Getting Started

Ready to take the plunge?

When you get ready to lay down your hard cold cash for supplies, you really want to make the best decision and get the right things. My problem was getting bit by the shaving bug pretty bad. After watching so many YouTube review videos, I just had to have everything! I spent money on things that I thought I needed and things that will never be used. What you have to be careful of are the reviews on places like Amazon. Some people would rave about a product and it did not work for me. Another would give it a low rating and classify it as a very poor product only to find it was perfect for me. Everybody's shaving needs are different. In the shaving world it's a matter of finding the right things that suit your needs and budget and give you the best results. But above all give you satisfaction during and after the shave! So be cautious with online reviews.

Make one change at a time

I can't emphasize enough to only make one change at a time. This was one of the first mistakes that I made. I changed my shaving cream, razor and blade all at once. It was a mental struggle every shave trying to remember how to create the lather, how to hold the razor at the right angle, how to keep the pressure at a minimum, which direction to shave, what blade to use, how to deal with razor burn. And then I was changing up products every other day! With  so many changes, it was difficult to keep track of what was working and what was not and then to remember all of that the next day. Take small steps and work your way into it.  Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day!

Be a thrifty shopper

Just because it cost a lot does not make it the right product for you. I've bought several soaps and creams that cost up to fifteen to twenty dollars each, and for me, they could not perform as well as the cheap $1.69 soap I buy at the local supermarket. My $12.88 razor performs just as well as my $35.00 razor. Cost does not always dictate what works best for you. Skin type, sensitivity, beard growth and the shape of your face has everything to do with what you need to use. Just because it is popular among the DE shaving community, or expensive does not mean it will work for you. Finding that perfect shave can be frustrating and expensive. Just remember, It will be worth the effort once you find that right combination!

My first two investments

Before you venture any further into DE shaving I would recommend that you make two purchases up front. The first would be a styptic pencil and the second would be a bottle of witch hazel. Both can be purchased at your local drugstore, supermarket, or even Wal-Mart.




I picked up my styptic pencil at Wal-Mart for a couple of dollars. The only one they had was made by Pinaud Clubman. It is quite large but does the job nicely and comes in a plastic tube for storage and traveling. I'm sure it will last me the rest of my life!

You can also pick up a bottle of witch hazel at Wal-Mart. I found it in the pharmacy section. You can opt for the Wal-Mart brand or like me spend an extra dollar and get a bottle made by Dickenson. I opted for the Dickenson because of the cap (and the pretty label!)

The reason for these two items is important. The styptic pencil will take care of any cuts and nicks you will get and the witch hazel works wonders at reducing razor burn with the redness and puffiness that comes along with it. I religiously use witch hazel after every shave. If you are still using cartridge razors, go ahead and start the witch hazel right after every shave. You will see and feel a difference. It will become a more noticeable once you make the change to DE shaving!

Why This Blog?

Why Am I Doing This?

I have no idea. I have the desire but I really don't have the time. For me time is a luxury that I do not have. My work days begin at four in the morning and they end at eleven at night. Only on the weekends do I get an extra three hours of sleep. So little things like shaving is something that has to be done in a hurry. It was only when I rediscovered double edge razor shaving and the satisfaction it brought did I see the dilemma I was in.

For me, starting out DE shaving took a lot of practice, patience, up front expense, septic pencils and most importantly time! How I hate the time clock! The most evil invention ever made. In our day and time the phrase "Rome wasn't built in a day" doesn't apply. Sometimes I wonder why the good Lord didn't make the days longer than 24 hours long. I sure could use a little extra time.

What got me started

It was about 4:30 one morning I was reading a news story about the success that the Dollar Shave Club  was having in the shaving world. After a little googling I ran across this video  Watching an old man with a walker getting tasered as he shook the locked razor blade cabinet sent me into hysterics! It also got me thinking about how to get a good close and cheap shave. 

YouTube was a valuable place to start. After watching hours of DE shaving clips and shopping on Amazon  I was ready to go. I bought razors, blades, soap, brushes. I know the UPS guy was getting tired of me! I spent quit a bit of time in front of the mirror each night. Upwards to thirty minutes for a shave! After a few months of this my wife asked me"do you realize how much time you spend doing this?"

What almost made me quit

Finishing up at 10:00 at night and then getting things ready for work the next day I realized I was taking away the few minutes of the day that we got to see each other. Unhappy, I tried going back to the old way of shaving with the disposable razors and canned shaving cream. The shaves just weren't as good but it only took me ten minutes. We got our time back and all was well. 

Almost.

As much as I tried to get my mind off DE shaving I couldn't. I got to thinking, if I can shave in ten minutes with the disposable, I should be able to do the same with my double edge. If I can get a better shave in the same amount of time, it would be worth the effort. So the challenge began. 

Getting things into perspective

Closing the gap to get a ten minute shave required doing things different. It also required to not experiment with new things and techniques with every shave. Getting a good enough shave was the goal and the smooth as a baby's bottom was the exception. 

Learning to cut corners began to give me new satisfaction. Getting a good shave in the least amount of time and expense involved became an obsessive challenge. I have timed a few of my shaves and the best I observed was twelve minutes. This is from the moment the brush hits the soap until the aftershave balm is recapped and back in the drawer.

What I plan to do here 

First, I do not plan to blog every day. I just don't have the time. I'll be doing good to get one in a week or so. I do not plan on many product reviews. There are so many of those out there already. What I do plan on doing is talking about what works for me and save me time.  I will talk about the products I use and how I get the most for my dollar. 

I don't have an elaborate shave den. Just half of two drawers in the bathroom. And those are small drawers! And a small cardboard box in the closet. It's not that the wife refuses to give up bathroom  real estate, I'm just afraid to ask for it. Once the wife takes it, it's gone for good!

So, let's see where this takes us. Hopefully somewhere profitable!