The Shaving Thread

[Yegolev]

Braun 760, replaced Ye Olde Mach 3.  Best shave I ever had, plus I can do it anywhere.

That's quite a pricey little electric shaver there. It really does a better shave than a Mach 3?

It does.  I suddenly and recently developed some sort of condition in which the right side of my upper lip no longer put up with shaving.  It decided it would get razor burn every fucking time despite my long-term use of the same Mach 3 razor.  The Braun 760 is indeed expensive, but I knew someone who inherited a Series 8 from his grandfather and said it was the most fantastic shave ever; the 8s are available but I decided to get a model that is currently being made.  Also I figured I need to buy things like this now while I have a job.   So far I have no complaints.

[Oban]

Still using my nice gold-colored DE razor, although I recently switched from Gillette to Merkur blades; the former were sold out everywhere I looked. Turns out the Merkur blades give me a much nicer shave at half the price, so I'll probably make the switch permanent... at least until another supply shortage occurs.

You should try the Feather brand platinum blades, they are super sharp.  I tried a Merkur and found it pulled my hair too much.

[Arnold]

My latest acquisition:

I wanted to get one of those and talked to my barber about it.  He did the coolest thing and let me borrow one of his injection razors (shaped like a straight razor, but with disposable blades) and told me I wouldn't like it.  He was right.  I never got any cleaner of a shave than I could get with my disposables, and I tore my face up a lot more.

I think those things work best when someone else is shaving you, because they are awkward to handle when shaving yourself.

[dusematic]

I tried this wet shaving thing and couldn't really get into it.  Kind of cool though.

[Yegolev]

The straight razor requires practice, and the upside is that your kids will get more Three Stooges jokes.

[Abagadro]

I wanted to get one of those and talked to my barber about it.  He did the coolest thing and let me borrow one of his injection razors (shaped like a straight razor, but with disposable blades) and told me I wouldn't like it.  He was right.  I never got any cleaner of a shave than I could get with my disposables, and I tore my face up a lot more.

I think those things work best when someone else is shaving you, because they are awkward to handle when shaving yourself.

That is called a shavette and isn't very comparable to a straight razor.  The blade doesn't have the heft of a straight and isn't as sharp as a properly honed straight.

I've managed to pick up a few razors over the last six months:

[Oban]

Gah, I have had a hard enough time finding the few I have. 

Where did you find all of those?

[Abagadro]

Antique stores, ebay, shaving sites.

[Oban]

I have had zero luck in antique stores around the world.  While I have found a few DE's in brick and mortar stores, almost all of the new stock can be found online for less.

Bah, eBay it is then.

[Teleku]

Obviously you just need to go to antique stores in such a backwards ass place as Utah to find them.  

I've been tempted to get into this, just because it seems cool, but I'm having a hard time seeing the benefits.  I get my face perfectly smooth with my Mach 5.  The only way possible to get a closer shave would be to skin myself.

[Abagadro]

I have had zero luck in antique stores around the world.  While I have found a few DE's in brick and mortar stores, almost all of the new stock can be found online for less.

Bah, eBay it is then.

Overall buying from wet-shaving site buy/sell forums is a bit better as you get more honest descriptions and the prices are usually a bit lower. Are you looking for something in particular? I may have an extra.

I've been tempted to get into this, just because it seems cool, but I'm having a hard time seeing the benefits.

For me it has helped with my ingrowns as a single edge blade doesn't lift the whisker upwards out of the skin before cutting it. If you can avoid becoming a degenerate collector like me and just get a razor you like and stock up with blades, it can also be significantly cheaper as even top-end blades like Feathers can be had for 40 cents each (you can get decent ones like Bics or Derby's for 10-15 cents each) instead of the 3 bucks or whatever they charge per Mach 5 cartridge.

[Yoru]

Still using my nice gold-colored DE razor, although I recently switched from Gillette to Merkur blades; the former were sold out everywhere I looked. Turns out the Merkur blades give me a much nicer shave at half the price, so I'll probably make the switch permanent... at least until another supply shortage occurs.

You should try the Feather brand platinum blades, they are super sharp.  I tried a Merkur and found it pulled my hair too much.

Would love to, but the supply of DE razor blades here is pretty slim. There's one other shave shop I know of, on the opposite side of town. I'll run by sometime this week to see if they have any. Just getting the Merkurs was pretty tough, as there's only one barbershop that carries 'em - all the supermarkets and drugstores seem to have stopped carrying the Gillette DE blades now.

[Oban]

Overall buying from wet-shaving site buy/sell forums is a bit better as you get more honest descriptions and the prices are usually a bit lower. Are you looking for something in particular? I may have an extra.

I will know it when I see it, but thank you for the offer.

I just spent thirty minutes going through the Badger & Blade forums, amazing variety out there.

[Big Gulp]

Or you could just take baby steps like I did and get an old fashioned safety razor.  Sure, you don't have that murderous barber thing going on, but you still get a pretty good shave, and for a shitload less money than what you'd pay to Gilette.

[JWIV]

Or you could just take baby steps like I did and get an old fashioned safety razor.  Sure, you don't have that murderous barber thing going on, but you still get a pretty good shave, and for a shitload less money than what you'd pay to Gilette.

Straight blades are cool, but I'm more than happy with my safety razor.

[Oban]

I use this one pretty much every day still, but I would love to find one that looks like my Caran d’Ache Ivanhoe pens:

[CmdrSlack]

I should have never read this thread.

Now I want to try this.

[dusematic]

I liked the idea of doing this.  Actually doing it was "eh."  There is the chance that I was simply doing it wrong.  I might try it again with some better gear, it would be cool to have my own little Demon Barber of Fleet Street setup in the bathroom.

[Abagadro]

I should have never read this thread.

Now I want to try this.

I could get you started with a razor, some blades and some cream if you want (gratis), but you'd be on your own getting a brush.

[DeathInABottle]

For anyone trying a straight razor shave, I'd encourage taking a read through Christopher Moss's guide.  It's helpful at all stages, and it does a particularly excellent job of explaining the shave itself.

I picked up a Norton 4000/8000 hone from Lee Valley Tools.  It was brutally expensive, but it's the last thing I really need.  Unless I drop my Dovo and really bend the blade, I should be able to use my current setup forever.  No replacing anything - just maintenance.

[Arnold]

Ok, this thread sold me.

I went down to the barber supply today and picked up a Merkur safety razor.  I wasn't sure if they would stock them, but they did - they just had one in the shop.  I think it's a classic, but the box didn't say.  I'll have to compare it to some pictures on the net.

Edit: I checked the $.99 Store next to my grocery store and they stock 5 packs of blades.  Sweet.

[CmdrSlack]

I should have never read this thread.

Now I want to try this.

I could get you started with a razor, some blades and some cream if you want (gratis), but you'd be on your own getting a brush.

That'd be awesome. I was looking at classicshaving.com and was just going to drop the 25 bones on the inexpensive Merkur . . . I was going to Google up various razor reviews today, seems like I need a closed comb one...or maybe I'm out of my element.

[Abagadro]

I'll send you a vintage superspeed. It's a good one to start with as it is pretty mild. It won't be all that pretty but it will work fine and will give you a taste so you can determine whether you want to invest in it more.  PM me your address.

[Pennilenko]

Or you could just take baby steps like I did and get an old fashioned safety razor.  Sure, you don't have that murderous barber thing going on, but you still get a pretty good shave, and for a shitload less money than what you'd pay to Gilette.

I did this and am still happy with the OFSR, gonna select a straight razor soon though.

[CmdrSlack]

The Ab-sent razor is in my possession, now to make multiple shopping stops to get a brush (boar bristle 'cause I'm cheap/broke) and an alum block. Apparently, the store that sells the brush (Whole Foods) doesn't carry the alum. Perhaps I should ask about the styptic pencil as well, since we're talking about people who don't likely wet shave. At any rate, I've scouted the various bits, and an old-timey drugstore has the pencil if all else fails.



If I totally fuxxor my face, I shall post pics of my exposed cheekbone.

After watching the mantic videos, I'm reasonably sure that if I can shave with a Mach 3, I can make this vintage razor work for me.

[Abagadro]

Wow that got there fast.  I've heard Indian grocery stores are good sources of cheap alum blocks.

[CmdrSlack]

The nice thing about my 'burb is that it was here since the 1800s. We have a drugstore that has been owned by the same family since they sold snake oil. Styptic pencil: $0.95.

Win.

[CmdrSlack]

So yeah. I was wandering around Geneva, IL the other day (mini-vacations from work give me time to roam the collar counties), and found what appears to be a really nice boar or rather serviceable pure badger brush. The woman in the "aromatherapy" shop didn't know, and neither did the shop owner (had to call her to get the price). I got it for twelve bucks with some nice looking, but useless cartridge handle.

It's nicer than the boar brush I had snagged previously, so that's cool. However, I really need to just bite the bullet and upgrade to a fancy brush. I have found some silvertip brushes online for decent prices (high 50s).

I'm debating doing the cheaper upgrade to Taylor of Old Bond Street creams first...also probabl snagging a blade sampler past the one Ab sent me. I'm thinking I like the Derby blades, but I haven't dared to venture into Feather world yet.

So far, it's a very soothing way to start a day.

[Abagadro]

I've had great experience with westcoastshaving.com as an online vendor if you are going to start buying stuff in earnest.

[Oban]

Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving cream, aftershave and pre-shave lotion are what I use.  Good stuff without an overpowering smell.

A high quality brush really does make a difference too.

[CmdrSlack]

So this site has some good prices on badger brush knots without handles. My idea is to make a cool brush without having to spend close to $100 for a silvertip brush.

I'm thinking of using Gorilla Glue to affix the knot to a handle, does anyone have any other opinions on adhesives? Obviously, I need something water proof.

Also, short of getting acces to and learning how to use a lathe, any good ideas for a unique handle? I've ruled out dice as they likely would crumble if I tried to bore out a hole to insert the knot. Some ideas from Badger and Blade were things like golf balls, but I don't golf.

So yeah, has anyone tried to build their own brush?

[Abagadro]

Marine epoxy is the way to go on adhesive.  The new rage is to find an old plastic handled brush and drill out the old knot.  There is a big thread about it over at B&B.

[CmdrSlack]

Marine epoxy is the way to go on adhesive.  The new rage is to find an old plastic handled brush and drill out the old knot.  There is a big thread about it over at B&B.

Same thread where I read about the Golden Nib site. Best idea in there so far is to just go buy the proper sized socket (28 mm for the 28mm plug) and go that route. Looks pretty darn cool, and is definitely doing it on the cheap. I'd almost make and sell these if I thought I could make some slight profit here.

[Abagadro]

Had not read it for a while so did not see the socket idea.  Would indeed look cool but I'd be worried about rust. 

[Oban]

Had a TSA screener pull my bag aside because he saw my razor on the xray machine.  I had it disassembled in a sunglass case.  At first I thought he was looking for DE blades, which I do not travel with but rather purchase at a pharmacy where ever I land.  But no... He thought the handle was a weapon.  He tried to figure out how the three pieces went together.  After snatching it out of his hands to quickly screw it together, he allowed me to pass.   Sigh

So, this morning I went through the TSA area and made the mistake of not only leaving my razor in one piece, but I also forgot to remove my freedom bag full of liquids. Not even a second look from the screener as I gathered my laptop, bag and shoes.

Hooray for random enforcement.