Well, funny story. I posted that I was thinking about it, and then my (frankly; crummy) electric razor quit working! Welp! All the motivation I need!
Here's what I bought to 'start' with.
Stand:
Amazon.com: Escali Deluxe Chrome Razor and Brush Stand: Health & Personal Care
Stypic Pencil:
Amazon.com: Clubman Pinaud Jumbo Styptic Pencil 1 Ounce: Health & Personal Care
Inexpensive Merkur Razor:
Amazon.com: Merkur Model 180 Long Handled Safety Razor: Health & Personal Care
Inexpensive 100% Badger Brush:
Amazon.com: Escali 100% Pure Badger Shaving Brush: Health & Personal Care
Blade sample pack:
Amazon.com: Double Edge Safety Razor Blade Variety Pack - 100 Blades!: Health & Personal Care
Shaving soap:
Amazon.com: Proraso Shaving Soap with Green Tea and Oat - Ultra Sensitive Skin 150ml/5.2oz: Health & Personal Care
And a shaving bowl:
Amazon.com: SimplyBeautiful Deluxe Chrome Shaving Bowl for Shaving Soap: Health & Personal Care
Spent less than the cost of replacing my electric razor (way less!), and no more expensive razor head replacements that don't do a very good job anyway!
Used it for the first time today. Very little irritation, and an ultra-close shave. I have a full beard but shave my neck up to a little below my jawline, and then shave off a few stragglers on my cheeks. I was a little concerned about how well this would work but it worked wonders. Allowed me to have a razor sharp (pun intended) 'beard line' and a baby soft neck!
Now I just wish somebody made some sort of a 'guide' so I could use it to trim my beard too. As it is now I use hair-cutting clippers with a #2 guide comb, about once every week or two.
As for what I bought? I suppose I could recommend all of it. I'm really impressed with the "Cheap" merkur razor. I suppose I'm not an expert enough on the subject to tell the difference, but it feels heavy in my hand, has a good grip, and is easy to use. The detailer in me is glad it's a three-piece, not a twist-to-open, because then I can easily take it apart and clean it when I'm done! The badger brush is nice and soft but it sheds bristles. Not sure if that's typical, but it was CHEAP. I can always get a better one in the future. But I don't yet know what I want from a brush, so when I know that, I'll invest in a good one! (Same with everything else I bought, until I know what it is I need or want, I'm gonna go with inexpensive, well-reviewed stuff!)
Here's what I bought to 'start' with.
Stand:
Amazon.com: Escali Deluxe Chrome Razor and Brush Stand: Health & Personal Care
Stypic Pencil:
Amazon.com: Clubman Pinaud Jumbo Styptic Pencil 1 Ounce: Health & Personal Care
Inexpensive Merkur Razor:
Amazon.com: Merkur Model 180 Long Handled Safety Razor: Health & Personal Care
Inexpensive 100% Badger Brush:
Amazon.com: Escali 100% Pure Badger Shaving Brush: Health & Personal Care
Blade sample pack:
Amazon.com: Double Edge Safety Razor Blade Variety Pack - 100 Blades!: Health & Personal Care
Shaving soap:
Amazon.com: Proraso Shaving Soap with Green Tea and Oat - Ultra Sensitive Skin 150ml/5.2oz: Health & Personal Care
And a shaving bowl:
Amazon.com: SimplyBeautiful Deluxe Chrome Shaving Bowl for Shaving Soap: Health & Personal Care
Spent less than the cost of replacing my electric razor (way less!), and no more expensive razor head replacements that don't do a very good job anyway!
Used it for the first time today. Very little irritation, and an ultra-close shave. I have a full beard but shave my neck up to a little below my jawline, and then shave off a few stragglers on my cheeks. I was a little concerned about how well this would work but it worked wonders. Allowed me to have a razor sharp (pun intended) 'beard line' and a baby soft neck!
Now I just wish somebody made some sort of a 'guide' so I could use it to trim my beard too. As it is now I use hair-cutting clippers with a #2 guide comb, about once every week or two.
As for what I bought? I suppose I could recommend all of it. I'm really impressed with the "Cheap" merkur razor. I suppose I'm not an expert enough on the subject to tell the difference, but it feels heavy in my hand, has a good grip, and is easy to use. The detailer in me is glad it's a three-piece, not a twist-to-open, because then I can easily take it apart and clean it when I'm done! The badger brush is nice and soft but it sheds bristles. Not sure if that's typical, but it was CHEAP. I can always get a better one in the future. But I don't yet know what I want from a brush, so when I know that, I'll invest in a good one! (Same with everything else I bought, until I know what it is I need or want, I'm gonna go with inexpensive, well-reviewed stuff!)