A Newbie 8 Weeks Later….5 lessons learned
A Newbie 8 Weeks Later….5 lessons learned
Well guys, it was mid July when I started wet shaving the ‘old timey’ way and August when I first posted. I have just had a week of perfect shaves and thought it was time to thank you all for your contributions to my knowledge and give something back to other newb’s, so here goes:
1. Do not start with an adjustable Yes, all you ‘shavin mavins’ tell everyone to start with a Merkur HD and yes I ignored your good advice by buying a Progress and yes, I started with too aggressive a setting and paid for it with razor burn. Fortunately, I now have the Progress set on two, put in fresh Israeli Personas every 5 days or so and am getting close, irritation free shaves.
2. Minimize the variables: In the past 8 weeks I have acquired: two brushes, 2 scuttles/shave mugs, full size or samples of 8 different shave creams or soaps, 5 kinds of blades, 4 kinds of preshaves and 2 kinds of aftershaves. Add this to the adjustable variations on my razor and it was too many variables, leading to an inability to diagnose the problem when I was not getting a great shave. I have settled on the Trumper Rose, Coral Skin Food and the Israeli blades for a week now and will slowly experiment with other things, one at a time.
3. Preshave is the elixir of life: I have been shaving with a blade and cream for 35 years and never used a preshave before. (except for Williams Lectric Shave in my peach fuzz electric days) It makes all the difference between good and bad shaves. I have found that both the Proraso and Trumpers work very well even though the ones I am using are technically aftershaves. They work better for me than the Em’s preshave or Jojoba which are intended to be preshaves.
4. Trumpers rules: In my first batch of shaving products, I bought a tube of Trumpers Rose and then upon request Trumpers sent me samples of four other shave creams and two skin foods. At the same time, I was refused samples by Trufitt and Taylors. I just ordered a tub of Trumpers Rose and a large Coral Skin Food. As a businessman I can appreciate smart marketing and stupid marketing decisions. Trumpers had made it easier for me to become a loyal customer and Trufitt/Taylors have made it harder. I understand that Trufitt and Taylors are fine products and the next time I get to London, New York or Las Vegas where I can smell and touch them I will probably buy some, but Trumpers reduced the barrier to becoming a customer of theirs.
5. A good brush is a luxury, not a necessity: I started with a $12 Proraso boar brush from Target and then got a $42 badger brush from Em’s. I love the badger brush’s feel and it does whip shaving cream faster, but I can get as good a shave from the boar brush. So for those who are trying to do this on a budget, I think you can avoid the expense of an expensive brush for a while without impairing your ability to get a good, shave. Spend your money on good shaving creams, preshaves and blades first
1. Do not start with an adjustable Yes, all you ‘shavin mavins’ tell everyone to start with a Merkur HD and yes I ignored your good advice by buying a Progress and yes, I started with too aggressive a setting and paid for it with razor burn. Fortunately, I now have the Progress set on two, put in fresh Israeli Personas every 5 days or so and am getting close, irritation free shaves.
2. Minimize the variables: In the past 8 weeks I have acquired: two brushes, 2 scuttles/shave mugs, full size or samples of 8 different shave creams or soaps, 5 kinds of blades, 4 kinds of preshaves and 2 kinds of aftershaves. Add this to the adjustable variations on my razor and it was too many variables, leading to an inability to diagnose the problem when I was not getting a great shave. I have settled on the Trumper Rose, Coral Skin Food and the Israeli blades for a week now and will slowly experiment with other things, one at a time.
3. Preshave is the elixir of life: I have been shaving with a blade and cream for 35 years and never used a preshave before. (except for Williams Lectric Shave in my peach fuzz electric days) It makes all the difference between good and bad shaves. I have found that both the Proraso and Trumpers work very well even though the ones I am using are technically aftershaves. They work better for me than the Em’s preshave or Jojoba which are intended to be preshaves.
4. Trumpers rules: In my first batch of shaving products, I bought a tube of Trumpers Rose and then upon request Trumpers sent me samples of four other shave creams and two skin foods. At the same time, I was refused samples by Trufitt and Taylors. I just ordered a tub of Trumpers Rose and a large Coral Skin Food. As a businessman I can appreciate smart marketing and stupid marketing decisions. Trumpers had made it easier for me to become a loyal customer and Trufitt/Taylors have made it harder. I understand that Trufitt and Taylors are fine products and the next time I get to London, New York or Las Vegas where I can smell and touch them I will probably buy some, but Trumpers reduced the barrier to becoming a customer of theirs.
5. A good brush is a luxury, not a necessity: I started with a $12 Proraso boar brush from Target and then got a $42 badger brush from Em’s. I love the badger brush’s feel and it does whip shaving cream faster, but I can get as good a shave from the boar brush. So for those who are trying to do this on a budget, I think you can avoid the expense of an expensive brush for a while without impairing your ability to get a good, shave. Spend your money on good shaving creams, preshaves and blades first
Gary
Re: A Newbie 8 Weeks Later….5 lessons learned
Oh so true. I have owned or tried several Taylors and T&H cremes: several are very fine, some did not thrill me in the least, but few if any equal Trumper's, and none surpass. YMMV!BklynBoy wrote:4. Trumpers rules: In my first batch of shaving products, I bought a tube of Trumpers Rose and then upon request Trumpers sent me samples of four other shave creams and two skin foods. At the same time, I was refused samples by Trufitt and Taylors. I just ordered a tub of Trumpers Rose and a large Coral Skin Food. As a businessman I can appreciate smart marketing and stupid marketing decisions. Trumpers had made it easier for me to become a loyal customer and Trufitt/Taylors have made it harder. I understand that Trufitt and Taylors are fine products and the next time I get to London, New York or Las Vegas where I can smell and touch them I will probably buy some, but Trumpers reduced the barrier to becoming a customer of theirs.
Good post Gary!
-Scott
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Re: A Newbie 8 Weeks Later….5 lessons learned
1. Probably true - but if you can overcome the urge to fiddle, and do as you have done the adjustable is my preferred way to go. Although the HD is a great razor too!BklynBoy wrote:Well guys, it was mid July when I started wet shaving the ‘old timey’ way and August when I first posted. I have just had a week of perfect shaves and thought it was time to thank you all for your contributions to my knowledge and give something back to other newb’s, so here goes:
1. Do not start with an adjustable Yes, all you ‘shavin mavins’ tell everyone to start with a Merkur HD and yes I ignored your good advice by buying a Progress and yes, I started with too aggressive a setting and paid for it with razor burn. Fortunately, I now have the Progress set on two, put in fresh Israeli Personas every 5 days or so and am getting close, irritation free shaves.
2. Minimize the variables: In the past 8 weeks I have acquired: two brushes, 2 scuttles/shave mugs, full size or samples of 8 different shave creams or soaps, 5 kinds of blades, 4 kinds of preshaves and 2 kinds of aftershaves. Add this to the adjustable variations on my razor and it was too many variables, leading to an inability to diagnose the problem when I was not getting a great shave. I have settled on the Trumper Rose, Coral Skin Food and the Israeli blades for a week now and will slowly experiment with other things, one at a time.
3. Preshave is the elixir of life: I have been shaving with a blade and cream for 35 years and never used a preshave before. (except for Williams Lectric Shave in my peach fuzz electric days) It makes all the difference between good and bad shaves. I have found that both the Proraso and Trumpers work very well even though the ones I am using are technically aftershaves. They work better for me than the Em’s preshave or Jojoba which are intended to be preshaves.
4. Trumpers rules: In my first batch of shaving products, I bought a tube of Trumpers Rose and then upon request Trumpers sent me samples of four other shave creams and two skin foods. At the same time, I was refused samples by Trufitt and Taylors. I just ordered a tub of Trumpers Rose and a large Coral Skin Food. As a businessman I can appreciate smart marketing and stupid marketing decisions. Trumpers had made it easier for me to become a loyal customer and Trufitt/Taylors have made it harder. I understand that Trufitt and Taylors are fine products and the next time I get to London, New York or Las Vegas where I can smell and touch them I will probably buy some, but Trumpers reduced the barrier to becoming a customer of theirs.
5. A good brush is a luxury, not a necessity: I started with a $12 Proraso boar brush from Target and then got a $42 badger brush from Em’s. I love the badger brush’s feel and it does whip shaving cream faster, but I can get as good a shave from the boar brush. So for those who are trying to do this on a budget, I think you can avoid the expense of an expensive brush for a while without impairing your ability to get a good, shave. Spend your money on good shaving creams, preshaves and blades first
2. YEP! There was a while back when I was experiementing with different blades - my face looked like it had gone through a war zone.
3. Yep! Although I'm not surprised the Jojoba Oil didn't work as well as a PS.
4. Very surprised that T&H refused samples - contact Brittany in Customer Service -
5. Agreed. A few extras minutes with a boar brush or entry level badger will yield great results.
Great observations - should do a follow up at the 6-month mark!
- Ravi -
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You can mistrust me less than you can mistrust him. Trust me.
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Thanks for sharing your observations. I especially agree with keeping the number of variables under control (I'm still in the "experimenting mode" myself .)
I, too, have been favorably impressed by Trumper's customer service. Good customer service does make a difference and should be encouraged.
Regarding my experience with samples: Taylor's said they no longer provide samples. I haven't heard yet from T & H (it's been two weeks since I made my request).
Ed
I, too, have been favorably impressed by Trumper's customer service. Good customer service does make a difference and should be encouraged.
Regarding my experience with samples: Taylor's said they no longer provide samples. I haven't heard yet from T & H (it's been two weeks since I made my request).
Ed
-Ed
J,
When I went to my local Nordstrom, they had never heard of T&H, Trumper or Taylors. All they had was AOS. I was surprised since I would assume the DC metro area would have perfect demographics for traditional shaving supplies, but there does not appear to be any retail outfit closer than Charlottesville Virginia that has a good range of shaving products
When I went to my local Nordstrom, they had never heard of T&H, Trumper or Taylors. All they had was AOS. I was surprised since I would assume the DC metro area would have perfect demographics for traditional shaving supplies, but there does not appear to be any retail outfit closer than Charlottesville Virginia that has a good range of shaving products
Gary
Hm... I have heard that not all Nordstrom's carry them. I do have T+H Ultimate Comfort and Taylor's Rose (both old and new formula), so feel free to send me a PM if you are interested in trading some samples.BklynBoy wrote:J,
When I went to my local Nordstrom, they had never heard of T&H, Trumper or Taylors. All they had was AOS. I was surprised since I would assume the DC metro area would have perfect demographics for traditional shaving supplies, but there does not appear to be any retail outfit closer than Charlottesville Virginia that has a good range of shaving products
J
The Nordstrom's in Utah do not stock AOS, or the T&H products. I sent an email to customer service inquiring as to why, and they suggested I order from them online. I let them know that I would order online, but just not from them.
Randy
Randy
"I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them." J. B. Books
Gary,
Which is your local Nordstrom? I would assume it's Tyson's Corner. I haven't been there in over a month, but they definitely did carry T&H, as does the one in Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. They moved all the Men's shaving/fragrance items to the Men's section some time ago, rather than the women's cosmetic section where they previously resided.
FYI, either Nordstrom's or Bloomingdales (can't remember which) also carried the Aqua di Parma line, as does the Grooming Lounge in Tyson's II.
Steve
Which is your local Nordstrom? I would assume it's Tyson's Corner. I haven't been there in over a month, but they definitely did carry T&H, as does the one in Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. They moved all the Men's shaving/fragrance items to the Men's section some time ago, rather than the women's cosmetic section where they previously resided.
FYI, either Nordstrom's or Bloomingdales (can't remember which) also carried the Aqua di Parma line, as does the Grooming Lounge in Tyson's II.
Steve
My local Nordstrom has the shaving creams etc. in what should, by rights, be called the gentleman's haberdashery section. Nestled amongst the undershirts and ties.BklynBoy wrote:Steve, I went to the men's counter in the women's cosmetics section in the Tyson's store. I didn't know they had additional shaving supplies in the men's section. I'll look for it the next time I am there
Thank you for the head's up
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Dominic
Give a man a fire, he'll be warm for a day.
Set a man on fire, he'll be toasty for the rest of his life.
Dominic
Ah Ha, meandering around town this weekend, I found two outlets for T&H.
Across the street from J&R Cigars on L Street and 17th in Washington is one of the outlets of the Grooming Lounge. I went in there after picking up a box of cigars at J&R and found they had a few of the T&H products and a few other boutique shave creams, but they did not have a cream version of the 1805 scent that I decided I liked. This is a strange place, they charge $50 for a shave but shave you with - are you ready for this - a Gillette M3 Turbo. Sacrilege, no ?
Then, based on the advice of a few of you dc area shavin mavins, I went back to Nordstrom, this time in Bethesda and found a large selection of T&H, Jack Black and a few other quality shaving brands. I ended up buying a tube of 1805 and one of the almond.
Thanks guys
Across the street from J&R Cigars on L Street and 17th in Washington is one of the outlets of the Grooming Lounge. I went in there after picking up a box of cigars at J&R and found they had a few of the T&H products and a few other boutique shave creams, but they did not have a cream version of the 1805 scent that I decided I liked. This is a strange place, they charge $50 for a shave but shave you with - are you ready for this - a Gillette M3 Turbo. Sacrilege, no ?
Then, based on the advice of a few of you dc area shavin mavins, I went back to Nordstrom, this time in Bethesda and found a large selection of T&H, Jack Black and a few other quality shaving brands. I ended up buying a tube of 1805 and one of the almond.
Thanks guys
Gary
Apology to T&H
It appears I cast a premature udgement about Truffit and Hill. Today I received a parcel from their Chicago office with samples of 5 fragrances and two shave creams. Mea Culpa
Gary