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Alright, what are you dudes shaving with? Razors, aftershaves, soaps etc.

Since I am shaving tonight rather then tomorrow morning, my set up will be my Breidora 4/8 (made in Germany circa early 1920's) straight razor, Caswell and Massey greenbriar shave soap, Vulfix shave brush and just plain old Nivea after shave. Debating using Poraso pre-shave but I usually better off without it.

I don't have to waste time shaving, ehehehe

Last minute switch to my F.A Koch & Co 5/8 Cyclone(spike point) soligen germany (circa 1950's) straight razor

You're talking to a guy who enjoys his shave

I'm on shaving hiatus, but when I do shave I fuck with shitty disposable razors because no matter what I shave with I get terrible razor burn. but I do have some kickass thayers witch hazel aftershave

ummmm the mach 3 from my stocking last year and some safeway select foam
sometimes a girls gotta treat herself

Hunter, if you ever have the patients to switch to a straight razor it will most likely clear that up. Simple fact is that with a straight you use like 1/10th the pressure you would use with a normal disposable. Far less pressure equals far less irritation yet you get a much closer and enjoyable shave.

Simple ways to deal with skin irritation: cold water shaves (this is much easier on the skin, and actually the way one is supposed to shave. Doesn't work for everyone though). Use a shave soap + brush (shave soap will stiffen up the hair rather then soften them, allowing for a smoother/closer shave with less pressure). Pick up some Pre-shave cream. Proraso Pre-shave (anti irritation) is cheap as hell and should be what you need.

Good call on the Thayers though. Good stuff

Where is TYLER

this is totally type of thread.

dalamar501 wrote:Where is TYLER

He's at Bed, Bath and Beyond. New digs gotta look tight.

THIS THREAD! yeah! I have been pretty lazy, shaving-wise lately, but here are some comments I have on this thread.

Straight razors are awesome but from everything I've heard, they take a lot of skill to really master. The combination of that and the work you have to put into really keeping them sharp makes me hesitant, but I'm sure it's totally worth it. I'm probably going to stay committed to double-edged shaving because it's such a combination of comfort, low cost, and it's not that much work to get a really great shave.

I am curious about the shaving soap you use. I used to use JM Fraser shaving cream. Cream is way more lather-y than soap but not as slippery. Just a different feel. Then I decided to get a puck of Col Ichabod Conk shaving soap and bought an oversized mug to keep it in. It's a little less finnicky about the ratio of water so it makes the whole process a little faster than cream, but I'm still on the fence about which I prefer.

I only started using pre-shave oil about half a year ago. Gentlemen's Refinery, though I'm sure it's not too much different than Poraso. I've noticed that it does make the shave feel smoother and less likely to tug. But I also started to feel weird about covering my face in oil on such a regular basis. So I usually only bust it out if I haven't shaved in a while or if I want an extra close shave for a special occasion.

I think I mentioned my main kit in the other thread but I have a few DE razors. My main go-to razor is a 1960 Gillette Super Speed. I also have a heftier German-made Merkur 38C and another one that I grabbed that was my Grandfather's spare one I guess and he kept it at that cabin we stayed at.

I have been using Clubman Bay Rum aftershave lately because the burn feels so good to me. It's sort of rum/cinnamon-y and isn't really a long lasting scent or anything.

I do feel like less is proboably more when it comes to shaving, so I only use balm if for some reason I feel more skin irritation than normal afterwards. I have some Nivea balm

You ever cut yourself? I totally reccomend getting a styptic pencil. They're super cheap and you just wet it and put it to a cut and it burns intensely for a second or so then practically seals it and it heals super fast.

We gotta talk about this cold water thing though. Maybe it's different for straight razors but that goes against everything I've ever learned about shaving. The hotter the water, the easier the razor glides, kind of like a hot knife in warm butter. Skin gets smoother and softer. I get the possible idea behind a cold water shave... hair standing up on end and sticking out, maybe. And it probably helps prevent irritation. But through my shaving experiences I have always had my best shaves with hot hot water. At the Troyler, if we used up all our hot water and I had to shave, it wouldn't be anywhere near as close and would take so much extra effort. As a rule, I shave with as hot water as possible and use ceramic shaving bowls to retain that heat, then after everything but the aftershave I splash with super cold water to close the pores and cool the blood. It seems to be what most of the shaving nerds do.

I've heard good things about bay rum, maybe I'll pick some up one day. and jordan I usually do a cold water shave. I have terrible skin and razor burn seems to be unbeatable

Jordan f. wrote: patients

Patients -




Patience -




sucka!

Tyler, I am hyped you are like me and actually enjoy shaving. If I am gonna do something until I am bitter and old, I am going to make it enjoyable.

Straight razors are definitely more work but I highly encourage you to try it one day(I've been thinking of picking up a basic DE just to keep things interesting). Once you get the stropping and angles down its pretty easy to do. I have one razor I need to get re-honed because it's the one I learned my technique on. 1920's Bengal 6/8 (round point, soligen germany), definitely a good one to learn on. Although stropping on a full-hollow is easier, it was a lot less forgiving when I screwed up shaving.. in other words, I have put to use my styptic pencil before hahahaa.

As for shaving soap. I have a couple different ones in use right now. For super cheap, best bang for your buck, I really like the Proraso Shaving Soap (you can get it at any london drugs). My all-time favorite is Caswell and Massey greenbriar shave soap. It's about 35$ for the puck+wooden bowl. Great lather (easy to make), great scent and will last you awhile (you can pick this up at Simply The Best). I'd recomend staying away from Art of Shaving products. I have a sandlewood shave soap by them (along with some AS balm) and all though they are ok, they are way over priced and difficult to get a good lather. When I get some cash I am going to pick up a good shave cream but I am in no hurry right now. What do you like price/quality wise?

Honestly, I found pre-shave oil and creams nice when I first started. Once I got my technique proper, they stopped really making a difference and became an un-needed step. I use it sometimes though just for kicks (it feels good haha).

My aftershave game isn't huge right now. I can't remember what it's called, but I have a bottle of this Tabacco scent aftershave (no-name stuff made in portland) that is great. I'll get you the info when I get home. I have some Art of Shaving sandlewood aftershave balm but honestly I feel it leaves my face feeling greasy. Also, it was to much money.

hahahah oh the cold water shave! Pretty much, what ever works best for you is what you should do (everyones skin and hair growth is different). You pretty much hit the nail on the head. Cold water will cause the hair to stiffen, stick up and become brittle. Thus, (with a shave-ready razor) easier to cut and get a close shave. I personally do hot water because I enjoy warm lather and water because it's more relaxing. I do occasionally do cold water on my second pass to get the tough hair. This could be simply a straight razor thing. The idea of a straight razor is it being as sharp as possible. When I shave, the weight of the blade alone is enough pressure to cut the hair. As you said, it should feeling like a hot knife cutting through butter.

Ever listen to music when you shave? Most of the time I don't, but the occasional time I wake up with nothing to do it's been a great way to start the day. It's always something very relaxing (no I don't shave to Youth Of Today) like Hank Mobley or The Bill Evans Trio (you know a good amount about Jazz don't you? I gotta get you to point me in the right direction. My taste seems to be mostly 1950's era stuff). Sleeping in + warm lather straight razor shave + coffee = staying somewhat sane .

I would like to add a Case Bro's era (early 1900's) Red Imp 133 to my rotation but who knows when I'll have some extra cash to do it. But to be honest I will probably buy a Morris era (1920-1950) since they are just as good but a bit cheaper because of the less popular (although still great) brand name.

Crucified wrote:sucka!

hahaha my spelling is not great, and when I am on my phone it gets even worse.

you really should try DE shaving! I can't contribute much to the straight razor talk because I know next to nothing about it. maybe we'll have to each try the other method. it's fun because DE blades are really fucking cheap, especially compared to Gilette Fusion type shit. like a few cents a blade. so I don't feel bad about switching blades every two or three shaves. I bought bulk packs of Derby Extra and Astra Platinum blades, after I tried a sample pack of a bunch of different blades. gotta buy that shit online though, the blades they sell in drugstores here are bad news. I also tried Merkur, which were good but too pricey, Feather, which are known as the sharpest on the market but I'm not the kind of dude to live on the edge like that, and a few other brands that didn't click with me.

I do enjoy my shave. haven't pumped music. it's all about quiet concentration. sort of gives me time to myself to just think and enjoy it. I can see Bill Evans being a good match for a traditional shave, haha. that's rad that you like 50's era jazz, the 50's and the 60's are my favourite periods for jazz music. which instruments do you tend to be drawn to? I'm huge into Cannonball Adderley, so there's another starting point for you. maybe I could mediafire some stuff to you.

I might try an actual cold shave to just see what it's like. I'm scared. I feel like it'll numb my skin and I'll fuck up and cut myself and not even feel it.

GROW BEARDS

my goal is to buy and learn to shave with a DE this summer. What would you recomend me for starting out? Keep in mind I won't have a lot of money to spend hahahaha. I feel like a heavier razor would be easier but I am just guessing (I could just let the weight of the razor do all the work for me hhaha).

Mediafire me some stuff dude! I would be way into that. But I am with you, most days it's no music and concentration (I don't shave if I am in a bad mood).

Let me know how the cold water shave works out.

There is a barber just down the street from my house who does straight razor shaves. One of these days I want to get one from him. Might try and do that in April.

hammer that beard out, its just begging to bloom. who are you to deny it?