Going Back to Wet Shave/Safety Razor

[thesmokindragon]

Not exactly pipe & bacci talk , but figured it goes with the classy

nature of pipe smoking...a good ol clean shave and the joys

of wet shaving / safety razor....
Ok, I just picked up an Edwin Jagger De89lbl Double Edge Safety Razor

& best badger brush along with some high-quality soap...so now

my journey continues to learn tech of using one and my days of

overpriced disposal/carts and crappy shaves are over....
So who else enjoys a good 'ol wet shave /safety razor style?

 

[kinny141]

I do! Make sure you buy some good razors. I would recommend the brand feather, very sharp for a great shave.

 

[plet]

I changed from Gillette to Double edge safety razor one month ago... Not changing back. It takes some practice to get the angle right, but its worth it.

 

[chopsie]

I've been using a double edge safety razor for wet shaving for the last 5 or years; its a much better shave and less irritation to boot. It may take longer, but the blades are cheaper/last longer for me and its a much nicer experience in general.

 

[plet]

Mühle razor and brush. Derby Extra blades.

 

[brewshooter]

I'm currently growing out the beard, but will likely hack it off soon. Before the beard, I'd been DE shaving for about six months.

 

[matchstickman]

I'm in the club too. My favorite razor is my Merkur 34C HD. I usually use an Astra blade or a Red Isreali Personna. Razors, soaps, and brushes are all part of another really bad -AD habit that I suffer from. I really like the shave that a safety razor gives me but it took me a few months before I was finally able to do it without looking like I shaved with a cheese grater :laughat:

 

[thesmokindragon]

I hear/read it is all about locking wrist, correct angle and almost

no real pressure/ let the blade do the work and try many different

types of blades because one blade doesn't fit all faces. ;-)

 

[matchstickman]

I hear/read it is all about locking wrist, correct angle and almost

no real pressure/

I will impart to you the single most important thing I have learned in safety razor shaving: There are people that will tell you that it is entirely possible to go against the grain to get a super close shave. DO NOT DO THIS! My neck is cross grain at a 90 degree angle, then cross grain the opposite way, then cross grain the first way again. My cheeks and chin I can go against the grain and I really have to on my chin because theres so much damn hair on my chin and I can pull this off relatively well. Remember that mapping your facial hair is really really important. Make sure you know which way every single whisker grows.

 

[gnatjulio]

Great.....now you have me shopping DE/ Straight razors again. Almost pulled the trigger on a set a few months ago after reading another thread on straight razor shaving.

 

[05venturer]

As long as we are on the shaving topic I use a Gillette but I did recently find the best face lubricant ever. I found 'Shave Secret", it is a small bottle of oil that smells like cloves, 5 drops of this in wet palms and rubbed onto your wet face and it gives me the closest shave ever with a razor I was about to toss. IMHO this is far superior to any other cream or gels I have tried in my 30 years of shaving.

 

[thesmokindragon]

Thanks for all the info gents...makes it much easier starting out...GRRRRRRRRRRrrreat now we can add BAD & RAD to our list of disorders
I already feel the urge...but settled on 1 razor (Edwin Jagger De89lbl), 1 brush (Edwin Jagger best badger)...yeah sure...as I type I have a few other tabs open hunting more ;-)

 

[05venturer]

Damn this forum!! :crazy: I just ordered a new double edge safety razor online :crazy: :rofl:

 

[jwp159]

Count me in the club. I use a 1960's Gillette DE , mug and cake soap, boar hair brush. I just love the feel of a good hot brushed lather and I get a much better shave than any throw away razor and caned gel could ever get.

 

[uberam3rica]

I hate electric razors. They never seem to work good. I use the Gillette 3 or 5 blade ones. I shave in the shower, so I don't use shaving cream. I just use the water in the shower.

 

[matchstickman]

I use the Gillette 3 or 5 blade ones. I shave in the shower, so I don't use shaving cream. I just use the water in the shower.

Id be willing to bet, even with the cartridge razors, the first time you make a proper lather and try it out, youll never go back. You can get a puck of Van Der Hagen shave soap at Wally World for $2 a puck and its actually really good soap, I use it pretty regularly. The double edge blade slices hair so much more neatly and comfortably when done properly, at least it does in my case. The learning curve is well worth it.

 

[jwp159]

+ 1 on the Van Der Hagen shave soap. I wasn't sur about it when I saw it at wally world but thought I would give it a try. Very good soap for 2 bucks.

 

[matchstickman]

+ 1 on the Van Der Hagen shave soap. I wasn't sur about it when I saw it at wally world but thought I would give it a try. Very good soap for 2 bucks.

Van der Hagen is even better when used as a superlather "mixer". Load your brush with a good bit of the soap and add a dollop of shave cream (my favorites are some Taylor of Old Bond Street or a little Proraso Red), and you get a shave that is slick, smooth, and very very comfortable.
All this talk of shaving makes me really want another razor and a couple of more soaps. DAMN YOU ENABLERS!! :wink: :rofl:

 

[jwp159]

"Van der Hagen is even better when used as a superlather "mixer". "
Thanks for the tip. I will give it a try.

 

[brewshooter]

I already have too many soaps and creams. I finally had to stop. I also ended up buying quite a few of the "classic" aftershaves. Oddly, I only bought four brushes and really only use two of them regularly and still just have the Merkur 180 long handle as my one and only razor.