A little advice requested

[Beau Nidle]

Hi all. Many thanks for so many replies. I've given it some thought and I've decided to change the soap immediately. I think I might try Proraso menthol and eucalyptus soap from an ebay supplier which at a fiver for a 75ml tub is cheap enough to junk if I don't like it. I'll get a sample selection of blades to try and use all five from each pack and see how it goes. Any thoughts on the soap welcome....

I'll wait a while until I change the brush. I don't really see much wrong with the one I've got but perhaps a better soap might show up its shortcomings???

And finally the bowl.... I haven't got one at the moment but I don't really fancy a
Plastic dish. I quite like the idea of an old fashioned traditional shaving mug so I'll keep an eye out for an old one on EBay.

Rob

 

[michlaustn]

You cannot go wrong with proraso. I have the CO Bigalow cream which is just rebrand Proraso, it is great. I would not bother with a bowl, just face lather.

Hi all. Many thanks for so many replies. I've given it some thought and I've decided to change the soap immediately. I think I might try Proraso menthol and eucalyptus soap from an ebay supplier which at a fiver for a 75ml tub is cheap enough to junk if I don't like it. I'll get a sample selection of blades to try and use all five from each pack and see how it goes. Any thoughts on the soap welcome....

I'll wait a while until I change the brush. I don't really see much wrong with the one I've got but perhaps a better soap might show up its shortcomings???

And finally the bowl.... I haven't got one at the moment but I don't really fancy a
Plastic dish. I quite like the idea of an old fashioned traditional shaving mug so I'll keep an eye out for an old one on EBay.

Rob

Sent from my Swift 2 using Tapatalk

 

[dadant]

Don't get hung up on only using a hard soap although Proraso could be described as something in-between.

You may have your lathering technique down pat nonetheless you should have a cream in your arsenal like Palmolive...cheap, high street available and very very easy to lather i.e less brush and technique dependent.

 

[Dule083]

You got a lot of good avices here, my recomandation is to get decent equimpent ( not top, but decent) and be patient.
I alwayse suggest classic on start, my recomandation is Tech flat bottom, Rocket, Merkur, Fatip,

Grab Synthetic on start. Why? Untill you build habbits to properly clean and karry about brush, also if you dont planing to buy more brushes, and untill you lurn to made proper leather syntsthic will be better choice.

Blade: Green Astra, Pool silver, Wilkinson

Soaps: With choices on marjet you head will ezxplode. My recomendattions: Wickham, Saponifficcio varesino, Phoenix and beu. Spend a littlle more for soap, even with modest gear, great soap will improved shavibg siginificantly.
ALSO Buy Alym and good AS.

 

[Boru62]

I think I might try Proraso menthol and eucalyptus....Any thoughts on the soap welcome

I like Proraso although a fiver for 75ml is pricey.
Shave Lounge has 150ml for £5.50 here.
My favourite croap is Vitos, I gave you a link earlier and Salter Tallow is a very good solid soap.

 

[slapo]

I actually use one of these as a lather bowl:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01ELG4RJ8/

Works a treat and is easy to stash away. It's difficult to break it, too, although I have to admit I haven't attempted breaking it either.

Astra Superior Platinum have a really good price/performance ratio, as they can be seen on eBay for ~£8 for a hundred blades.
As far as soaps go, the most expensive I got for myself was the Ogalala bay rum soap and while it was nice, I tend to use Barbus Classic Shaving Soap as it lasts ages and works great for me.

As far as razors go, Jagen David butterfly razors are generally either Weishi 9306 or Baili BD179 rebrands. Both of those are pretty decent razors and generally reasonably well made, but they are rather mild, so longer growth is likely to be more fussy to rid of. They're pretty good daily shavers, though.
If your butterfly razor tends to open when in use, I'd try two things:
- try tightening it just a little bit more
- check the grip - if it has the knob for opening the razor at the bottom, then I'd suggest putting a pinky under the razor's bottom to support it and holding the handle itself by an index finger a thumb. Also, this grip lends to easier angle changes (if so desired).

 

[Beau Nidle]

Many thanks to all for your input.

Not decided what to do about the razor... I think I'll make sure the little knob on the bottom of the handle is tightened right up as suggested by Slapo and see how I get on with the new soap and blades first. My sample pack of blades has arrived: Shark Super Derby Premium, Derby Extra, Astra Superior and Perma Sharp. Slapo has recommended the Astra Superior so I will start with that one tomorrow morning. I thought that I will use a new blade from each pack every third shave and see which I prefer..... Any thoughts on those blades, guys?

 

[slapo]

I thought that I will use a new blade from each pack every third shave and see which I prefer..... Any thoughts on those blades, guys?

Generally, I found the Astra SP to be the best all-rounder, being sharp, smooth and fairly long lasting in almost any razor. I think Permasharps compare favourably, although starting perceptibly a little sharper but being roughly even with the Astras by about the third shave.
The Shark Supers were decent for me, started almost as sharp as the Astras but got blunt faster.
The Derby Extras I found best with aggresive razors, as I found them less sharp than most other blades, but they do last about five shaves for me when shaving daily.
I don't remember the Derby Premiums unfortunately.

Your mileage is likely to vary, though.
For example, I find I can use a single blade for almost twice as many shaves if I shave 1-2 times a week only compared to shaving daily.

On another note, with milder razors, I find using a less fluffy but just as slick lather reduces the number of passes without causing extra irritation.
In fact, I've used only oil+water a couple of times with some of my butterfly razors with very good success. I had to do skin stretching during the shaves, though.

 

[Tzimisce]

Well... I would recommend a soap that lathers on itself just by watching it, with classic scent and great performance.
The one called "Tabac"
A great and cheap starter razor is Feather Popular. You can try any blade you like, but it seems that Feather blades are the best for it.

You can leave your brush as it is for now and start searching after you start enjoying your shaves.
Just my 2 cents