Newbie requires full setup

J

jontymo

Joined
Monday April 5, 2010
I hope i'm in the correct forum!

I would like recommendations for a full setup as looking to get into this real shaving experience and rather than ask in each specific forum for items was wondering if full recommendations would be better.

For info i have pretty sensitive skin so would rather spend on plenty of pre shave items than none.
Price is not a problem for all the gear within reason as i'm in this for the time and experience not for saving a few pounds over fusions etc

Also out of interest do any of you have a tray for all your items, the reason i ask is our ensuite is quite small and i rather fancy having the shaving kit i buy on display in the bedroom!

Thanks in advance

Jon
 
:shave I would say buy some proraso pre/post balm get yourself a nice gillette slim adjustable and a good sampler pack of blades from connought,some tabac and bobs your uncle for starters.Be warned you will spend more on stuff but you will not go wrong with that for starters..Tabac lathers brilliantly and is very slick dont try feathers until you feel comfortable with your face/shave and just take your time. ;)
 
Here is one package:

ww.theenglishshavingcompany.com/cgi-bin/psProdDet.cgi/IVLSR||@cTraditional%20safety%20&%20double%20edge%20razors@bEdwin%20Jagger|0|user||15|

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.grooming-health.com/product.php?id_product=134" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.grooming-health.com/product. ... roduct=134</a><!-- m --> (out of stock here but widely available

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://connaughtshaving.com/samplepack.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://connaughtshaving.com/samplepack.html</a><!-- m -->

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.tayloroldbondst.co.uk/acatalog/Taylor_s_On_line_SHAVING_SOAPS___CREAM_2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.tayloroldbondst.co.uk/acatal ... EAM_2.html</a><!-- m -->

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.drharris.co.uk/product_listing.php?scUID=40&cUID=38" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.drharris.co.uk/product_listi ... 40&cUID=38</a><!-- m -->

No pre shaves from me! Tried several - not convinced.

Take a look, check out reviews draw up a short list from other suggestions which should follow and take the plunge. There's a lot of great stuff around.
 
In addition to Fido's post above, a couple of the members do a range of very good soap/creams which are ideal as they produce a very slick result:

Henk &
Soapalchemist

Once you have your start up kit, i reckon you could give them a try too.

(I have used the English Shaving Company, Connaught and The Shaving Shack to date, and all are great vendors of shaving supplies.)
 
Well , your first recommended full set up will differ from shaver to shaver tbh.

My opinions into the mix..

Grab yourself something like a Vulfix 404 , Merkur HD, plus a sample pack from Connaught shaving.

For the rest - Shave cream / soap / AS use what you can find, theres to many out there to pick an ideal starter.. BUT dont cross something of the list just becuase its cheap..
I simply adore Palmolive green (£1 a tube) and Blue stratos ASB - (£3 a bottle)

Pre shave wise.. i don't use em. Good soak in the shower or good face wash and hot flannel for 3 mins. Does the job fine.

This is your first set up - you will add to it within weeks i guarantee. A tray wont cut it. My shave stuff is stashed all over the damn place now , takes over most of the Bathroom.
 
Well I sort of agree with what slash says but I'd go a bit more basic than that for starters.

Get yourself some palmolive sticks (asda/tesco et all approx 50p each) and get yourself a brush. A good starter brush (and Im sure there will be agreement here) would be a Vulfix 404 Mixed Badger and Boar (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.diamondedgeltd.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.diamondedgeltd.com</a><!-- m --> about £8.50). Cheaper one which is ok would be Wilkinson Sword Brush (again Asda/Tesco)

The soap and brush are a good place to start and you can use them while still shaving with whatever you use just now.

Going onto DE razors, IMO a perfect starter razor is a Merkur 34C (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://connaughtshaving.com/merkur34c.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://connaughtshaving.com/merkur34c.html</a><!-- m --> £26.90) if the bank won't go that far then you could check the sale thread on here or if you feel up to it try the bay for a Gillette but be careful, some are starting to go for silly money. If not, the wilkinson sword DE razor (about £5 in boots, heavy-ish, mainly made from black plastic) is good for something not to break the bank. Visit <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://connaughtshaving.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://connaughtshaving.com</a><!-- m --> again and get the largest blade sample pack you can afford and pick up an Alum block too.

If the Palmolive stick isn't working for you (it should) then go back to connaughtshaving.com get a tube of Proraso cream. The pre-post cream as slash suggested is ok, but not essential for starters.

Then to finish off visit Boots (Freshwood aftershave balm £2.50) and Superdrug (Forest Fresh After Shave £2.50)

That is a basic no thrills set up that is good for beginners and a set up a lot of us still use with experience.

Andy

P.S. Read the "shaving help" threads on here for advice and lathering tutorials. Go to youtube and watch all the "Mantic" shaving videos. Do yer homework too ;)
 
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.traditionalshaving.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/traditionalshaving/_STA-CRE-LUX/268168/Starter-Kit---Luxury-Cream" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.traditionalshaving.co.uk/mal ... xury-Cream</a><!-- m -->

Thanks guys some really fast replies WOW

Do any of you think the kit in the link above is ok for the money, i will also be going for pre shave and alum block and some cologne etc etc :)
 
Not bad, but i wonder if you were to make up your own starter, using a couple of the vendors listed earlier whether you would get a better deal? May be worth pricing up before taking that plunge. (The Edwin Jagger tends to be well regarded too - i have the Chatsworth and really like it, and it was the first DE razor i bought).

Certainly take advantage of getting a smaple pack of blades rather than just one brand - Connaught do free P&P on blades too.
 
Merkur 34C app £27 (Con*****t) or,
Edwin Jagger DE 86 app £21 at E****sh Shavin* Co
Vulfix 404 Badger / Boar Mix app £8. (Diam*nd Ed*e)
Sample pack of blades app £7.50. (Con*****t). TSR members will probably bombard you with PIFs too.

Palmolive Cream £1 at Tesco
Palmolive Soap Stick, app 50p at Tesco.
A 6" dessert (ie shaving) bowl at any supermarket, app £1.50.

All first rate kit...

Much more fun and better value to do your own mix and match shopping.
 
Definitely get a blade sampler from Connaught also you can get samples <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://closeshave.org.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://closeshave.org.uk/</a><!-- m --> lets you try out stuff before you take the plunge.
My first razor was an Edwin jagger (EJ86) and I really like it (they sent some nice cream samples as well) . Vulfix 404 "bodger" also gets a thumbs up from me.
So I'd say
EJ89L ,Vulfix 404 boar/badger mix,blade sample from Connaught, creams,aftershaves samples from connaught , You will get a heck of a lot of stuff to try out .
TK-Maxx is also a good place to find shaving stuff. Try the 'cheap' stuff palmolive,boots,asda it's often excellent.
Have a look in the BST you can often find really good bargains.
 
Hi and Welcome Jon,

I'd recomend the vulfix super badger 2235 from diamondedge best price I've found on the net and an excellent brush, and a feather popular from connaught shaving, good twist to open razor thats a mild shave and fairly forgiving for a newbie and also a blade sampler pack from connaught aswell,also as suggested by the other Gents, soaps and creams from asda, tescos, wilkinsons, boots etc, palmolive soap and cream, boots bowl soap, Real Shaving Co. cream, erasmic or ingrams cream from Savers/Superdrug and TK Maxx for your bargains on TOBS,pennhaligons etc.

Enjoy and welcome to buying addiction :D :twisted: :D ;)
 
In amongst all the great advice, I'd pitch my recommendation for the Merkur 34C OHHHHH if only the wife was so endowed. That and a Super Iridium pretty much see me through anything else.
 
Lots of good advice there Jon. All I would add is get to know your beard growth - map it out for your With The Grain & Across the grain passes. You will be as well to stick to just one or maybe two WTG passes until your skin becomes acustomed to your new routine. Remember its a beard reduction with the weight of the razor only.

Wath Mantics videos on Utube- they're great for showing you how to lather creams, soaps, bowl lather & face lather.

Enjoy. :shave
 
Good suggestions all round.

If price isn't such a big deal and you're in it for the experience it might be worth looking at a more expensive brush, not of huge practical value but a nice brush makes everything that bit more enjoyable. Fido's Shaving Brush Blog might be worth a look.

For sensitive skin a decent prep like a hot bath or shower before a gentle shave, followed by the right aftershave product is likely to be more beneficial than pre shave products methinks.

The main problem is that a full setup can't really be bought, it takes time. For starting out pretty much any Merkur, vintage Gillette, EJ, Mhule razor should do the trick - it's anyone's guess which you'll prefer. For soaps and creams the cheap ones are up there with the dearest as others have mentioned. And of course a blade sampler.

Oh, and the Decant Club run by Paul at Connaught for us is great for sampling stuff too.
 
As usual, I'm recommending a vintage Rocket or Superspeed for the razor: fairly easy to come by and good shavers with proven durability. For pre shave, a coat of lather left on for a few minutes works well. And +1 on the blade sampler, you need to try a few and make up your own mind what suits you best.
 
Jon

Just one point to add about the Traditional Shaving Co starter kit - The Edwin Jagger brushes there look to be on the floppy side. May be great for creams but not so suitable if you want to use soaps and try face lathering.
 
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