Wet Shaving

[Crankshaft]

Hello there fellow enthusiasts, i recently picked up the hobby of wet shaving; shaving using a safety razor and a double edge blade. I have came across plenty of people who get into this lifestyle to save money on shaving since a quality razor cartridge is getting up there now, but just to find out that while double edge blades can be had for about 30 at the most for the expensive brands such as feather; you actually become sucked into buying more and more razors. The safety razor world is vast just as is the automotive world and they share similarities such as luxury makers catering to the upscale and the very basic models catering to those whom do not care for anything special other than taking care of business. Weirdly enough i found out that there is a market for secondhand razors and although old and having been used previously some models are very sought after by collectors and can cost just as much or more than a quality razor can. Here are my tools.
[/URL] 1963 Gillette tto Speed razor
[/URL] 1970 Gillette Tech 3pc
[/URL] and finally my Edwin Jagger ed89 ebony
[/URL]
Each razor has a very unique feel and gives a different shave, it takes time to find the blades that works best for each razor according to the weight of the razor and skin type and although you like all of them, there are favorites that get used more often than the others. So any other safety razor people here?

[CyborgGT]

I got that cheap one off TV a while back (the one with the Pawn Stars guy in the commercial) and have been happy enough with it. I'm not an enthusiast though; like you said, if it does the job I don't care about anything else. Every time, I let my cheeks grow out a bit and leave it on for a while, then when it gets to an annoying length I go back smooth and repeat. There's no point in me going for the best shave ever.

[Crankshaft]

Micro touch one

I believe the one you have is the micro touch one, I have heard those while not being great are not bad either. My first razor was the twist to open that I own and while it is great for some people I find the angle of the head to be a bit too aggressive for me regardless of what Blade I throw on there. My other two, when paired with the right blade leave my face like a baby butt with no irritation, I actually look forward to such a mundane task as shaving.

[Raf99]

Good thread and i think every guy should get into better shaving. I find it funny how the manufactures want you to use a new razor everyday! Some say one razor for each week. Can you imagine how much it would cost if you changed your razor once a day!!

[Crankshaft]

Cost

Good thread and i think every guy should get into better shaving. I find it funny how the manufactures want you to use a new razor everyday! Some say one razor for each week. Can you imagine how much it would cost if you changed your razor once a day!!

My wife is part of one of those clubs that send you a razor like every two weeks, I used to buy those Mach 3 but I was going thru them like crazy and I even tried using them for longer than I had to but all that leads to is terrible razor burn and ingrown hair. Now although I have about $100 in items($70 in razors, $10 in blades, $20 in shaving soap in different fragrances) I am set for at least a year in blades and have the pleasure of having a shave tailored to my person rather than a combination put together generically. I know this might not be for everyone as I gave a great razor as a gift and the guy simply told me thanks but he did not want it as he tried wet shaving at age 16 and cut himself. Just FYI for anyone venturing in to this, feather blades are known to be the sharpest in the market so please be careful as hacking yourself in a rush is not due to poor equipment but rather negligence.

[deevergote]

I've been thinking about trying a safety razor for a while. I haven't been able to find a normal disposable that I really like (ever since Bic discontinued their basic single blade disposable... best razor I've ever used.) I've tried fancy multi-blade disposable heads, and I've tried any number of plastic disposable razors... nothing is all that great. The safety razor seems to require a bit more time and care, though. That's what has kept me from it.

At the moment, i only shave my cheeks and neck. I have a goatee that's going on 5" now

[Raf99]

I still use Mach 3 razor. The only difference between the Mach 3 and Mach 3 Turbo is the green slime on the razor itself. Not needed when you use proper shaving cream. I also read somewhere that if you get razor burn it's 90% because of the shaving cream you use. So now i use Gillette shaving cream and never use a gel.

I've tried a bunch of other razors, newer, more blades, tilts, vibrates, reverse trimming blade, but they were all scams IMO.

And ya...... i grew up without a father or anyone to teach me shave, i still have a cut on my face from when i was 17 and sliced the wrong way.

[deevergote]

I use Ivory soap.
I do occasionally use some Prorasso (Italian stuff... works great), or an old bottle of Nivea 3 in 1 (body, hair, shave) stuff that ended up being great for shaving.

[Crankshaft]

Safety razor

Yes it does require more time and finding the right angle Vs using pressure, usually when folks say that they cut themselves with a safety razor is because they use pressure at the wrong angle since they are used to the fancy pivoting head on razors like mach 3. And I also use proraso, I have almost all their soap line(not to be confused with cream line) and it works great with their omega boar brush; that oatmeal white soap it's my favorite by far with the sandalwood being my least favorite.

I've been thinking about trying a safety razor for a while. I haven't been able to find a normal disposable that I really like (ever since Bic discontinued their basic single blade disposable... best razor I've ever used.) I've tried fancy multi-blade disposable heads, and I've tried any number of plastic disposable razors... nothing is all that great. The safety razor seems to require a bit more time and care, though. That's what has kept me from it.

At the moment, i only shave my cheeks and neck. I have a goatee that's going on 5" now

[Crankshaft]

Dull blades also lead to razor burn, if you use aftershave you might want to give Alum stone a try; just wet the stone and slide across the freshly shaven area while the face is wet and not only does it eliminatecrazor burn but it also stops bleeding immediately on those who tend to cut themselves.

I still use Mach 3 razor. The only difference between the Mach 3 and Mach 3 Turbo is the green slime on the razor itself. Not needed when you use proper shaving cream. I also read somewhere that if you get razor burn it's 90% because of the shaving cream you use. So now i use Gillette shaving cream and never use a gel.

I've tried a bunch of other razors, newer, more blades, tilts, vibrates, reverse trimming blade, but they were all scams IMO.

And ya...... i grew up without a father or anyone to teach me shave, i still have a cut on my face from when i was 17 and sliced the wrong way.

[CyborgGT]

At the moment, i only shave my cheeks and neck. I have a goatee that's going on 5" now

I haven't seen my chin or my upper lip since high school a decade ago, haha. I keep the mustache and goatee trimmed short, but they grew in and I simply liked the look so they stayed. I wonder if I have tan lines under there.

But as a teenager I remember a Gillette Fusion (5-blade) appeared in the mail for me... kinda weird, but whatever it was free. I made those blades last as long as possible until finally a couple years ago I got the Micro Touch. I might look into some other safety blade brands. I wouldn't mind something that's less harsh on my skin. The price of blades is too nice.

[oni_cb7]

I don't know what it is, but I can never find a razor that doesn't mess up my skin. No matter what I use or what I do, razor burn ALWAYS happens. Even when I went to a barber that knew how to use a single blade razor, same thing. Apparently, my skin can't handle having my beard shaved off.

So, in the past 7 years, I have only been clean shaven 3-4 times.

I just use a beard trimmer to keep my stubble manageable and edged clean.

[Crankshaft]

I don't know what it is, but I can never find a razor that doesn't mess up my skin. No matter what I use or what I do, razor burn ALWAYS happens. Even when I went to a barber that knew how to use a single blade razor, same thing. Apparently, my skin can't handle having my beard shaved off.

So, in the past 7 years, I have only been clean shaven 3-4 times.

I just use a beard trimmer to keep my stubble manageable and edged clean.

I can no longer can nor want to go more than a day without shaving, its almost like sex; before i knew how well it could be i never really cared for it but after that first pleasant experience i cant stay away. My wife actually watches the whole "ritual" now; placing my brush in a mug with warm water while i shower to come out clean to the hot blade slicing thru the follicles until not a single stubble can be felt regardless of direction i slide my hand accross.

[oni_cb7]

I can no longer can nor want to go more than a day without shaving, its almost like sex; before i knew how well it could be i never really cared for it but after that first pleasant experience i cant stay away. My wife actually watches the whole "ritual" now; placing my brush in a mug with warm water while i shower to come out clean to the hot blade slicing thru the follicles until not a single stubble can be felt regardless of direction i slide my hand accross.

Almost sounds like a romance novel... lol

I wish I could experience this. Apparently, no shave is good enough for my skin.

[Crankshaft]

gillette

I haven't seen my chin or my upper lip since high school a decade ago, haha. I keep the mustache and goatee trimmed short, but they grew in and I simply liked the look so they stayed. I wonder if I have tan lines under there.

But as a teenager I remember a Gillette Fusion (5-blade) appeared in the mail for me... kinda weird, but whatever it was free. I made those blades last as long as possible until finally a couple years ago I got the Micro Touch. I might look into some other safety blade brands. I wouldn't mind something that's less harsh on my skin. The price of blades is too nice.

I think that is how we get sucked into their scheme to enslave us with their expensive razors, they send you that firs complementary razor to get you hooked.