Fed up with disposible razors - going DE

I picked up an Edwin Jagger Best Badger brush and it has served me fine for the last 2 years. I have only lost one bristle since I've used it and it may have been a break off. I've had good luck with the Personna blades as well.

I've used Tabac for the last year and have no problems with it and it has a pleasant but no lingering smell.
 
I picked up the EJ BBB for 30 bucks and I have had it for 2 months and its fantastic. I just started DE shaving but I already have quite an arsenal.
 
One of these days, I'll get a really nice badger brush. Or I'll make my own with a knot from the golden nib.
So far, I still like my Van der Hagen and Omega boar brushes.

Derby blades are my go-to blades. Bic blades are really nice, too. Feather blades are good, but they still tend to give me weepers when used in my Merkur Slant. Hmm, very aggressive German razor, very aggressive Japanese blade, Italian brush. The Axis powers do a number on my face.
Except for the Italian brush. It's good to my face.
Most blades work well for me in my Merkur slant, just not Feather.
Feather blades work well for me in Gillette razors and in the Feather Popular razor.
Derby blades work well for me in all my razors.

I've had great luck with Van der Hagen shave soap, Arko shave sticks, Godrej Shave rounds, and Godrej shave cream. Godrej products are made in India and are great. The Indians know how to make shave soap and cream.
The Indian made Old Spice and Palmolive shave creams are good, too.
If you're a fan of lime, you should try the Indian made Cinthol Lime bath soap. Good stuff.
Manish, over at www.maharajashave.com is a great guy to deal with. His prices are great. The shipping isn't cheap, since it's coming all the way from India, but if you buy a lot of stuff at one time you save on the shipping.
Next time I order from him, I'm going to get more Cinthol Lime, Godrej shave rounds, Godrej Lime, Godrej Menthol, and original Shulton formula Old Spice after shave. It smells like real Old Spice, not the current Proctor and Gamble Old Spice.
Don't know what after shaves you like, but I use witch hazel, followed by either Aqua Velva Ice Blue, Master Bay Rum, or Old Spice most days. I have many different after shaves, but those are my most often used.
Master Bay Rum has the ubiquitous slight alcohol burn when first applied, but that quickly fades into sweet relief. It's a good feeling after shave.
Aqua Velva is a great warm/hot weather after shave. It has plenty of menthol face freezing goodness. Plus, like Gollnick, I really like the smell. It's manly, without smelling like you just stepped out of a late 70s Disco.(Aqua Velva Musk)
No offense to the AV Musk fans. I have a bottle and like it sometimes, but it's a bit overpowering. At least if you use as much AS as I do. I like to soak my face down for relief.

If yo go to badger and blade and/or the shave den, you will probably end up with more safety razors than you care to admit. I have over 40. (double edge, single edge, injector)
Then you'll end up with a bunch of straight razors. I started with one old German straight I got for 5 or 10 bux at a gun show. Now I have 8.

The only time I use a cartridge razor anymore is when I shave my head. Then, I use a Headblade.
 
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Interesting thread, I am gathering a 'DE' is the old type razor with replaceable blades?
I use disposables currently but around once a fortnight I use a cut throat razor - very carefully, it is an experience I really enjoy, and when doing the jugular and carotid areas I always wonder just how many people have accidentally cut themselves fatally - if any (I believe there would be a few).
 
Yes, DE is double edge. Like the cover art on the Judas Priest "British Steel" album cover. Like the old Gillette twist to open safety razors.

Then you have SE, single edge, razor blades used by Gem, Ever Ready, etc single edge razors.
Plus there are Injector razors that use Injector blades.
DE blades and razors are the most common type. You can get 100 DE blades for about 10-20 US Dollars, if you buy online. Very economical.
I'm not good enough with a straight razor to use it on my lip or chin. I use it on the sides of my face and on my neck. The rest I do with a DE. There's nothing like the close shave of a good straight.
 
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