Education I want to get into wetshaving [Update: I got into it]

I use uber cheap disposable razors, I bought a 10 pack and it's lasted like a year now. I tend to let it grow a bit, and shave every 3-4 days or so, mostly cos I'm being lazy With some goopy shaving gel it's all you need, shaving after a hot shower works nicest! I used to shave without the gel, just using a razor and water, but that hurts for a bit after.

 

Meh, I hate shaving.

I wet shaved a few months ago purely for comedic value as my girlfriend has never seen me wet shaved (face ok!) but before that it was probably about 4-5 years.

I just use a trimmer on a short setting, much better. I look genuinely ill when I wet shave.

 

I've been trying wet shaves for the past few years, but generally sticking to electric shavers for convenience sake.

However, this thread has got me very interested in the wet shave. First, gotta get rid of my Gillette Fusion piece of junk, and invest in some quality gels, balms and otherwise.

 

It's only wrong if you're trying to lop it all off in one go. If you implement a multi-pass shaving routine, even with a multi-blade razor you can reap the benefits without the drawbacks. Of course, you'll have to rinse and reapply whatever foam/gel/lather you use between passes, just simply going over the same area several times when it's not covered in something is a big no-no.

AAAAAAH that was painful to read

 

I just bought a safety razor on Amazon. Should have it for the weekend.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NL0T1G/ref=oss_product

Also got 200 blades for it for really around $17.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032Q41LS/ref=oss_product

 

I've been shaving with a DE razor for about a year now (xmas pressie last year). I've got a Murkur Heavy Classic and a standard badger hair brush, and I've been very impressed with it. Shaving is still a chore, but less so now as I find can go an extra day without shaving.

I know they were mentioned briefly, but I would recommend the Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving creams, they really are very good quality, and the range of scents is great. Like liratheal I had the almond scented one, and its great to wake up to. I'm currently using a soap instead of a cream, as I got them both at the same time. The soap is ok and has literally lasted me for months (at least 6, and i can see it going for several more), but it doesn't have the same luxury feel as the cream.

I still get pink cream days when i'm half asleep or just not paying too much attention, but my shaves are definitely still improving.

+1 to B&B forum, it really is excellent

 

Just got given a straight razor by a friend who tried but didn't enjoy it. I've been using a safety razor for a few months now but i must say that straight razors appeal to me Anyway turns out this one is blunt as hell, tried shaving a sideburn but it wasn't happening. Does anyone have experience/know any companies that might sharpen razors? If not I'm tempted to give it a shot myself, although I'd have to find a honing stone.

 

Chemical shave creams? Marvelous on my head and lesser strengths available for facial hair.

john

 

Thread revival!

I almost wish I could grow a proper beard to try all these wonderful things.... Almost.

Quick going over with an electric shaver in the morning and I'm sorted.

 

dont buy this if you dont support cruelty to animals, they get clubbed to death or skinned alive for the fur.

 

Taylors of Old Bond Street ALL THE WAY.

Well, that or Trumpers.

I currently use a Mach 3, a £30 badger brush and then the Sensitive Skin shaving soap.

Only thing better is when I go for a haircut from the man on the back of Marchmont St. he gives you a shave with a proper cut throat razor. Never. Felt. So. Smoooooth.

And aftershave is for pussies.

 

Actually most (all?) badgers used in shaving brushes are killed as part of the pest control in China. AFAIK they're a bit of a problem over there so two birds with one stone.

Small animals stop being cute when they start messing with your stuff.

 

I discovered King Of Shaves about 7 years ago and have never looked back. My face is a smooth as a baby's bum!

I use their blades, facescrub, pre-shave and after-shave balms.

 

I just bought a '76 Super Adjustable Slim in damn good condition. Sadly, that makes my Edwin Jagger a bit lonely. So much better being able to adjust the aggressiveness of the blade, makes shaving the neck and chin a much more pleasurable experience.

Also using Trumpers Eucris, very nice. Have tried Tabac, very smooth shave, no nicks and very close, just a pity I am not a fan of the smell of it ;-(

Hail to the DE Shavers ;->

 

I usually shave electric for time, but will wet shave (with brush, real cream, a bowl and double edge safety razor) once or twice a week when I have the time. I enjoy those moments.

 

I've tried 3 different electric shavers (half-decent ones) and all of them have nicked my throat in two places. I tend to just use a Mach 3 or whatever, I tend to go for Gillette blades, they seem to work a lot better for me than the likes of Wilkinson Sword.

Just reading this thread is making me want to get something a bit more substantial

 

It depends on what I feel like or often more importantly, how much time I have to which razor I go for. My current favorite is a late '40s English Gilette #66 which was my great uncle's. He bought it during leave from the army just after the war and due to it being Rhodium plated it still looks brand new.

I also have a few Murkur ones and a couple of striaghts. One of the straight razors takes half a safety razor blade so there is no worries about honing or stropping it.

For brushes, I actually prefer the cheaper pure badger ones to the softer best or silvertips as they give a better scrub.

I used to use whatever was the latest Gilette multi blade vibrating jobbie but I binned the last one of those I had years ago and never looked back.

 

I use a normal enough Mach 3 blade with boiling hot soapy water and a few passes. With the hair first, then at 90 degree, then against the grain if i am going out.

Simple and easy to do, but certainly a good wet shave wins hands down over anything else. After a stint in the army in Finland (where young males generally don't grow much in the way of facial hair) where you had to maintain the grooming standards, I ended up shaving up to 3 times a day, so thankfully what was originally sensitive skin has hardened up to the task and a bit more tolerant of a good shave.

My only tips are really to try and have steaming hot water for the blade. Wet your face whilst it's warming up, a good scrub with anything (I generally just use regular soap to be honest), then make sure the blades are hot when you start shaving and it's a doddle.

Cannot remember the last time I cut myself shaving, however I do have a slight scar across my upper lip from when a mate of mine shoved me when I was getting read to go out to a teenage disco 14 years ago and sliced my lip open. Lesson learned

 

does not make it ok tho does it. and ill think you will find there farmed.

 

Exactly the same here, never really worried too much about it.

Mach 3 with Natural source mint foam for me!