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Any Wet-Shavers Out There?

#81
I use art of shaving oil, cream, after shave cream, and badger shaving brush. For razor I use a gillete turbo, I shave everyday in the morning before going to work and I dont have time for a safety razor, it needs to be quick.
 
#82
Pacman said:
I really like that one on the far right. Very cool.
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The big one? That's a Merkur Vision. It's large, heavy, and adjustable. It used to be my #1, until I started buying vintage razors and slants. I keep meaning to pick up a Merkur Futur (which is basically the smaller bro to the Vision), but I just grabbed a new Ikon Slant that should be in my hands in the next week or so.

pedroims said:
I use art of shaving oil, cream, after shave cream, and badger shaving brush. For razor I use a gillete turbo, I shave everyday in the morning before going to work and I dont have time for a safety razor, it needs to be quick.
Click to expand...

If you don't want to dedicate yourself fully to wetshaving, using a brush and good cream (AOS is excellent) is the next best thing. It's SO much better than the crap in cans they sell these days.

I will say that there is a learning curve to using a safety razor, but once you get going it really doesn't take all that much more time. I've got a beard right now, so cleaning up my neck probably only takes me like 5 minutes. I can do my full face in less than 10 minutes, probably half of that if I only do one pass.
 
#83
bassgod0dmw said:
If you don't want to dedicate yourself fully to wetshaving, using a brush and good cream (AOS is excellent) is the next best thing. It's SO much better than the crap in cans they sell these days.

I will say that there is a learning curve to using a safety razor, but once you get going it really doesn't take all that much more time. I've got a beard right now, so cleaning up my neck probably only takes me like 5 minutes. I can do my full face in less than 10 minutes, probably half of that if I only do one pass.
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Honestly I can say that shaving used to be a PITA for me, this year I found AOS and I am enyoing the ritual of shaving. I went ahead and order a Merkur 34C and a blade sampler pack from weast coast shaving , let see how it goes.
 
#84
Phalex said:
I think the big riddle is that after numerous reinventions of the wheel over the ages, do 14 blade razors, or oscillating blades really present any improvement at all over simply scraping a really sharp chip of obsidian over ones face?
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In my experience: No, they don't. This past summer, I brought my Mach 3 with me while playing some gigs on the road. While the Mach 3 is one of the better multi-blade cartridge systems on the market, it was still inferior to just about any DE shave I've had. It didn't shave as close or cleanly. I have never had a satisfying shave with an electric, and I've tried some high-end ones.

I'm not obsessive like the folks over at Badger and Blade, and I'm not a traditionalist. I just want a good shave, and I have found that more traditional methods are the superior way.
 
#85
Agreed.

Multi blade razors don't make a lot of sense to me. The first blade cuts the hair then the and the subsequent blades scrape against your face. That can give some irritation, ingrown hairs, cuts, redness, etc.

With a single blade razor you do multiple passes. I think the advent of multi blade razors were made on the same idea. Why do three passes when you could use a razor with 3 blades instead? The difference is that you would re-lather before each new pass with a single blade offering your face some new protection each time.
 
#86
After years of razor burn and general annoyance I took the plunge as more or less of a new year's resolution. I'm using a Gillette Slim, Feather blades, and Handsome Rob oil/cream/aftershave (not necessarily strongly recommending the latter, it's the only stuff I've tried so far, but I have no complaints).

It took a few weeks to get the technique up to a consistent level of, probably, the high end of mediocre. But now my neck just looks clean when I'm done, rather than like a battlefield.

After watching some videos and learning some things, I could probably have made a lot of the same improvements without even switching to a safety razor. I had been making all the classic mistakes, like shaving problem areas against the grain. But I do like it and it is more cost effective as long as you make smart purchases.
 
#89
I use a Merkur from West Coast Shaving. Proraso shaving cream is excellent. You'll want to try a variety of blades until you find what works for you. I like the Persona Israeli Reds. As for scents I've gone old school and get my Pinaud-Clubman scents from Appleton Barber Supply.
 
#90
pedroims said:
Honestly I can say that shaving used to be a PITA for me, this year I found AOS and I am enyoing the ritual of shaving. I went ahead and order a Merkur 34C and a blade sampler pack from weast coast shaving , let see how it goes.
Click to expand...

I used my Merkur last night for the first time. I can say that while it was hard to do everything right, it was still one of the best, closest shaves. I had a few bleeders, but I didn't have the pain normally associated with a cartridge when you cut your self. Alum stopped the bleeding right away, and this morning, I had significnatly less residual irritation.

I joined Badger & Blade last week, and the folks over there are crazy, but super helpful. They answer questions patiently and without being arrogant or rude.
 
#92
Well my package is here: Mercur razor, feather nail clipper, nose and ear hair trimmer and a super sample package from west shaving. Tomorrow will be the first time in my life I will use a safety razor, any blade recommendation? I'm planning to use the BIC chrome.

image_zpsac22b74c.jpg
 
#93
I'd start off with a Derby. They're pretty mild but are a great blade. The BICs are an excellent blade, but they are quite sharp (almost as sharp as Feathers, IME); so I'd get a couple of shaves with something milder like the Derbies or Wilkinsons before trying the BICs.
 
#94
Personna reds or Astra would be another nice option. They're also somewhat mild but a great blade. Feather are super sharp and easily my favorite.

Whatever you choose, just take it slow and use no pressure! Do you have any styptic or an alum block? You'll probably have a few weepers on your first few tries.
 
#97
I don't know if it's just me, but I find that Astras aren't consistent. Sometimes, I'll put a new one in a razor and get a killer shave. Next time, I'll put a new one in the same razor and get a so-so shave. :hmm:

P.s. And yes, while I haven't been there in a while, the folks at Badger and Blade are very cool and informative. That forum is in complete contrast to Styleforum (if you've ever been there), where unless a piece is made from some unknown Italian designer, it's crap.
 
#100
Hey, I'm about 1 year into it and I'm sorry I didn't do it sooner. After a round of blade samplers I stuck with the green Astras ordered from Turkey off ebay. For Xmas I upgraded to a Merkur Slant Bar and pretty much stopped shedding blood. Big Difference with no need to alter my style. Proraso eucalyptus cream in a tube followed by vitamin e oil final pass. My after shave is a custom scented cream made locally at The Soap Opera. Great place and they do have a website-check them out.
I have settled on first pass w/ the grain, 2nd against the grain and the oil touch up after.
I'm pretty happy with what I'm using, I have a soft synthetic brush but I'd like to see what something like boar bristle would do.
 

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