anyone has tips here, don't hold back! I also bought the Panama 1924 soap last week (in the Coffret). What a luxury experience that is compared to the previous soap
Just wonderful
I'm getting more and more proficient with practice and all the information I found online, especially here. I had some big issues with XTG and ATG and was really pushing too much, with a prep that wasn't working for me. Several people here have been incredible in helping me understand the problems and I'm making massive improvements now. The articles from @Kyle, @DEdestroyer77 and @AimlessWanderer, and the personal advice from the latter two were particularly helpful. Thank you so much guys! I finally start to have really great shaves with no cuts or burn and that wonderful shaving experience I read in so many of your posts and comments.
I look forward to reading and learning a lot more, and I will share my experiences as I'm discovering things.
Thank you all!
Niels
Thank you all for the very warm welcome and let me start by saying that you have created an amazing community here on the forums. I found I travelled here more and more and learned so much already from all the advice and experiences I read here.
Let me tell a bit about myself. I'm in my fourties, from the Netherlands but living in Berlin these days where I work as a Software Engineer.
I've had a short beard for several years and shaved both electrically and with cartridges in different periods before that. This spring, with the nice warm weather, I felt like a big change and enjoy the freshness of a great shave again. So I bought a whole bunch of Fusion blades and Gillette Gel. But I hadn't even used a single cartridge when I decided to go DE, with proper soap, a proper brush... Get a real shave!
So I got a Merkur Futur as it is adjustable, Feather blades, an expensive Floris Elite soap and a proper badger brush and I was off. I quickly found I did not like the Futur that much, mainly because of the thick head, heavy weight and long stem; with my cartridge technique I also quickly learned I made better roast-beef than smooth skin that way:S So I've been watching and reading a lot and experimenting to get things right.
I found myself a refurbished Gillette Flathead L2 from 1966 on e-Bay and that was the first big improvement. I love that razor!
Then I found one of those wonderful artisan-style shops here in Berlin (called Soul Objects) that really got me started with supplies and advice. You probably know these kinds of stores where the owners know everything about every product they sell. Nothing to get you more into the shaving-mood than a place like that!
I got a good lather bowl, alum stone, and all kinds of other supplies to have a great setup. I had bought a 200ml Boss Bottled, but after I had bought a balm there, Panama 1924 by Boellis, I think that bottle will go the same route as the Fusion did. I just love that smell so much that I'll be switching to their EdT soon! I want to get one of those old-fashioned atomisers, so if anyone has tips here, don't hold back! I also bought the Panama 1924 soap last week (in the Coffret). What a luxury experience that is compared to the previous soap
Just wonderfulI'm getting more and more proficient with practice and all the information I found online, especially here. I had some big issues with XTG and ATG and was really pushing too much, with a prep that wasn't working for me. Several people here have been incredible in helping me understand the problems and I'm making massive improvements now. The articles from @Kyle, @DEdestroyer77 and @AimlessWanderer, and the personal advice from the latter two were particularly helpful. Thank you so much guys! I finally start to have really great shaves with no cuts or burn and that wonderful shaving experience I read in so many of your posts and comments.
I look forward to reading and learning a lot more, and I will share my experiences as I'm discovering things.
Thank you all!
Niels
