[Poll] What brought you here originally?

GA Russell · Post by **GA Russell** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:26 pm

In March the Raleigh News & Observer posted a lengthy article on men's shaving. It mentioned a half-dozen websites including this one.

I have always been interested in shaving, but never used a DE until now.

I started in the mid-60s. I started with the Gillette Techmatic with the band razor. Boy, was that bad! But I didn't know any better. For some unknown reason, my parents bought me a Remington electric shaver for Christmas my junior year of high school, and insisted that I use it. Never happy with it.

In 1974 I found a nice badger brush in Washington, DC, I think at Woodward & Lothrop's department store, and for many years used hard soap - usually Surrey, but sometimes something special was given to me as a gift like (I think) C&E sandlewood.

I think that I used a Trac II for the next four years.

In 1978 I was given a boatload of Bic single blade disposables in a business deal, and used them until I moved to North Carolina six years ago.

The water here is very hard. North and South Carolina lead the nation in kidney stones. I couldn't get the soap to lather. I bought a Norelco which I was never really happy with. A year ago I bought a large pack of disposable Schick Xtreme 3's and a can of Barbasol. Again, never happy.

So now I find shaving a pleasure, not a chore. Thanks guys!

divotmax · Post by **divotmax** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:49 pm

Like a few others, I started with a visit to enchanteonline and found the early forum. I was looking for an online source for shaving products and enchante was one of the first I found. I liked the forum, and the subsequent forums, because there are not that many people in my immediate vicinity who still wetshave, and it was fun to actually discuss shaving matters with people who were knowledgeable and interested in the process. Participating in the forum has turned shaving into as much a hobby as a daily necessity, and made the ritual enjoyable.

Aztecface · Post by **Aztecface** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:19 pm

I always hated shaving but wanted to find something better. It was Shaveblog that introduced me to SMF. Actually I didn't shave more then once a month until I found Shaveblog.

bernards66 · Post by **bernards66** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:28 pm

Yep, there's Bob checking in....another of the remaining Ents ( chuckle ). He memory also stretches back to when John V. was 'Duffy'.
Gordon

Lyrt · Post by **Lyrt** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:30 am

I made the transition from B&B. Otherwise I wanted to be posh.

Chuckster · Post by **Chuckster** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 1:25 pm

I hated shaving, & hated the results. I thought to myself, I was never told how to shave correctly. So I thought I would google shaving properly. I expected to pick up a few tips on how to shave using my gel and mach 3 the proper way.

Well once I read posts here, I ordered a Merkur DE, a badger brush, and a mug with soap. My gel and Mach 3 now reside in the landfill. Now I enjoy something that I used to dread. As previously mentioned by someone, I enjoy slowing down in a world that is too rushed these days.

Steve-o · Post by **Steve-o** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 6:20 pm

I see your post #1, Chuck(ster?). Welcome to the board! Swing by often!

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:16 pm

Hey Chuck, welcome aboard.

fallingwickets · Post by **fallingwickets** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:41 am

Chuck

ditto on what steve and squire said

Clive

Mike R · Post by **Mike R** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:45 am

I hated shaving. I used Sensors, Mock 3's and canned gel. I learned a few tricks to improve things, but only incrementally. My face hurt most of the day every day and I avoided shaving any time I could. Since I have to be clean for work, than meant that weekends, holidays, vacations, I went without shaving for as many days as possible.

I had pretty much resigned myself to that but then I happened across Corey's article on MSNBC. That led me to ClassicShaving, which led me here. Suddenly a mundane, despicable and more-or-less necessary daily chore turned into an interesting hobby.

Now I can't get away. And it's unusual for me not to shave every day.

Mike.

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 4:26 pm

Yeah, it makes a world of difference to be able to shave comfortably every day.

Panhandle88 · Post by **Panhandle88** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:32 pm

This article is what led me to here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6886845/

Post by **ichabod** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 10:34 am

GA Russell wrote:In March the Raleigh News & Observer posted a lengthy article on men's shaving. It mentioned a half-dozen websites including this one.

I have always been interested in shaving, but never used a DE until now.

I started in the mid-60s. I started with the Gillette Techmatic with the band razor. Boy, was that bad! But I didn't know any better. For some unknown reason, my parents bought me a Remington electric shaver for Christmas my junior year of high school, and insisted that I use it. Never happy with it.

In 1974 I found a nice badger brush in Washington, DC, I think at Woodward & Lothrop's department store, and for many years used hard soap - usually Surrey, but sometimes something special was given to me as a gift like (I think) C&E sandlewood.

I think that I used a Trac II for the next four years.

In 1978 I was given a boatload of Bic single blade disposables in a business deal, and used them until I moved to North Carolina six years ago.
The water here is very hard. North and South Carolina lead the nation in kidney stones. I couldn't get the soap to lather. I bought a Norelco which I was never really happy with. A year ago I bought a large pack of disposable Schick Xtreme 3's and a can of Barbasol. Again, never happy.

So now I find shaving a pleasure, not a chore. Thanks guys!

Enough to last 24 years? That's a big boat.

iron maiden · Post by **iron maiden** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 6:10 pm

I came to SMF in an attempt to find Wars shaving cream...and I did find it, so hopefully I can visit here more often.

Jukkie · Post by **Jukkie** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:19 am

I used to shave with disposables. I liked shaving itself, but I hated the fact that there were parts of my face which the disposable simply wouldn't touch and these would get red and cut up as I'd end up going over them 10-15 times. Decided a straight edge would be a good solution for following the contours of my face better, and came here to learn about them.

I primarily shave DE now, but still use the straight, and no longer have beard after a pass.

JimR · Post by **JimR** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:36 pm

I got here because of a strange alignment of events. I read a comment on a post on John Scalzi's blog "Whatever" about Liesureguy's guide to gourmet shaving, and that same day my Braun electric started giving me fits. I had a beard for more than ten years just because I hated shaving so much; then, I shaved it off for some unknown reason and now I have to deal with the daily slice.
I like the idea of developing a routine I hated into something actually pleasurable. I hope I can develop the skills to do so--I'm still "in training" with my fixed head disposables.
Today was not the best face day. . .

Torch · Post by **Torch** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:28 pm

My venture into this wet shaving universe (that I didn’t even know existed until recently) began about six weeks ago when my girlfriend bought some skin care products for herself and in the process also bought some for me. I began doing some research on the internet about the stuff she gave me because I had never used anything but soap and water before. One website led to another and I somehow ended up here. Been addicted to it ever since (now I even know about OCM and stuff, hehe… who knew).

dannymac · Post by **dannymac** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:31 pm

I remember very clearly what it was for me.

One day maybe in May or so I was just on youtube watching something and I saw a little clip on the side which was one of Mantic59's videos and watched one. Prior to that I didn't even know how old fashioned wet shaving worked. I remember seeing the DE blades at the drug store and wondering what they were for or how you would use them.

So anyways, I just watched a video thought it look fairly interesting then watched a few more and in one of them he put up a link to this forum for people with questions or who were looking for more information on wet shaving.

Eventually I found a really good retailer and bought a starter set and now four or so months later I've enjoyed the experience greatly and am glad I found a forum in which anything you ever wanted to know about wet shaving is readily available.

jr60 · Post by **jr60** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 5:14 pm

About six months ago I purchased a Wilkinson Sword classic from Boots, and was pleased with the results.The cartridge systems from Gillette I used previously didn't seem great to me unless the blade was used for only a few shaves. I am improving my gear now and am using a superspeed(1957)....I love this razor! I got to this site via Mantic's videos on Youtube..

[Poll] What brought you here originally?

What brought you here in the first plance: pain or pleasure?