Any wet shavers here?

[line6man]

I've decided to take the plunge into the world of safety razor shaving. After spending some time thinking about my choices, I placed an order for some shaving supplies today, and I'm looking forward to getting started when they arrive. It's not so much that I want the old world shaving ritual; I'm just tired of multiblade cartridge razors, and I hear that shaving with a safety razor is a more enjoyable experience for many. (Possibly cutting down on ingrown hairs and shaving irritation.) I don't think I would ever want to try straightrazor shaving, but safety razor shaving looks like a nice hobby to take up, if I don't cut my face off. I guess I'll see how much blood is shed soon enough.  :blob7:

I went with a Merkur 23C safety razor, which is supposedly one of Merkur's most popular razors, and beginner friendly.

For blades, I just ordered some Feather, Shark and Astra blades, for now. I figure I can experiment with blades later on, once I have gotten the hang of it.

I found a website that sells samples of popular shaving creams, so I picked out a dozen varieties from Taylor of Old Bond Street, Geo F Trumpers and a few others. These are reputable shaving creams, and I was sure to pick out a diverse variety, so I should be able to find something I like, both comfort-wise and smell-wise. I've always used shaving cream out of a can from the supermarket, so these fancier scented creams are new to me. I didn't order any shaving soaps, but I can experiment with soaps later on. Each sample of cream supposedly has enough for 4 or 5 shaves, so I'll be trying creams for a while.

Lastly, I picked a $36 Parker badger brush that looked attractive. I see that there are different grades of hair, and it's probably best to choose a good brush if it is to last, but I don't want to spend a ton of money, so I just picked something of medium quality. Overall, I think I have made some good choices for getting started.

I'm sure there are some folks here that love a good shave. What kind of razors, blades, creams/soaps and brushes do you prefer?
Conversely, does anyone swear by their Mach 20s?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjAZnGeBcgg

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

For the past three or four years I have been practicing a sort of modified wet shave.  I use a modern Gillette Fusion (the razor with 5 blades, I think--I've lost count).  But I use a badger brush and either shaving soap or the high quality shave creams that come in a tub rather than an aerosol can.

First of all, that Fusion razor was great before when I used to use regular aerosol shaving cream, but with the luxury products I use now it is beyond great. 

The use of a badger bristle brush is probably the easiest way to improve one's shaving experience.  Even with regular drug store shaving cream the brush does a better job of applying it to the face.  Most importantly, it lifts your individual whiskers and sort of suspends them in the shaving cream. If you just rub shaving cream onto your face you don't get this same effect.  It is a useful tool.

The different creams and soaps can seem overwhelming at first.  I use Geo. Trumper's shaving soaps.  I like both the rose and the violet scents.  I also like Taylor of Old Bond Street almond shaving cream.  It comes in a small tub, and a little goes a long way, especially when applied with the badger brush.  The almond scent is less girly than the rose and violet, but heck, I'm secure in my sexuality, and my lady loves the way I smell afterward.  So I say use what you like.

In my opinion the shaving cream is ultra luxurious, but the shaving soap delivers just as good a shave and tends to be more economical.  Truth be told, you could actually use any soap in a pinch with a badger brush.  The brush will get Dove or Ivory or whatever you have to foam up nicely.  Just keep that in mind in case you ever run out.  The Trumpers and Taylor soaps/creams do such a great job that you will not want to ever run out once you start using them.

It is important that you get yourself a shaving mug for your soap or cream as well.  You can buy mugs specially designed for shaving, but I like to use an old wide brimmed "cappuccino" style mug.  It is wider than a regular coffee mug, almost like a small soup bowl with a handle.  I normally drop a puck of shaving soap in and use that until it runs out, alternating with the tub of shave cream sometimes, or with other shave soaps I have that came in their own rosewood bowl.  The wide brim is helpful to angle your brush properly to lather the soap effectively.

You can drastically extend the range of your soaps/creams if you, upon finishing your shave, squeeze out your shave brush into your mug.  There is a ton of good soap/cream stuck in the brush that will harden in your shave mug for you to use again.  The stuff is expensive so you'll want to get the most mileage out of it possible. I don't worry that I am mixing scents from the different soaps/creams into my mug.  In my opinion the extended mileage you get out of the product that would otherwise be lost down the drain makes up for that minor distraction.

In the beginning it was a little tricky to get the brush to lather up the different soaps and creams properly.  Its really not difficult, but it will take you a couple of times to discover the proper ratio of product to water.  Also, the better quality brushes actually make lathering easier.  The one you selected should be fine.

Another product that I like is the Geo Trumper's Coral Skin Food.  Its a soothing after shave lotion.  Again, its expensive, but worth it.

I definitely get a higher quality shave out of these products and the wet shave techniques than I did when I used regular drug store products.  It doesn't really take much more time than regular shaving, and the results are worth it.  Plus, with the nice scents, it is a little bit of luxury indulgence for a trivial task that was not much fun before I started with this.

Don't forget to rinse your brush when you are done.  Dry it by swinging it rapidly towards the sink to disperse as much water as possible, and let it hang on a stand to dry.  You don't want to compress the bristles.  Also, its good to store it on a counter or shelf, and not in the cabinet to discourage mold growth.

Sorry for the rambling post.  I had dental work today and I'm loopy with the medication.

 

[line6man]

Thanks for the detailed post.  :rock-on:

Of the creams you mentioned, I had chosen two in my assortment of quarter-ounce sampler jars. The Taylor of Old Bond St. almond, and the Geo F. Trumper's violet. I also got some D.R. Harris almond, just to have something different. To be honest, I have no idea what to expect of either scent. I may or may not dig the violet. I know I woudn't care for rose, though. On the other hand, I am most interested in Taylor's grapefruit, and an orange amber cream by Musgo Real. I got some sandalwood, lime, and spanish leather creams, as well. Mostly from Taylor's and GFT's. Those two brands seem to be most reputable.

So how much does the quality of your brush matter? Is it worth spending the dough on something with the finest grades of badger hair? (Silvertip is the best?) I figured that the brush just gets the cream on your face, so you can get a good shave with a cheapy, but people are aggressive enough with their brushes in shaving tutorials/cream reviews that I can see it being worth spending more for something that can take the abuse without wearing out. (Hence my choice of a medium quality brush to get started with.)

I don't have a mug or bowl, because I am going to use something from the kitchen until I feel like splurging again, but maybe some day I would have fun turning a wooden bowl. I think we PM'd once about wooden bowls, and you mentioned shaving bowls.  :blob7:

My other wood-related plan is to buy one of these, when I get my garage set up for woodworking again.
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/58/6203/Artisan-Classic-Safety-Razor-Kit
I think a nice bloodwood handle would look great. Or possibly an acrylized wood, for its resistance to moisture.

 

[line6man]

FWIW, I got the creams here: http://www.maggardrazors.com/product-category/soaps-creams/soap-and-cream-samples/

 

[swarfrat]

I did for a while until all the retail stores quit carrying low profit margin double edged blades.

 

[sixstringsamurai]

I said screw it, it's a conspiracy. :laughing7:

Now I have an Awesome beard. :headbang1:

 

[stratamania]

A few years ago I had brushes and some soap. A decent brush is worth it otherwise the bristles fall out as you lather your face. I still have a brush but it's so old now it's losing bristles.

It's something I would like to try at some point again.

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

As far as brushes go, I only have experience using two.  The first one I got was just something cheap.  It worked fine.  After a year using that one I put a new brush on my Christmas list and received a better one.  Since it was a gift I really don't remember brand name or particulars.  It is definitely not one of the really expensive ones.  I'm guessing it was probably in the $35 to $50 range, so probably similar to what you have on order.  I'm pretty sure my good one is silvertip.

The new brush definitely works better than my cheap one.  It seems the major difference is that the bristles are more stiff, allowing it to lather soap easier.  It is a step up from the cheapo, but in the end they both work fine.  You should enjoy the one you have on order, and if you stick with this maybe get something nicer down the road.  My guess is that once you reach a certain level of quality the difference is mainly in the tool's longevity and ornamentation.  Like figured maple vs plain maple on a Les Paul.

As far as the different scents, you did good by ordering an assortment.  They are totally subjective, so you won't know until you try them.  Its like when people get on the boards here and ask what color they should paint their guitar.  About the only thing I can guarantee is that you will definitely like some better than others.

For the shaving mug, you should definitely use something from the kitchen. Certainly don't spend significant money until you know what you want.  Shape is the important factor; I have a hard time using a traditional coffee mug because the only angle you get with your brush is straight up and down.  You need something wider for the brush to effectively lather the soap.

Your ideas for turned wood handles and bowls is awesome.  Bloodwood, though beautiful, would also be an ironic choice.

And last, when using the creams, you will find that you need to use very little product.  When I first started I used too much until I improved at the lathering process.  The shaving soaps are kind of self limiting since you build the lather in the bowl, use what you need and the rest stays in place.  But with creams you can easily blow through a lot of product, and that stuff isn't cheap.

Have fun!

 

[ocguy106]

I have been shaving with a safety razor for 2 years now. I got the same Merkur you got and love it. As for blades I got a sample pack of 20 and tried them all. I would shave without fail every third day to get a fair sample till I ran out. The internet had their favorites such as Feather and Astra and those were good but the best by far for my skin was Derby. I bought a box of those for around 20 dollars I think and they have lasted me two years so far. I have about 3 5-packs left so will be reordering soon. I don't do the whole wet shave routine I keep a fog proof mirror in the shower and just lather with zest soap or sometimes use shave gel if it is on sale. I actually prefer soap. the only down side I see to using a safety razor is it is hard to get into certain areas. I wear a goatee so not a big deal but at times when I go clean shave it is hard to get the small areas around the bottom of your nose when shaving the top of your mustache. I will say I won't be returning to cartridges anytime soon as I have saved hundreds in just the 2 short years I have started shaving with the safety razors

 

[line6man]

Regarding Bloodwood, it's perfect, both literally and figuratively! It symbolizes the bloodshed in pursuit of perfecting the art, AND hides the blood!  :icon_jokercolor:

 

[line6man]

Got my stuff today and had my first wet shave. The shave was a little rough, but now I understand what I need to work on. I drew blood in a few places, but my face feels remarkably good now.

First impressions:

1. The brush smells bad. Somewhere between cat piss and a draftsman's horsehair brush. I need to find out how to get the badger hair smell off of it.
2. I kept needing more cream to get a lather and spread it on my face. I need to work on that next time. I probably was not doing it properly.
3. The shave was pretty smooth until I started shaving against the grain. I knew that would be questionable for me to try this early, but I still tried it. I got some irritation from that, but the lack of a thick lather of cream may have contributed. I may not do that next time.
4. Alum blocks are wonderful!
5. I have some uneven areas, but my face is mostly very smooth. I don't get smooth shaves like this from multiblade disposables.
6. The irritation is not bad at all. I'm a little irritated, but overall, that was a good shave!

FWIW, Taylor's Jermyn St. has my favorite smell. It's lovely stuff. http://www.tayloroldbondst.co.uk/acatalog/Jermyn-Street-Collection-Shaving-Cream-Bowl-150g--J01014.html

 

[ocguy106]

What blade did you use? That makes all the difference in the world. There are some blades that are just not usable at all. As a matter of fact of the 20 or so blades I used only 2 were worth anything. Astra and Derby and of those I prefer the Derby.

 

[line6man]

What blade did you use? That makes all the difference in the world. There are some blades that are just not usable at all. As a matter of fact of the 20 or so blades I used only 2 were worth anything. Astra and Derby and of those I prefer the Derby.

Shark. Though I have Feather and Astra, as well. I'm going to shave two more times with the Shark blade, and then try an Astra. I figure three shaves on a blade is enough, while I am a beginner. You're the second person to recommend Derby blades, so I'll be sure to pick them up when I order more blades.

Concerning the smell of the brush, I read that this is common with new brushes, and soaking in a cup of dilute vinegar will help to break them in. I did two vinegar water soaks, and there is noticeably less badger hair stink, so I figure one more rinse after I've dried the brush should take care of almost all of the smell.

It's been 12 hours since I shaved, so I have stubble again, but my face feels great. I think the shaving cream moisturized my skin. This is great, because my old shaving cream would dry my skin out.

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

After reading your comment about the stink brush I went and smelled mine.  Nothing.  I shaved this afternoon and again, no smell from the brush other than the shaving cream.  I don't remember mine smelling when new, but it may have.  Hopefully yours will dissipate with time.  Do remember to get the water out of it as much as possible after you use it lest it start to rot.

 

[stratamania]

Taylor's have quite a lot of good stuff on the site. Even Ebony hairbrushes...I might have to take a look next time I go into that part of London.

 

[line6man]

I did my second wet shave this morning, and it was great! I read that shaving against the grain, like in the tutorial I was watching, is bad. Just as I expected from previous experience shaving the "normal" way with multiblade cartridge razors... I didn't do any against the grain passes, so the shave was comfortable from start to finish. I also was a bit more liberal with the cream, to get more on my face. The dilute vinegar rinses removed the smell from the brush, so I could enjoy the scent of the cream without any "notes of wet dog." It was a fantastic shave, and I'm picking up the technique fast.  :icon_biggrin:

 

[Cagey]

Back when I went through the complicated shave thing (you'll get over it), I learned that almost any soap works as long as you get your face good and wet. That seems to be the secret. You can play games with different soaps, brushes, razors, etc. but soft is the thing. That's why if you go to a barber they'll throw a steamed towel on your face. Gotta teach those hairs a lesson.

These days, I shave in the shower. Face is hot and wet, rub a little soap on it, and I'm good to go. Scrape the thing off, and it's smooth as a baby's ass when I'm done. 2 minute job, tops.

 

[line6man]

Back when I went through the complicated shave thing (you'll get over it), I learned that almost any soap works as long as you get your face good and wet. That seems to be the secret. You can play games with different soaps, brushes, razors, etc. but soft is the thing. That's why if you go to a barber they'll throw a steamed towel on your face. Gotta teach those hairs a lesson.

These days, I shave in the shower. Face is hot and wet, rub a little soap on it, and I'm good to go. Scrape the thing off, and it's smooth as a baby's ass when I'm done. 2 minute job, tops.

Getting your face hot and wet is no secret. Shaves are neither close nor pleasant if you skip out on that step, and I picked up on that pretty fast when I was a teenager.  :blob7:

As far as "playing games" with it goes, it really depends on what you want from the experience. Some people just want the hair to be off of their face every morning, for as little time and effort as possible. Others like to enjoy the process. No one would go to a barbershop for a two minute shave.

 

[Cagey]

I know what you mean, and I went through the same sort of thing years ago. But, I do just want a 2 minute shave. If I could cut it down to 2 nanoseconds, I'd be even happier. To me, shaving is maintenance work. You gotta do it if you don't wanna look like an animal. If you wanna spend all kinds of time and money on it, then have a blast. We all have our hobbies. Personally, if I thought I there was an effective facial depilitory at a reasonable price/pain point, I'd never shave again and never miss it.

 

[misterfinn]

Awesome that there are so many wet shavers here! It's the only shaving method I've encountered that doesn't leave red bumps on my neck.

I use a scuttle, which hasn't been mentioned yet in this thread. It's from Georgetown Pottery, and it's magnificent. Fill it (inside and out) with hot water, let it sit while I shower, refresh the hot water, and then WARM LATHER. So very good.

Nothing much to add aside from that. Merkur razor, Parker badger brush, Proraso shaving cream. I really like Nivea's after shave balm for sensitive skin too.