A Close Shave

[Va_Golfer86]

Switched to DE shaving a couple months ago. Edwin Jagger DE89 handle and feather blades. Closest shave I have ever gotten.

[GooseHook]

4 years and counting: Merkur 39C Slant and Feather blades. I cant remember the last time I had razor bumps!

My last 50-blade pack of Feathers lasted more than a year. All said and done I think I spend about a dollar per month on shaving.

[magwai]

I used to be dissatisfied with Gillette but since the fusion power it really does work and the blades last me for 3-4 weeks so I can't really complain about the price.

[Arpeggi]

Muhle DE Safety Razor
Astra SP blade
AoS pure Badger brush
Truefitt & Hill Rose Shaving cream
Nivea Post Shave Balm

Wet Shaving is almost as much of a hobby of mine as golf. Almost.

[Arpeggi]

[quote name='Barto78' timestamp='1398807227' post='9198357']
I would love to move to a premium old school razor, but i have to shave both with and against the grain to get a close shave. How often do you guys cut yourself when you use a Merkur or similar style razor?
[/quote]

You just have to be patient and use short strokes. Let the razor do its job.

I shave with the grain, across the grain and then against the grain.

[Redbird]

[quote name='esketores' timestamp='1398516907' post='9174679']
A couple years ago I went a quest. A shaving quest. Spent quite a bit of $$$.
The end results...
Jack Black Bread Lube.
Schick Hydro 5 disposables. And these came about purely by happenstance. Was at an Energized plant (Energizer owns Schick) and the plant manager gave me a pack telling me I'd not be sorry.
[/quote]


^^This, only I get Jack Black Beard lube, I prefer butter on my bread. I want a non-irritating shave and for it to be done as quick as possible.

[GooseHook]

Just my opinion from experience.

If you actually think you need pre-shave, then your lather isn't good enough or you're using the wrong blade. Some oils and such can actually gunk up your blade and require more passes.

[jrsharp21]

Too scared here to use a straight razor. Plus I shave in the shower every morning. I use Dorco products. They are the company who make the Dollar Shave Club products for them. It's actually cheaper and more convenient to cut out the middle man. I used to use Gillette products but then I have Dorco a try and never looked back. They also have straight razor blades also.

www.dorcousa.com

[Va_Golfer86]

[quote name='jrsharp21' timestamp='1400035672' post='9291113']
Too scared here to use a straight razor. Plus I shave in the shower every morning. I use Dorco products. They are the company who make the Dollar Shave Club products for them. It's actually cheaper and more convenient to cut out the middle man. I used to use Gillette products but then I have Dorco a try and never looked back. They also have straight razor blades also.

www.dorcousa.com
[/quote]

I was hesitant to try DE shaving, but I'm really glad I switched. My neck can't thank me enough.
One pass with a feather blade it beats every other razor I've ever tried. Two passes, and I can go an extra day! Not to mention long term cost savings. It's not as bad as one would think.

[Scratch N Stick]

[quote name='dcmidnight' timestamp='1399547891' post='9255457']
The shaving cream I use is Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream. Had never heard of it but someone pointed me to it on Amazon - fantastic stuff.
[/quote]

I use the Truefitt & Hill shaving soap - as soon as I run out, probably at least another year, I will give the cream a shot.

In Houston we have an English store who just so happens to carry a good selection of shaving products. I wanted to give it a shot so I went in a bought a Jagger razor, some T&H Sandlewood Soap, cheaped out on the brush though and just went with their in house brand. It works great for me and now that I am getting good at it I think it is time to upgrade to a better brush. At least to have options. I have some TOBS Sandlewood aftershave. Wife sometimes tells me I smell like an older man...

[bigred90gt]

[quote name='Scratch N Stick' timestamp='1400170322' post='9301265']
[quote name='dcmidnight' timestamp='1399547891' post='9255457']
The shaving cream I use is Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream. Had never heard of it but someone pointed me to it on Amazon - fantastic stuff.
[/quote]

I use the Truefitt & Hill shaving soap - as soon as I run out, probably at least another year, I will give the cream a shot.

In Houston we have an English store who just so happens to carry a good selection of shaving products. I wanted to give it a shot so I went in a bought a Jagger razor, some T&H Sandlewood Soap, cheaped out on the brush though and just went with their in house brand. It works great for me and now that I am getting good at it I think it is time to upgrade to a better brush. At least to have options. I have some TOBS Sandlewood aftershave. Wife sometimes tells me I smell like an older man...
[/quote]

British Isles in Rice Village I assume? I love that place! They also have a great selection of colognes that you can't find anywhere else locally.

[mshills]

Someone mentioned straight razor shaving -- that I can't do, it's too much work.

To the question on how often do you cut yourself with a dual edge? Essentially never, if I just pay attention to what I am doing. Rules of the game for me are:

#1. No pressure.
#2. NO ### #### PRESSURE.
#3. Remember, NO PRESSURE!
#4. Prep face. This is not as hard as it sounds -- just a warm shower does it for me. I might put some hair conditioner on my face in the shower as it seems to soften the whiskers a little bit, but I've not found this step to really be necessary.

I found that getting a consistent blade angle wasn't hard. The key, and IMO the steepest learning curve is to avoid pressing the razor down onto your skin. That will cause cuts, weepers, and serious razor burn FOR SURE. If you're coming from a cartridge, disposable, or electric razor, you're trained to push that sucker down onto your face. STOP! With a dual edge, the weight of the razor is the only pressure you need, and it's not much. The first pass will not be all that close. It's not meant to be close. Resist the temptation to press down in search of the close shave -- just make a second pass. Then maybe a third, and perhaps even a fourth.

[tocino]

I just started going to a new barber shop, the owner is a transplant from new york and they offer a full service, haircut plus straight-razor shave. I've always used either an electric shaver or disposable razors. I wouldnt mind trying out the straight-razor

[gambit]

Straight razor shaves are awesome tocino. If I had the balls I'd use a straight razor at home, but I'm happy with the DE.

On a side note, just went through this thread again to see if anyone mentioned it, but I just switched to Castle and Forbes Lavender shaving cream and it blows the AoS stuff out of the water. Closest shave I've had in a while. More expensive, but it's much denser and a little goes a long way.

[Scratch N Stick]

[quote name='bigred90gt' timestamp='1400174626' post='9302001'][quote name='Scratch N Stick' timestamp='1400170322' post='9301265']
[quote name='dcmidnight' timestamp='1399547891' post='9255457']
The shaving cream I use is Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream. Had never heard of it but someone pointed me to it on Amazon - fantastic stuff.
[/quote]

I use the Truefitt & Hill shaving soap - as soon as I run out, probably at least another year, I will give the cream a shot.

In Houston we have an English store who just so happens to carry a good selection of shaving products. I wanted to give it a shot so I went in a bought a Jagger razor, some T&H Sandlewood Soap, cheaped out on the brush though and just went with their in house brand. It works great for me and now that I am getting good at it I think it is time to upgrade to a better brush. At least to have options. I have some TOBS Sandlewood aftershave. Wife sometimes tells me I smell like an older man...
[/quote]

British Isles in Rice Village I assume? I love that place! They also have a great selection of colognes that you can't find anywhere else locally.[/quote]
yes sir, that is it.

They say DE shaving is a cheaper alternative, because the blades can be had for change. However, when you add up everything - cream, soap, brush, razor, stand, bowl, and the obsession that one out two isn't enough....it can get fairly expensive.

[chickenpotpie]

Bringing this one back to ask a question regarding brushes. I've been using the AoS travel sized brush for the last 6 months and like it, but I have been thinking about getting a full size one. Couple questions, are the Silvertip brushes worth the price? And are there other badger hair options that I should consider? I really like the heavy metal AoS one, but the price tag has me reeling. Was hoping I'd get one for Christmas, but that didn't happen.

If it matters, I use the Maca root cream from the Body Shop, and Gillette pro-Fusion blades. Really like both....best shaves I've ever gotten.

[Dinosaur]

I should probably look into getting a better quality brush but I am more or less pleased with what I have. I started out with the el cheapo DE set advertised on TV. After awhile I had to throw it away as I was getting nicks too frequently, the butterfly mechanism kept getting stuck. I bought a Parker DE razor with black handle that has the twist collar located hear the head and happy to report, never a nick. I can usually get by with a single pass, but sometimes will take a little more time in problem areas, (or just want to enjoy the experience a little longer). I also have not done much experimenting with different soaps, I use the Hagen Daas (I know, wrong name as its not ice cream. but having a senior moment right now) available from CVS or Walgreens. I did order some Colonel Konk (or whatever) stuff online and liked its scent. Some guys get really into it, but for me suffice to say, I just like the ritual and feel of wet shaving. Cake of soap for a buck or so, buck or two for ten persona blades, I am good to go.

[bub72ck]

Was interested in Dollar Shave Club but ended up buying directly from Dorco who makes the blades for DSC. I got a nice metal handle with 6 blades and 3 disposables plus the same for my wife to my door for under $30.