Hey Old School Shavers

[OneCentContent]

Took me half a dozen shaves to fully get past thoughts of accidentally slitting my own throat with a DE. No fucking way do I have the stones for one of those.

I felt the exact same way the first time I tried shaving with a straight, but in the end, it wasn't that bad. I don't have enough skills to use one on a daily basis because it takes me a long, long time to do it without cutting myself, but I am getting a little faster, and as with anything, it just takes practice..

If you're feeling extra brave sometime and have a few minutes, just take a plan DE razor blade and try to mimic the shaving motion of a straight razor on your face. (Don't try this on your neck - I found the best place is right near your sideburns where there is bone right near your skin - it makes it a lot easier) When your face is prepped correctly, it is actually quite hard to cut yourself...

 

[jbizzle]

I tired wet shaving. I got the Merkur Model 38 Hd Classic "Barber Pole" Long Safety Razor, the badger brush, Proaso(its awesome) and some Derby Extra and Shark Super blades.

Shaving with a DE is BRUTAL. I tired in a few times and it didn't get any better. It really tore up my face.

Now I switch between to a Panasonic ES-LA93-K electric(almost as smooth as a blade) and Gillette Fusion Proglide. But 5 blades is really just too much metal on my face.

Anyone use the Schick Hydro?


Merkur Model 38 Hd Classic

 

[wheinrome]

Tried the wet shaving as well and my neck looked like a Dominos meat lovers. Sticking with Sensor Excels and shaving in the shower with a fog free mirror. Start your shave towards the end of your shower so your pores are open and hair is conditioned to stand outwards (less ingrowns).

Pick up some Nuetrogena razor defense face scrub and exfoliate before you start the shave and for the love of God stay away from Edge shaving cream. Not too sound like a shaving elitist but that stuff is piss poor.

Post shave get a good aloe balm and finish off with some products by Zirh.

 

[Rage9]

I tired wet shaving. I got the Merkur Model 38 Hd Classic "Barber Pole" Long Safety Razor, the badger brush, Proaso(its awesome) and some Derby Extra and Shark Super blades.

Shaving with a DE is BRUTAL. I tired in a few times and it didn't get any better. It really tore up my face.

I can defiantly attest to a little bit of a learning curve. Have you tried any other blades? Like a Merkur or a Personna (red pack) both are pretty forgiving blades.

I personally liked Proraso but found it really hard to get a good lather which is is something you have to do or you're going to have a pretty shitty shave.

 

[galacon]

Pick up some Nuetrogena razor defense face scrub and exfoliate before you start the shave and for the love of God stay away from Edge shaving cream. Not too sound like a shaving elitist but that stuff is piss poor.

Post shave get a good aloe balm and finish off with some products by Zirh.

GWF.

 

[chuongster]

I use a safety razor that cost like $200 but its worth it. I can hand it down to my son when he become a man. I haven't spent a dime on changeable razor for the past 3 years and the special shaving cream for it is amazing. Leave your face feeling smooth and moisturize. Never had to worry about razor burn, but i cut myself from time to time. Just learn to slow down when you shave. It was a good investment.

 

[clockwork84]

I really want to try a safety razor, but I have a lazy habit of shaving in the shower without a mirror. That doesn't sound safe with a DE. My beard area is still pretty dark just post-shave, so maybe I need to stop being lazy and step up my shaving game.

 

[jmizzle]

Shaving with a DE is BRUTAL. I tired in a few times and it didn't get any better. It really tore up my face.

Tried the wet shaving as well and my neck looked like a Dominos meat lovers.

When I was reading up on wet shaving and now from my own experiences, a bad (or rough) shave is most often caused by poor prep before hand or trying to rush through it. I try to shave right after I get out of the shower. The hair is saturated and softest then.

 

[jbizzle]

I can defiantly attest to a little bit of a learning curve. Have you tried any other blades? Like a Merkur or a Personna (red pack) both are pretty forgiving blades.

I personally liked Proraso but found it really hard to get a good lather which is is something you have to do or you're going to have a pretty shitty shave.

I have not tried other blades. I didn't cut myself while shaving, but after it felt like I rip off a few layers of skin. I get a great lather with Proraso. I put a little in a large mug, a few drops of water and whip it up with a badger brush.

 

[r3p1v]

Question: How much longer, if at all, does it take to shave with a Merkur razor then a normal modern Gillette razor?


I almost ordered a Merkur and some blades. But decided not to because I read that it takes extra time to shave with them. I don't like to spend a long time shaving.

Plus I'm afraid I'd cut my face up.

 

[veneficus]

I shave after I get out of the steamroom. i shave with the pro something something and use some brand of something. basically whats the most expensive, I lazilily use my automatic, then shave down, then up. and voila i then gtfo.

should i be spanked?

 

[Rage9]

I have not tried other blades. I didn't cut myself while shaving, but after it felt like I rip off a few layers of skin. I get a great lather with Proraso. I put a little in a large mug, a few drops of water and whip it up with a badger brush.

I don't know what you mean by a few drops exactly, it takes quite a bit of water to get a slick lather going. I use to get lather with Proraso but what I didn't know was I wasn't putting enough water into it to make a proper lather. I've seen all kinds of people over at Badger and Blade that had difficulties at first and eventually find their way. If it's something you still want to pursue I'd go post in the noobie section over there, chances are they've run into pretty much everything there is and they will answer ANY shaving question.

Question: How much longer, if at all, does it take to shave with a Merkur razor then a normal modern Gillette razor?

I've rarely been able to use a multi-blade cartridge razor as I always ended up with mega razor burn.

That being said, there's no real such thing as a time frame. It takes as long as it takes you. Some people 10 min, some people 20 min, some people 45 min. Depends on how close of a shave you want, and what your prep routine is. I'm relatively new to it all and still learning, and I think it takes me around 20 min or so to do my lathering a 2-3 pass shave. The more skillfully you can do it, the faster you can do it without hurting yourself or causing razor burn.

Often times the rituals you end up developing will become more enjoyable than any other form a shaving you have done in the past.

 

[-God-]

I tired wet shaving. I got the Merkur Model 38 Hd Classic "Barber Pole" Long Safety Razor, the badger brush, Proaso(its awesome) and some Derby Extra and Shark Super blades.

Shaving with a DE is BRUTAL. I tired in a few times and it didn't get any better. It really tore up my face.

Now I switch between to a Panasonic ES-LA93-K electric(almost as smooth as a blade) and Gillette Fusion Proglide. But 5 blades is really just too much metal on my face.

Anyone use the Schick Hydro?


Merkur Model 38 Hd Classic

Perhaps, like Rage said it's the blades? I also think it could be the razor. I have cut myself once. ONCE. I can go about a week without shaving and it is still shockingly comfortable. I have experienced zero burn since moving to a DE.

Also, if you just get a bowl of Taylor's cream and run a wet brush lightly around the bowl, to get some soap/cream on the tips and then lather it directly on the face, it's superb.

I have tried the creams you lather up in a cup and found the experience not as good as the above routine.

 

[OneCentContent]

I don't know what you mean by a few drops exactly, it takes quite a bit of water to get a slick lather going. I use to get lather with Proraso but what I didn't know was I wasn't putting enough water into it to make a proper lather. I've seen all kinds of people over at Badger and Blade that had difficulties at first and eventually find their way. If it's something you still want to pursue I'd go post in the noobie section over there, chances are they've run into pretty much everything there is and they will answer ANY shaving question.

Another few tips to add to this...

1. I like to start off with an almost 100% dry brush (pre soaked in hot water, and then "shaken" out really good so it seems like it is holding almost no water), lather it up a little in the bowl, and add water drops as I go. It is a lot easier to add water to a dry lather then to correct a wet one. Lot's of people use to much water right off the start, and they run into trouble big time...

2. A good test I have been taught is just before you are ready to put your lather on your face, put a tiny bit between your thumb and your forefinger. Using light pressure (about the same pressure that you use with the razor on your face) rub your fingers together. It should feel slippery and quite lubricated. When it is to dry or to wet, you will feel a certain "friction" between your fingers that is quite noticeable. Once I started doing this, the quality of my lather improved greatly...

3. Finally, if you are looking for some visuals and "walkthroughs" of what you should be doing, check out this guys Youtube channel. He offers a ton of good information on everything related to wet shaving...

YouTube - mantic59's Channel