Support NeoGAF

[rbanke]

I remember watching my grandfather shave with a safety razor and eventually inherited his razor along with other things. I've always wanted to give it a go and this thread has talked me into it. The razor I got from him looks to be a Gillette Fatboy. It's fairly dirty from use so I was thinking of following this and restoring it (or at least making it clean and ready to use). I'm not sure if this is a good razor to use, or if I should just hold on to it as a keepsake and buy a new razor?

 

[ShaneB]

I feel like I was never properly taught shaving now >.> which is a depressing revalation.

But at least you've finally made the relevation!

I was the same way, felt like I wasted years of my life with bad shaving.

Also, sign me up for the Astra love fest. I've only used a few blades from the sample pack I have, but man the Astra blade was terrific.

 

[Antiwhippy]

So can anyone explain to me what's the benefits of a shaving brush and cream? Can I forgo them and just use water?

I've been looking into wet shaving seeing that mach 3s give me a pretty bad shave.

 

[Extollere]

So can anyone explain to me what's the benefits of a shaving brush and cream? Can I forgo them and just use water?

I've been looking into wet shaving seeing that mach 3s give me a pretty bad shave.

Shaving cream (or shaving soap) is necessary for most people wet shaving with a DE. There might be a few people out there that can handle it -- but you're far more likely to hack up your face very badly using just water and a DE blade. These blades are far different from your disposables. They are thinner and sharper. They also hit the surface of your skin at a different angle than cartridge blades do. I definitely can't recommend trying it without some kind of lather on your face. In my opinion, one probably shouldn't expect to get a better shave just by switching to a DE and foregoing the soap and brush. A good soap, brush, and lather is probably more crucial to getting a nice shave than the razor itself. Though I am not discrediting its importance, especially when you consider how you handle the blade.

A brush may or may not be necessary depending on what kind of product you are using and what your expectations are. Most people who use brushes use them with some kind of lathering soap or lathering shave cream (some shave creams apply without lathering). A brush will help turn the product into a lather and also helps to condition the hairs and skin for shaving.

*shrug* that's about as much info as I have though. I've only been doing this for a few months, so I'm probably not as knowledgeable as some others here in the thread. But if you wanna start wet shaving like this be prepared to purchase a DE razor (possibly extra blades), a cream/soap to shave with, and most likely a brush. If you buy a cream, you'll likely need a ceramic mug or bowl for lathering. Some of these things can be really inexpensive though. My first soap was a puck of col. conk and it cost about 3 bucks. My first brush costs 10. I got my razor on sale too. If you are frugal this is a hobby - or a way of shaving (or both) - that will pay for itself with time. If you are like some of us you'll fall in love with it and keep buying shit :lol

 

[Antiwhippy]

Hmm, I was actually just curious about the role of the cream and the brush. If it's just lubrication I was thinking that using water might be ok as well.

I dunno, I'll buy a DE and some blades and just try it without cream and brush first. Also my facial hair is pretty sparse and spreadout, so I'm not sure if that would affect my shave. Just sick of getting shaving bumps and uneven shaves.

 

[Extollere]

Hmm, I was actually just curious about the role of the cream and the brush. If it's just lubrication I was thinking that using water might be ok as well.

It is... it's just that it becomes more important than it was before when you switch to DE wet shaving. And all things considered, you can buy a cream and brush for less than you're likely to get the razor for. Are you shaving with just water and a cartridge right now? If so, I wouldn't be entirely surprised if you got a worse shave after using the DE with water alone. Aside from a tiny guard, it has no real protection like a cartridge... which is pretty much full proof since the angle is parallel to the head of the cartridge and the blades aren't as sharp.

 

[Antiwhippy]

Alright, I'll have a look into it. Cream or soap though? What's the difference other than personal bias?

 

[Phantast2k]

Soap:
+ can consists only of a few natural ingredients
- harder to make lather from...the more expensive/finer the brush the easier to work with it.

Cream:
+ easier to make lather from.
- can contain crappy ingredients (Proraso even had some that were under suspicion to cause cancer, before they changed the recipe)

 

[h3ro]

Huh that looks good. Is it a trim or a close shave though? I prefer it to be a very close shave.

Also would this be adequate too?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EG8HLE/?tag=neogaf0e-20

It is alot cheaper where I live. $34 instead of $90.

It gives a very close shave on body hair using the rounded shaving head. I'm not sure about the one you posted though, haven't tried it.

Not sure why it's showing up so expensive either. I'm still getting it priced at $49.97 this morning.

Has anyone else tried the new Proraso Sandalwood? I'm ordering later today and just wanted to know if anyone hear had experience with it. BnB seems to really like it.

 

[ChanHuk]

So got my package from Amazon. Edwin Jagger DE89, Tweezerman brush, Proraso menthol and eucalyptis soap, and a Colonel Conk stand. Thinking I should've went with a cream instead of soap for ease of use and maybe a bowl......now I'm broke again lol.

 

[ChanHuk]

Did my first wet shave this morning, I'll say it was a success. Made two passes, no nicks, no razor burn. Baby butt smooth. I need to start looking into some aftershave or maybe an alum block.

 

[Gazzawa]

Ive had it with my Mach 3 fusion

Spoiler

fusion mean dildo

razor. I need to up my game. I've read this thread and I have an idea of what I want. A good shave and a haircut is good for the soul.

Permission to board sir?!

 

[Grimm Fandango]

Ive had it with my Mach 3 fusion

Spoiler

fusion mean dildo

razor. I need to up my game. I've read this thread and I have an idea of what I want. A good shave and a haircut is good for the soul.

Permission to board sir?!

Permission granted. Climb aboard.


Tried these blades today:

Awful, awful blade. I have thick facial hair and this blade tugged like none other. I'm about finished with my sample pack and this is the only pack I just tossed away like that.

 

[Antagon]

Did my first wet shave this morning, I'll say it was a success. Made two passes, no nicks, no razor burn. Baby butt smooth. I need to start looking into some aftershave or maybe an alum block.

Nice job, only done three shaves, but had some nicks every shave. Getting better though and did a partial ATG last time.

Alum is wizard stuff, get it.

 

[ChanHuk]

I'm thinking that these Derby blades are too mild, combined with the DE89 being mild as well, not as good as it can get. Gonna get that sampler pack from Amazon. So far people seem to be saying Gillette 7OC SP or Astra SP. Feathers may be too sharp for my liking.

 

[ShaneB]

I'm thinking that these Derby blades are too mild, combined with the DE89 being mild as well, not as good as it can get. Gonna get that sampler pack from Amazon. So far people seem to be saying Gillette 7OC SP or Astra SP. Feathers may be too sharp for my liking.

Feathers were way too sharp for me, and I absolutely love the Astra blade I used.

 

[Extollere]

I'm thinking that these Derby blades are too mild, combined with the DE89 being mild as well, not as good as it can get. Gonna get that sampler pack from Amazon. So far people seem to be saying Gillette 7OC SP or Astra SP. Feathers may be too sharp for my liking.

Feather sharpness is overrated. I've been using Feathers in my DE89, and never had a problem. Shaves through errthang. Actually, I've been using the Astra SP up until just recently, and I moved back to Feathers. The Astras are cool (and cheap, which I like), but I realized after getting some more experience between the two blades that the Astras don't move through the hair the same way Feathers do. There's a little resistance, whereas the Feathers just glide through it. After more practice I'm able to get a nicer shave with less irritation using the Feather, but I believe it requires just a little practice.

 

[ChanHuk]

Just bought a 50 blade sampler pack from Amazon. I actually look forward to shaving now, amazing.

 

[ChanHuk]

Second shave was a success again yesterday. Bought some Every Man Jack face lotion and liking it a lot as a post shave lotion. Thinking about building a cabinet for the equipment. I'm also thinking I'd like a razor with a longer handle than the DE89

 

[POWERSPHERE]

So can anyone explain to me what's the benefits of a shaving brush and cream? Can I forgo them and just use water?

I've been looking into wet shaving seeing that mach 3s give me a pretty bad shave.

You could use a shaving serum like this http://www.aesop.com/uk/?xProd=45 which can work for light stubble, but the lather is half the ritual.

 

[jcm]

So can anyone explain to me what's the benefits of a shaving brush and cream? Can I forgo them and just use water?

I've been looking into wet shaving seeing that mach 3s give me a pretty bad shave.

This is the article that got me started wet shaving. He does a good job explaining the benefits of the brush and cream. High end English shave creams have completely changed the way I feel about shaving. I used to dread it; now I enjoy it.

 

[ChanHuk]

Tried the Astra SP and Gillette 7OC Blue and so far I like the Astras the best. Next shave will be with Feathers. I think I'm gonna settle with the Astras though.

 

[Extollere]

Hahah, oh my god. Have any of you guys read Charles A. Roberts' (the creator of the 'method shaving' technique) 75 page paper on wet shaving. This thing reads like a religious holy book of some sort. Yet it's completely serious. It's pretty informative though, and kinda hilarious (intentionally or not...)

The central role of the “single steel blade” is the
beginning of every conversation of wet shaving. It is also its terminus. Wet shaving, in its most
pristine and substantive form, is always based on the skilled use of the single blade. The addition of a
second blade instantly turns the perfect form of the wet shave into farce. Add a third blade and every
dog will try to bite you. Add a fourth your neighbors will all move away. Add a fifth and no woman
will bear your children.

If you,
dear reader, enter a shaving shop and someone attempts to sell you a super mambo, gigolo razor for
wet shaving, he is turning you away from the anointed path. Curse the villain and leave his shop
forthwith.

Modern shaving creams comprised of chemicals try to absurdly mimic
the actions of lipids; of course they do so badly. God gives man lipids for shaving; man uses
chemicals, instead. Man is a fool.

lul

http://enchanteonline.com/pages/faqs/robertsmethodshaving.pdf

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

I got a real problem here. I can shave every part of my face without any issues at all but the left and right bottom corners of my neck get irritated to hell and back. What could I be doing wrong?

 

[Extollere]

I got a real problem here. I can shave every part of my face without any issues at all but the left and right bottom corners of my neck get irritated to hell and back. What could I be doing wrong?

On my neck the bottom left and right corners of hair grow upward, rather than down. I've always had a hard time shaving there and never thought to change the direction of my shave on the first pass. With the first pass I'll shave with the grain (which is generally a downward direction) in most areas except for the corners of the neck. That's where I stop and shave those areas upward (from down to up). Sometimes I'll start my shave by doing those areas first so I don't accidentally hit them going the wrong way when shaving the rest of the neck. Check and see what direction the hair growth is going in around the areas you have problems with.

 

[ChanHuk]

Feathers are overrated. Yeah I said it. Seems like Astra SP are the blades for me. So cheap I can use it once and toss it out. Feathers have me razor burn while the Astra didn't.

 

[Bboy AJ]

Feathers are overrated. Yeah I said it. Seems like Astra SP are the blades for me. So cheap I can use it once and toss it out. Feathers have me razor burn while the Astra didn't.

Depends on your face. There is no overrated.

 

[ChanHuk]

Depends on your face. There is no overrated.

Pretty much. Most people love the Feathers but it just irritated my skin too much for my liking.

I'm thinking I want a better brush than my Tweezerman. Been looking into a Simpson Berekley in best badger form. Seems to be highly regarded. Probably keep the Tweezerman as a travel brush.

 

[Broseybrose]

I do love the feathers. But for the price Astra SP is just as good. For my face at least.

 

[BabeSlayer]

so did a quick search of this thread and didn't see it talked about...could have missed it sorry if repeat but any reviews or opinions of this http://www.dollarshaveclub.com ??

 

[Extollere]

Pretty much. Most people love the Feathers but it just irritated my skin too much for my liking.

When I first used the Feather I was getting lots of nicks and irritation. So I practiced for a while on Astras, and figured that I prefered them. Went back to the Feathers about a month later, and suddenly I don't have any irritation from them, and I never nick myself. In addition to that I'm now shaving against the grain and I'm not having any problems. Now I prefer the Feathers again. I chock this up mostly to technique. I'm angling the razor so that the blade is more parallel to the face now, and using a lighter touch... and I'm doing things like blade buffing in certain areas. Plus I understand my face better so I know where to hit it harder and where to go a little easier. Feathers are hit and miss with the crowd it seems due to their aggressiveness, but with a little experience I find them to be very rewarding and comfortable.

so did a quick search of this thread and didn't see it talked about...could have missed it sorry if repeat but any reviews or opinions of this http://www.dollarshaveclub.com ??

The only one I ever recall seeing was a Mantic video who briefly reviewed one of their razors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R9NC7j8dVg&feature=plcp

 

[Antagon]

On my neck the bottom left and right corners of hair grow upward, rather than down. I've always had a hard time shaving there and never thought to change the direction of my shave on the first pass. With the first pass I'll shave with the grain (which is generally a downward direction) in most areas except for the corners of the neck. That's where I stop and shave those areas upward (from down to up). Sometimes I'll start my shave by doing those areas first so I don't accidentally hit them going the wrong way when shaving the rest of the neck. Check and see what direction the hair growth is going in around the areas you have problems with.

Guess I might have the same problem then, as my razor tugs a lot when shaving downward in my neck. When checking it out it seems to grow down though. Interesting enough a sideways shave in my neck does seem to work pretty well.

 

[ChanHuk]

Got 100 Astra SP for $10. At a dime a blade, I'll be one and doning each blade.

 

[ShaneB]

Got 100 Astra SP for $10. At a dime a blade, I'll be one and doning each blade.

Well damn. Do share this wonderful deal, out of my sampler pack, Astra SP has far and away been my favourite.

Problem with the sampler pack is that my technique has to be different for each new blade it seems and I get sloppy I need to slow down.

 

[zero_suit]

Well damn. Do share this wonderful deal, out of my sampler pack, Astra SP has far and away been my favourite.

Problem with the sampler pack is that my technique has to be different for each new blade it seems and I get sloppy I need to slow down.

That deal is on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QY8QXM/?tag=neogaf0e-20

 

[Giard]

Well damn. Do share this wonderful deal, out of my sampler pack, Astra SP has far and away been my favourite.

Problem with the sampler pack is that my technique has to be different for each new blade it seems and I get sloppy I need to slow down.

100 Astra SP for $8
Site is in the OP.
With $50 you get free shipping, so buy 700 of them! :lol

 

[Esch]

just popping in to say wet shaving is the bees knees and you should all do it gaffers

 

[Centurion]

I bought one of those 100 blade variety packs from amazon before christmas, still have a majority of them while using each blade only once. I've converted for life.

 

[ShaneB]

That deal is on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QY8QXM/?tag=neogaf0e-20

100 Astra SP for $8
Site is in the OP.
With $50 you get free shipping, so buy 700 of them! :lol

Well super duper. Looks like that's the regular price at bestshave. I'll have to make note of that and order some things to get free shipping. Not 700 blades though, damn that would last me years.

 

[Grimm Fandango]

I really enjoy Astras but I'm going back over my sampler pack again to pick my favorite. Not sure how I'm going to rate the blades, maybe on the amount of razor burn afterwards? How'd anyone else rank their blades easily?

 

[ChanHuk]

I really enjoy Astras but I'm going back over my sampler pack again to pick my favorite. Not sure how I'm going to rate the blades, maybe on the amount of razor burn afterwards? How'd anyone else rank their blades easily?

It's personal. I just judge on how smooth the blade is and if it gave me irritation afterwards.

 

[Chairman85]

Been going through my sampler pack, and maybe my technique has improved but I'm having a lot more success with Astra SPs than I had with Feathers. Will have to try the Feathers again soon to be sure.

 

[youngplaya21]

100 Astra SP for $8
Site is in the OP.
With $50 you get free shipping, so buy 700 of them! :lol

Holy shit, thanks! Just ordered 100. I've only tried using Feathers, but at that price, it's time to try something different.

 

[Extollere]

The world is changing... I look out now and I see two types of men. Bearded warriors, and sore-neck shavers. More people need to wet shave.

 

[Boogie9IGN]

I bought a Merkur Solingen with some extra Merkur razors and a starter kit from Art of Shaving last week so I could finally get into the whole wet shaving thing. I was loving it until I tried to shave against the grain and came out riddled with razor burn/bumps (albeit not as many as when I used disposable razors but still a ton around my neck). All my aftershave balms and razor burn prevention creams didn't help out much. I think shaving again the day after wasn't a good idea either. Perhaps I'm just destined to stick to shaving with the grain forever ):

I also ordered a tub of Taylor of Old Bond Street, Sensitive Cream which should be arriving tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to try it and I will be ordering a new brush next week as well (probably just an Omega 11047 for starters). Once my ToOBS is done, I plan on ordering the Truefitt & Hill cream someone linked on the first page.

 

[Grimm Fandango]

I wouldn't go against the grain until you are more comfortable with your technique. Like at least 3 weeks. And did you do a couple passes before going against it? It will help a lot.

 

[Giard]

I wouldn't go against the grain until you are more comfortable with your technique. Like at least 3 weeks. And did you do a couple passes before going against it? It will help a lot.

I would add that Merkur blades are far from the best. You should try a sampler pack and see if this happens with other blades once you've improved your technique.

 

[C.Dark.DN]

I really need to work on my soaping technique and time management.

I've been using Gillette shaving gel with feather razors for months cause I'm always in a hurry.

Anyways, still love the safety razor over cartridges.

 

[Giard]

I really need to work on my soaping technique and time management.

I've been using Gillette shaving gel with feather razors for months cause I'm always in a hurry.

Anyways, still love the safety razor over cartridges.

If you want to stick to the canned ones, I think Barbasol is considered better...

 

[SUPREME1]

I bought a Merkur Solingen with some extra Merkur razors and a starter kit from Art of Shaving last week so I could finally get into the whole wet shaving thing. I was loving it until I tried to shave against the grain and came out riddled with razor burn/bumps (albeit not as many as when I used disposable razors but still a ton around my neck). All my aftershave balms and razor burn prevention creams didn't help out much. I think shaving again the day after wasn't a good idea either. Perhaps I'm just destined to stick to shaving with the grain forever ):

I also ordered a tub of Taylor of Old Bond Street, Sensitive Cream which should be arriving tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to try it and I will be ordering a new brush next week as well (probably just an Omega 11047 for starters). Once my ToOBS is done, I plan on ordering the Truefitt & Hill cream someone linked on the first page.

Best shaving cream ever, best smelling as well. I've used everything from TAoS but the only things I'vecontinued to use are the brush and the shaving cream. The rest of it, I just didn't need.

I usually shave after I've showered, so while I'm in the shower I rub the areas of my neck where I'm prone to getting razor bumps and/or nicks. I just kind of roughen up the hair/area, which guarantees that it's been loosened up and not clinging to my neck when I shave.

Work up a good lather, stretch your skin and go slwly over the areas that are problematic. Work in small patches.