Reddit mentions of 130 BEST Blade Sampler FEATHER SHARK ASTRA NACET BIC LORD 7 O'Clock

Discussions of that sort of pointless. Get a sampler pack like this one and try a few of each. It's very inexpensive and you'll know which one is right for you very quickly.

Suggestions on what the best blade is are absolutely useless to a new shaver. It depends on your technique, your beard, and your skin. It's very personal.

Make sure your Futur is set to 1 then work your way up. I recommend this pack it has a lot of blade brands to try. Get MRGLO it is a fantastic pre-shave soap, slicks up your face and smells really good, it's the one I use. Aftershave I have Ogalla Bay Rum sampler, I like it and it's a sampler so there are a few scents to try out. Also Geo F. Trumpers Skin Food, I have heard very good things about it although I have not personally tried it.

Here you go

Edwin Jagger De89lbl Double Edge Safety Razor Chrome Plated Lined Detail

Dovo Stainless Steel blade BLACK Handle Shavette Straight Razor Uses Replaceable DE Blades and a Brut Styptic Pencil you're going to need it

Edwin Jagger Razor Stand for Double Edged Razor or Colonel Conk Evernice Model 775 Chrome Safety Razor Stand

Double Edge Safety Razor Blade Variety Pack - 100 Blades! and/or 115 BEST Blade Sampler FEATHER SHARK ASTRA BLUEBIRD LORD GILLETTE

Edwin Jagger 1ej946sds Traditional English Best Badger Hair Shaving Brush Faux Ebony With Black Drip Stand

Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream Bowl, 5.3-Ounce

Proraso Shaving Cream 5.2 oz (147 g)

Bloc Osma Natural Alum Block

Ogallala Bay Rum Bonanza Sampler!

And just use a kitchen bowl to make the lather.

Edit : Made an Amazon List

Proraso Shave Soap

Proraso Pre/Post Shave Cream

Proraso Aftershave

Proraso Glycerin Pre Shave Soap

Leisureguy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving

Blade sampler pack

Tabac Deodorant

Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shave Stick

Taylor of Old Bond Street Avocado Shave Cream

L'Occitane Shaving Cream, Cade

Amazon actually

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Z6YXIW/ is the variety pack I'm slowly working through. Same variety, more quantity.

I just ordered my beginning DE set, so I haven't shaved yet. But based on my research:

I got this blade sampler $16 because it has a decent variety of brands, and I read somewhere it's better to have more than one or two blades per brand when you're experimenting. If you're willing to spend a little more, maybe try this $40 sampler with 21 brands, I'd say that's your best bet for finding a brand you like.

Split the difference with this $25 sampler, 12 brands to try.

Is there a sample pack you recommend?

Thanks for the tip!

EDIT: How is this?

I prefer this sample pack (~$40) because you get 5 of each type (105 blades total). Like whoami9 I like to have more than one blade of the same brand to try. And if your in college and shave 3 days a week, it might take you 2 years to go through all these blades.

You can skip that nik stick and get one at walmart ($1) or walgreens ($3) if you want to save cash.

You do not need cream and soap, one or the other. I'm a creams guy, I like Geo. F Trumper (Limes is my fav.) or Taylor of Old Bond Street. GFT has a sample set here for ~$12 but it takes a few days to get.

Even though I do like creams, I recommend you start with soap first. It's cheaper per unit, so it allows you to try a wider range a little more quickly. It also lets you figure out the consistency you like with your foam before moving on to cream.

i went with this one..

It had the most blades for the best price. i've looked for other ones to see if they're cheaper on amazon, i haven't found one yet, so i hope that stays true.

I do have amazon prime though so no charge for shipping.

The sidebar has great suggestions for DE razors for multiple price ranges.
EJ89's (Edwin Jagger) are usually recomended as starter razors because the price is very reasonable for the quality. The 23c is a good starter too, but the price is obviously more. I'd avoid the "open comb" design like the 15C if it's going to be his first DE razor. and buying online should be the easiest way to purchase. If you have the money to spend, a good size blade sampler is an excellent idea. I liked this one, but it's huge.
Again I would definitely recommend reading the kit suggestions in the side bar though.

EDIT: after double checking myself on amazon (yes, after the post) I realized that the 23c and the EJ89 are priced pretty similarly. But I own a EJ89 and a merkur that cost about 20 bucks more and I would call their quality basically even.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Z6YXIW/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

This is the package I got. 24 packs, 5 blades to a pack. I didn't get to choose the brands, but I'd found a few different sampler sets, and thought this one looked best.

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.

Try any and all blades you can. I'd suggest starting out with something like this.

Edit: Oops, just realized your using a single edge; disregard.

I got this sampler. Ok, so my memory was fuzzy -- it was $25 for the 100.

There are several brands (Derby being a popular one, which I enjoyed for my most recent shave) being sold for $30 for 200. 15-cents a blade!

If you can afford it, get this one

Really just get the biggest one you can afford at time of purchase.

@Greyzer: Thanks very much for the recommendations! I will definitely try the toothbrush trick.

@cynthiadangus and mpperry: I have mapped out my grain direction. Nose to chin: down
Cheeks and sideburns to jawline: down
Jawline under ears: back
Chin to 1 inch above adams apple: down
Adams apple: out from center in all directions for 1 inch or so
Sides of Neck, in general from center back, except were it colides with zones above

My shaving routine is in constant flux, but currently i shave with a fusion power in the shower (hey it rhymes!). I want it to be known that I will NOT shave in the shower at first with a DE until I feel good enough to shave without seeing what I am doing. I plan on following Leisureguy's method outlined below.

I first pull out any ingrowns i have as gently as possible with a sharp tweezer. Then I put scalding hot water in my shaving bowl with soap and brush submerged. I put that in the shower, then get in. I wash my face first with lever 2000 with aloe, and run the beard under hot shower water for 2-3 min after while I shampoo. I rinse out the shampoo from hair and beard, then dump out the hot water from my bowl and make a thick hot lather with the brush. I use the brush to apply, and rub firmly into my beard while I do so. Then I shave 1 pass WTG with the Fusion, no power on lips and chin, power everywhere else. I glide across the face, I do not apply much pressure. I rinse everything, finish my shower, and get out. then I pull up any ingrown hairs that remain (5-10 is typical), and shave them off dry (but VERY carefully) with the precision blade of the fusion. I rinse the whole beard, then apply some Dickinson's Witch Hazel (14% Alc). If its very dry, I then use Nivea Aftershave Balm (replenishing i think).

@Leisureguy: Thanks for all the intel. Your posts are always most informative. I'll definitely get that Edwin Jagger and follow your advice on pressure and # of passes (once I am comfortable with the DE). It sure is hard to find a scentless high glycerin soap that isn't 15 bucks, any cheap options you're aware of? I have a cheap Van Hagen from CVS that is pretty effective, but sheds all the time. I will replace it in the next few months with a Frank Shaving. I am definitely going to get some of Garry's samples. Your post on blades was one of the first I read, I will follow Greyzer's advice and get a huge sampler from Amazon

THANKS ALL!

I just ordered my first ever DE and a razor sample pack.

The razors actually arrived today but the DE didn't ship till yesterday. I hope it arrives before the holiday weekend.
Please let me know how the pipe tobacco soap is. It sounds awesome!