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What were your firsts?

Cvargo

Cvargo

“Diddy of the Seas”
Owner
Legacy
So Dave (NurseDave) did a video yesterday where he used practically all his first. And that got me thinking. What was your firsts?

What was first traditional wetshave what products did you use? Do you still have them? If not what happened to it? Here is how I remember my first shave:

Razor: Merkur 180 long pole similar to the 34c but longer handle (I PIFed it to my Brother in Law and I believe he is still using it. He does ask for new blades periodically)
Blade: The Merkur blade the razor came with (HORRIBLE) I don't use these anymore. I have tried a few and have never gotten a good shave
Soap/cream: Colonel Conk Amber (I actually re-visited this after a year I started and ended up being my first 3017)
Brush: Some cheap badger off of Amazon. It shed SO BAD! Like honestly I think I threw it away after it had lost 50% of its bristles. (I quickly bought a Semogue 1305 and I loved that brush. It is now with my brother in law.)
Aftershave1: I used an Alum Block form Razorock and I still have it but I don't use it very often. I prefer witch hazel.
Aftershave2: Aqua Velva Ice Blue This is still a regular in my den

After that shave I literally ordered Proraso Green soap, Semogue 1305, a blade sampler on eBay, and Stirling samples soap and aftershave. So even though my first shave was bad and I had a lot of cuts. I was determined to save money (HA HA HA HA HA) and master the craft. I have been wetshaving for a little over 4 years now.

I also plan on trying to duplicate this shave the best that I can in a future video hopefully next week. Should be fun.

So what was your firsts? Do you still use them?
 
My first kit was a chrome combo set I picked up on the bay. It included: stand, razor, badger brush and stainless cup. I then went to Walmart and picked up VDH soap and blades, along with Nivea ASB. That is where it all started.

I later PIFed the kit to my stepson to get him started and clear some of my counter space. He already had Nivea ASB, so I gave him a puck of Williams. The wife snagged my Nivea ASB. I then built a shelf to expand just a tad.
 
I know the first blade I used was a Shark. What a piece of #@($#( #($! Your mileage will not vary with that one. It will rip you apart and take pleasure in it.
 
NurseDave said:
I know the first blade I used was a Shark. What a piece of #@($#( #($! Your mileage will not vary with that one. It will rip you apart and take pleasure in it.
Click to expand...
yes, we can all agree those shark blades are BAD. I honestly believe they are tools of torture.
I hereby BAN them.
 
Are we talking the Shark SS or the Shark Chrome? I know I have used both. One was HORRIBLE and the other wasn't that bad.
 
My first fully traditional kit was a Merkur 34c HD and the small AOS Sandalwood Essentials set. I used the heck out of that. And my next purchases were a sampler blade pack and the TOBS Sandalwood I’m 3017ing right now.

We had a move and I switched back to electric for a little while because of a job requiring me to wake up very early. So the shaving set had been packed away somewhere, out of mind. Unfortunately when it was refound, something in the box had leaked and my razor and nice stand had severely succumbed to plate loss and zamac rot. That lead me down the road to vintage Gillette’s and working toward the little stash of gear I have today.
 
My firsts:

Vikings Blade—The Godfather razor
Col Conks Lime soap
Razorock essential oil of lime splash
Blade was what came with the razor
Brush was a Gentleman Jon POS badger

I currently still have everything except the blades but the brush is likely to be put in the file 13 because nobody should have to suffer through that.
 
Razor: Vikings Blade Chieftain
Blade: unbranded blade that it came with
Brush: Stirling 24mm synthetic
Cream: CO Bigelow
Soap: Stirling Naked and Smooth
AS: Barbasol Pacific Rush

I started with the cream. I found it at the mall. I used it as a brushless cream for a while. Then I got the razor. That made my shaves a little better. Then I got the soap and brush. These took a while to get decent with, but I did get there. Finally, my first AS actually came from a PIF that I won from DangerousDon. It has been all downhill from there.
 
That was over 8 years ago.... you expect me to remember that???

OK, so I know my first razors were a Gillette Blue Tip and a Gillette Slim. I bought them both from the same antique store. Can't remember which one I used first, but I'm thinking the Slim. I still have a blue tip and a slim, but I don't think either of them are the same one (maybe the blue tip is).

I don't remember which blade I used first. Either a Personna Platinum Chrome or a Derby Extra. I could buy the Personnas locally, and I got the Derbys in a PIF. Thought I was doing something wrong at first because I kept cutting myself, turns out it was the Derbys. The Platinum Chromes are my favorite blade of all time, and I'm bummed because I don't know if they are made anymore. My local supplier (AAFES) has switched to Personna Super Stainless.

First Soap was VDH. Worked well, but never cared for the scent, now I absolutely cannot stand the scent. It's Grey Flannel scented.... hate it.

First cream: SIR Irisch Moos. I still have a partial tube. It's unobtanium, so it get used rarely.

First Boar Brush: VDH Boar. Still have it. Haven't used in years. Should break it out again.

First Badger Brush: My Ever-Ready Rocket. Still my favorite brush to date, and the reason that I like the Paladin Buck Rogers brushes so much.

First aftershave was witch hazel followed by Aqua Velva, and yes I still use that combination today!
 
Quijote said:
Razor: Vikings Blade Chieftain
Blade: unbranded blade that it came with
Brush: Stirling 24mm synthetic
Cream: CO Bigelow
Soap: Stirling Naked and Smooth
AS: Barbasol Pacific Rush

I started with the cream. I found it at the mall. I used it as a brushless cream for a while. Then I got the razor. That made my shaves a little better. Then I got the soap and brush. These took a while to get decent with, but I did get there. Finally, my first AS actually came from a PIF that I won from DangerousDon. It has been all downhill from there.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the shout out "The Other Don!"
 
My first soap and brush came from one of those VDH kits you see for sale at Xmas time. Used that (albeit improperly) for quite some time with a cart. Even doing it wrong it was better for me than the canned stuff. 4 years ago, after 7 years of cringe-worthy "care", the knot came out of my brush. Coincidentally, I ran out of soap at the same time. I couldn't find anything in any of the stores near me so I hit the web.

I proceeded to order my first badger brush off of amazon and found the Mystic Waters page in a google search. Being a small outfit and run from her house, I did a search for reviews that led me to B&B. Bought the soap and signed up on the site.
My first week there I won a PIF from Mike Cangelosi for one of his home made (at the time, he is now Dandy Shaving Co.) soaps, a few blades, and a (probably Wishi) DE razor. Been hooked ever since.
 
Cool read! Do you still have the soap from Mike or did you end up using it all?
 
My first Traditional Wet shaving gear probably goes much like others. My wife completely surprised me Christmas of 2014 with a tub of TOBS Sandalwood, A Merkur 23C Long Handled safety razor, a four pack of Col. Ichabod Conk glycerin shaving soap, an Escali pure badger brush, and a sampler pack of blades. I went to Target and bought a bottle of Shea Moisture Tea Tree Oil Aftershave Elixir.

The Merkur is still is on loan to a friend (I'll be getting it back at some point). I finished the tub of TOBS Sandalwood (the only thing other than aftershave that I have completely finished for it's intended purpose. The Col. Conk soap got relegated to the shower. The aftershave got used up and so did the blades...though I am sure I had no idea what I was doing with the blades! The Escali brush...come to think of it...I'm not sure what happened to that. I am certain I didn't get rid of it since it was a gift...but I don't remember what happened.

Oh wait...yeah, the brush bit it in the flood a couple years ago. No love lost there...it was a brush I did not care for once I upgraded to an Omega Pro 49.
 
GearNoir said:
Cool read! Do you still have the soap from Mike or did you end up using it all?
Click to expand...

I used all of that one, but I actually purchased a couple more and then got a few as testers before he actually started the business. I still have a couple of those with some remaining. They are most definitely on my re-order list.
I also got his first razor he ever had made for the business as well. The head sits a little crooked on the handle as they were still getting the machining process worked out, but it is a phenomenal shaver.
 
My first kit was a
Razor: Merkur 34C (still use today)
Soap: Razo Rock Son of Zeus
Blade: Astra

still have all of the items. I have picked up a couple of other razors (fat boy and a Gillette short comb) and like the 34C the best.
Havent been able to get the fat boy to work well. About to give up on it. I use the short comb when I haven’t shaved for a day or two for the first pass then switch to the 34 for clean up duty.
I still use Astras but not as much. Found the Personnas work better for me.
Havent used Razo Rock soap for awhile. Last time I used it I ended up with a red neck that burned, not sure of the cause. Been using sterling soap and love it.
 
I started out in February 2016 with the Van der Hagen Luxury Boar Shave Set, VDH Traditional Safety Razor (Weishi), and VDH Ice Tempered blades. I also picked up some Shave Secret shave oil, and Nivea Sensitive Post Shave Balm. I had received a British Sterling gift set for Christmas, so that was my AS splash. I also picked up some AV Ice Blue. A few days after my first shave I ordered a blade sampler, a Merkur 34c, a RazoRock Mission, and a few other things. I have been indulging in ADs ever since.

I still have the razor and the mug from the shave set. I haven't re-purchased the VDH Luxury soap (yet?). The VDH brush lasted a couple of months before I upgraded.
 
I started with Williams soap and a Burma Shave Boar Brush around 1980 but used Carts. Then electric razors for awhile (Foil and Norelco) and eventually back to Mach III's. So pricey so found some site to save me money on wet shaving properly...........That was around 2009 I got I can't remember but think it was a Gillette super speed with Col. Conk Lime soap and a cheap Edwin Jagger Badger Brush and used Clubman Original or Bay Rum. Still have the Badger in the other room and never use it. Still have the boar Brush and Mug and 1 puck of Williams left. the Super Speed I have no idea of where it went in the chaos of Aquistion Disorders and resale for other acquisitions.
 
First DE kit was:
- Merkur 34C HD, I still have it and use it occasionally
- Lather & Wood Sandalwood, not great but worked until I picked up some TOBS...I think.
- I made my own brush from Gemsbok horn, abalone and a Virginia Sheng Silvertip knot, still use it occasionally, although it sheds and needs to be replaced.
- Astra SP blades, still use them, but mostly use Personna Lab Blue and Nacet
- Gentlemen Jin’s Alum block, still use it occasionally
- Captains Choice Bay Rum, still use it along with Dominica Bay Rhum and my pal Dave’s creation Black Fern (current favorite).
 
ccpastork said:
First DE kit was:
- Merkur 34C HD, I still have it and use it occasionally
- Lather & Wood Sandalwood, not great but worked until I picked up some TOBS...I think.
- I made my own brush from Gemsbok horn, abalone and a Virginia Sheng Silvertip knot, still use it occasionally, although it sheds and needs to be replaced.
- Astra SP blades, still use them, but mostly use Personna Lab Blue and Nacet
- Gentlemen Jin’s Alum block, still use it occasionally
- Captains Choice Bay Rum, still use it along with Dominica Bay Rhum and my pal Dave’s creation Black Fern (current favorite).
Click to expand...
Dang, let’s see a picture of that knot.
 
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