Shaving! I ditched the $$$$$ Cartridges!

[Sose]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

her magisty [the queen] and company ,,,lol
one shave before first parade ,, once at lunch time , with a fresh pair of boots and a fresh shirt , once again befor inspecting the evening guard , if i was on duty, again fresh shirt and clean boots , ,, or a shower and shave before eating in the mess.
most days you could get away with only two shaves though.
wet was the only thing deemed as close enough to pass muster. now , ive a beard most of the time.

Oh my goodness. I can't imagine shaving more than once a day. Wow.
Thanks for the explanation!

[Sose]

Originally Posted by nolawis

Been doing it for years. I recommend Proraso shave cream for starters. I use a Gillette Fat Boy that belonged to my father. I use Derby blades. Feather blades slice me to ribbons.

My routine is pretty basic. I have one of those contraptions that boils water or soup or whatever under my counter. They are available just about anywhere. When I'm ready to shave I fill it halfway with water and bring it to a rolling boil. Takes about 2 minutes. When its boiling I fill my shaving mug with the water. My brush is inside the mug. After about a minute, I take out the brush and dump the water. The mug is nice and hot. I flick enough hot water off the brush to just cover the bottom of the mug then shake the brush dry. I put a dab of Proraso on the brush head (about the size of a dime or a tad smaller) and make the lather in the cup. In about a minute I have a mug full of hot lather. Then I dab it on my face and shave. First time with the grain. Second time against. My only face prep is a hot towel. When I'm finished shaving, if I have any small nicks, I rub my face with an alum bar. If not, I splash on witch hazel after shave or taylor's bay rum and I'm done. Much shorter than it sounds. Very close shave and a fraction of the price of drugstore 4 blade and 5 blade jobs.

I agre 100% on the Proraso comment!
I starting using all their products after getting a shave in Pisa and the arber wouldn't touch anything else. What an amazing product!

I need to try those Derby blades though... I use Feather blades and they truly are rough on the face...

[meloncap78]

Excellent choice. I have about 800 shaves under my belt now since switching to a straight. The only thing I have bought is soap and I can honestly say I have maybe spent all of $30 on that in roughly 10 months.

[ArcticMoose]

Originally Posted by Sose

I need to try those Derby blades though... I use Feather blades and they truly are rough on the face...

I think I've tried every single blade on the market, and I can't recommend the red Personna blades enough.

[pacifichrono]

I've been primarily a blade shaver for the past 45 years or so. I've been using the latest Gillette razors and Edge Gel (ever since Jimmy the Greek hawked them on TV about 25-30 years ago!). A blade is the ONLY way to get that really close, sharp shave I wanted in my corporate career.

Now that I'm retired, who gives a shit...so now I shave every other day with a Norelco shaver and that's it.

[Esexx]

After I just used my last Fusion cartridge, I found this thread. I got really interested in everyones experience in the wet shave. I started researching and watching plenty of Youtube videos.

I did walk in to an Art of Shaving store a few years back in San Diego and got the brush off by the sales staff, so I never looked back...until now. I am not ready to attempt a straight razor mainly because I have become attached to my ears and nose so I went the DE route.

I just returned from the Art of Shaving store in Century City with this (Wish me luck!!!!!!) :

[joeychitwood]

I've tried about 15 different brands of shaving cream, and I like The Art of Shaving creams the best. Enjoy.

[walds11]

Nice kit there Esexx! I gave DE shaving a shot about 3 years ago. It's definitely not for me. I use my Gillette Mach3 cartridge with my cool black Truefitt & Hill handle, Simpsons Chubby 1 Super badger shaving brush and Proraso shaving cream. I finish my shave off with Proraso aftershave splash. Good stuff! I actually have a nice collection of shaving brushes.

[sherwin]

I let the pictures do the talking.



Went from DE > Shavettes > Straights. Now im restoring straight razors.

DE (Left to right): Gillette Tech 40, Tech 50, Gillette NEW (Restoration project), Aristocrat (Boxed, Rhodium plated), Fatboy (Rhodium replated)
Straights (Top to bottom, left to right): Kai Captain Excelia; 3x Bangall (Not shave ready!), Feather DX (Teak scales), William Mortons & Sons (Restoration project)

[psv]

OK, package arrived yesterday. First shave today!!! I think it went over expectations! No real cuts (I'm sure that will come...), smooth as a baby's bottoms and my wife really like it! :-)

So much for Moustache March!

[Esexx]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

I've tried about 15 different brands of shaving cream, and I like The Art of Shaving creams the best. Enjoy.

Thanks, I have heard this before.

Originally Posted by walds11

Nice kit there Esexx! I gave DE shaving a shot about 3 years ago. It's definitely not for me. I use my Gillette Mach3 cartridge with my cool black Truefitt & Hill handle, Simpsons Chubby 1 Super badger shaving brush and Proraso shaving cream. I finish my shave off with Proraso aftershave splash. Good stuff! I actually have a nice collection of shaving brushes.

Thank you. I went over budget, but I think my face will thank me in the long run. Looks like you have some very nice stuff too.

Originally Posted by sherwin

I let the pictures do the talking.

Went from DE > Shavettes > Straights. Now im restoring straight razors.

DE (Left to right): Gillette Tech 40, Tech 50, Gillette NEW (Restoration project), Aristocrat (Boxed, Rhodium plated), Fatboy (Rhodium replated)
Straights (Top to bottom, left to right): Kai Captain Excelia; 3x Bangall (Not shave ready!), Feather DX (Teak scales), William Mortons & Sons (Restoration project)

Very nice collection. I hope this doesn't turn in to another "hobby" for me. My wallet cannot afford it.

Someday I want to try a straight, however I want my 2 young kids to grown up with all their fingers/toes/ears intact so I will have to wait a few years.

[Esexx]

Originally Posted by psv

OK, package arrived yesterday. First shave today!!! I think it went over expectations! No real cuts (I'm sure that will come...), smooth as a baby's bottoms and my wife really like it! :-)

So much for Moustache March!

Congrats! I was tempted to make my first attempt this morning at 4:45 am, but decided against it. I was still half asleep and wanted to get to work minus potential blood loss.

[sherwin]

Originally Posted by Esexx

Very nice collection. I hope this doesn't turn in to another "hobby" for me. My wallet cannot afford it.

Someday I want to try a straight, however I want my 2 young kids to grown up with all their fingers/toes/ears intact so I will have to wait a few years.

I always say, avoid forums if you want to avoid making unnecessary purchases, but go to forums to get a fair feel on price so that you know what to get.

out of all the razors there, only 3 came from overseas, the rest came from garage sales and antique shop hunts.

if you want to try a straight, you'd just have to remember to lock them away after each use.

[axxeman01]

I just wanted to add; having done this for some time now, shaving with the grain is the way to go. I've found that whenever I go back for a second pass in the opposite direction, that's when I get a ton of ingrown hairs.

[Esexx]

It is 10:40 pm here in California and I just completed my first wet shave! I have to say it was a very pleasant experience.

I was a little nervous and dialed my razor down to #2 for my first shave. I followed all the steps including 2 passes with the razor (First with and next against the grain) No nicks or cuts either and very smooth!

I would compare it to passing through a drive through to grab a quick bite because one has to eat (old shave), to sitting down to a fine dinner at a 3 Michelin star restaurant because one wants to really enjoy the whole experience and meal.

I do need a lot of practice on my technique and the real test will be at 4:30 am before work.

[sherwin]

Soon you will be shaving half asleep. Its only time.

Once you have used those merkur blades (doesnt work for me, irritates my face), get yourself a sample pack and try out what you really like.

personally, i am a feather/kai blade fan. japanese are known for their super sharp blades to the point where they can scare people off shaving. however, you only get a couple of shaves out of them.

[Sose]

Y'know, I've only used Merkur's (meh.. they are ok) and Feather's (which really are aggressive).

Where and which sampler would you guys recommend?
I'm ready to explore.

[sherwin]

Try some gillettes, derby's, feather, sharks, etc

Something like this is not bad to get started with.

[tattooedfagin]

i switch between a Feather AS & this little beauty from iKon (OSS), always use Feather blades, even on my head & i shave that every other day. Proraso is great shaving cream as too their pre / post shave menthol cream..

[sherwin]

funny i had a feather AS (that ive sold!) and it didnt have the comb. i sold the feather AS because i found it too mild (about the same as the gillette tech's)

[jim251]

Originally Posted by pacifichrono

Now that I'm retired, who gives a shit...so now I shave every other day with a Norelco shaver and that's it.

LOL... That may be the best line I've read since joining this forum. I find that I can start a lot of sentences that same way and have them all end up different. Funny...

[tattooedfagin]

Originally Posted by sherwin

funny i had a feather AS (that ive sold!) and it didnt have the comb. i sold the feather AS because i found it too mild (about the same as the gillette tech's)

Feather AS has no comb, DE in the photo is an iKon OSS with a double head (open & closed)

[rajurama]

Originally Posted by tattooedfagin

i switch between a Feather AS & this little beauty from iKon (OSS), always use Feather blades, even on my head & i shave that every other day. Proraso is great shaving cream as too their pre / post shave menthol cream..

Hey thats a nice razor where can i buy it from? I am using my dads 20+ year old single blade gillete razor, it says made in england, yep dunno why it doesnt state UK but its a nice and trustworthy, feels solid. Its really difficult to source good quality single blade razors in my part of the world. Most of them are so cheap and tacky.

[sherwin]

Originally Posted by tattooedfagin

Feather AS has no comb, DE in the photo is an iKon OSS with a double head (open & closed)

Why did i think it was a feather AS

Originally Posted by rajurama

...Its really difficult to source good quality single blade razors in my part of the world. Most of them are so cheap and tacky.

Look for some sharks blades (egypt). if im not wrong there are a fair selection of blades in the middle east (some are even made there!). failing that, you can check out shaving.ie

[tattooedfagin]

Originally Posted by rajurama

Hey thats a nice razor where can i buy it from? I am using my dads 20+ year old single blade gillete razor, it says made in england, yep dunno why it doesnt state UK but its a nice and trustworthy, feels solid. Its really difficult to source good quality single blade razors in my part of the world. Most of them are so cheap and tacky.

get them direct from Greg at: http://ikonrazors.com/

sometimes has discounted razors on sale that may have a small manufacturing scratch somewhere on them but i've bought 2 so far & have yet to find the marks but for $40/50 off i'm not going to worry

[rajurama]

Originally Posted by tattooedfagin

get them direct from Greg at: http://ikonrazors.com/

sometimes has discounted razors on sale that may have a small manufacturing scratch somewhere on them but i've bought 2 so far & have yet to find the marks but for $40/50 off i'm not going to worry

[nolawis]

Try one of the sampler packs from leesrazors.com

[Lion]

I bought a new DE safety razor back at Christmas[Merkur...Futur(sp.)] and plan to shave in the spring. Now I have had a beard for the past 10 years but am used to using a safety razor so my question is where is the best place to buy blades?
I can no longer find them locally.....

[joeychitwood]

Originally Posted by Lion

I bought a new DE safety razor back at Christmas[Merkur...Futur(sp.)] and plan to shave in the spring. Now I have had a beard for the past 10 years but am used to using a safety razor so my question is where is the best place to buy blades? I can no longer find them locally.....

I found 100 Derby blades on eBay for $17 with free shipping. Check there. You can also find some interesting vintage razors on eBay.

[Esexx]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

I found 100 Derby blades on eBay for $17 with free shipping. Check there. You can also find some interesting vintage razors on eBay.

Hopefully we all wont be bidding against each other!


I will have to give ebay and Derby blades a try.