So the college handout "starter sets" worked on me. In 1990, when I was checking in to Michigan Tech, I was handed a bucket of travel size items as part of the process. In the bucket were a Gillette Sensor razor and a can of Edge Gel "sensitive" cream. I stuck with those two products for over 15 years. I struggled a whole lot with what my wife and I refer to as "tree trunks" along my jaw line - ingrown hairs that were a couple times normal size. I started using witch hazel or various creams and gels to try to reduce them. Sensor cartridges became hard to find, and more expensive. I hated the 4 and 5 blade razor designs - looked like shaving with a cheese grater. Eventually I switched to Nivea shave cream, and the ingrowns decreased a bit, but not totally.
Two years ago, on a business trip, I stumbled across an "Art of Shaving" shop. I looked at prices, thought it was insane, but I talked to one of the employees about my ingrown hair problem, and she told me that shaving with a brush often helped people with that, and that a razor upgrade (to one of their higher-end Gillette Mach 3-compatible handles) would help. I walked out without buying anything, but thought about it.
A few weeks later, I bought a Gillette Mach 3 and a cheap badger brush from Target. My wife got me a travel kit from AOS for Christmas that year. And I've been using AOS pre-shave oil, AOS cream, and that Mach 3 since. Ingrown hairs are almost completely eliminated, but I hate how much the blades cost. I've pondered a DE razor. Not sure which one or how to get started.
Yesterday, my wife and I were in that same AOS store where I started down this slope. They had one Merkur HD handle left. They now have none. Had my first DE shave this morning. First try wasn't as close as my old cartridge, but I can feel the potential. I know I need aftershave of some sort. Also placed an order for a blade sampler, stand, and a puck of Harris Arlington.
Much like getting me started on the Coolerdor, I blame you all for this. Hope you're happy.
Two years ago, on a business trip, I stumbled across an "Art of Shaving" shop. I looked at prices, thought it was insane, but I talked to one of the employees about my ingrown hair problem, and she told me that shaving with a brush often helped people with that, and that a razor upgrade (to one of their higher-end Gillette Mach 3-compatible handles) would help. I walked out without buying anything, but thought about it.
A few weeks later, I bought a Gillette Mach 3 and a cheap badger brush from Target. My wife got me a travel kit from AOS for Christmas that year. And I've been using AOS pre-shave oil, AOS cream, and that Mach 3 since. Ingrown hairs are almost completely eliminated, but I hate how much the blades cost. I've pondered a DE razor. Not sure which one or how to get started.
Yesterday, my wife and I were in that same AOS store where I started down this slope. They had one Merkur HD handle left. They now have none. Had my first DE shave this morning. First try wasn't as close as my old cartridge, but I can feel the potential. I know I need aftershave of some sort. Also placed an order for a blade sampler, stand, and a puck of Harris Arlington.
Much like getting me started on the Coolerdor, I blame you all for this. Hope you're happy.
