****OFFICIAL**** TRADITIONAL WETSHAVING THREAD - Part 2

[matt3400]

Been using a DE razor since '08. Got a new order in today, going to try the Merkur long handle and astra blades.

[MJ1331]

quick review:

Cella


Its a pretty hard cream (or soft soap) so i used an omega boar brush dampened with hot water. It makes a good amount of lather pretty quickly. The smell is a sweet almond/cherry blend. The lather itself is slick and has minimized razor irritation (usually get some in my neck with VDH soap). I have been using this for about 2 weeks and the container doesnt even have a dent in it. I highly recommend this stuff.

[Magnumtripod]

Just found this and am interested for the future.... no beard has been seen yet; dat der babyface.

Do people actually use straight razors for shaving? I'd love to learn more about it; about as alpha as shaving can get.

i shave with a straight razor. Actually if you have any peach fuzz at all, itll be easier to shave off. Once your facial hair starts coming in thicker, itll be a bit tougher to shave off, but that's where you learn to keep your razor sharp and find the techniques that work for you.

[Stevenjr93]

I've got plenty of peach fuzz, and it's slowly getting thicker.. so I guess now would be the time to learn?

Any starter guides or something of the likes you could point me to?

[Tupperwolf]

Any Tabac users here?

I've tried it three times and have yet to get anything resembling a good lather out of it. Two of those three times I actually stopped, rinsed out the bowl and brush and started over from scratch... So I've really tried about five times. It just comes out as a thin foam. First cream I've had this problem with.

[millionair]

Boyyysss

Just got a safety razor, persol shaving cream, and a badger brush.

Did my first shave last night and was so happy with it! All the way thru I couldn't understand why I just bought this $50 razor but after I finished, rinsed with old water.. I couldnt have been happier with the end result.

10/10 shave

But I just followed up with mouisterizer. Any reason to use aftershave balm?

[SitchNoHomo]

Boyyysss

Just got a safety razor, persol shaving cream, and a badger brush.

Did my first shave last night and was so happy with it! All the way thru I couldn't understand why I just bought this $50 razor but after I finished, rinsed with old water.. I couldnt have been happier with the end result.

10/10 shave

But I just followed up with mouisterizer. Any reason to use aftershave balm?

I dont use aftershave, I just get a good rinse with cold water

[Tupperwolf]

I use Thayer's witch hazel after my cold water rinse, then an aftershave... But shaving is all personal preference, some days I completely forget to use aftershave and I never feel like I absolutely had to put it on.

[Magnumtripod]

Boyyysss

Just got a safety razor, persol shaving cream, and a badger brush.

Did my first shave last night and was so happy with it! All the way thru I couldn't understand why I just bought this $50 razor but after I finished, rinsed with old water.. I couldnt have been happier with the end result.

10/10 shave

But I just followed up with mouisterizer. Any reason to use aftershave balm?

I only use aftershave balm in the winter when the air gets really dry. The air just sucks the moisture from my face and I get itchy as hell. Also if you have a close shave and you end up getting razor burn (slight burning sensation), aftershave balm will help sooth that real quick.

[irFaydoi]

Boyyysss

Just got a safety razor, persol shaving cream, and a badger brush.

Did my first shave last night and was so happy with it! All the way thru I couldn't understand why I just bought this $50 razor but after I finished, rinsed with old water.. I couldnt have been happier with the end result.

10/10 shave

But I just followed up with mouisterizer. Any reason to use aftershave balm?

I use the balm after my cold water rinse. I've also tried using just moisturizer after my shaves. For me, it made no difference. Personally i just like using a balm because its more shave oriented. After it dries off, and i am done eating breakfast, i apply my face moisturizer.

[monsterBEN]

Snapped a quick pic of my new wetshave setup. It all came in last week and I can say I'm very happy with each product thus far.

[artDDP]

^^^ outstanding. Wait until you get really comfortable with wetshaving, you'll look forward to waking up each morning just to shave.

[BenZowman]

My Every Man jack order came in yesterday (from the saveology deal). I ordered a bunch of stuff, so without going into detail:

fragrance free shaving cream - bad, will not buy again. Sticking with proraso sandalwood.
fragrance free facial scrub - great, will use from now on.
cedarwood bar soap - ok, I don't like bar soap. I thought the massage thing would be cool, it wasn't.
cedarwood body wash - good, will continue to use
cedarwood deodorant - amazing, I've never used an aluminum free deodorant that works so well as an antiperspirant.
kit/toiletry bag - surprisingly decent bag for price, spacious, 3 pockets. Will use until I finish designing and making my own.

With the possible exception of their cedarwood pre-shave oil, I don't think any of their other shaving products would be worth checking out. I don't shave with oil unless I'm camping, so I won't be getting that.

[matt3400]

So far not that impressed with the Proraso shaving soap. Much prefer the Taylor of Old Bond Sandalwood cream I've been using for awhile, it lathers much better.

[Eric794]

I just bought my first double edge

EJ DE89L and some astra blades
Teezerman brush
Proraso soap with sandalwood cream and glycerin (going for uberlather)



I got a couple questions:

How often should I shave with a DE razor?

How often should I change the blade?

Are there blades better than Astra

Thanks

[BenZowman]

So far not that impressed with the Proraso shaving soap. Much prefer the Taylor of Old Bond Sandalwood cream I've been using for awhile, it lathers much better.

Taylor of old bond is better, but it also costs about twice as much (at least where I am).

[alex2363]

I just bought my first double edge

EJ DE89L and some astra blades
Teezerman brush
Proraso soap with sandalwood cream and glycerin (going for uberlather)



I got a couple questions:

How often should I shave with a DE razor?

How often should I change the blade?

Are there blades better than Astra

Thanks

I shave once a day......Try a blade sampler pack to see which blades work for you.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wetshaving-B...item3f03c448d7

[Eric794]

I shave once a day......Try a blade sampler pack to see which blades work for you.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wetshaving-B...item3f03c448d7

Thank!

Do you do a one pass shave once a day or two, or three pass shave?

[Tupperwolf]

I just bought my first double edge

EJ DE89L and some astra blades
Teezerman brush
Proraso soap with sandalwood cream and glycerin (going for uberlather)



I got a couple questions:

How often should I shave with a DE razor?

How often should I change the blade?

Are there blades better than Astra

Thanks

Shave whenever you feel like it or whenever you need to for work. The more you use a DE the better you'll get.

Change the blade after 3-10 shaves. Some blades seem to stay sharp longer, other blades seem to dull quickly. This is something you'll figure out with practice. I usually give a blade 5 shaves before changing it, but DE blades are so cheap compared to cartridges that you can change them out as soon as you like.

There's no such thing as the perfect blade, I have tried a lot of blades and like some a lot better than others, but every DE razor is built differently. The angle of the blade can make a huge difference, as does the amount of blade exposure. My new R41 is like a straight razor compared to my Parker, which is much more mild. Buy a sampler pack and try different blades, and you will find that some work better in your razor than others. Likewise, other blades will work better in other razors.

[artDDP]

How often should I shave with a DE razor?

Once a day, no more. I really enjoy shaving seven days a week. I never know where I may wind up that day and want to always look my best.

How often should I change the blade?

I change mine every 4 shaves because I have a beard like steel wool and it can dull a razor pretty quickly.

Are there blades better than Astra

I'll have to defer to other posters ITT because I've never used them.

[monsterBEN]

My shave tonight was the first time I've used Astra's.. excellent.

[Stevenjr93]

I've got plenty of peach fuzz, and it's slowly getting thicker.. so I guess now would be the time to learn?

Any starter guides or something of the likes you could point me to?

Shameless bump. Is it recommended to start with a safety razor?

TBH it doesn't really appeal to me; something about the straight razor....

[Magnumtripod]

Shameless bump. Is it recommended to start with a safety razor?

TBH it doesn't really appeal to me; something about the straight razor....

A straight razor is completely different than a safety razor, so starting with a safety razor won't help. If you want to try a straight then just get a straight

[matt3400]

Thank!

Do you do a one pass shave once a day or two, or three pass shave?

I shave everyday (military) and do one pass on some areas and two passes around the chin area where it's thicker and more approaches at different angles are needed.

[Tupperwolf]

Shameless bump. Is it recommended to start with a safety razor?

TBH it doesn't really appeal to me; something about the straight razor....

I got into wet shaving because I wanted to learn how to shave with a straight razor (alpha status and all that). I bought a straight and then bought a DE about 2 weeks later because I had been reading posts about wet shaving on other forums and wanted to give the DE a try. If you consider that shaving with a DE has a learning curve of 100% over a cartridge razor (it's not difficult, but it does take a month or two to get your technique down) shaving with a straight has about a 1000% learning curve. It can take a couple of years of dedication to get perfect shaves without having to concentrate.

If you want to try the straight razor, the best deal out there is the "sight unseen deal" from http://www.whippeddog.com. He sends you a simple leather strop, a balsa wood strop with two grits of sharpening paste, and a razor. The razor you get might be from the 1800s and look ugly but it will be SHARP. Use that ugly sharp razor to learn and then buy a pretty, expensive razor when you start getting kinda good.

I still use a straight occasionally, but they take a whole different level of dedication. Learning to care for your razor adds so much, because if you accidentally dull it (which as a noob you probably will) you have to learn how to hone it or send it out to be honed, you have to learn how to strop properly to keep from dulling it, etc.

Some people love the dedication it takes to really learn to shave with a straight, as it turns out I love the whole wet shaving deal and enjoy my shaves more with a DE.

[Stevenjr93]

I got into wet shaving because I wanted to learn how to shave with a straight razor (alpha status and all that). I bought a straight and then bought a DE about 2 weeks later because I had been reading posts about wet shaving on other forums and wanted to give the DE a try. If you consider that shaving with a DE has a learning curve of 100% over a cartridge razor (it's not difficult, but it does take a month or two to get your technique down) shaving with a straight has about a 1000% learning curve. It can take a couple of years of dedication to get perfect shaves without having to concentrate.

If you want to try the straight razor, the best deal out there is the "sight unseen deal" from whippeddog. He sends you a simple leather strop, a balsa wood strop with two grits of sharpening paste, and a razor. The razor you get might be from the 1800s and look ugly but it will be SHARP. Use that ugly sharp razor to learn and then buy a pretty, expensive razor when you start getting kinda good.

I still use a straight occasionally, but they take a whole different level of dedication. Learning to care for your razor adds so much, because if you accidentally dull it (which as a noob you probably will) you have to learn how to hone it or send it out to be honed, you have to learn how to strop properly to keep from dulling it, etc.

Some people love the dedication it takes to really learn to shave with a straight, as it turns out I love the whole wet shaving deal and enjoy my shaves more with a DE.

Very interesting, thanks for the tips and the link. Take my measlies.

[Aezthetic]

Phuck it, IN. Okays just a couple of questions I read a few pages but given up now.

How easy is it to seriously cut yourself with those DE ones?

& also... Is this better for your skin than using a 'generic'/ big brand commercial razor i.e. Gillete or w/e.

[_Ishy]

Phuck it, IN. Okays just a couple of questions I read a few pages but given up now.

How easy is it to seriously cut yourself with those DE ones?

& also... Is this better for your skin than using a 'generic'/ big brand commercial razor i.e. Gillete or w/e.

Having only used an electric before a DE I can tell you a do cut myself occasionally. It is better than a Mach 3 and all that crap as it gives a closer shave. The important thing is the lather and treatment of the face as well.

[monsterBEN]

Phuck it, IN. Okays just a couple of questions I read a few pages but given up now.

How easy is it to seriously cut yourself with those DE ones?

& also... Is this better for your skin than using a 'generic'/ big brand commercial razor i.e. Gillete or w/e.

I find myself getting nicks/cuts less. You might think that since the blades are so sharp you'd cut yourself more, but you have to remember that you don't need to push the razor into your skin at all to get a close shave. Use the weight of the razor and let the blade glida across the skin. The only place I've cut myself are around my chin because I'm still learning how to keep the proper blade angle around the contours.

[BenZowman]

Phuck it, IN. Okays just a couple of questions I read a few pages but given up now.

How easy is it to seriously cut yourself with those DE ones?

& also... Is this better for your skin than using a 'generic'/ big brand commercial razor i.e. Gillete or w/e.

1. I almost never cut myself, if you don't wash your face with soap or something that will remove oil from your skin before you shave, or if you use pre shave oil, you're not as likely to get cuts or razor burn. So a typical routine for me would be:

wet>lather>shave>facial scrub>moisturize (I usually don't moisturize)

or it could go:
wet>facial scrub>pre-shave oil>lather>shave>wash>moisturize

imo you always want some oil on your skin before shaving to avoid cuts and burn. You can even shave with just oil if use use something viscous like olive oil, that's what I usually do when camping.


2. It can often be better for your skin, if you get razor bumps or have some other shaving related issue. If your skin already looks good it's probably not going to make a huge difference.

Shameless bump. Is it recommended to start with a safety razor?

TBH it doesn't really appeal to me; something about the straight razor....

Alternatively you could use a shavette, which is like a straight that uses disposable blades. Some use reglar DE blades snapped in half, and some use their own blades that probably average $1 a piece. Most of them are not as expensive as a comparable straight though, and do not require the maintenance or run the risk of being ruined like straights do. A bad drop can seriously wreck a straight razor blade.