I was spoiled today!

[AspenF150]

My Aunt gave me a $30 gift certificate to the local Salon here in town. I've never been too a salon until today. I was due for a haircut and shave badly.

I walked into the Salon and man this place was niiiiiice!!! very clean, professional and just about every boutique product you can imagine.

I told one of the stylist I wanted a haircut and shave. I told her to give me a #1 fade which she did a very good job of. She then took me over to the sink to wash my hair to remove all the hair trimmings. She used a Paul Mitchell shampoo that has menthol in it which removes any dead scalp and flush out the hair. Man this stuff felt good and smelled great!! Very relaxing and my head felt 10x better!!

She then sent me over to this retired gentlemen who all he does is shave.

He was a very nice gentlemen. He wrapped my head in a hot towel and while I was sitting there looking like my skull was cracked open or something he was sharpening his straight edge razor. I told him I never had a straight edge shave before, he said "Mike, you've been missing out man, this is the best thing you can do for your beard"

He took off the towel and proceeded to foam me up with a badger hair brush, very soft and plush. He unfolded the straight edge and proceeded shaving.

Long story short, I walked out of that Salon feeling like a brand new guy! The straight edge shave was without a doubt, the best shave I've ever had, literally!! My hair feels clean and not like I have a jungle on top of my head. Now I'm seriously considering getting a straight edge when my disposables run out.

[wytstang]

Before you jump to a straight edge you might want to consider trying a Safety Razor first. It will get you to learn how to shave correctly and a Safety Razor is more forgiving. After a real shave you do feel like a new/better man.

[AspenF150]

Thing is I've heard that if you do cut yourself with a straight edge, it's no worse than a typical razor?

I've read good things about that Col. Conk shaving cream. Don't know much about safety razors. I don't know jack about shaving properly lol!

[MuttGrunt]

nice to get cleaned up now and then. if i grew more facial hair i'd try to learn with a real blade, but mach3's are more than enough for my bits here-and-there

[bert31]

Originally Posted by AspenF150

Thing is I've heard that if you do cut yourself with a straight edge, it's no worse than a typical razor?

So long as you are using proper technique that is true. If you are pressing to hard, you can put a pretty deep nic in your face, trust me, I found out the hard way.

Originally Posted by AspenF150

I've read good things about that Col. Conk shaving cream.

Are you sure it wasn't Col. Conk Shaving Soap? I don't think Col. Conk sells shaving creme. Their shaving soap is really nice.

Originally Posted by AspenF150

Don't know much about safety razors.

Mine is a Dovo, made from very good quality German steel. I would recommend it. I bought mine from a cutlery store here in Louisville called Heimerdinger's.

Originally Posted by AspenF150

I don't know jack about shaving properly lol!

When using a straight razor, don't do what I used to do (like most straight razor users) and try to remove the entire whiskers with one hard swipe. You won't get rid of them completely and if you nic your skin, it will be a deep nic and will be a pain in the butt to stop the bleeding. The best method is to use three or four LIGHT swipes all from different directions. One with the grain, one perpendicular to the grain, one against the grain, etc.

Don't get frustrated if you are not getting a good shave at first. It takes practice. I am still no wear near as good as the barber you mentioned but I can tell I am getting better. My chin and jaw line are still giving me problems and I haven't figured out a good remedy yet but I will get there. I should probably do like you did and go to a salon which has someone who does nothing but straight razor shaves and have him shave me and ask if he will describe the process as he goes. I don't know of any place like that in Louisville, where are you in Ohio? I am in Ohio a few times a year, I may need to swing by the shop you visited.

There are some videos on YouTube you can watch which give pretty good demonstations of proper straight razor shaving methods.

Along with a good straight razor (I like Dovo) and good shaving soap (I like Colonel Conk), get a badger hair brush rather than a horse hair brush. Horse hair brushes are OK but badger hair is better.Don't forget about getting a good leather strop. Each time you shave you want to strop the straight razor to make it extremely sharp. Frequent stropping of the straight razor is what makes them preferrable over other razors which obviously cannot be stropped.

With the razor, the strop, the brush, the soap and a shaving mug, you are going to easily spend $200 up front, probably more. However, once you have everything, all you will need to do is buy soap. So in the long run you should save money since you will no longer need to buy the insanely priced blades from Gillete, Schick, etc..

If you are married, make sure you hide it from your wife. I have heard of some guys whose wives absolutely love the feel of their husbands face and "borrow" it from them to get a closer shave on their legs and arm pits.

[wytstang]

Originally Posted by AspenF150

Thing is I've heard that if you do cut yourself with a straight edge, it's no worse than a typical razor?

I've read good things about that Col. Conk shaving cream. Don't know much about safety razors. I don't know jack about shaving properly lol!

Shavemyface.com I've learner everything I know from those guys there. Plenty of traffic and helpful folk. As for shaving cream's Taylor of Old Bond Street is what I use now. They are affordable and give plenty of lubrication so the blade just glides across the face. Most of my shaving gear is purchase through vintagebladesllc.com.

[AspenF150]

Thanks for the tips!

Bert31 - I live in Willard, OH. About 80 miles or so north of Columbus. Nope not married, just enjoying the bachelor life

My beard is thick enough that I feel I could get the full benefit of a straight edge. But since I have no experience with one, I was thinking I could start off with a safety razor.

I used to have a MachIII Turbo but I got sick and tired of paying for replacement blades. My disposables work fine but they don't got anything on the straight edge I was shaved with at the Salon. The salon is called Fiesta. Just 3 blocks from me.

[bert31]

Originally Posted by AspenF150

My beard is thick enough that I feel I could get the full benefit of a straight edge. But since I have no experience with one, I was thinking I could start off with a safety razor.

Starting off with a safety razor is a fine idea. Many of the same concepts I mentioned for straight razor is also true with safety razors ie. use several light strokes from different directions, etc..

[wytstang]

Pssst vintage blade has some safety razors for sale (good time to buy)
http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vsho...ome.php?cat=48

I used to have a MachIII Turbo but I got sick and tired of paying for replacement blades.

Don't miss that one bit, I've purchased 100 double sided blades for $10, each side gives my 3 complete shaves (a complete shave is 3 shaves back to back in different directions). You can't beat it.

[Monte78Carlo2k1]

Originally Posted by wytstang

Pssst vintage blade has some safety razors for sale (good time to buy)
VintageÂ*BladesÂ*LLCÂ*::Â*ITEMS...

Don't miss that one bit, I've purchased 100 double sided blades for $10, each side gives my 3 complete shaves (a complete shave is 3 shaves back to back in different directions). You can't beat it.

Out of the safety razor in your link. Which do you advise one ,who knows little to nothing about a good shave, on a good safety razor?

[dmxjg35]

I just started wet shaving with a de about a month ago, and I LOVE it, i will never go back to using those multi blade razors again. I stated out with the Merkur "Heavy Classic" (34C) From what ive read that is the best razor to get into de shaving with. I have no problems with it at all, easy to use fits in my hand nice.

[onelazydawg]

I would also note when using a salon with different associates it is considered appropriate to tip them each seperately