Shave of the day?

Monday, September 5, 2011

Gillette Slim
Elk Antler Brush (Homemade)
Williams Mug Soap
Aqua Velva Classic

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Vitos pre-shave
Omega-QED Sandalwood-Glycerin Lather
Kingsley Best Badger Brush
Butcher Bros. Razor
Dickinson's 100% Natural Witch Hazel
Clubman AS

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Never Forget​
 
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All this trouble and expense that you guys go to must be a labor of love.
Maybe I'm too practical minded to do all that. I just don't get it.

I believe that I get the closest shave possible with a non-romantic method. I shave in the shower so my beard will be soft from the hot water. After showering, I lather up with plain old Dove soap. It has some oil in it that allows the blades to glide easily over my face. First, I use a cheap Bic disposable razor but I don't use it to get everything. I actually use the same one for months. Dull is good for this part. Just a quick once over to get that scraped face feeling. I don't get very close to my nose or lips that could cause a nick. I haven't had a nick for years. Next, I re-lather with Dove and go over everything very well with a Wet/Dry Panasonic rechargable shaver that I believe shaves as close as anything. And I don't miss anything. My method is cheap, quick, safe, and very effective. Does anyone else shave this way or is it just me?
 
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There is no comparison to a good DE or straight razor shave, and it isn't that much trouble, it is very easy to do. Now if you are happy with what you do and the results that you get then that is all that matters.
 
holymolar said:
All this trouble and expense that you guys go to must be a labor of love.
Maybe I'm too practical minded to do all that. I just don't get it.

I believe that I get the closest shave possible with a non-romantic method. I shave in the shower so my beard will be soft from the hot water. After showering, I lather up with plain old Dove soap. It has some oil in it that allows the blades to glide easily over my face. First, I use a cheap Bic disposable razor but I don't use it to get everything. I actually use the same one for months. Dull is good for this part. Just a quick once over to get that scraped face feeling. I don't get very close to my nose or lips that could cause a nick. I haven't had a nick for years. Next, I re-lather with Dove and go over everything very well with a Wet/Dry Panasonic rechargable shaver that I believe shaves as close as anything. And I don't miss anything. My method is cheap, quick, safe, and very effective. Does anyone else shave this way or is it just me?
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I don't doubt your experience or anything, but my experience with Bic was horrible. Straight out of the box, I would get all sorts of nicks in random places just going with the grain. I threw out the rest of the razors in the pack, and I'd never get one again.

Second, I used to have a cheap piece of crap electric razor, and I have to admit that it did quite a good job.

The reason I switched, though, is because although the electric was close, it wasn't clean. It always left my face feeling all oily and nasty. It's just not the same as wet shaving.

I do get up extra early to DE/Straight shave, so you're right: it is a labor of love. The closeness of a DE or straight just doesn't compare to a cartridge or electric razor, too. I revisited my Gillette Sensor 3 disposable over the weekend to see how it did compared to DEs and Straights after months of not using it. Needless to say, I had to shave twice that day.

Whether or not you call this practical - it's up to you. I do it because I enjoy it; that's all.
 
holymolar said:
All this trouble and expense that you guys go to must be a labor of love.
Maybe I'm too practical minded to do all that. I just don't get it.
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Yes for some people, shaving can become a hobby unto itself. If you are one of these people and you enjoy it, that's great. I have a friend who collects Farmall tractors. By comparison, it's nice to have a hobby wherein adding another piece to the collection does not necessitate adding another building to your property.

I switched to DE from cartridge-and-can because I got tired of spending over a dollar-per-day just to get shaved! I found that not only can I save big money with DE, but the shave is significantly better. For me, DE shaving is about saving about a dollar-per-day while getting a better shave, all for about one more minute per day spent shaving.

You don't have to become a shave hobbiest and accumulate a huge stable of razors and collect up every type of blade available and assemble a library of every soap available on the planet and experiment with every pre- and aftershave product known to man.
 
Gollnick said:
You don't have to become a shave hobbiest and accumulate a huge stable of razors and collect up every type of blade available and assemble a library of every soap available on the planet and experiment with every pre- and aftershave product known to man.
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You mean I don't have to buy every vintage razor I stubble upon, and that I don't need 4-5 different soaps and creams, or just as many aftershaves sitting in my medicine cabinet:eek: :D

In comparison collecting and using shaving equipment is much cheaper than farm tractors, I think the most I paid for a vintage razor is $35 for my Slim adjustable, and I paid $55 for a lot of 5 razors shipped that included my Single Ring and a very healthy Bar Handled New. I averaged it out what I paid for all my razors, including the EJ89L that I started with and the ones that have been given to me, my most expensive razor at $40, and I am sitting at $12 per razor.

I should say that I don't really consider myself a collector, I am a user. So even though I have some very nice razors on the shelf, they are not on display and all get used. Speaking of which this is the Shave of the Day thread, so I think its time to go shave. Yesterday it was a late 40's Aristocrat that has lost most of its plating, but does a wonderful job. I need to decide what razor it will be today, I think it may be one of my lowly Techs.
 
unky_gumbi said:
You mean I don't have to buy every vintage razor I stubble upon, and that I don't need 4-5 different soaps and creams, or just as many aftershaves sitting in my medicine cabinet:eek: :D
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YOU may have to buy every vintage razor and every soap and aftershave you see. But, not everyone else does. Keep in mind that I own about 800 balisong knives; most people don't need need quite that many.

Are you wrong to own a stable of razors and a library of soap? NO! If it makes you happy, then you should -- by all means -- continue.


In comparison collecting and using shaving equipment is much cheaper than farm tractors...
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Or sports cars or art knives or guns or so many other things guys collect.

And even if it's not "collecting," Even with an expensive soap and an opulent aftershave, it's hard to spend more that a few bucks on a shave. If it gives you a pleasure, if it makes you happy, well it's cheaper than even a well drink. A glass of scotch can cost $25. A glass of wine can cost $50. Gas to cruise around in your sports car for an hour can cost $5. A steak dinner can cost $35. Ammo for a few minutes of plinking can cost $10 or $20 easily. So what's a few bucks spent on a high-end shave? If that's what you enjoy, then do so with gusto.
 
I was just joking around for the record. I know I could have done just fine with the one razor and soap, and you will never see me chasing down those expensive vintage razors. If I ever get one it will be because I found it in a yard sale or flea market for pennies on the dollar. Dropping $500+ on a razor is just to look at it is out of my realm of comprehension, $1000+ on a knife I can see doing if I have the funds but I would use it too.
 
holymolar said:
All this trouble and expense that you guys go to must be a labor of love.
Maybe I'm too practical minded to do all that. I just don't get it.
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I switched to DE for many of the same reasons Gollnick did. I used an electric from age 14 until about 3 years ago. I endured 29 years of razor burn because none of the electrics I tried would closely shave the wire whiskers on my face without leaving razor burn on my sensitive skin. I then switched to Gillette Fusion and canned goo, then to a Schick Quattro to try to get rid of razor burn. It got slightly better, but I was burning through one cartridge a week, and I only shave every other day! I just couldn't afford $15/mo on razor heads (which is why I switched to the Schick Quattro -- only slightly cheaper). I still had bad razor burn and a 5 o'clock shadow by noon.

DE shaving has reduced my razor burn to nothing unless I get careless (which doesn't happen very often now that I've learned my razors), the shaving cream I use has lasted me over 6 months with several more months left in them, and I can get 2 years worth of blades for $40 if I go for the top-end blades-- which I don't. I could be spending $13/mo on cartridges or the $20/2yrs for razor blades. Better shave, less cost. Very practical.
 
The usual but very good:

Hot face flannel.
Vulfix Badger
Cella Almond soap/cream it's a sort of cross...
Merkur Open Comb
New Feather. Feather still reigns but I'd like to try these Red Personna people speak well of. The other Israeli blade I tried, Crystal, was terrible!
L'Occitane Baux balm.

No beard stubble anywhere, no burn,no nicks. Can't get this level of shave with cartridge, disposables and as for electric.......
 
willgoy, I too prefer Feather blades, but I succumbed to the positive reviews and have tried the Red Personnas. I can say that they compare favorably to Feathers.

They provide a similar shave (say, 80-85%) for me and at a cheaper price. I see them as a reasonable substitute.

That said, I still prefer Feathers.
 
I find the IP reds to be the smoothest blade I have tried, maybe not as sharp as some, yet they glide across my face as if I wasn't even using a blade. They do cut though:p
 
Tried to get a really close shave today because I wont be able to shave with my proper hand for a couple of days.

Razor: 1921 Gillette Single Ring
Blade: IP Red
Brush: TGN Silver Tip In Omega 005 Handle
Soap: Proraso Green
Aftershave: TGR Standard Aftershave balm
Pre Shave: Hot shower

As I said I wont be able to shave for a couple of days with my proper hand so I wanted to get as close as possible on this shave so that I could maybe be able to make it over the hump without shaving. Well I got close, real close. So close that I actually got a couple of weepers:eek: and some irritation:( This is odd for me with the Single Ring, but if I am lucky I managed to get close enough. If not I will be shaving with my opposite hand and using either my 60s Rocket Flare Tip or my 40s Super Speed, something mild but still able to shave close. I don't get as close, and making lather is a bit of a pain with one hand, but its still better than using a cartridge or disposable razor and canned goo.

Update: Hooray, no need to shave wrong handed or go a couple of days without shaving. While I was getting the shot I was thinking just cut the dam arm off, I will supply the knife, no need for freezing. Now though it is down to a dull throbbing and I have about 85% of the movement back, so tomorrow will be business as usual I hope.
 
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