Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Paul O Brien on February 13, 2013 at 6:53am

My S Maria arrived today. Can't wait to go try it out!

My sample pack also arrived!

Gillette 7 O Clock Yellow

Gillette 7 O Clock Green

Feather New Hi-Stainless

Solingen Timor

Astra

Personna Platinum

Derby Extra

Permalink Reply by Clinton R. Ausmus on February 13, 2013 at 10:03am

I scored an Injector in a PIF yesterday at "The Nook", and the guy offering it threw in a few shaves worth of Martin De Candre.

Can't wait to give them both a shot.  This will be my first injector, first SE for that matter.  It could wind up being yet another item I feel I have to require.  There has to be something about them if Jax likes them the way he does.

Permalink Reply by Jax on February 13, 2013 at 1:20pm

Never used an injector before, but I have heard that they are the best SEs out there. Super smooth shavers.  I do like my Gems and Valets a lot but have found myself only using them on Sunday when I can take a bit more time with them. 

Permalink Reply by Paul O Brien on February 14, 2013 at 10:05pm

I think I may be developing a problem lol

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Permalink Reply by Jax on February 15, 2013 at 9:12am

You have a nice start but I see some great opportunity for growth.  :o) 

 I started about the same as you. Now, here is what I have.. (and you can't even see everything well, most things are 2 or 3 layers deep).  When it bites you, it bites hard!  This is why I am on a sabbatical this year. No purchases at all for a year. I'm almost 2 months in and it is going great! 

Soaps/Creams/After Shaves

Bows/Mugs/Post Shave

Brushes and Razors and a few larger A/S

Blade Drawer (about 250 blades)

Permalink Reply by Clinton R. Ausmus on February 15, 2013 at 10:23am

I know what to show my wife now when she gets upset with me.  Looks good.  I'm either not doing very good, or doing great.  LOL..

In other news, I scored a "Black Beauty" from a Canadian member on "The Nook" yesterday.  As much as I love my Slim, I'm really thinking I'm gonna love the "Black Beauty".  Now I need a "Fat Boy".

Are those creams and soaps on the bottom shelf something you have grated or just bought pucks of, or did you buy them in those containers with the red tops?

Permalink Reply by Jax on February 15, 2013 at 10:42am

Most of those are just regular pucks put in Pyrex 1 containers with the labels from the soap boxes cut out and stuck to the top of the lid with double stick tape.  You can see it better here. You can click on the picture for more detail (same with the images above).

Permalink Reply by Clinton R. Ausmus on February 15, 2013 at 11:41am

That's what I was thinking.  I have some Ramekins and some Pyrex dishes with lids that I use sometimes too.  Just thinking you might have found some cool sample shop or something that I needed to know about.

Permalink Reply by Jax on February 15, 2013 at 12:40pm

Nope, sorry. Nothing really new here. 

Permalink Reply by Paul O Brien on February 15, 2013 at 7:21pm

Yes I did something similar with my meagre collection. I bought cheap soap at the local pharmacy (the only place I have found yet in Tipperary or Kerry that sells shaving soap) and put my TOBS refills into the black plastic bowls instead of the cheap soap.

When I shave I just flip them out onto the lid and use the bowl then for lathering! Its got little ridges on the bottom that help. They don't hold heat at all but I like the screw tops.

Permalink Reply by Clinton R. Ausmus on February 23, 2013 at 8:32pm

That certainly is a beautiful razor.  Congrats on winning that one.

Accessories are the funnest part.  What do you have already?  Brush? Creams? Soaps? Aftershaves?

Permalink Reply by Clinton R. Ausmus on February 23, 2013 at 9:11pm

I think you'll find most, if not all, but certainly the majority of wet shaving products are made with as few ingredients as possible.  I'm with you as well on the fragrance.  I don't enjoy floral scents all that much, and want it either to be light and fade quickly or deep and woodsy.  Along those lines I can tell you that Musgo Real's Oak Moss Cream is awesome (smells like greenery in a wet forest to me).  I also just ordered up some Mike's Natural Soaps Pine & Cedarwood (I'll be reporting on this very soon).  I also enjoy the Sandalwood scent.  I have TOBS, but I hear great things about Proraso's Cream.  An easy soap that is light, or unscented is the VDH brand found at local drug stores.  I'm also a huge fan of S. Maria from RazoRock (great cream).  I also have a cream from India, Palmolive Moisturizing Deluxe that I really like.  All of these I would classify as light scents, or earthy scents, but I'll let some others chime in as well with their views.

Brushes are a must as you know.  I'd try Vintage Scent (they have some great self branded brushes) for high quality brushes at excellent prices.  I also have an unbranded Frank's Shaving in Best that I picked up at Star Shaving that I love.  And there is always the one of a kind Whipped Dog, in which you pick the grade of hair (I have silvertip and its great), and the handle and he glues it in and sends it to you.  These are inexpensive options to get you rolling really.  If you want to really drop some dough, there is no limit to what you can spend on a high quality brush.  Don't discount the Semogue, and Omega Boar brushes either.  I have two Semogues, and one Omege and they are all top notch. Again, you should get some other opinions as well.

For blades and other stuff you might want, I like Bull Goose, or West Coast Shaving for blade sample packs, various soaps, creams, and the ever important styptic pen for cleaning up those nicks while you are learning.  Course you can also pick up a styptic pen at your local drug store.  For blades, I like the Israeli blades the best, but they are very subjective to the user.  Still don't change blades a whole bunch until you get really comfortable with your razor and then you can be assured it isn't your technique that is clouding your view of the blade.

Other than that, there isn't a whole lot.  You could just roll up to your local drug store and pick up the VDH Deluxe kit which will contain a boar brush, a soap, and a lather bowl (I think that's everything).  Or you can jump in and try a bunch of different things.  I started with a cheap badger brush, and a Eucalyptus cream from Bath and Body Works (CO Bigelow), that I still love to this day.  But if you really worry about what you put on your face, I'd look toward the smaller artisans like Mike's, Prairie Creations, Mamma Bear's, and Queen Charlotte for high quality soaps made by folks who are very conscious of what they are putting in their formulas.

That's a lot I know, but spend some time researching, Let others chime in and just take a leap.  If you are a member of sites like Badger and Blade or The Shave Nook, you can almost always get rid of things you don't like with minimal losses, or trade other members to try other things.  Hopefully we can steer you in some directions you will be happy with as well.

Congrats, and welcome to the club.

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