Shaving

[Power King]

After doing more reading and watching videos on the subject, I think I need to use some sort of shaving bowl and produce a lather in there. Would be very helpful for doing multiple passes as I will haore lather to work with.

Do you guys use bowls? If so, what kind?

 

[lemon chicken]

Question for all:

With a DE, how necessary do you find going against the grain is in order to get the closest shave possible?

Still never done it. Any time i tried against the grain with a disposable razor i would get a massive shave rash. I dont really feel the need as the shave is closer now than before using a DE.

After doing more reading and watching videos on the subject, I think I need to use some sort of shaving bowl and produce a lather in there. Would be very helpful for doing multiple passes as I will haore lather to work with.

Do you guys use bowls? If so, what kind?

Ive got Trumper shave soap in a wooden bowl, i dont use shave cream, i find getting the right amount of water in the brush to have the right consistency in the lather to be pretty important in how well the shave goes. If its too dry/thick the blade tends to tug a lot more.

 

[caMoGFC]

oh god....
just tried the derby and it was shithouse!

pulled on the hairs and left the face as red as it used to get with the mach 3....

to be fair my beard was almost 2 weeks worth so i will give it another go with my growth being a bit shorter but not a fan from first use.

if i don't like it next week i'll probs just turf the rest of them.

so far the merkurs are clearly in the lead.

 

[lemon chicken]

Dont rate the Derbys either but i dont think Merkurs are much better especially for $8+ for 10 blades.

Ive tried a few more lately and so far i have Red Personnas, Treet, Shark and Feathers all in the lead. Then a group of Lord Platinum, Crystal (these are not Red Personna's either not matter what the websites say), Astra. The worst so far would be Dorco 300's (not game to try the 301's) and Asco.

For me i find the sharper ones the best but im using a Barber pole which is quite a heavy razor.

 

[pacemaker]

Got the moe going for moevember so won''t be shaving that part for a while.

 

[_JC_]

Dont rate the Derbys either but i dont think Merkurs are much better especially for $8+ for 10 blades.

Ive tried a few more lately and so far i have Red Personnas, Treet, Shark and Feathers all in the lead. Then a group of Lord Platinum, Crystal (these are not Red Personna's either not matter what the websites say), Astra. The worst so far would be Dorco 300's (not game to try the 301's) and Asco.

For me i find the sharper ones the best but im using a Barber pole which is quite a heavy razor.

Seems like we have similar taste in blades.

I also found the Derbys to terrible. Merkurs are decent, but the fact they are so much more expensive is not justified.

I think Red Personnas are my fave so far, with Astra only slightly behind.

Sharks are growing on me. First shave wasn't great but the next was pretty good.

 

[ThePezDispenser]

And subscribed...
Great thread.
Will definitely do a bit of research!

 

[Mr Budda Bing]

Need a new razor. Any suggestions?

 

[ThePezDispenser]

Need a new razor. Any suggestions?

I'm sorry, had to be done

 

[PastiesPeake]

I like to shave in the shower as I get the best 'cut' that way. How will this effect my should I cut over to the double edge blade?

Very interested in using the proper blades after reading this thead.

 

[Rod Stroker]

I like to shave in the shower as I get the best 'cut' that way. How will this effect my should I cut over to the double edge blade?

Very interested in using the proper blades after reading this thead.

Providing the water from the shower head or the steam doesn't cause the lather to roll off your face during the shave then you should be fine. Essentially I'm guessing the DE shaving experience in the shower would basically be the same as how it is for you today, only with a different razor (and cream and brush possibly as well).

I actually used to shave in the shower but felt a bit guilty after a while from the water wastage as a "shave shower" would take longer than a regular shower. So I've since reverted back to shaving at the basin with a sink full of water to rinse off the blade after each pass.

 

[Swish]

I currently use a Gillette Fusion and shave after showering but still get rash and shave bumps. Have been reading this thread with great interest and have a question for the DE users.

What do you think makes the biggest difference, the razor or the brush and soap routine?

The reason I ask is that many 'traditional' shaving sets come with the brush, shaving soap but a retro looking mach 3 razor as opposed to a safety razor.

So is the closer smoother shave more to do with the skin preparation you get from wet shaving using the brush and soap?

 

[Walesy]

Personally, it's all about the blade. My skin used to get butchered by the ol' disposable head razors- but with my DE, using the same prep as before, comes up an utter treat for me.

 

[Power King]

Can't comment on whether the soap/cream improves it as I'm still using the same cream and the only thing that has changed is the razor/blade. The razor/blade has given me a closer shave, however I've had to alter my technique in order to avoid cuts.

With the commercial razors/blades, I could basically do whatever I wanted to and wouldn't get a cut. This is probably because the razor lost enough sharpness so quickly to the point that it couldn't cut the skin deep enough.

 

[_JC_]

I currently use a Gillette Fusion and shave after showering but still get rash and shave bumps. Have been reading this thread with great interest and have a question for the DE users.

What do you think makes the biggest difference, the razor or the brush and soap routine?

The reason I ask is that many 'traditional' shaving sets come with the brush, shaving soap but a retro looking mach 3 razor as opposed to a safety razor.

So is the closer smoother shave more to do with the skin preparation you get from wet shaving using the brush and soap?

I dont use a cream or brush, so it cant be them. Used to get crazy rash and itchiness on my neck, changed to DE only happens rarely now and when it does it's much less severe.

 

[Rod Stroker]

I currently use a Gillette Fusion and shave after showering but still get rash and shave bumps. Have been reading this thread with great interest and have a question for the DE users.

What do you think makes the biggest difference, the razor or the brush and soap routine?

The reason I ask is that many 'traditional' shaving sets come with the brush, shaving soap but a retro looking mach 3 razor as opposed to a safety razor.

So is the closer smoother shave more to do with the skin preparation you get from wet shaving using the brush and soap?

For me it's a combination of all 3 that makes the difference, but keep in mind that everyone's skin is different. So as others have already said, they only needed to change their razors for the improvement they were looking for.

The improvements I got came from:
1) The DE razor; as the quality of cartridge blades is crap
2) The shaving cream; as the foam in a can is crap and doesn't keep the skin hydrated
3) The badger brush; as the boar brush didn't hold the water

 

[Stocks_go_Up]

I use a Mach 3 with soap. I don't see any reason to make it more complicated. My skin doesn't get rashes or any of that shit.

 

[_JC_]

I use a Mach 3 with soap. I don't see any reason to make it more complicated. My skin doesn't get rashes or any of that shit.

But you have to pay an extra 400% everytime you buy new blades

5 blades for $2-$3 owns 5 blades for $15 or so.

 

[caMoGFC]

i always used pretty good shaving cream so the biggest difference was certainly the razor and blades of the DE for me.

always had pretty good shaving prep even when i didn't use a badger brush.
the brush def makes it a nicer lather and quite luxurious as well though.

back to blade usage i tried the derby again after the first terrible shave i had with it and the results were pretty decent. still rate it after the merkur however.

but today....my oh my.
i tried the astra blade and that thing was freakon amazing!
one pass and my week and a half long/thick beard was reduced to basically nothing.
2 passes and a neaten up 3rd pass and it was perfection.

the astra is clearly the blade to beat for me atm.

 

[_JC_]

Just finished another shave with the Sharks. Definitely rate it. As good as the Astras and Personnas.

 

[Stocks_go_Up]

But you have to pay an extra 400% everytime you buy new blades

5 blades for $2-$3 owns 5 blades for $15 or so.

That is fair enough, I have always thought the cost of blades are a huge ****ing rort. I think I probably go through about 10-15 blades a year.

 

[Brad Goodman]

This is how rarely I shave - my current can of Gillette shave gel just ran out, 2 years after I bought it. Vive la stubble.

 

[caMoGFC]

Just finished another shave with the Sharks. Definitely rate it. As good as the Astras and Personnas.

might have to look into them.

how do you rate the feathers?

also i got my g/f to order me tabac for christmas since we are going ultra cheap this year for christmas and all i could think of was some shave soap since i wanted to try it...
she also got me a re-fill puck which i can't imagine i'll be using for a couple of years at least lol.

 

[Power King]

Tried a merkur and it was good. Cut myself a lot initially, but that probably had to do with the fact that I had never DE shaved before. Now trying a derby and it is great.

 

[_JC_]

might have to look into them.

how do you rate the feathers?

Still haven't used a Feathers, i have 5 packs of 5 different blades still try including the Feathers so will try them maybe after the Sharks are done.