Page 9 - Feb 2020 Shave of the Day Monthly Magazine

Newbie
nubs
We all started somewhere.
By Pete Bellanger, Jr.
Getting started - where to begin
What do you need? Razor - DE, SE
or straight razors (advantages/
disadvantages of each) Brush -
natural (badger or boar) or synthetic
(advantages/ disadvantages of
each) Soap, croap or can As I was
shaving tonight I was thinking,
more like reminiscing, what did I
use when I first started so many
years ago when I made up my
mind & decided to try shaving like
my daddy & grandpa, where to
begin? At first glance you might
be overwhelmed! So many razors,
brushes & soaps it boggles the
mind! Don’t fret, you’ve come to the
right place! First, decide which type
of razor to use, DE (double edge),
SE (single edge) or really old school,
the straight razor. Most people start
with a 3-piece DE razor meaning
the razor comes apart in 3 pieces,
top cap, bottom plate & handle, to
change the blade & clean. While Left: Pete Belleagers go to setup:
there are plenty to choose from you
don’t have to break the bank. Many
vendors on the ‘net offer “beginner”
razors on the cheap! And while these
razors are typically inexpensive - Arko Soap
9
they’re by no means “cheap”.
Great quality can be had for
less than $20 from venders like
Italian Barber, Phoenix Shaving
& Maggard Razors. These razors
are typically a “mild” shaver
meaning when used correctly
they won’t irritate your cheeks
& neck or cause too many nicks.
Yes there is a learning curve.
You weren’t born knowing how
to shave with that multi blade,
pivoting head monstrosity!
You had to learn & it took a few
times before you got the hang
of it. The same is true with a DE
razor but it’s not impossible &
once you master this style, this
“technique”, you’ll be amazed
by the shaves you receive! Most
vendors also offer a 5-blade
pack of razor blades with the
purchase of a razor or sell a
number of various blades. There
are tons of videos explaining the
“proper technique” for shaving
but I found I learned better &
faster just by doing it. So you
have your trusty DE razor, you
have your blades, what’s next?
On down the rabbit hole we go
but that’s enough for now. Next
time - soap, croap or can?
- Zenith 28mm boar brush
- Occam Original SE razor
- Clubman aftershave