Reddit mentions: The best men shaving & grooming sets

I have been wet shaving with a DE since OCT 2013. It was the best decision I have made when it comes to shaving. I will answer your questions from the things that have worked for me. Just know that everything is different for everyone. Once you find something that works stick with it for a while and change little at a time.

1a: Brush/Stand. I purchased this set just to get my feet wet with DE shaving. I liked it, but it was cheap and lacked the adjustability that I wanted. I did keep the brush and stand. I always get a great lather with the brush and it is really soft. It is just as good as when I bought it. I shave everyday that I work.

1b: Handle. I started with the cheap handle that I listed above...it was not adjustable. I wanted an adjustable and bought a Merkur Futur. I love it.

1c: Blades. This is hard to recommend to someone. Get yourself one of many sample packs. Everyone likes different blades. Just try them all out. They are cheap. I chose based on the one that I cut my self with the least while giving be the best shave. Your probably going to cut yourself. It will go away with experience. I settled on the Astra Platinum blades. They are cheap on amazon with prime shipping.

1d: Soap. I am a huge fan of Proraso Shaving Cream. I have tried them all! But they are all I have tried. A tube last me a long time. My routine is to fill up an over sized coffee cup with hot water twice from my Keurig (No hot hot water in the morning due to my apartment) and poor it into the sink. Dunk my brush in the water and shake it off lightly. Put a dime sized blob of cream on the brush and make a lather in the over sized coffee cup.

1e: Pre/After Shave. I do not use any pre shave products. I just use the lather that i make and message it onto my face. Its really hot and frothy. I have tried all of Proraso's after shave products. The only one that I liked was the blue after shave balm. It didn't dry out my face like the others. Since then I have settled on Gillette Series Sensitive Skin After Shave Gel because it leaves my face feeling great, its cheap, and the better half loves the way it smells.

2: In my experience the razor (handle) makes a huge difference. I got to the point where I was not cutting myself at all with my first handle. Then I switched. I can shave quickly and comfortably because I found the setting that I really like (number 3 on the Futur). I also really like the way the blade is put into the handle. The top of the Futur pops off rather than having to unscrew the handle to change blades.

3: I answered this in section 1c.

4: I don't have too much info on this topic. I do know not to store your brush with the bristles in the air when it is wet (a stand will prevent this). Dry your razor off the best you can after use. Rinse a brush out thoroughly after use. I use a new blade each shave.

5: When I first started with a DE I watched a couple of Michael Freedberg's to get me started. Then I just did what was best for me.

The best thing that I can recommend for you is this. Figure out why you want to change to DE shaving. We already know its a better shave than using a cartridge. For me it was to be able to use a new razor blade for every shave and not spending a lot of money for those blades. I try to do this as cheaply as possibly. I had a big initial investment on the handle but it has since paid for itself by not buying cartridges. I found what works for me early on and stuck with it. I can have the same consistent shave everyday in 10 minutes because I have had the same routine for a while now.

Top shelf:
Van Der Hagen shaving brush.
It actually works pretty well, and is my most commonly used one.
Art of Shaving sampler pack brush brush.
I like it, but it seems to take me a lot longer to build lather.
Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue.
Not much to say about it, the wife likes it!
Adidas Aftershave
I like the smell of this one, and it pairs pretty well with the D&G
Coates Lime Shaving Cream!
I love the smell of this stuff! I have Sandalwood too, but it mostly sits in my small chest of things I have for "Another day"
Feather blade bank
Keeps my trash bags from getting ripped open. I have been using it for over a year, and it isn't even half way full yet.

Middle Shelf:
Lady Gillette Safety Razor
This one is the Wife's she loves it and uses it exclusively after she realised how much better it was over cartridges! It did take a while for her to stop thinking that she was going to Sweeny Todd her legs with one.
Gillette Knack Safety Razor
I use this one pretty much every shave. It is fairly mild, but paired with some Sharks it really works well for me!
No Name razor I picked up at an Indian Bazaar for $3.
It has about a 2 inch gap(exaggerating here, but it is huge!) between the blade and the head, so I haven't used it and probably won't! But it is pretty on the shelf!
Styptic Pencil
It works! And gets used!

Bottom Shelf:
Gillette Travel Tech
It has a small mirror inside and an old pack of Gillette blades. Nothing real special but I like it! I haven't shaved with it yet, the handle seems too short.
The rest of TAoS Starter Kit
I haven't used any of these yet, I still have my own soaps, so these kinda just sit around... I should try em though!
Gillette 40s Style Super Speed
I got this off an ebay auction, I haven't tried it out yet either. It came in great shape though! And I plan on giving it a test run tonight!
Gillette Milord
Apparently, it is the same razor as the Super Speed, but with gold plating. Also came in great shape, and I haven't tried it out either!
Shark DE Blades
These are my go to blades! I love em!
Wilkinson Sword Classics
I was buying these guys at Walmart, and I loved em! But then I got Sharks and I haven't had to buy anything else because of how many Sharks I still have left over!
Merkur Blades
I haven't tried these, I honestly have no idea how they came into my possession. They look nice though!
Alum Block
It works great!

There really is no "best" razor, what qualifies as best varies from person to person. The Edwin Jagger DE89 series is widely recommended. Personally I don't like the EJ DE89, and I find that the Parker 99R gives me much more comfortable shaves. I also find the Parker to be much more forgiving when you are just starting to learn to use a safety razor as well. Either razor wouldn't be a bad place to start looking, though.

In terms of soap, I would personally recommend you start out with one of these kits: Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Kit. You get a decent bowl, brush & soap for about $10. None of the stuff in the kit is the best of anything, but it is all fairly middle of the road and a great value for the price. Once you have gotten the hang of DE shaving you can upgrade your brush and soap as needed.

The Strop Shoppe also makes great soaps, and they have an incredibly reasonably priced sampler that is worth picking up. I also like Queen Charlotte Soaps quite a bit, and they also have a reasonably priced sampler.

You will need a pack of blades, right now I am enjoying Wilkinson Sword (which you might be able to get locally) but there are various blade samplers that are worth checking out.

• [West Coast Shaving](http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Sample-Packs_c_1.html}
  
• Shoebox Shave Shop
  
• Amazon
  
• BestShave.net
  
  There are tons of places that offer blade samplers if you look around. You will want to try a good number of blades so you can figure out which work best for you.
  
  Preshave treatments vary. Many people just wash their face in warm water and whatever soap they have on hand. Some people use a canned shave cream like Barbasol as a pre-shave soap (I have tried this and it works pretty good). MrGlo is a well respected preshave soap, but it can be hard to find and it is getting pricey due to its increasing rarity. If you are just starting out, you might wanna keep things simple and just use whatever soap you have on hand. You just want to make sure that you use a soap that won't dry your skin and you want your face slightly soap and wet before you apply your shave lather.
  
  After shaving you could follow up with Witch Hazel. Thayers is highly regarded, but you could use normal drug-store stuff as well, just look for low alcohol content. You might also want a styptic pencil which you should be able to get locally for $1-2. You might also consider an Alum Block instead of Witch Hazel.
  
  In terms of aftershave, there is a lot of variation bases on skin types and personal preference. I prefer Nivea for Men Post Shave Balm in the white bottle (not squeezable) as my skin tends to run a little dry and this has a nice gentle moisturizer. It also soothes razor burn quite well. However I know guys that swear by Every Man Jack products (they hurt me) so you will have to try things out to find what works for you. There are hundreds of specialty aftershaves people like, as well as all the common drugstore brands like Old Spice and Aqua Velva. If you have an aftershave that you are currently using, you might as well stick with it for now unless it really no longer meets your needs.
  
  I have a goatee and I have no problems whatsoever shaving around it. I don't know what to say beyond that, using a DE with a goatee is no more challenging than using a Mach3 in the same situation especially once you get your technique down.
  
  TL/DR
  
  My advice in everything is to start simple.
  
  
• Pick a good razor (The EJ & Parker I linked above are a good place to start)
  
• Buy the VDH kit I mention above. It is a good value and you should be able to find locally (Walmart, Target, CVS, most Grocery Stores all carry it).
  
• Buy a blade sampler.
  
• Buy a styptic (its better than toilette paper).
  
• Use whatever aftershave you were using before.
  
  Wait on everything else until you know if you really want to continue with DE shaving. This short list will get you started for about $40, and you can always pick up more stuff as you go along.

Razor: I started with this Merkur razor (and I'm still using it after two years). Edwin Jagger is probably equally popular, but I haven't tried them.

Brush/bowl: I was given this bowl/soap/brush/holder kit as a gift and still use it, but the brush broke after about a year (I could probably fix it with some good glue but haven't bothered yet. The holder is nice, but you might be able to find just a brush and bowl separately slightly cheaper if you're on a budget. I didn't use the soap in the kit because:

Soap: Proraso soap was suggested and I ended up liking it a lot. Some people like to buy sampler packs of soap/cream as well, but this was good enough for me, and it would take me forever to get through samples. This Proraso got me through 15 months with an average of one shave per week.

Blades: I started out with a sampler pack of blades from Maggard Razors, and Gillette Silver Blue and Gillette 7 O'Clock (both yellow and green were the same to me) ended up being the easiest on my face. I tried Feather, but they were way too harsh at first, I think because I hadn't really gotten the technique down yet. Gillette was more forgiving, but once I got better at shaving, I was able to use Feathers.

Other: Lastly, I really like using an alum stick after shaving to help close up pores/tiny nicks (weepers), but they're not necessary. I also now use Shave Secret as a first layer when I start my second pass (against the grain). Again, not necessary, but I think it helps me personally a little to have that extra layer of protection to prevent razor burn. It does gunk up your razor a little, though, so just be sure to keep it clean.

--------------------------

I still only shave once a week, and I have a 3 day minimum in between shaves, otherwise I'll still get razor burn. Read up on some info in /r/wicked_edge. /u/Leisureguy has a ton of great comments in that sub. Sort his comment history by top, and you'll get plenty of good advice right off the bat. He also has a blog. My best tips: Make sure you use a shallow angle (as opposed to the perpendicular/90-degree shave you're used to with cartridge razors), and don't let your lather be too dry. Also, if your area has hard water, consider using distilled water to make your lather. Maggard Razors has been really great at shipping fast and having good prices for me and carries everything I mentioned, but there several reputable online shops. I know lots of people prefer to use Amazon, so I linked everything on Amazon except the blade sampler pack.

After some careful deliberation and lots of research here on w_e, I bit the bullet and made a $100 purchase (more than I would have liked, but I think I can justify it):

Merkur 180 razor $31 for my large sized hands. Good reviews all around and price seemed comparable to the Edwin Jagger that was recommended.

VDH Men's Luxury Shave Set $32 I went with this set basically because I wanted a shaving mug. Also, I'm not convinced I could purchase each component separately and save more than a few dollars while retaining quality. The soap has great reviews, the brush seems decent (good for a starter brush) and the stand is bonus. If I purchased each component separately I might have been able to save a few dollars, but it's easier to start out with the kit, I think.

[This blade sampler] (http://www.amazon.com/FEATHER-Oclock-BLUEBIRD-Blade-Sampler/dp/B004UIZFQW/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1331009882&sr=1-2) $16 This was a recommended sampler on one of mpperry's links, I went with it because it's a good variety of brands I recognize from research and gives me more than one or two blades of each brand.

[This alum block] (http://www.amazon.com/Tulumba-Barber-Alum/dp/B000VXELII/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1331010211&sr=1-3) $8 incl shipping Again, found this through research. Alum block was said to be a non-essential, but I have sensitive skin and it sounds like alum will help me with razor burn and dryness. Plus, I figure, if I'm making the change, might as well go whole-ish hog.

Finally, This nick stick $8 because I know I'll screw up a few times, and I can't be bleeding all over the ladies all the time.

I skipped an aftershave, mostly because I didn't want to pay for shipping. I can probably find a decent one at Walgreens or something.

Although I didn't buy many of the things mpperry recommended in his awesome comment, I plan to use those things in the future when I'm no longer a beginner. Better soaps, better blades and better brushes are in my future, when I'm getting better shaves!

Shipment should arrive over spring break, I figure that's a good time to learn. Can't wait!

Thanks dude! I'm just super into skincare and have a tendency to fall down internet research rabbit holes hahaha. I bought this safety razor like two and a half years ago & I think it's a super great one to start with. Some people recommend using different blades than the ones that come with it, but it seems like more of an upgrade than a necessity. When you do need to buy more blades though, most people recommend trying a sampler set to figure out which brand of blades you like best. If you really feel like splurging you could go for a full set like this one (although tbh this might be a pretty good deal cost-per-item wise).

Shaving with a safety razor for the first time is definitely kind of harrowing, although I found that because I was super nervous I went real slowly & carefully, and consequently didn't have any problems. Just make sure you don't start with a setup that's described as "aggressive," since that indicates more of the blade is exposed & can cause irritation and more nicks/cuts if you don't know what you're doing.There are a lot of great tutorials on youtube or even in the reviews on the razor I linked here to help get you started!

Read this pretty long post about DE shaving. The "HERE" link inside that post has good information as well.

Some comments about the products you have chosen:


> So I've been looking into buying a DE starter kit and looked at all the suggestions and I've sorted out this much so far.
Razor: DE86bl
Blades: Sampler
Pre-Shave Soap: Glycerine
Alum: Alum
Styptic: Clubman Pinaud

The Edwin Jagger is a very good razor.

The sampler comes only with 2 blades per brand, which could be enough but in my opinion 5 blades per brand would be better. Blade samplers in amazon are somewhat expensive.

Clearly natural is a pre-shave soap which is not necessary, but some people do find them helpful. You use it to wash your face before you lather your shaving cream/soap. You are missing the shaving cream/soap from your list.

Alum again not necessary, but some users like it.

Styptic pencil, do you bleed a lot? I ask because I hardly ever bleed, my blood coagulates really fast. So I have never seen a use for a styptic pencil.

> So for brushes it sounds like boar or badger, which I believe is preferred, hair is the way to go, but then the recommendation for the $75 level is bamboo and at the $100 one of the 2 recommended is synthetic.

The Ecotools bamboo brush is a women's makeup brush. Using it for shaving seems rather extreme. However I'm not sure how its making process differs from a shaving brush, do they use different glue or what. But I have seen threads posted where people say that the brush has died on them. If you are on a very tight budget and want a very soft brush that you can also find locally, then I think the Ecotools is a good option. That being said you can get Omega boar brush for about $10 from various online stores.

> I was looking through some of the threads and somewhere I found someone recommend this set which seemed nice, has a badger brush a little cup for lathering and a thing to hang the brush on to dry and comes with little starter shaving soap (although I have no idea if the soap is any good). So thoughts on that set and any inputs on brushes would be appreciated.

I don't think that recommendation had many upvotes. The brush is a pure badger brush and it's also prone to excessive shedding. The soap is nothing special. A brush stand isn't necessary. After you are done shaving thoroughly rinse the brush with running water from the tap, shake out the excess water, and use a towel to dry the tips of the brush, leave the brush standing on its base in a open space to air dry. The apothecary mug is not necessary either. It's mainly intended to hold the soap puck. However most shaving soaps will come in their own containers. The mug can also be quite small so when you are loading your brush you end up banging your fingers against the sides. I wouldn't recommend this set.

> And then lastly, how important are aftershaves? Are they just to smell nice or does it help you skin take a breather after threateningly rubbing sharp stuff all over it? My main mental picture of aftershave never having used it before is the scene from Home Alone, so feel free to educate me.

There are many different kinds of aftershave products; alum block, afershave splash, aftershave balm, moisturizing cream, moisturizing oil like jojoba oil, unrefined shea butter, and witch hazel. You pretty much have to try which works for you, but I'd start with a cheap aftershave balm like the Nivea sensitive aftershave balm (if you get satisfactory results with it you don't have to explore the other options unless you want to).

In the Home Alone he used aftershave splash. I'm not really a fan of these, the alcohol can be too drying for your skin and they are often more heavily scented which can irritate your skin. Some users do love them though, but I'd say they are for normal to oily skin. I like to use the other type of products, such as the aftershave balm, it soothes/heals and moisturizes your skin.

If you've got Amazon gift cards, then you can do okay. But it's buyer beware - unless you know exactly what you need, exactly how much it should cost, and exactly who you'll be buying it from, you're likely to get hosed. For example, that blade sampler costs double what it should. You can get the balm for $2.75 at WalMart (it's normally $5.50, but they've got a BOGO). And a styptic should only be a couple of bucks.

As to the particular items:

I haven't been able to find a blade sampler on Amazon that I could recommend. Tryablade.com is probably your best bet.

Buy the balm and styptic locally. There's no point in paying for "free" shipping.

Do not under any circumstances purchase that VdH kit. The cheap kit with a boar brush is a questionable buy, but it may be a decent choice for a beginner. The badger brush, on the other hand, isn't just overpriced, it's flat-out terrible. Get an Omega boar brush such as the 10048 or maybe a Vie-Long horsehair. If you really want badger, keep in mind that most of them sold on Amazon are crap; the WSP Prince is the least expensive one I'd recommend.

For soap, the WSP Rustic line is supposed to be pretty good. Strop Shoppe stuff is outstanding.

The razor you've picked will shave well, but the handle is slick and (for me at least) slippery. Consider the EJ Kelvin or the Parker 26c instead. Or, if you've got room in the budget, consider a Weber (not sure you can use an Amazon gift card, but since it's "hosted by Amazon" its seems that you should be able to).

Thanks for the reply and the effort to find and link all the prices.

I really like the wooden design so the 44€ compared to the 33€ ("naked" R89) are worth it to me, especially with a matching brush.

I had a ladyfriend over the other night but still couldn't keep away from this sub and when she saw me browsing (I tried to convert her to a DE as well) she complimented the stand and said it would look classy in my/the bathroom. I totally agree with her. I did read that post about drying the brush and was delighted by it (and the effort), but I don't mind spending a couple of bucks for visually enhancing my surroundings (which a stand does in my opinion).

You make a very valid point with the size of the bowl. The set is available without the bowl as well which makes it 15€ cheaper. The bowl itself is available as well and the dimensions are listed as: Diameter 8,5cm (3.35 in), Height 3.5cm (1.38 in).

That really looks rather small, isn't it? What (minimim/maximum) dimensions would you recommend for a bowl?

I have yet to read that post on the brushes. Thank you for that.
Since I live in central Europe it is not really worth it for me buying from outside of EU, even UK. I looked for your sampler pack but couldn't find it available under the same conditions (I don't need to pay shipping at all for the one listed in my post). But I will definitely save it for later, should none of the blades in my sampler set work for me.

Let me start off by saying welcome, and that you're damn lucky there is such a thing as Wicked_Edge for you to rely on at 17 in your formative years of shaving. It sounds like a stupid hobby, but it's for something you're going to have to do nearly every single day if you don't want to look like some indie hipster, so you might as well enjoy it.

I would suggest starting with proper soap and brush first to get the hang of a good prep for your face. This is one of my favorite "starter" packs because you'll be able to get it all in one swing for actually a very good price. Give your electric razor to a homeless shelter or something. Put it in the closet. You can start with the cartridge razors for now; beard prep and technique is far more important than expensive equipment at this point.

After a few days of getting you're routine down with the shower, hot towel, lathering etc. then come see us about a double edge razor and blades, and I'm positive after reading through the comments you'll be ordering an Edwin Jagger DE89. Let us know if you need anything else friend.

Ok, here is what I recommend to start with. This is basically what I started with to. None of these items are the best quality, but you can get a feel for the shave technique and you'll know if you want to spend more money on better stuff quickly.

Razor

Blades note you'll want to try other brands eventually, but these are not harsh, they're inexpensive, and thus a good first purchase.

Bowl & brush note toss this puck of soap, it's shit.

Shave soap



This will get you going for gear. You can sub out stuff for better quality if you want, but I'd keep it cheap to start. You'll also want to learn how to use all this stuff. This is what I used to learn how to shave the first time. You'll find there are many techniques and schools of thought, but this is the best basic guid to learn and develop muscle memory.



Good luck, and if you need help pm me or check us out at /r/Wicked_edge/

Buy a DE Razor! I wouldn't do anything less until you get permanent hair removal. Wax is a pain (really it hurts), Don't want to use chemical removal down there (ouch!) and besides permanent hair removal, I think you are stuck with shaving.

I can tell you the shaving cream and razors make a big big difference.

• Get off the dead skin off your body (take a shower and wash up)
  
• Use a shaving soap with a brush instead of the Spray Can c**p (I don't know why people use that stuff?)
  
• Use a Double Edge Safety Razor (Once you use this then you won't go back to the store brand stuff, Only thing that beats it would be a straight edge razor but DE razor is good enough)
  
• Then use antibacterial cream in sensitive places so you don't get any bumps but you shouldn't too much with a clean razor
  
  The shaving soap last for ages and DE razors are like 10-20 cent each which is a major shavings. (pun)
  
  
  I use Van Der Hagen Scented Luxury Shave Soap with a horse hair brush. I own two brushes ... one for the face and another for the body.
  
  Soap Kit: http://www.amazon.com/Van-Hagen-Mens-Luxury-Shave/dp/B004L4EING/
  
  An ok starting Safety Razor: http://www.amazon.com/Shaving-Factory-Double-Safety-Silver/dp/B003A722RE/
  
  If you have the money then buy a better Safety Razor like Merkur
  
  You can go as far and buy two Safety Razors, one for the face and one for body but I find cleaning and replacing the blade is easy enough.
  
  

They're awesome is what they are. Basically they were the type of razor used before safety, disposable, and electric razors. They essentially consist of nothing more than a blade (but hang on don't run away they aren't that scary).

Here's what one looks like, but don't run away yet! https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61La9GYnHUL._SL1500_.jpg

The advantages of a straight razor are that they're much sharper than regular razors so there's less tugging (and hence less bleeding in your case), provide a smoother shave, and a much closer shave (within a few micrometers). Oh and they can last for literally hundreds of years. I have one from 1860 that shaves like a dream.

Now to be fair that one in the picture looks scary because it's basically just a giant knife, but if you are interested I'd recommend a shavette. They are essentially a hybrid straight razor/ disposable razor. They have the advantage of not badly injuring you if you slip up (because the exposed blade can just barely break the skin), and they have disposable blades so there's no sharpening involved. Here's what they look like (this also happens to be my personal favorite razor, HIGHLY RECOMMEND): https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Samurai-Stainless-Professional-Straight/dp/B00O9NCCBO/ref=sr_1_4?crid=25PE956RBPIY8&keywords=classic+samurai+cs-102&qid=1567549533&s=gateway&sprefix=classic+samura%2Caps%2C187&sr=8-4

Anyway that's what a straight razor is. They could potentially solve your problem, but you'd also need to buy shaving soap and a shaving brush to use one, and you'd need to watch some tutorials on how to use one correctly.

This is an EXCELLENT beginner's set. Razor, Brush, Stand. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but the brush is fantastic (I have entirely switched to this brush, over some other more "fancy" brushes) and the razor is a good weight with a good medium length. Plus, having a tidy stand is bonus points.

This is one type of soap/mug set.

And this is another soap/mug set. I personally prefer this type of bowl. It's also much heavier than it looks (I think it's ceramic). The brush is crap, though.

This is a cheap, good-smelling aftershave. But it's alcohol based, so he might not like it (stings slightly).

This gets you nearly everything for under your budget. The two items I'd say are missing are available at Wal-Mart for less than three dollars combined. You need the pre-shave oil (Shave Secret, $1.50 at my local WalMart) and a styptic pencil ($1.15 at my local WalMart).

Even after these, we're still around the $90 mark, and these items will last for literally years (except the consumables, of course).

There's your complete set, minus blades. The purchase of blades is a rather personal affair, though, and I'd recommend a sampler pack. There are literally dozens of sampler packs available. Here's one. Bear in mind, however, that most people can do three to six full shaves (i.e., the entire face) using ONE blade.

One piece of advice: If you want him to enjoy it, don't skimp on the brush. In my opinion, probably seconded by a majority of wet-shavers, the brush is going to be the single most important deciding factor for a noobie who isn't purchasing these things for himself in determining whether he likes the process or not. There's virtually no doubt that he'll like the results.

Does this help?

The omega is $7 plus $3 shipping and handling. Arko sticks are only $1.25 if you buy in bulk but they also cost $3 shipping and handling. You have to spend at least twenty five bucks to get those two items.

Here's the amazon review page for the VDH set. Notice how the reviews are overwhelmingly positive? Yeah, that doesn't happen if the product is complete crap. There's nothing "shitty" about the brush, other than the elitist snobs thinking they're too good for this 'mass produced crap.' Being a hobbyist is great, owning expensive shaving equipment because you like it is awesome, bad mouthing things you apparently have no experience with using anecdotal evidence and hyperbole is stupid. The VDH kit is the cheapest you will find, is widely available, generally lasts at least through the beginning stages of wet shaving (and much longer for a lot of people) and, once again, is the cheapest set you will find. If the only reason you're changing to wet shaving is to save money I would recommend the set to any of my friends, especially if they don't know if they'll enjoy the routine.

I was also a fairly low frequency shaver, and now I shave almost every day. I pretty much had grown accustomed to the gruff look. Part of the reason I shaved so infrequently is that shaving tore up my face so badly.

I've said it before, but I wholeheartedly believe that the actual razor is a small (but not insignificant) part of a good shave. I think the prep work and lathering process really makes the biggest difference.

I would go from the proverbial zero to sixty, or dry faced to shaving, inside of 30 seconds or less when I was using the canned goop. That prep process just can't compare to spending a few minutes or more prepping your face properly with decent soap and a brush.

Even if you aren't ready to invest in a proper razor, I would get a brush and soap combo. For less than $20, you can have a a nice boar's brush and decent soap.

This is what I got a few months ago, and even after trying a few different brushes, this is still my favorite:

http://www.amazon.com/Omega-46065-Shaving-Brush-Holder/dp/B000JXY8MO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319902078&sr=8-1

You can keep using your cartridges and you will get an infinitely better shave. Then, once you are ready to step up to the next level, you can get a DE.

Also, as someone mentioned above, shaving for me is now an enjoyable ritual instead of a chore or just something I have to do. I get 10 minutes of quiet and solitude to myself everyday where I can just slow down a bit and enjoy a finer thing in life.

The Micro Touch One razor is decent enough but nothing to write home about. I prefer my Ri,Mei A2003 ($2 direct-from-China), but it's apparently a crapshoot whether you'll get that one or a crappy one when ordering those.

I haven't tried the VdH Luxury set that Walmart now sells. They used to sell the VdH Deluxe set, which I bought in 2007. I've re-bought that set more recently at Rite Aid for the brush, which I find quite acceptable (way better than the cactus-tipped jellyfish-backboned Art Of Shaving "Genuine Badger" that I got when trying to go more upscale). The Deluxe soap is, well, decent enough but nothing to write home about. The Luxury soap (in the kit that's now in Walmart) is slightly better but still not awesome, and it smells like mom's makeup...no thanks.

People seem to love the mug in the Luxury kit. I can't imagine that I'd like it. I'm sure the brush is decent enough.

All in all, if you want to get started today and don't mind that you're spending way too much on this stuff, go ahead and grab the stuff at Walmart. While you're there get some aftershave if you don't have any; they have Skin Bracer, probably Brut, and maybe Pinaud Clubman, all decent. If you're the sort with dry skin grab some Everyman Jack or Nivea post-shave balm instead of the alcohol splashes I mentioned.

Hope I am not too late I will edit this post with the kit I recommend to most people who ask the price is under $50 even under $30 I think.

Sodial Safety Razor, Van Der Hagen Premium Shave Set, and any blade sampler pack.

Edit

This is a great starter razor in my opinion. Nicely compares to some of the more expensive ones. Only issue I've had is that it is a bit small and light. But really for this price you cannot go wrong.

If you're interested in DE shaving I'd grab this a razor sample pack and the brush, soap, and bowl pack from Walmart or Amazon. Let me know if you'd like more info or help.

Edit:
Shave Set from Walmart in store or Amazon

I'd recommend the Styptic Pen For Healing Shaving Cuts. This is also available from Amazon or Walmart for about $1.

And for a razor sample pack there are many places to buy them depends on how much you want to spend or get.

The place I bought my sampler pack from was West Coast Shaving. I got the everything pack and it was about $35 with shipping.

[Link to other sample packs from WCS] ( http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Sample-Packs_c_1.html)

Well, I have just about added all these to cart, trying to select a range of soap, cream, and bar so I can spend my year in experimental heaven.

I'm looking at Proraso for the eucalyptus&menthol -- sounds amazing -- and Tabac reviews said it has an "old" Old Spice smell (that I like for some reason). Arko is cheap and I figure I'll give it a try. But what is Taylor of Old's Sandalwood like? Is it a real strong scent? I have no real frame of reference.

About the brush: This serves a pretty hefty purpose (stand, brush, bowl) at a great price. How is the brush though?

Sorry for so many questions. I'm getting excited.

Many wal-marts carry Wilkinson Sword Blades and the Van Der Hagen Premium Shave kit.

Sally Beauty lists a DE razor on their website as being available in stores, but it does not list which stores. Worst case scenario, you could probably get them to order one in for you. They also list some shaving creams and blades, so you might get lucky. This razor has decent reviews as a starter razor on Amazon.

If there are any antique stores nearby, you can check and see if they have any DEs, current blades will work in the old DEs.

Ultimately, your best best would probably be to order online, although I completely understand not wanting to do that. Best of luck.

http://www.amazon.com/Van-Hagen-Premium-Shave-Brush/dp/B001A3HPT0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420486025&sr=8-2&keywords=van+der+hagen+shave+set

http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Safety-Razor-Model-LP1822L/dp/B004N77JVY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420486385&sr=8-1&keywords=lord+l6

Or for a blade sampler, go to www.tryablade.com and get him this

Astra Super Platinum x 5
Personna Lab Blue x5
Gillette Silver Blue X5
Astra Super Stainless x5
Derby Extra x5
Shark Super Stainless x5
Super Max Platinum x5

For $9.75 with shipping, you can give your boyfriend 35 very well known blades that can be easily had in 100 packs on Amazon for cheap, perform great in most razors and skill levels, and last a few shaves each.

$30 with Prime and you can get everything in a couple days that he needs that will perform well at a beginner level.

Cool, thanks for the tips! My original plan was to buy this nice little kit from Omega, it had pretty decent reviews, but the price just jumped $10. Another idea I'd had was to pick this up from Walmart, as they were selling it for $20 and it had decent reviews again. I'm gonna shop the Omega brushes on Amazon and see what's to be found, I'd like to get a boar brush.

I know I know, buy a nice brush and you'll only have to buy one, but I'm on a tight budget, and I know people hear this complaint every single day around here, haha.

Proraso, got it! Thanks for the recommendation!

I figure it's only right of me to explain where I purchased everything!

As much as I would like to say that I picked up everything in the picture at a luxury grooming shop off Jermyn Street in London, it's all actually from Amazon. The razor, stand, and bowl were purchased together as a part of this gift set, though since I had no intention of using the included brush or soap, I probably should've purchased them separately.

Speaking of brushes, the brush is a Parker in 100% silvertip badger, which can be found here. As I mentioned in another comment in this post, the brush is a great deal; it's not only cheaper than most other silvertip brushes, but it makes a great lather to boot. Matches the set, too!

As the picture shows, I'm using Proraso shaving cream and aftershave, although I recently picked up some Edwin Jagger aloe aftershave as well. Both smell fantastic, the latter being my preference.

Not show in the picture are Feather razor blades and a styptic pencil, although I intend to switch to alum soon.

And you guys said doing this would be cheaper than using cartridges... ;)

Here is something you might like it's a Parker 22R. I have never use a Parker I too just got into wet shaving with a DE blade today was my first shave and if felt really good a close shave. I kinda looked for a one piece razor like mine that open from the top (butterfly) mine came from amazon but since we are in different countries (USA) I didn't see the one I bought. tell me if this would be good for you. Wow this is way better than mine.

http://www.amazon.ca/Parker-Butterfly-Safety-Razor-BLUEBIRD/dp/B00501Y5WS/ref=sr_1_27?ie=UTF8&qid=1373676851&sr=8-27&keywords=safety+razor

And here is the soap and brush that I use hope this helps.
http://www.amazon.ca/van-Hagen-Premium-Shave-Set/dp/B001A3HPT0/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hpc_7

I just got my kit in the mail today using a $50 amazon gift card!

Bronze DE Safety Razor (I love how it looks), Van Der Hagen Luxury Shave Set (Stand + Brush + Soap + Mug... All very pretty together, and I wanted a stand), and a small blade sampler pack with two of each.


Took 7 days to arrive through free, super saver shipping.

Not at all interested in cigars, but you haven't lived until you've gotten yourself a straight razor.
I use something similar to this which has replaceable blades so you don't have to sharpen the razor to get you started and you'll also want a shave set if you want to get really serious, but any shaving cream will work just fine if you don't want to lather up.
And the best part? You've got 100 razors there with that set I linked and another 100 are only $7.50. Tons cheaper than some Gillette 4 blade crap or even cheap throw aways.

I hope this helps someone get started with a straight razor. It takes a little longer and you'll nick yourself every so often, but the self-satisfaction is more than worth it all and a great talking piece of someone spots it.

Yes! I started with this kit. The soap and bowl are fine, the brush is rough (I bought a better one later). I actually found it at my local supermarket. Then you need a safety razor. Maggard is a very popular vendor on the sub. They sell cheap razors. Let's say you pick one up for $20. Now you need blades. I use Dorco. Others mentioned Astra and Derby. I linked to the 100 pack of each so you see how cheap they are (around $10), you could buy a smaller pack to try the blade. At around $40 (or the price for 12 Gilette Fusion Proglide cartridges you have enough to shave for around 2 years changing blades every week (I don't change that often, because I don't shave every day).

Now, how fancy you want your brush, your bowl, your soap, your razor, your blade is up to you. From the kit I built you I would get a better brush and maybe a fancier razor. People say different blades work for different people, so I would do a bit of research and try this site: http://www.tryablade.com/. For instance, you think you need a sharper blade, people say feathers are the sharpest, you can buy a couple blades for $0.55 each.

The only issue is that you (like others) might start to like wet shaving as a hobby and end up spending more money (like the $150 you mentioned). But besides that you will get a better shave than you can from fusions and canned foam/gel for less money.

The brush you got can be hit or miss, some people have great results with it but I've seen quite some complaints as well. This brush would be my first choice, this is a nice budget brush and the soap is identical to the (old) Proraso.

Derby blades are well liked, but blades are very individual. I'd recommend a sampler instead of just buying one brand.


1 The pre-post can be found cheaper, so can the shaving soap

2/3 This razor is a great starter razor. After you master it and still want something more aggressive you can try a slant or a Muhle R41.

I got one of their kits awhile back for free when they did a promotion. I really like the badger brush that I got and am actually using it instead of the boar brush in my Van Der Hagen set.

I also liked their shave cream, it was VERY easy to lather although I used it up pretty quickly. Their pre shave oil seems kinda meh however their aftershave was quite nice.

EDIT: ROFL, I just went on their website to see if I could find the sample kit that I got. Their prices are INSANE

Hold on, there are a few things to consider. If you've already ordered, there may be time to cancel.

Here is the same shaving cream, with a brush, for slightly cheaper. The company that makes Proraso also makes the same cream under different brand names. They even make one for Bath & Body Works under the C.O. Bigelow name. This boar brush will be excellent, at least as good as the Parker. I haven't heard anything about that brush, but I do have a pretty great Parker brush with badger hair. My Omega brand boar hair brush is my favorite.

That razor is fine, but you will need a blade sampler.

I have the rest of my recommendations here.

I use a pure badger hair brush that came from this Van der hagen set.

It's the only brush I've used, so I have no basis for comparison, but I feel like it does a very satisfactory job, and the price was certainly right. In general it has held up quite well for over a year now.

I have very sensitive skin on my neck, fairly tough skin on my cheeks, and coarse facial hair. I feel like this brush does a pretty decent job of navigating both adequately.

For 100 bucks you can do intro with some class. $150 and you're doing great for a beginner. This is a great into kit! covers 3 things in 1 and the Soap is pretty good. I like the badger brush that comes with it too, very well rounded for about 25 to 30 dollars. (i found it at my target for 20.) search amazon for some blade sampler packs. I like the ones you get 5 or 10 of each kind. you really get the feel for a blade.


Checklist of my intro Items are


Razor - $10-40

Sampler Pack Blades - $15-30

Brush\

Bowl-- Bowl brush cream for $30 with Van Der Hagen's kit

Soap/Cream/

Glycerin Soap (for pre-shave washing)

Alum Block - $15

Lotion - $5 - 10

It could very well be the electric razors, bud. Have you been to r/wicked_edge? I suggest going there and reading the FAQ bar on how to shave with a DE safety razor. I've been doing it for a few months and it's completely transformed my face (although I switched from disposables, not electric). My best friend has been using an electric for years though and complained about irritation. I got him to try the DE safety razor and he really loves it. His face has cleared up and he doesn't get ingrowns anymore.

If you try the safety razor, I recommend these starters:

Razor
Shave kit

Or you could try this system which got positive reviews by a user on wicked edge. Bevel

I recommend shaving after a shower, using a thick lather with a brush, and shaving with the grain only. Study your face before you shave. Notice which directions the hair grows on different parts of your face, and be careful to shave with that growth pattern. Use some alum and an after shave with alcohol in it afterwards to reduce redness and ingrown hair.

Wow this subreddit is awesome. I grabbed this kit: Van Der Hagen Premium Shave Set (Soap, Bowl, Brush). I will be upgrading this brush (assuming I enjoy wet shaving). I also grabbed this blade sampler: 25 FEATHER BLUEBIRD 7 O'clock & DERBY DE Blade Sampler FBGD.

Today I decided to order some alum. I'll grab some witch hazel and aftershave in the next few days. It'll be 1-2 weeks before I get the razor so I'm not in too much of a rush.

Again, you guys are awesome and have given me a ton of information to work from. I'll certainly be exploring more once I get started. I'm very excited.

I have hated shaving for quite some time. But, a few months back, I bought this razor on a lark: http://www.amazon.com/Parker-SR1-Stainless-Straight-Razor/dp/B002PQZEHQ/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt

I'm in love. I really enjoy the hell out of shaving now that I'm shaving with a straight edge. Shaving has become something of a soothing ritual... take the brush and lather the soap up, hot steamy water to the face, shave face with a straight edge, repeat (closer shave when you do it twice), cleanup and replace blade for next shave.

I find myself shaving more often than I need to. Maybe it's just an excuse to play with a knife. I always have loved playing with them. Perhaps it's the challenge of getting the hand/eye/pressure coordination just right that I enjoy so much. Regardless, I like shaving now. I'm getting a very close shave, and as an added perk, it's hella cheap.

Items I use:

The razor. I would suggest getting a razor with a replacable blade unless you really enjoy sharpening your razor and stropping it every time you're going to shave.
http://www.amazon.com/Parker-SR1-Stainless-Straight-Razor/dp/B002PQZEHQ/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt

The brush and soap. I can see myself upgrading these, but regardless, I'm really rather happy with them.
http://www.amazon.com/Van-Hagen-Premium-Shave-Brush/dp/B001A3HPT0/ref=pd_bxgy_hpc_img_b

You'll inevitably nick yourself. A small dab of styptic pencil, and it stops the bleeding and cleans the wound. Stings just a bit, though.
http://www.amazon.com/Clubman-Styptic-Pencil-1-Pack/dp/B000WB02J6

After my first shave, I liked it so much, I straight away bought another 120 replacable blades. Nothing like a virgin blade every time you shave.
http://www.amazon.com/Shark-Stainless-Straight-Barber-Professional/dp/B002OND3LO/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_0

This is a really cheap kit that works well as a starter (I used it to great success for the first few months of wet shaving).

If you want to jump straight to the fancy stuff, Whipped Dog makes some amazing brushes, and I'd recommend Proraso or Taylor of Old Bond Street soaps and creams.

He went way expensive and turned it into a hobby (nothing wrong with that).


I started with a $10 razor handle and started with a $15 mug/soap/brush from Amazon and that worked just fine for about a year. Then, the cheap razor broke and I bought one for $30 and the brush started losing hair, so I bought a replacement for $7 [it was on sale]. Shave soap is like $3 a puck and lasts a year or more.


I've been using the new razor and brush for about 2 years now. The mug I got in the cheap set I still use as well.


I pay ~$10 for 100 blades and change it every week on average (which is actually probably wasteful of me). From November until ~March or April, I let the beard grow. Those 100 blades last me around a year and a half (give or take a few weeks).


So, if you went for better equipment from the start, it'd be something like:

$30 razor ... not the one I use, but nice ... you can go a lot cheaper than this for a quality one as well.

$15 brush [like I said, mine was way cheaper, currently $15 on amazon

$15 blades [this is middle of the ground, some people spend as little as little as $8 for 100 blades, the brand I like is ~$10]

$10 mug/soap/cheap brush combo

= $70 for the first year and you've got an extra brush.


Realistically, that's around what some would spend for a year of shaving with a normal razor from Gillette. For some, it would be a bit more and for some it would be less. For me, I think it was around $40 worth of cartridges a year when I used the Gillette 5-blade.

But, the second year of shaving, would only cost around ... well, nothing since you'll likely have right around a years worth of blades left and won't actually need to buy anything at all other than maybe some shave soap.

This subreddit is mostly about "classic" shaving with double edge or straight razors. Look in the "under $50 kit" link in the sidebar for good getting started gear.

I'm not sure that that's whay you're asking about however.

If you're looking for a cheap but good cartridge shaver, check out the Dorco razors. If you use that with the commonly locally available Van Der Hagen Premium Shave Set you'll get a better and cheaper shave than most.

You can then switch to DE later if you're interested in a better but somewhat more involved shave.

That's super cool of you. Did you recommend something like this and a double edge razor by any chance? Would definitely save them a shit ton of money both immediately and in the long run. (And it's a far more pleasing shave imo)

Are they good items? Probably.

Could you get good items for cheaper than $150? Definitely.

>I'm tired of blowing my money on gilette razors

Is this your main motivation? If so, you should realize that it will take a long time to see a return on your investment if you spend this much on the initial purchase.

Unless you're really attracted to the idea of a straight edge, I'd recommend giving DE shaving a shot first. You can get a Lord L6 on amazon for $12, and a sampler pack of blades for about the same price. You can go to the drug store or grocery store and usually find a $1 styptic pencil, and sometimes even the $10 Van Der Hagen shaving soap and brush (also on amazon). For about $40 you would be all set.

For getting started here's my recommendation:

Razor: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003A722RE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Blades: http://www.amazon.com/Astra-Platinum-Double-Safety-Blades/dp/B001QY8QXM/ref=pd_ys_sf_s_rp_a1_1_p?ie=UTF8&refRID=0VH05WKF6N17QPSV05SM

Rest of the kit: http://www.amazon.com/Van-Hagen-Premium-Shave-Brush/dp/B001A3HPT0/ref=pd_ys_sf_s_rp_a1_2_p?ie=UTF8&refRID=0VH05WKF6N17QPSV05SM

I've got a somewhat better brush than the one in the kit [(here's the one I'm using)] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003WR3QSG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1), but for the price you can't go wrong.

Brush and soap aren't required to use a double-edge razor, but I'd highly recommend it. You have full control over the consistency of your lather and it lasts a lot longer than any foam would. I bought a 8oz tub of Proraso back in the spring and I've yet to go through all of it.

If you have any specific questions /r/wicked_edge is a great sub for shaving enthusiasts.

Safety razors are amazing. Get yourself a brush and some soap.

My brother got me this kit

The soap, I used dozens of times and it's still got so much life left. The brush works like a charm as usual.

You gotta get yourself some blades. They're standard and universal. You can get 100 for like 8 bucks and each one should last you at least 3 shaves. Likely more especially since you aren't shaving your whole face.

Run warm water, dip your brush in it and twirl it around the soap. Play around until you get a decent lather, rub it over the area you want to shave, and apply the razor.

No pressure, let the weight of the blade do the work as you guide it. It's hard to cut yourself and the whole experience is relaxing and will make you feel like a classic old timer in the 40's raising a family on a single man's working wage living in the suburbs.

I get my col. conk's glycerin soaps on amazon.

I used to get my derby blades there, but seeing as I no longer need them, I won't be doing that any more.

When I started I got my Dovo Shavette there, with no issues.

The bowl and brush set I got is just mediocre and i honestly wouldn't recommend it for beginners or seasoned users.

Honestly, you can find deals just as good or better in other places, but amazon is just that easy.

I would start with the $10 VDH boar hair set. It sells at my local WalMart for $8.95. If you don't like any of it, at least you aren't out much.

Then upgrade pieces one at a time, and spend some time with each new piece. Decide if it's an upgrade for you or not (a lot of DE shaving comes down to personal preference).

Buy the Tweezerman badger hair brush and see if you prefer that over boar. This brush works well with the VDH bowl listed above. I would also get a brush stand at this point. Some of them are pretty cheap. The wood handle of the Tweezerman may warp if you dry it handle side down (water drains down the bristles and rests on the wood).

Get a blade sampler pack at some point and try out new blades. Shavers that are much more experienced than I swear that the best blade in a particular razor is often different from one person to another.

And the list goes on. I love this hobby, because it makes shaving pleasant and is so very customizable.

For your dad or even boyfriend a nice shaving kit would be nice and always appreciated! is $120 your whole budget or do you have $120 to spend on each?
A kit like this would be nice as a starter kit. If your budget doesn't allow it there is some nice ones going for around $30-40.
http://www.amazon.com/Shaving-Merkur-Safety-Husband-Boyfriend/dp/B0010Y1KYA/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1418628836&sr=8-6&keywords=shaving+kit

/u/ilikesleep your expertise is needed.

As for me, I'm still using a five blade (Dollar Shave Club, yo) but that's only because I can't afford a good safety razor yet. I would highly recommend checking out this kit as it's what I use and it's what got me started. It's phenomenal quality and the price can't be beat. You aren't getting the best brush ever, but it's still quite good. Or for a step up, there is this one.

Best of luck to you, and let me know what you end up doing!

I'd start with the Kit suggestions and FAQ in the sidebar.

In short you will NEED: A razor, razor blades and soap or cream.
Optional but Highly Recommended: a brush, shaving bowl, alum stick, witchhazel, styptic pencil, a sampler pack of blades to find what works best for you.

Typical recommendations are the Edwin Jagger de89bl with a sampler pack and an inexpensive kit or a slightly nicer kit

However if you give us a budget range or your interests that could help point you in the right direction.

Also if you are looking at straight razors, I will have to defer to those more knowledgeable than I.

I switched to a safety razor, shaving soap, and Alum Bar. Shit changed my life. I was getting several ingrown hairs per week and had zits constantly due to razor rash. I switched and literally, my skin cleared up in two weeks.

I spent about $120 worth 8 years ago for the Razor, blades, soap, alum bar, soap cup, badger brush, and razor/ brush holder. From that point, I've dabbled in a few different shaving creams/soaps, but I'm still good for several more years on blades. I would have spent five times that in 8 years on cartridge razors alone.

I would highly recommend watching some Youtube videos on how to correctly shave with this setup, as it takes practice. Expect to nick yourself for a few weeks, but the Alum bar will stop the bleeding and kill any bacteria afterward. The badger brush will take some practice to get a proper lather, but works much, much better than the best of shaving creams. And finally, be extremely careful when changing the blades, as this is the cause of many cuts; I have never cut myself, but I use abundant caution and take my time.

Bottom line, It costs way more up front, but you make that money back in a year or two and you feel like a badass for shaving like your grandpa did. If you bought nothing but what I list below, you will be set for the next 3-5 years, barring a refill or two on your soap.

Double Edge "safety" razor

100 pack Feather razor blades

brush kit that includes holder and dish

Tabacc Shaving Soap

Alum bar

I have the Van Der Hagen Brush sold in this kit http://www.amazon.com/Van-Hagen-Mens-Luxury-Shave/dp/B004L4EING
I'm liking the shave soap better than Proraso, the brush is pretty good and the bowl works great for lathering.

Straights do have a much larger initial investment for a minimal cost savings versus a double edge safety razor. If you want to save nearly as much, with hardly any initial cost, and you're just looking for the most economical shaving option possible, I think you'd be better off with an inexpensive safety razor like the Lord and a 100 pack of blades and an inexpensive brush, soap and bowl kit.

Those three should set you back about $30 including shipping, and assuming you get 3-4 shaves out of every blade, the blades, razor, bowl, and brush should last you 7 years, you'll need another $2 puck of soap 3.5 years down the line. The initial investment is paid off after just over 1 year instead of 6 years for a straight, and you're paying less than $5 a year to shave.

The first result on Amazon is a kit that includes the handle that I use. I think it's a very good handle, but I suggest going over to r/wicked_edge, and asking the experts. They'll also have straight razor suggestions if you ask. I suggested the double edged safety razor because the learning curve isn't nearly as steep as the straight razor. I hate it when I get someone a gift for someone and they don't end up using it, so I like to err on the safe side.

Also, consider getting him a book on how to use and maintain them. One of my roommates gave me a book to read first and it got me interested enough to try it out.

I went with this for a couple different reasons. link to amazon

• It has a longer handle for easier use.
  
• It's a good brand with what seem to be good reviews
  
• It doesn't break the bank.
  
  Paired with a shave kit it was a great, practical gift.

It's a bit more than $25 but how about the Van Der Hagen Luxury Shave Set? You not only get an acceptable brush but also a nice stand, mug, and puck of shave soap. Would make a nice gift.

Although you dismissed it in your post, it may be worth noting that the VDH Kit works great for most people. When combined with the Lord L6 razor, it's a great way for people to break into wetshaving without investing alot of money. I've been using the VDH kit for about 3 weeks now and love it. I'd like to upgrade the brush eventually (it sheds more than I'd like), but the soap smells/works great and the bowl... is... a bowl. Also, you can pick the VDH kit up at Walmart for $7.97.

First off, thanks for the advice. And at the risk of sounding ignorant again, what exactly is NOS? like new as in never used? or new as in new to his listings? And second, is a used SR good to use? or would it be better to get a new one? As I said, not as familiar with all of this as I thought I was. As far as the strop goes, this link is everything i got shipped in minus that razor obviously https://www.amazon.com/Anself-Shaving-Razor-Straight-Leather/dp/B01IT7FCIA/ref=sr_1_10_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1482107071&sr=1-10&keywords=straight+razor. Not too sure if its a good enough one or not, seems to be though and the brush seems to do a good enough job as well

If you can find it, the Weber ARC Razor is the one my wife uses for DE shaving, and she has had an excellent experience with it.

As for cream+brush: http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Bristle-Shaving-Brush-Eucalyptus/dp/B000YSR8TE/ref=sr_1_17?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1347885004&sr=1-17&keywords=omega+brush

Trust me on this one - it's a cream and brush combo, I love it, as does my wife. You use about an 1+2 almonds worth out of the tube per shave. My wife's been using a tube since Easter and barely made a dent in it, and she LOVES the brush (as do many other Wicked Edgers).

Looks like a Van Der Hagen boar brush and soap. Those were the first brush and soap I used and they're okay. You can get them with as a set with a bowl pretty cheap.

I've never heard of Buffalo Horn razors though. $40 could be a pretty inexpensive starter's kit but whether or this is a good deal hinges on how good that razor is.

I know of a really cheap razor that's actually pretty good so it's possible to get a decent starter kit for little more than 20 bucks.

I had one of those as a toy when I was a kid (without the blades of course). It's probably knocking about someplace. I always wondered what it would look like new.

I'm personally a fan of the Machs and wet shaving with a brush. I started out with a cheap set, but now I can't wait to upgrade to a better one. Feels so damn lavish! Plus I'm a bit of an old fashioned fella', so it fits. I highly recommend trying out one of those cheap sets to see if you like it.

Judging from the bowl, I'm guessing you got the Van Der Hagen set? That's how I started out, ended up getting a better brush and that made a world of difference for me. Also looks like Wilkinson Sword blades? I get those at the local store for $1.76 for a 10-pack, but just ordered a 30-pack of Feathers online (took some getting used to, but a much better shave for me). Remember though blades are very much a "your mileage may vary" kinda thing, so if those are not working for you consider getting a sampler pack, finding something you like, then using that for a few weeks till you get your technique down. As for the chin, make sure you are paying attention to prep work, and not putting excess pressure on your razor while shaving. Remember, beard reduction, through a few passes.

A real razor

Also, one of those russian training weight ball things. I forget what they are called, but I love the shit outta mine!

The "Perfecto" razor,stand & brush kit is a real deal for any shaver. This razor/brush do one heck of a great job for ANY shaver new or experienced. This kit is a great way to get into DE shaving. P.S this razor also includes one Personna blade. The Personna is a really good match for this razor so buy a 100 pack and you're set!

http://www.amazon.com/Perfecto-Deluxe-Shaving-Badger-Chrome/dp/B00N8332LA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1452984750&sr=8-4&keywords=perfecto+razor

http://www.amazon.com/Personna-Double-Razor-Blades-Count/dp/B0077LAJT2/ref=pd_sim_194_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51KdujfMPYL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0G39FN3HKTAMBEMBK2VK

I actually had this wish list for the longest time. I decided to pull the trigger on it last month. I have never been more free from ingrown hairs/unsightly blemishes. Shaving is now a pleasurable experience, not a chore.

Proraso Shaving Soap 5.2 oz (147 g)

Barber Alum

Acca Kappa Cedar After Shave Splash

COSMETICALLY SEALED My Nik Is Sealed Styptic Pen 0.17 oz

125 BEST Blade Sampler FEATHER SHARK ASTRA BLUEBIRD NACET BIC LORD 7 O'Clock

Van Der Hagen Men's Luxury, Shave Set

Musgo Real Lime Glyce Soap

Edwin Jagger De89bl Double Edge Safety Razor Chrome Plated


Although Leisureguy's Handbook is not on the list, I just purchased it for a friend as a 30th birthday gift. I'm sure we'll add another user to the ranks by the end of the week.

I haven't had a chance to say thank you to all of the professionals out there in RedditLand. Thank you for your countless posts and invaluable guidance. You have changed my life in a small but significant way.

Thanks, but i went with [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Van-Der-Hagen-Premium-Shave/dp/B001A3HPT0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371750924&sr=8-1&keywords=shave+brush+kit) as its very cheap and im just starting out. i dont want to put too much money into it unless i know how the razors feel. the kit got great reviews, so here hoping :)

That was my first razor as well and I still use it in my rotation. As someone else has suggested, this bowl and brush set is a good starter set. You have to work to make the bristles on the brush softer, but after that it works great. I'm still using it. I don't see any reason why you couldn't shave in the shower. Wish I could.

ok, lets see...
I use a Parker 96R and used the 7'o Clock (Blue package
badger brush that came with the razor (i.e. this kit )

and Taylor of old bond street sandalwood cream

prep: straight off the shower, soaked the brush in hot water, a bit of cream into a bowl and warm water and whipped the thing till i considered it thick enough and then lathered my face

wtg / xtg passes, in that order
abbandoned ship before going atg xD

and for the record the nicks were mostly near the neck, cheeks/sideburns ended up fine

So the handle and bristle load finally decided to part ways after close to two years in service. I could use super-glue or something similar to put them back together but decided it was time for an upgrade since the brush has been shedding a lot recently. That, and the fact that the razor handle is a cheap little plastic thingie I picked up in South Asia around the same time frame(~1$).

The double edge razor kits had some fascinating suggestions and I'm almost sold on the 22mm silvertip badger with a resin handle(no ideas on the safety razor replacement yet).

Thoughts/Suggestions(maybe a sampler pack link)!?

Original kit - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004L4EING/

Whipped Dog Silvertip Badger - http://whippeddog.com/products/view/silvertip-badger

That particular set has pretty flaky brushes. The good ones are fine for nearly forever, the bad ones... not so much... and its really a toss up for which you'll get. I'd suggest going up to the higher set ($35ish) if you are in this for the long haul, it's brush has a far better reputation. or... just buy a nice brush! ($18ish if you like boar).

Even the bad one though gave me good results for my mach3 when i first was starting out so I'm happy there's a set with a good low price point like that.

Edit: It's a pity about the brush really because the soap is really nice, the bowl does its job... the brush is just iffy.

Hello again Leisureguy. I took a few days to respond to this because I wanted to try a few things.

I had a jug of distilled water lying around so I filled my bowl with it and microwaved it (for a little too long) until it was nice and hot (read actually boiling haha). I let it cool for a few minutes before putting my brush in it to soak while I showered.

Got out of the shower and did my pre-shave wash. Pulled my brush out of the bowl and took it immediately to my Honey Bee soap and worked the brush through the soap (varying the pressure from vigorous with the bristles splayed out to light using just the tips) until bubbles turned microscopic and then kept going for another 30 seconds or so.

Because this was an experiment I decided to attempt a bowl lather rather than a face lather because as you can see from my pictures of the lather I got with Mama Bear soap, I used a bowl for that so I wanted to use the same technique for this experiment.

After nearly 5 minutes of working the lather in the bowl, I got the exact same results that I am used to getting with my tap water. I didn't add any water while trying to work up the lather because it always seemed really wet already with lots of visible sudsy bubbles so I didn't want to add more water to that. Should I have tried adding a little water to it?

I know that I am using a sub-par brush at the moment because money is tight, but is the VDH brush really that bad or do I just suck? haha

I know you praise the Ecotools brush and I can get it locally for around $8 but looking at it, it seems to be a very small knot that isn't packed very tightly (lots of space between the bristles).

Given the information I've provided, would I have better luck trying that until I have the money to invest in a WD silvertip? Or is there something else maybe I might be doing wrong?

It was a surprise gift from my wife. I'm not sure if it is good or bad, but I was pretty happy.

Van Der Hagen Men's Luxury Shave Set and Double Edge Razor LORD Chrome

If you don't have the money for a full set of goods, I recommend getting yourself a brush and soap before anything. I kept my same disposables and just got myself this $11 kit from walgreens. Just with the switch from gel to soap and brush has been giving me the best shaves I've ever had. I can't wait to get myself the razor soon :)

>I do not understand the appeal of the Van Der Hagen kit.

The cheap-o one with the boar brush, or the nicer one with the badger brush, bowl, soap, and stand? Yeah, the one with the boar brush seems meh, but a complete soap, bowl, stand, and badger brush for $33 is pretty good, I figure.

Good to hear. I'm using the 96R combo from SSR listed here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YANPEM/ref=oh_o06_s01_i00_details

The included brush wasn't a silvertip, but I've been happy with it so far. The 96R has been good to me, but it's my first DE so I have no basis for comparison other than cartridges.

Congrats on your new job. Here is a quick and easy intro kit that a lot people start with. there are tons of options so if you dont like this or are looking for something specific just say so.

Razor

Brush/mug/soap

Blade Sampler

should be right under $70. Get styptic pencil at grocery for $1 and keep using the after shave you have.

Edit: to say go to youtube lookup matic59 and watch his watch these first playlist. That will give you a great intro to wet shaving. then you can watch the rest of his videos for more specif advice and techniques if you want.

Very happy with this lil guy:

Remington PG6025 All-in-1 Lithium Powered Grooming Kit, Trimmer (8 Pieces) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H2B4H2M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_rmn6Ab8QSDSVR

Comes with several plastic attachments that allow you to leave the hair at different lengths.

$40 starter set

$12.50 set - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001A3HPT0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

$7 razor - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050HO9MI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A1THAZDOWP300U

$10 sampler set - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007OL72B8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&smid=A11C50J5I9SKBO

$9 alum block - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VXELII/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&smid=AED9GYTNTTZUB


I don't know what any of you are talking about. We're talking about starter sets for noobs. And starter sets for noobs on a budget at that. Isn't it better to start with crappier stuff and then work your way up to better/more expensive things (kinda like having a clunker as your first car)? I've scoured through all the comments and I can verify that the ones linked here are all good products (or as good as anything can be for the price), nothing here is faulty or poorly made, so why hasn't anyone mentioned them?

Anyway, this is what I'm buying. It's about the same prize as the whipped dog bundle ('cept these all have free shipping so its actually cheaper) except it comes with way more blade samples and a cheaper razor. It's a trade off I'm willing to make since you can get used to a crappy razor but knowing which blades you want will save you a ton of money.

straight razors like that have a removable blade like most other shaving razors, the blade was clearly removed

like so: http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Samurai-Stainless-Professional-Straight/dp/B00O9NCCBO

Awesome, thank you very much for the insight! I'm hoping to try out a few new soaps here in the next few months, but with my birthday coming up the Mrs. prefers me not to spend much on supplies (I keep telling her to just get me a new gun >_>)

So far, I've been using the cheap VDH kit from my local drug store. I wanted to test a wet shave before losing my wallet to it, lol. I can easily tell that this is going to become a very long friendship.

Has anyone ever used one of those and reviewed it? I get that you don't need to spend 100 bucks on a DE razor, but 2.25 seems like it wouldn't even be a good razor.

brush/cream, also on Amazon there are...Van Der Hagen
http://www.amazon.com/Van-Der-Hagen-Premium-Shave/dp/B001A3HPT0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370312930&sr=8-1&keywords=shaving+kit

it's about 15 bucks for a brush and soap to start out with. I haven't used it so I cannot vouch good/bad, but it's worth a try.

I prefer long handles, but there are some cheaper EJ short handles.
http://www.amazon.com/Parker-99R-Handle-HEAVYWEIGHT-Butterfly/dp/B003NTHWLU/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1370313036&sr=8-9&keywords=double+edge+razor

30 bucks for a razor plus a few blades.

As far as blades in the future, I got this sampler pack myself:
http://www.amazon.com/FEATHER-Oclock-BLUEBIRD-Blade-Sampler/dp/B003OL2LHC/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1370313141&sr=8-11&keywords=double+edge+razor+blades+sampler

But there are smaller versions (something like 10 blades). I have that one, but I would suggest going with the smaller ones. There's a 16 pack for about 12 bucks.

It isn't cheap, but in...3 months? Maybe 4? You're already less than with cartridges and canned goop.

My razor.

My pre-shave oil

My soap

My bowl I don't use the rest of that stuff anymore.

My face wash and moisturizer

My current aftershave. Got this from my wife who found it at a thrift store.

My brush is vintage, it's a badger hair brush.

My Process

1. Turn on your faucet and let the water heat up as hot as you can stand it without jeopardizing your comfort.
   
2. Put your shaving brush in the shaving bowl, and fill it with hot water until the bristles are inundated. Let it soak until you start shaving.
   
3. Wash your face with some face wash to remove excess dirt.
   
4. Soak a towel in the hot water and apply it to your face for at least thirty seconds, remembering to mind the neck. This will open your pores and expand the skin around the whiskers.
   
5. Massage a shaving oil into your beard.
   
6. Ring out your brush gently with your hands, and put it in the container of soap (the soap should not be put in the shaving bowl).
   
7. Use a gentle circular motion to apply the soap to the brush.
   
8. Put the brush in the bowl and work up a thick lather by brushing in a circular motion.
   
9. Apply the soap to your beard in a paintbrush motion—do not do this circularly or you may damage the bristles of your brush.
   
10. Pull your skin tight as possible in the area you will shave, and place the razor at a 30 degree angle (or less) against your face.
    
11. Shave gently in a zig-or-zag fashion with the grain of your whiskers. Shaving slightly at an angle with the grain will produce a closer shave.
    
12. Wipe off the blade on your towel, or run it under cold water. The cold water will make the space between atoms of metal contract, whereas hot water will make it expand. You'll want it to contract because it will produce a smoother shave.
    
13. Once you have completed the shave, lather up and do it again—the second pass—in order to get a very close shave. You do not need to reapply shaving oil.
    
14. Splash some cool water on your face to contract the pores.
    
15. Run an alum bar over your face.
    
16. Apply an aftershave and moisturizer, and, after a few seconds, pat your face with a towel to remove excess liquids.
    
    My Travel Kit (so pimp...I travel a lot for work).

• Prep: I shave in the shower so just warm water and soap if I need it
  
  
• Razor: Vikings Blade Chieftain
  
  
• Blade: I'm really liking the Lord Super Stainless lately
  
  
• Brush: The questionable-quality boar brush I got in this shave kit -- suggestions for a replacement are welcome.
  
  
• Soap: Art of Shaving sandalwood
  
  
• Post: uhh

Yes, I have a pretty good understand of how my hair grows and which direction.

Normal routine for the DE would be to run some warm water running and add a little bit to the brush. I have this kit. Then I lather up the brush with the soap and then my face. I have a the Mekur Model 180 and [Derby Extra Double Edge blades](
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SGKMA0/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1).

I usually shave the sides of my face first and work my way towards the middle. I end up doing my neck last. I usually always shave the grain, if I don't I feel like I'm not getting close enough of a shave. It seems like some people think you should shave with and some say against but maybe that's part of my problem right there.

Thanks for helping me out!

I have this sitting around that I don't use anymore. And I'm sure I can find soap/cream I'm not using these days. The only razor I would part with is my travel tech which looks like the kit shown here, it actually takes a standard size handle if you wanted to just use the head and bought a different handle. Any interest in something like this?

That's what I was feeling, I have the Merkur Classic right now. I was thinking about picking up the Merkur HD razor and moving the Classic into my travel bag. I'm still using the brush that came with the Van Der Hagen kit and I am still happy. Although I feel like there is something better out there. I've switched to Proraso shave soap from the soap that came with the mug, so I think I might just take your advice and get a new brush. What do you prefer for your brush?

Safety razor. Stop using the disposable mega blade overpriced razors. Safety razors are cheaper and cut much closer.

The shaving experience of lathering up with shaving soap in a dish and using a safety razor for me has been an interesting morning ritual. Makes me feel more like a man vs a teenager use a bic.

Its not as expensive to test as you think

I have a Parker, Sanguine and an CS-102. These are all quite inexpensive units that I bought to give them a shot.

http://amzn.com/B002PQZEHQ

http://amzn.com/B00GNRC8XG

http://amzn.com/B00O9NCCBO

The Parker and the Sanguine are really light. The CS-102 is made with a few other brand names but has a much heavier body that feels much more solid. I use Feathers and absolutely love to shave with the CS-102. I am looking forward to trying out a few other brands.

I actually had a set from amazon that months back I researched and was going to buy but instead settled on the Edwin Jagger De89 as it was rated 5/5 with like 100 reviews so I figured it would be a good starter if nothing else. I'm not at all disappointed with the razor itself although I'd prefer to physically hold any future purchases to get a feel for them.

So I'm new here and am kind of interested in getting into this whole wet shaving thing. However being a college student it is a little cost prohibitive. However as you can see the linked safety razor is really cheap but has very mixed reviews. Some reviewer said the linked vendor was not very good and to buy from here instead. However the first one does come with a case for the same price. Although I don't know if I would even want to use that case. Any words of advice?

And while I have you here is this a good pickup? Thanks guys.

It’s not a dumb question. You don’t have to if you don’t want to. If you do, though, I’d recommend something like this(link at the end of the reply). They can be used wet or dry(and without shave foam), are rechargeable, and their blade lasts a year before needing to be replaced. I use one and it’s incredibly reliable. It may take your skin a few uses to get used to it, though. If this one is outside your budget, there are cheaper ones with the same head style. Hope this helps! https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Norelco-Bodygroomer-BG5025-49/dp/B078G9BKBW/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?keywords=body+trimmer&qid=1571885358&sr=8-8

I don't really need it for traveling, I just find it annoying that it's like a thing with separate parts and extra steps besides just shaving...just want something that's like one thing you can just grab, shave, and be done, and don't have to set up anything in the bathroom to catch the hair, or spend extra time cleaning up a massive hair shavings mess afterwards lol. I think I'm just like next level lazy lol ><. The old one I have is this, but I only use it with the 1 guard now, and maybe the little trimmer for nose hairs once every now and then...but it's like the kit comes with all these other things I don't think I've ever even used lol. I used to use the other guards when cutting my hair, but I don't really use this for that anymore.

But yea...I think I'll just have to get a newer beard trimmer.

I got one of these and it works great

I just go over everything with the body hair trimmer as a rough pass, then put the guard on and get closer. I don't really try to get super close, I just keep it from getting too thick

Here's a relatively inexpensive kit to get you started with traditional wet shaving. If you're willing to spend more put it towards a better razor, like an Edwin Jagger DE8x series. Let me know if you have questions and enjoy your first wet shave.

Lord L6 DE razor - $12.75

Blade Sampler - $10

Omega brush and soap - $20

Well, what starter kit was it? If it was a Van der Hagen kit like this or this, it's a known common problem with the brush.


If you want, you could get an Omega boar brush for around $13 that is pretty good quality without breaking the bank.

Not really.

The razor itself is worth about $80, and the "Free Boar Shaving Brush", "Free Shaving Mug", and "Free Select Shaving Soap" that they're boasting about in the description are simply the contents of that green box in the picture, otherwise known as the Van Der Hagen Premium Shave Set, which should only cost you around $10, not the $20 that they're touting it as being worth. That only brings you to $90, which means that they're charging you $90 for the strop, pouch, and "Lifetime Hone, Strop & Polishing". The strop and pouch are GB Buckingham and Sons from what I can tell. The pouch is probably fine (though overpriced), but it wouldn't surprise me if the strop was of the same level of quality as their razors (i.e. complete rubbish). You could get a much better strop for the amount of money that they're suggesting that strop is worth.

Regarding their "Lifetime Hone, Strop & Polishing", I can't comment too much here, since I don't have any experience with their honing, nor do I know of anyone who is, but I would be very suspicious. I know I would not trust my razors to them. Also, $50 for "lifetime" honing? Something seems off there. It also does not indicate whether they hone the razor before shipping. The 'lifetime honing' note would suggest that perhaps they do, but it's not clear. If the razor's not honed before you receive it, then you'll have to send it out for honing. To be honest, if their honing is at the level that I suspect it probably is, you may have to send it out anyway.

For several months I've been trying to follow the advice of using as little pressure as possible, just enough so that the razor is still in contact with the skin. I won't claim I'm doing well - something is clearly wrong - but I am definitely trying.

The razor was a gift so I don't know exactly what it is, but it's by Merkur. Here are two pictures from my phone: here and here.

My routine is long hot shower, exfoliate with washcloth. Out of shower, lather in a mug (this is the brush this is the cream). I generally do 5 rounds, lathering before each: with the grain, with the grain, across, against, touch-up. Post-shave all I do is rub in some generic face lotion.

I would recommend a shavette for your intro to good shaving, as well as a few accessory essentials. This razor is 20$, and the other kit is about 20$, but will be useful for any future shaving experience.

http://smile.amazon.com/Parker-SR1-Stainless-Straight-Razor/dp/B002PQZEHQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420674217&sr=8-1&keywords=parker+sr1

http://smile.amazon.com/Van-Hagen-Premium-Shave-Brush/dp/B001A3HPT0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420674242&sr=8-2&keywords=shave+set

http://smile.amazon.com/Alum-Block-Osma-Pack-Value/dp/B004QVCIKE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1420674265&sr=8-4&keywords=alum

I got the even cheaper walmart special as my starter (witch I still haven't graduated from) and it has proven itself acceptable. After I figured out how to get an OK lather out of it I ordered my DE and am halfway through my sampler blade pack. I will likely upgrade in the near future but I feel I got much more that $12 worth of value out of this starter.

I started off with a WSP El Grande and a Van Der Hagen brush and soap set for around $50 total. Picked up a pack of sample blades from tryablade after reading advice on this forum to play the field before deciding what blades works best for your skin. I couldn't be happier with my decisions, and don't care to admit how much more money I've spent on shaving supplies since then :)

Ive had a beard for pretty much as long as ive been growing hair on my face. I stumbled into this subreddit and have been thinking about giving a DE razor a try. I found this on amazon the other day is this the kit you got?

This is what I currently use https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GUGIFF0/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I used to wax and shave (with a regular razor) my private area but for me it caused a lot of skin irritation but I like the smooth look so I tried a variety of products. I bought several groomers to test and I liked the one in the link best because it got the closest without causing me skin irritation. I have also purchased a tria laser and I currently use it in combination with the trimmer to remove the hair on my private regions and to limit its growth.

The Wiki has a ton of useful information, it's what I went off of before taking the plunge about a month ago.

There are some great kits that are also available in the sidebar, sorted by price range, but personalized kits will take a little longer to understand and build up. I'm still on all of my first everything (save for blades) so I'm taking my time with everything. I personally used the Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Set because I found it at Target for $20. The brush is apparently terrible, but I've not had an issue with it's shedding just yet and someone earlier was saying they lost theirs and miss it terribly.

I'm not quite sure if this is the one regularly linked, but the EcoTools Kabuki is a regularly recommended brush from /u/LeisureGuy, who has some fantastic advice to be given out.

Going around doing some reading on this sub and the wiki will help you get a lot of the information that you'll need in order to actually put your kit together. There are several videos on YouTube (geofatboy and mantis are the popular ones) that show you how to lather, how to shave, how to maintain your razor, and how to change out blades, anything really.

I also use a generic Lord razor currently, it's a good price for a decent razor, something to consider, there is a less expensive one available, but the reviews are mixed on it.

I found a stand I like on amazon, I am liking the way it looks. I will be throwing or giving away the included razor and probably the brush.

Any thoughts?

/r/wicked_edge can help you if you want to feel like a badass.

Otherwise, get a decent brush and soap and a Mach 3.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SF289-Shaving-Factory-Double-Safety/dp/B004EG24HI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1394130362&sr=8-2&keywords=safety+razor

Haha cheers! I appreciate that a lot actually since I have no idea what I'm doing :D

I've only just started myself, but I'll give your questions a whirl anyway.

1. You can use the soap bowl if you wish. I believe the soap is a little concave (though I may be mistaken on that) so it shouldn't be an issue. Some people like to lather in a separate cup, some do it on top of the soap. I just do it on top of the soap, using a mug from this set. Edit: That bowl probably is too shallow to lather in, so you might want to use a mug or something. Even a cereal bowl would work, you don't need anything fancy. Just deep enough you can swirl it around without it going everywhere.
   
   
2. Razor burn could be from too much pressure when shaving, just let the weight of the razor do the work. Or, it could be that the razor you were using didn't agree with your skin type. Or, finally, it could be that you didn't have a very good lather. One thing I didn't see in your kit is an alum block, which are pretty cheap on Amazon, but they can help fight razor burn, plus help stop bleeders.
   
   
3. Right now, I'm partial to Barrister & Mann's Lime/Lavender/Cedarwood.

They both come from sets you can find in a lot of department stores and drug stores. The boar is from this set. And the badger is from this one. The first was a gift actually although I have owned two of them in the past. I want to upgrade soon to a better brush that breaks in better and sheds less but I have gotten significant mileage out of both.

Amazon is probably your best bet right now, nearning Black Friday and stuff. Here's one grooming kit for 18$.


And like I said you're young so the stache is not a huge issue, in fact most guys start getting that your age. But it is off-putting to girls looking at your mouth. Shaving it will take less than a minute, so keeping it tells people you don't care to make a tiny bit of effort.

The gear is this:

Edwin Jagger De89l

Van Der Hagen Men's Luxury, Shave Set

Later tonight will be my first DE experience, wish me luck!

I was thinking Omega S10019 do you know anything about this synthetic brush?

Also this Proraso Shaving Soap

Or just get this Van Der Hagen Premium Shave Set (Soap, Bowl, Brush)

Thanks for all your help and suggestions too! I will check out some of the links.

Awesome! I never though of oil, but that seems like it could help so much. My SO was thinking of getting me a Merkur kit for Christmas. Im tired of trashing by disposable double blade every week and figure the Merkur will be cheaper. Do you have any experience with this kind of razor?

You can buy a straight edge "shavette" on Amazon for like 15 bucks with 100 disposable blades.

https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Samurai-Folding-Straight-Shavette/dp/B01NGZBYIK/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1517935224&sr=8-1&keywords=samurai+shavette

I have one. Its nothing special, but it will shave your face. Good for a beginner.

I shaved fresh out of the shower. I used my van der Hagen set to build my lather (which was admittedly thin, at least compared to what I used to get from Edge Shave Gel). My razor was whatever came with the Merkur, I should be getting a sampler in monday or tuesday. I went WTG completely, then, uh, toweled off and cleaned everything up.

I'll definitely get one. I'm looking for a cheap one that isn't total shit. This is appealing: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PJRQ486?psc=1

Also this one is cool: http://www.amazon.com/Perfecto-Deluxe-Shaving-Badger-Chrome/dp/B00N8332LA/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hpc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=133Z484XQW1QQXYVCZBF

I actually bought this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004EG24HI/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 quite happy with the set, probably not the best but it's my first :)

Yeah I am using this soap: http://www.amazon.com/Van-Hagen-Mens-Luxury-Shave/dp/B004L4EING/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417582151&sr=8-1&keywords=shave+set

I hope to get some artisan soaps at a good price that surpasses the Colonel Conk soap which I was planning on getting but it sounds like it isn't too good.

what I would want is a nice shaving kit. One with a badger hair brush, soap, bowl, brush and a double edged safety razor. like this

I got all this awesome stuff being shipped to me at the moment and I can't wait to use it:

Merkur 180,
Van Der Hagen Premium Shave Set - Soap, Bowl, Brush),
100 pack Derby Blades, and Styptic Pencil

Well, maybe not the alum pencil, but everything else I'm pretty amped about. I do need a brush stand though.

I figured I'd start with a decent razor and upgrade everything else as I got more familar with wet shaving.

EDIT: Too early, need coffee.

Norelco Bodygroom 3500 is a good budget choice. Does a decent job of keeping things neat, and comes with a few different length guards if you don't want to go all the way down to skin.

1. Single Malt Scotch

2. Good Watch

3. Straight Razor Shavette + Kit

4. Decent Pocket Knife

5. Shoe Shine kit

6. Fountain Pen

7. Leather Wallet

8. EDC flashlight

9. Men's manicure set

10. Bottle Opener

I read the complete opposite, but figured it would come down to personal preference anyway.

But, I do have an update. I ditched that brush and went with the Van Der Hagen Premium Shave Set, since it included a brush, bowl, and soap for a better price. I am just starting out ;] It's also Boar bristle though....

I read other posters here claim that a thin coat of vaseline helped lock in moisture, if it doesn't, oh well. The tube was $4 and can be used.. other ways.

In response to your question: I am still learning. I probably take way longer than necessary and my technique could be improved, but even my sloppiest wet shave looked 10x better than any shave my electric razor ever gave me. You can pick up this razor and this kit for around $20 shipped.

If you live near a bath and body works, they have C.O. Bigelow shaving creams, assuming they have their buy 2 get 1 free (which they almost always do) you get 3 5.2oz tubes for $20. It is just re branded proraso (green). I use the C.O Bigelow shaving creams and love it. I'm 6 months in and not even through the first of 3 tubes.

Also, I got my Brush, stand, bowl, and a soap from the VDH luxury shave set. Its a badger brush, and whips up a nice lather. You can find the kit here on amazon for $30, but if you go to a Target, they might have it for $20 (which is what i paid for mine at a local target)

I use the Philips Norelco Bodygroomer BG5025. Works OK for pubes but has a tendency to snag occasionally. I use it in the shower. I generally go in with the Philips to remove the bulk of hair then use a DE razor to clean things up.

The bowl/brush/soap is the fairly standard VanDer Hagen 'starter kit' (aka deluxe shave set) sold all over the place. Amazon has them in a green box, other places use an orange one. It's a boar brush and OK soap. It works as a cheap start. I prefer the brush to the ecotools bamboo thing, feels rougher and more manly than a makeup brush.

Glancing at the front page of straightrazors.com I see the orange box set. So yeah, same thing.

I'm using the soap that comes with the Van Der Hagen Premium Shave Set. I was told that it was a decent beginner soap, but do you have recommendations for anything better? I was going to head over to Bath & Body Works tomorrow to see what I could find. I'm using a Merkur 180 with Merkur platinum blades. Perhaps I should try another type?

Also, what's scything? I'm still really new to this.

Where did you get that bowl? Did you get it from a small shaving set from like Meijer or Walmart? Specifically this one. If so, what are some of the differences between the brush and soap? Worth it to upgrade?

To hyperlink, first you use [content] then right after it you put the hyperlink (in parentheses). No space between ] and (. I have that razor coming in soonish, and if you want a cheap soap, I's suggest the Van Der Hagen. It's pretty cheap and does the job well for me. I put the soap in the bowl to use as a puck, not sure if that's how you roll or not. Have fun!

EDIT: Flaunt your Pride as a Scotsman! (Or Woman)

If you've never shaved before don't do it right out of the gate. Trim it close and see how you guys like it, get a facial hair trimmer at Wal-Mart or target for $25. Here's One from Amazon. If you just go from clean shaven you will not enjoy the after effects.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00H2B4H2M

The best, and cheapest ball trimmer I've used yet.

I'll blame that on a brain fart. I try not to ramble by nature. Anyways what I've been using is some Derby blades in an Edwin Jagger razor. I bought this shave kit and am using the brush and soap.

What I do is start with a hot shower and wash my face. I use a preshave oil that i got in an Art of Shaving sampler kit (so far im not a fan of this stuff). I make a lather and then spend a couple minutes applying said lather to my face. What I've been doing is trying to find the angle by going 90degrees to my face and rotating the blade down until I feel the razor, then I shave with the grain. I do both sides of my face, then I shave upwards under my chin about half way. Once I get to my chin and mustache I basically forget how to shave and proceed to butcher my face. I'm trying to go with the grain (still finding that pattern) then relather and do a second pass across the grain.

Then I use an alum block, rinse the face, dry and apply a balm. I'm trying a nivea balm now but I tried a neutrogena one as well. I'm liking both so far but I think it's too early to tell.

I think one problem I have is that I'm used to "I definitely feel the hair being cut" from cartridge blades so when I make a pass and feel nothing, my brain takes over and out of habit goes "That clearly didn't work, press harder or go sharper"

Any specific suggestions? I just swapped the Van Der Hagen Men's Luxury, Shave Set for the Omega 63171.

I don't have to go through Amazon, but I thought it would make it easier for my dad to purchase and also if paying for shipping wasn't a concern then that would be a few more dollars to go into products.

1. Brush http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B1TKY8C/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
2. Razor http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050HO9MI/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
3. Soap http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004WCS7IE/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
4. Blades: http://www.amazon.com/Astra-Superior-Premium-Platinum-Double/dp/B001QY8QXM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377711915&sr=8-1&keywords=Astra
   
   
5. Mug and stand http://www.amazon.com/Van-Hagen-Mens-Luxury-Shave/dp/B004L4EING/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1377711997&sr=8-2&keywords=Vander+Hagen (optional and "expensive", but comes with a puck of good soap, but a boar brush, which isn't my fav. Badger hair changed my life.)

Get one of these. I bought this exact set from walmart for 7 bucks. Soap costs a buck or less to replace and lasts longer than a can of shaving cream. Also it feels better because you can use warm water to make the lather.

I recommend heading to an antique store or a flea market. I bought an old brass Gillette double edge for four bucks. Cleaned it, disinfected it and put it to use. Van Der Hagan's Premium Shave Set is twelve bucks off amazon and comes with boar brush, bowl, and soap. I bought mine from Rite Aid for 9.99. Pack o blades and your in business cheap! You can always upgrade to the fancier soaps and brushes later. Just jump right into it!

$16 definitely won't break the bank to get you started. That was my first razor and I love it. It doesn't have as much weight as some of the higher end safety razors, but it definitely gets the job done.

You don't necessarily need to get into traditional lathering. I made the mistake of buying this horrible kit and ended up using regular 98¢
Barbasol from Walmart until I had enough saved for a brush and decent soap.

About two weeks ago, I bought a safety razor and shaving kit with badger hair brush for about $65 total. Best shave I've ever had, hands down.

It was a bit of money up front, but I figure I spend $60 a year on disposable blades for my 4 blade razor anyway. 100 blades for this new razor cost about $15, and I get almost no irritation after I'm done shaving (which was a huge issue with all the multi-blade razors I've used, even with buying the cartridges with aloe strips and all that).

If you're looking for more of a one off thing, I know that there's a place on Scholls Ferry called Barbers that offers a shave, but I am not sure if they use a straight razor or not. It's also a bit on the pricey end, at least compared to your normal hole-in-the-wall neighborhood barber. Hope this helps a bit.

I purchased the EJ 86 (imitation ebony handle) and love it.
Where ever did you find a stand that is aesthetically and functionally compatible? Price?

I just purchased Van Der Hagen Men's Luxury Shave Set

Is this where you purchased the Mitchell's ebonised oak bowl?

thanks, i've been thinking about getting one of those! this one right?

Classic Samurai CS-102 Stainless Steel Professional Barber Straight Edge Razor with 100 Count Derby Single Edge Razor Blades https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O9NCCBO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_RlVDDb4M5M6WJ


I use a clear shave gel for detail shaving.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B004EG24HI?vs=1 £20 and Amazon prime. It's the one I use, comes with razor, 100 blades, soap and a brush. I've had mine a few months now. Oh and you also get a little case for the razor, which is nice.

Option 1:
sodial razor $2.85

Van Der Hagen Soap/Brush/Bowl $12ish unless purchased as add on item

Blade Sampler Pack $12.95

OPTION 2:

Maggard Starter Kit $35ish and much better quality

Yes. You can on some items. You click other sellers on Amazon. For instance, this is an add-on item. On the right-hand side, under the 'add to cart' button, is the place to buy from other sellers. Might be a bit more expensive.

Get him a Shave set, one must be clean shaven to properly judge the wind and swing with all of ones spirit.

I use my partner's beard trimmer. I also use it to trim the hair on my arms when I feel like it's gotten too long and the hair on my legs in the winter when I'm not shaving but the hair's gotten so long that it starts to get caught in my pants.

So I guess the thing is also kind of my trimmer as well at this point.

Dude for about 33 bucks you can get a safety razor with soap kit and 100 blades. After that a pack of 100 blades will cost you 10 bucks (good for 400 shaves)

Razor

Soap Kit

Blades

Hi all:

This any good?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shaving-Factory-SF289-Double-Safety/dp/B004EG24HI/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1GQ9MVZ939JYS&keywords=shaving+kit+safety+razor+derby&qid=1563710119&s=gateway&sprefix=shaving+kit+safety+%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-5

I've got the same kit that I got off Amazon for $30.
Here is the link.. looks like its $28.75. Comes with a brush / soap / mug and stand (exact thing in the picture, down to the logo)

Van Der Hagen Men's Luxury Shave Set

this one has a little better bursh and the mug is little better. I started out with this one and it was very good. Van Der Hagen is a hit or miss with this sub reddit, but if you take proper brush care I don't think you'll have any problems. Shake as much water out of it as you can and hang it upside down to dry and the VDH brushes should also last.