Gentlemen, Greetings to all.
I'd like to Introduce myself to the B&B website for the first time. I'm a young college student who's beginning his journey of quality blades and gentlemanly necessity's and I've been checking out threads on this site so often that I figured I should go ahead and join the community, I'll be going by Everyman Jack.
My journey thus far has been pretty rocky. I first started looking into straight razor shaving a few years ago back when I believed that all that glittered was gold, and that average people could get away with average products. I've since learned my lesson, so well that I almost even put "Buy quality and you only cry once" as my signature.
I joined to gain advice from people like yourselves who have likely made some of the same mistakes as I once, and overcome.
My first transition from disposable dollar store razors was a beginner set from vintagestraightrazors.com for $119 + $25 to have it engraved, which seemed just perfect at the time. it came with an unbranded Damascus steel razor with "Buffalo horn" scale, a synthetic brush, a Buckingham and sons leather and canvas strop, and a puck of The blades Grimm smolder shave soap. it also included a lifetime free honing and sharpening for whenever it dulled.
Pretty great deal right?
Now the first thing I am going to say is that 'The Blades Grimm' soap is really nice, it smells great, the puck lasts forever (I've had it for over a year now and its still just under half full) and it feels good on the face. the only thing is it seems to dry really quickly, and become a sticky opaque residue after a while instead of being a thick foam, which is not good because it causes the razor to stick to my face while shaving, but apart from that its the best I've ever used (not saying much).
The brush is a brush. not too soft, but it does the job, it just doesnt feel good for the 2nd lather because of its rigidity.
The strop is confusing. it has two strips hanging from it, one leather, one canvas, the leather on the side that's accessible is really smooth and does not appear fit for a blade, especially since it nicks every time sharp metal comes close, so I only use the canvas side, which works as well as it sounds.
Finally, as for the razor, it's pretty. the Damascus steel looks nice with the buffalo pattern (especially with my full name etched right on the top). it was sharp by my standards then. I really did a number on my face the first time I tried using it. I dry shaved because in my excitement i didn't want to wait to shower. it did not feel comfortable nor smooth, but it did cut, so I chalked up the irritation to user error. i used it for a while thinking that was what straight razor shaving was, and in time I changed from being excited about shaving to dreading it, often forgoing shaving altogether because of how long it took. I stopped being seen clean shaven and went around with a scruffy look everywhere (which my youth managed to pull off as charmingly rascally, or so I've been told). I endured like this for a while until I happened on a Van der Hagen DE safety razor at HEB, which seemed too good to pass up, and it was. it is to this day the best shave I've had, or used to have until my brother used up all my expensive razors ($3.99 for a pack of 5, but i didn't know better.)
Now I want to know where to go from here as far as replacements for my sub par equipment. I've learned that vintagestraightrazors.com is a good for nothing site, but I might try sending my razor back to get it honed again. i haven't been maintaining it very well but now I don't feel bad about it.
I would like to know if there's any chance i can save it, and maybe have it improved to decent condition. it still holds a special place in my heart due to it being my first one and engraved and all, or is it one for "cautionary tale cupboard"? I can send pictures if desired. do any of you know if the Buckingham strop is any good? what are some good replacement soaps for when my Blades Grimm runs out? are all those extra bells and whistles (face balms, creams, oils, etc...) necessary or useful? I've been using old spice classic aftershave and it works really well, but what are your thoughts on it?
Sorry to assault you with my whole shaving life's story, but I look forward to hearing from you guys and being a part of this community! any and all thoughts appreciated.
The best to you all.
I'd like to Introduce myself to the B&B website for the first time. I'm a young college student who's beginning his journey of quality blades and gentlemanly necessity's and I've been checking out threads on this site so often that I figured I should go ahead and join the community, I'll be going by Everyman Jack.
My journey thus far has been pretty rocky. I first started looking into straight razor shaving a few years ago back when I believed that all that glittered was gold, and that average people could get away with average products. I've since learned my lesson, so well that I almost even put "Buy quality and you only cry once" as my signature.
I joined to gain advice from people like yourselves who have likely made some of the same mistakes as I once, and overcome.
My first transition from disposable dollar store razors was a beginner set from vintagestraightrazors.com for $119 + $25 to have it engraved, which seemed just perfect at the time. it came with an unbranded Damascus steel razor with "Buffalo horn" scale, a synthetic brush, a Buckingham and sons leather and canvas strop, and a puck of The blades Grimm smolder shave soap. it also included a lifetime free honing and sharpening for whenever it dulled.
Pretty great deal right?
Now the first thing I am going to say is that 'The Blades Grimm' soap is really nice, it smells great, the puck lasts forever (I've had it for over a year now and its still just under half full) and it feels good on the face. the only thing is it seems to dry really quickly, and become a sticky opaque residue after a while instead of being a thick foam, which is not good because it causes the razor to stick to my face while shaving, but apart from that its the best I've ever used (not saying much).
The brush is a brush. not too soft, but it does the job, it just doesnt feel good for the 2nd lather because of its rigidity.
The strop is confusing. it has two strips hanging from it, one leather, one canvas, the leather on the side that's accessible is really smooth and does not appear fit for a blade, especially since it nicks every time sharp metal comes close, so I only use the canvas side, which works as well as it sounds.
Finally, as for the razor, it's pretty. the Damascus steel looks nice with the buffalo pattern (especially with my full name etched right on the top). it was sharp by my standards then. I really did a number on my face the first time I tried using it. I dry shaved because in my excitement i didn't want to wait to shower. it did not feel comfortable nor smooth, but it did cut, so I chalked up the irritation to user error. i used it for a while thinking that was what straight razor shaving was, and in time I changed from being excited about shaving to dreading it, often forgoing shaving altogether because of how long it took. I stopped being seen clean shaven and went around with a scruffy look everywhere (which my youth managed to pull off as charmingly rascally, or so I've been told). I endured like this for a while until I happened on a Van der Hagen DE safety razor at HEB, which seemed too good to pass up, and it was. it is to this day the best shave I've had, or used to have until my brother used up all my expensive razors ($3.99 for a pack of 5, but i didn't know better.)
Now I want to know where to go from here as far as replacements for my sub par equipment. I've learned that vintagestraightrazors.com is a good for nothing site, but I might try sending my razor back to get it honed again. i haven't been maintaining it very well but now I don't feel bad about it.
I would like to know if there's any chance i can save it, and maybe have it improved to decent condition. it still holds a special place in my heart due to it being my first one and engraved and all, or is it one for "cautionary tale cupboard"? I can send pictures if desired. do any of you know if the Buckingham strop is any good? what are some good replacement soaps for when my Blades Grimm runs out? are all those extra bells and whistles (face balms, creams, oils, etc...) necessary or useful? I've been using old spice classic aftershave and it works really well, but what are your thoughts on it?
Sorry to assault you with my whole shaving life's story, but I look forward to hearing from you guys and being a part of this community! any and all thoughts appreciated.
The best to you all.
Hello, Every-man.
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