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new to wet shaving

post #1 of 20
4/1/10 at 1:45am
Thread Starter 
Yes, my first topic:

I'm 16 new to shaving in general really but looking to get into wet shaving (better now than never eh). I'm looking for suggestions on a good starter kit from WCS and tips in general. Thanks
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post #2 of 20
4/1/10 at 2:30am
Get a simple merkur razor with long handle. 1) merkur's head is slim, easy to maneuver in your mustache region 2) long handle allows you more freedom in your gripping ways. Lots of folks are raving about the vintage Gilette Superspeeds. I have a regular one and a long-handle version and didn't use them for the last year or so (started wetshaving about 1.5 years ago), since I found the merkur superior in every way. Maybe I should revisit them, since my technique is good now -- but you as a beginner shouldn't bother with them at this point. EDIT: also, watch mantic59's videos on youtube.
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post #3 of 20
4/1/10 at 3:06am
What exactly is "wet shaving"?
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post #4 of 20
4/1/10 at 3:22am
Shaving with proper soap and a razor rather then an electric. Typically it's used to refer to DE or straight razor shaves these days though.
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post #5 of 20
4/1/10 at 5:16am
I bet youtube has a bunch of shaving tutorials that would be helpful to you.
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post #6 of 20
4/1/10 at 11:13am
Mantic59's videos & blog will get you going.
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post #7 of 20
4/1/10 at 4:04pm
I get a very close shave by just using soap and a 3 bladed razor in the shower. Just get a lot of suds in your hands. Put it on your face where you are going to shave. Use a sharp razor and don't push hard. Shave away pushing gently and going over the areas 2 times.

Post any questions or problems you have.
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post #8 of 20
4/1/10 at 4:14pm
step 1. Find your dad. step 2. ask dad how to shave.
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post #9 of 20
4/1/10 at 6:17pm
Doesn't work if your dad, like mine, has had a full beard since ~1967.
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post #10 of 20
4/1/10 at 6:39pm
Or is dead. Sometimes you have to find this stuff out on your own
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post #11 of 20
4/2/10 at 12:16pm
Mantic's videos are awesome, after giving myself massive razor burn trying to get a close shave with a triple blade I think i'm moving onto a decent DE, soap and brush setup. I'll probably start with the soap/brush astringent (which i use already) and a good aftershave balm. Then move into finding a good razor and blades that work for me. I have extremely tough hair and find it impossible to get a close shave unless I go against the grain on pass #2, which if I do this too often leaves me with razor burn. FWIW my dad has a full beard, and my grandpa, shaved with a straight razor for 70 years of his life, but moved onto an electric and was actually happier with it.
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post #12 of 20
4/2/10 at 1:34pm
I've been using the straight for three years now and am still experimenting/learning. Here are a few of my observations.

Some soaps are better than others, but pretty well all of them are adequate when you use enough soap and water.

The beard-softening happens mostly when you soak your beard with hot water - the soap sometimes helps it along a bit, but it varies - I like a hot towel, but most mornings I just let the shower soak my beard and go from there.

Don't keep scraping the same spot over and over. Once you've taken the lather off, leave it alone.
If you have to go at it again, apply more lather, and go a different direction with the razor.

There is no substitute for a sharp razor.

I never exfoliate, I never use astringent, I only even wash my face on non-shaving days. I tried a clay mask a few times but hardly remember to use it anymore.
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post #13 of 20
4/2/10 at 1:50pm
to a 16 year old, my advice would be this... go buy a regular old cartridge razor, preferably a 2 bladed one instead of the new 4-5 blades. Start here and learn to shave. As for creams, from the get go, start with better stuff, this is where you'll see a difference. if you want convenience, then buy canned stuff, just go with neutrogena, or aveeno, or something slightly better. If you want to start getting into the more traditional stuff, like old school, then go to Walmart or whatever and buy some cheap synthetic shaving brush and go online and buy a green tube of proraso and a rice bowl and start from there. The fact of the matter is, for the average Joe, going to safety or single bladed razors is just plain unnecessary. A decent brush and cream, plus more importantly some good prep, will make the biggest difference. remember, lots of hot water and lots of shaving cream.
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post #14 of 20
4/3/10 at 1:10pm
Applying Mantic's procedures to a can of Babersol and a Mach 3 actually works quite well, but I do intend to upgrade soon, I dont expect massive changes from the products since it seems to 90% procedure.

I did take into consideration that shaving south-north with a triple blade cartridge is a bad plan, so I shaved north south with east-west or west-east. That made a huge difference, though I can see where a DE might be helpful with getting a closer shave.

The pre-shave beard softening and cleansing seems very important.
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post #15 of 20
4/3/10 at 1:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkinnyGoomba View Post
Applying Mantic's procedures to a can of Babersol and a Mach 3 actually works quite well, but I do intend to upgrade soon, I dont expect massive changes from the products since it seems to 90% procedure. I did take into consideration that shaving south-north with a triple blade cartridge is a bad plan, so I shaved north south with east-west or west-east. That made a huge difference, though I can see where a DE might be helpful with getting a closer shave. The pre-shave beard softening and cleansing seems very important.
You might be right but that last 10% makes a BIG difference. I have never had such a smooth shave with anything but a DE. Also it stays smooth longer.
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