New user!! Help me help my roommate!!

Do him a favor and stay away from the drug store shave aisle. Try Italian Barber, Maggards or West coast shaving. Theres many more thats just the few I've shopped at.

Good advice - crappy products make for a crappy shave.  That said, there is nothing wrong with the Proraso shave cream or a tube of Nivea Sensitive shave cream that you will probably see in your drug store shave aisle.  Both will provide a really nice, cushiony lather.  

Also, if you go with a boar brush, remember to have him soak it for 10 minutes or so in warm water before use and also tell him to be aware that it will improve as it breaks in.

Best boar brush advice right here, and semouge brushes take FOREVER to break in and hit the sweet spot for sure.

Also, if you go with a boar brush, remember to have him soak it for 10 minutes or so in warm water before use and also tell him to be aware that it will improve as it breaks in.

I'd go so far as to say not to get him a boar brush unless he's tried one & liked it. Maggard, Italian Barber & Stirling all sell excellent synthetics for $10-12.

Also, if you go with a boar brush, remember to have him soak it for 10 minutes or so in warm water before use and also tell him to be aware that it will improve as it breaks in.

I'd go so far as to say not to get him a boar brush unless he's tried one & liked it. Maggard, Italian Barber & Stirling all sell excellent synthetics for $10-12.

I hear you, I suggested both a synthetic and a boar because they're both good value and some people (like me) don't really love synthetics. Even the modern, improved ones.

As far as breaking in the Semogue brushes goes I haven't really had a problem although I've heard people (Leisureguy) curse them long and loud. I think my own experience was coloured by the fact that when I first got Semogue brushes I was lathering in a Dirty Bird Scuttle and its integral grooves in the lather chamber are quite abrasive - so much so that I don't lather in that scuttle with any of my badger brushes anymore. I do think, however, that the "abrasiveness" of the scuttle really accelerated the break in of the Semogue boars. I have 4 of them and they're all really nice and soft with beautifully split ends.

I'd go so far as to say not to get him a boar brush unless he's tried one & liked it. Maggard, Italian Barber & Stirling all sell excellent synthetics for $10-12.

I hear you, I suggested both a synthetic and a boar because they're both good value and some people (like me) don't really love synthetics.  Even the modern, improved ones.  

As far as breaking in the Semogue brushes goes I haven't really had a problem although I've heard people (Leisureguy) curse them long and loud.  I think my own experience was coloured by the fact that when I first got Semogue brushes I was lathering in a Dirty Bird Scuttle and its integral grooves in the lather chamber are quite abrasive - so much so that I don't lather in that scuttle with any of my badger brushes anymore.  I do think, however, that the "abrasiveness" of the scuttle really accelerated the break in of the Semogue boars.  I have 4 of them and they're all really nice and soft with beautifully split ends.

Right, but I'd guess that the worst-case reaction to a synthetic is more likely to be "meh" rather than "yuck!", which was my reaction to my first brush (an Omega boar, which I gave up on very quickly--both for the smell and the intense scritch). Unless maybe there's a fairly quick & easy way to break one in before using it on your face...?

I'd go so far as to say not to get him a boar brush unless he's tried one & liked it. Maggard, Italian Barber & Stirling all sell excellent synthetics for $10-12.

I hear you, I suggested both a synthetic and a boar because they're both good value and some people (like me) don't really love synthetics.  Even the modern, improved ones.  

As far as breaking in the Semogue brushes goes I haven't really had a problem although I've heard people (Leisureguy) curse them long and loud.  I think my own experience was coloured by the fact that when I first got Semogue brushes I was lathering in a Dirty Bird Scuttle and its integral grooves in the lather chamber are quite abrasive - so much so that I don't lather in that scuttle with any of my badger brushes anymore.  I do think, however, that the "abrasiveness" of the scuttle really accelerated the break in of the Semogue boars.  I have 4 of them and they're all really nice and soft with beautifully split ends.

Right, but I'd guess that the worst-case reaction to a synthetic is more likely to be "meh" rather than "yuck!", which was my reaction to my first brush (an Omega boar, which I gave up on very quickly--both for the smell and the intense scritch). Unless maybe there's a fairly quick & easy way to break one in before using it on your face...?

A lot of people have had success with soaking the brush (boar) in a cup of cold water in the fridge for a couple days and then stropping it on a towel or hitting it with a blow dryer to accelerate the break in process. Supposedly it helps make the hair develop split ends faster. It's worth a shot anyway.

I'd go so far as to say not to get him a boar brush unless he's tried one & liked it. Maggard, Italian Barber & Stirling all sell excellent synthetics for $10-12.

I hear you, I suggested both a synthetic and a boar because they're both good value and some people (like me) don't really love synthetics.  Even the modern, improved ones.  

As far as breaking in the Semogue brushes goes I haven't really had a problem although I've heard people (Leisureguy) curse them long and loud.  I think my own experience was coloured by the fact that when I first got Semogue brushes I was lathering in a Dirty Bird Scuttle and its integral grooves in the lather chamber are quite abrasive - so much so that I don't lather in that scuttle with any of my badger brushes anymore.  I do think, however, that the "abrasiveness" of the scuttle really accelerated the break in of the Semogue boars.  I have 4 of them and they're all really nice and soft with beautifully split ends.

Right, but I'd guess that the worst-case reaction to a synthetic is more likely to be "meh" rather than "yuck!", which was my reaction to my first brush (an Omega boar, which I gave up on very quickly--both for the smell and the intense scritch). Unless maybe there's a fairly quick & easy way to break one in before using it on your face...?

Maybe, but he's a Marine. I think he can handle it.

You're probably right in wanting to make the initial experience as smooth as possible. A nice Stirling badger or synthetic would do the job nicely.

Right, but I'd guess that the worst-case reaction to a synthetic is more likely to be "meh" rather than "yuck!", which was my reaction to my first brush (an Omega boar, which I gave up on very quickly--both for the smell and the intense scritch). Unless maybe there's a fairly quick & easy way to break one in before using it on your face...?

Maybe, but he's a Marine.  I think he can handle it.

You're probably right in wanting to make the initial experience as smooth as possible.  A nice Stirling badger or synthetic would do the job nicely.

Italian Barber and Maggard Razor have some good kits to start with.