The new noob

[Gordo]

Hi there,

Names Gordo. Fantastic site here. Looking to learn from the 'pros' on here.

Glad to be here:D

[Sejanus]

I said welcome in the movie thread but no reason not to say it twice.

Enjoy yourself!

[jbcohen]

Do you wish to ask the masters anything gordo? Not that I count myself among them.What does you shave setup look like, perhasp we can give you some tips.

[IsaacRN]

Welcome aboard Gordo. Lots of great people here. Hope your stay is an enjoyable one :)

[Bronco]

Welcome Gordo to The Shave Den. We're glad to have you here. You can ask questions or share your knowledge on just about anything here.

[Gordo]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone.

I do have some questions, but for right now I am searching through old post trying to find some answers. My set up? Nothing really. Although I shave with, don't hurt me when i say this, a mach 3 I have been wanting to try a straight razor or a DE for quite some time. And although I use the mach 3, I use soaps and a boar brush for the lathering(not as quality as I want, but I take my time and do a quasi-wetshave). I realize I have much to learn, so please, bear with me;)

[IsaacRN]

Let me be the first to day.....theres nothing wrong with a Mach 3

For some people they work....for others they dont. Some people like the nostalgia of shaving with straights and DE's. The most important thing is to just have some fun.

[shavingidiot savant]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone.

I do have some questions, but for right now I am searching through old post trying to find some answers. My set up? Nothing really. Although I shave with, don't hurt me when i say this, a mach 3 I have been wanting to try a straight razor or a DE for quite some time. And although I use the mach 3, I use soaps and a boar brush for the lathering(not as quality as I want, but I take my time and do a quasi-wetshave). I realize I have much to learn, so please, bear with me;)
Hi Gordo,
This month is my one year anniversary of NOT using my M3. I usta get good shaves from those things and never any trouble with irritation. Must have been the Gillette Foamy that made it so smooth.......heh.
One problem I had with them was that they were so darned boring to use. Although it only took 2 minutes to shave, I just sort of felt resigned to a dull daily chore. That perspective has changed a bit since the early times of learning to use a brush and soaps.
Gordo? You'll find a good bit of info here to learn about, if you want to. You can buy into as little or as much of the 'enthusiasm' of a 'hobbyist'..........you might even end up with more than just one razor or brush or soap if you're not careful....heh.
Anyway, you're way ahead of a lot of new members who have never used a brush before. That will help speed your journey along.
Good luck here,
Martin

[Scorpio]

Welcome Gordo!!! glad you could join us!!

Raf

[Michael]

Welcome, Gordo! Don't worry about the M3 thing - we ALL used to use them and I'm sure some of us still do. Like most of us, I suspect; I used to get tolerable shaves with one, but for me at least, it was just a chore. Had to be done, but was anything but enjoyable.

Now that I've "discovered" better brushes, razors, soaps, creams, etc., I no longer shave in 3 minutes. I no longer whine about the ridiculous cost of 3-4-5 blade cartridges either, but that's because I've spent FAR more on shaving in the past year than I probably did in the 10 years before that! You don't have to do that of course, though it does seem a rather common occurrence. But I don't CARE! I get MUCH better shaves and most importantly, I NO LONGER HATE SHAVING!! That's worth a lot to me. I honestly don't understand it, but it's true. Now, I actually look forward to shaving! I don't even skip weekends!! Damndest thing!

Anyway, welcome to The Shave Den. You won't find a nicer bunch anywhere! Ask whatever you want to ask and don't worry about whether or not it's been asked before. Can't imagine a question you could ask that hasn't already been asked anyway. We're used to it! :D

Oh, and don't forget to check out The Shave Den Store. http://theshaveden.com/store/ Some excellent products available there (especially the soaps!) at very good prices. Our resident soaper, JoAnna, makes them and she does an outstanding job! Don't tell her I said that though - it'll go to her head! ;)

And as for brushes...might I suggest something in a Kent?!

[jbcohen]

I used to shave with a Mach 3, gave it up when I found the double edge religion. Straight razors have a steeper learning curve then a double edge does. But the straight razor will:

1) Give you a closer shave then a double edge
2) Frees your from the needs to keep buying anything (over the long haul will be cheaper) - you need not buy anything further.
3) If you have a prospective Mrs, nothing oozes testosterone like a straight. They quite simply have the cool factor cornered.

Imagine a very masculine looking actor shaving with a Mach 3 or Fusion (does not seem quite masculine). Now substitute a straight for that terrible cartridge razor and now you have cool.

You might think that I use a straight myself, I don't I use a double edge. I am a bit frightened of the straight. I will eventually get there. If you want to check out the people that you are talking to on this forum, you want to see if we are qualified to make the statements that we are making click on the Medicine Cabinet section and look for our entries, this will show you what we are shaving with and if we are qualified to make the statements that we are making. I will come out and say it, I have no straights, I am scared of them at the moment but I am working my way towards them. As I have said to others be patient with me I am getting there.

What are your questions? If you go for a double edge you need to learn to apply no downward pressure and at a thrity degree angel.

[mantic]

Welcome!

--Mark

[Michael]

Welcome!

--Mark

My YouTube Shaving Channel (http://www.youtube.com/shavetutor) (alternate (http://www.sclipo.com/user/mantic59) channel for the YouTube-Impaired)

How very careless of us!! How could we have neglected to mention the Mantic videos?! The gold standard on how to remove unwanted facial hair!! If you want to WATCH how it's done instead of just reading about it, that's the place!

[Mr. Igg]

How very careless of us!! How could we have neglected to mention the Mantic videos?! The gold standard on how to remove unwanted facial hair!! If you want to WATCH how it's done instead of just reading about it, that's the place!

+1 Time spent watching these is unbelievably well spent (Thanks, Mark!)

And welcome aboard!

[Gordo]

Once again everyone thanks for the warm welcome.

Long story, but ill try to keep it short...

Even back in high school, I was big into 'style'. Even with the pressures of Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp being cool, I never bought into that 'look.'

I have always been a fan of the "classics" like McQueen, Bogart, Grant, and Sinatra. I agree, you wouldn't see James using a Mach or Fusion.

There is a real aura of class around using an old school blade whether it be a DE or Straight. Plus by joining up here, I found a group of people who actually like Aqua Velva and Old Spice;)

[Gordo]

Oh, questions I have.

I have actually watched Mantics youtube videos. A link from his blog got me here actually.

Before going directly to a straight, I do want to tackle the DE beast. Merkur seems to be a staple around here. If I am not mistaken Mantic mentions the 4 adjustment Merkur as his base shaver?

Where do you guys think I should start.

I used to get the best shaves from my sensor excel, and then moved to this Mach 3. I don't know why. It seems no matter what I do, I can never get a consitent shave, even with a 10 minute prep routine.

[jbcohen]

Nothing has the style factor like the striaght, however, it takes longer to learn to use. So you will need to either find a teacher in your area or try to learn from a video like Mantics.

[IsaacRN]

You could do either or. There is a bit of a learning curve with a straight razor. The most important thing is having a shave ready straight when you begin. Just keep the Mach 3 for now for any touchups youll need to do. Another thing you can do, is just take sections at a time for your straight needs untill your ready to tackle the whole face at once.

[jbcohen]

Good advice, some people keep there old cartridge razor around for comfort while they are learning to use a double edge or straight. Myself, I recommend what I referr to as the cold turkey approach. I threw the cartidge razor in a bag and locekd it away under the sink one morning and got out the safety razor. The next morning I went with the safety razor sort of cold turkey. Had minor dificulty but still feel thsi is the best way to get the tranisition done. Cut myself twice but got on track very fast, of course an ex GF once said about me that I always catch on real fast. I always advocate a transition so that there is no going back no retreet. I still have those terrible old things under the sink if I ever chose to remember the bad old days. I have throwbn out the electrics, thank heavens.

[Padron]

Welcome to TSD Gordo! :D :cool:

[Queen of Blades]

Welcome to The Shave Den, Gordo!

[PalmettoB]

Welcome to The Shave Den!

[rick]

Once again everyone thanks for the warm welcome.

Long story, but ill try to keep it short...

Even back in high school, I was big into 'style'. Even with the pressures of Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp being cool, I never bought into that 'look.'

I have always been a fan of the "classics" like McQueen, Bogart, Grant, and Sinatra. I agree, you wouldn't see James using a Mach or Fusion.

There is a real aura of class around using an old school blade whether it be a DE or Straight. Plus by joining up here, I found a group of people who actually like Aqua Velva and Old Spice;)

Welcome !
You're in ::

[jbcohen]

Have we answered al your questions?

[bg42]

Leave now Gordo ,while you still can. It creeps up on you ,ever so slowly ,barely noticeable at first ,then by the time you come to your senses and say , what the hell am I doing ,its too late.
Be afraid Gordo ,be very afraid:D
Welcome aboard, there are two CD`s you should get one by Bill and one by Lynn ,they should answer any question you have ,if not ask away I`m sure some one will jump in with an answer
Kind regards Peter

[MTgrayling]

Welcome Gordo!