That’s it Man, Had enough of The pricy ‘Fusions’
and Mach 3’s…And “Dollar Shave Club” monthly
delivery company gets their half-assed blades from
“Dorco”, and they are shit…The commercial is genius though.
So I recommend “Wet Shaving”… I tried it years ago as a newbie, and
the first few times I looked like I stuck my head in a tank full of Piranhas,
but the END result was magnificent…a much closer, smooth shave than any cartridge.
Ironically once you get the hang of it, you get cut LESS than with cartridges.
My weapon of choice…“Feather” brand Handle and blades, which are great
and the blades are great quality and SUPER CHEAP.
So do the math…how much do you spend on Blades every year now??
A lot I bet…too damn much…Be a real Man…Wet Shave Dammit!
I’ve been doing this for a while now after I got my grandpa’s Gilette Fatboy after he passed. I’m actually asking for a straight blade for Christmas so I can take it to the next level. The feeling of letting the actual razor cut the hair is like nothing else. I think the term wet shave applies to the act of lathering your face up with a brush and cup. Could be wrong on that, but I believe you can still technically wet shave with a cartridge razor.
Pros:
-After initial investment it is very inexpensive
-Close shave with no tugging or pulling
-Feel like a real boss
-Brushing on that warm lather is fantastic
Cons:
-Usually takes around 10 minutes to shave, more if you’re being thorough
-Pretty much have to buy equipment online unless you’re lucky enough to have a shop nearby
-Initial investment is pretty substantial
-Learning curve is a little steep, you will have a LOT of cuts and irritation at first
[quote]CroatianRage wrote:
I’ve been doing this for a while now after I got my grandpa’s Gilette Fatboy after he passed. I’m actually asking for a straight blade for Christmas so I can take it to the next level. The feeling of letting the actual razor cut the hair is like nothing else. I think the term wet shave applies to the act of lathering your face up with a brush and cup. Could be wrong on that, but I believe you can still technically wet shave with a cartridge razor.
Pros:
-After initial investment it is very inexpensive
-Close shave with no tugging or pulling
-Feel like a real boss
-Brushing on that warm lather is fantastic
Cons:
-Usually takes around 10 minutes to shave, more if you’re being thorough
-Pretty much have to buy equipment online unless you’re lucky enough to have a shop nearby
-Initial investment is pretty substantial
-Learning curve is a little steep, you will have a LOT of cuts and irritation at first[/quote]
Everything you said was spot on.
First time I used a safety razor I damn near cut half my face off. Once you figure it out my god does it leave a smooth shave.
Agree with everything except maybe the ‘‘substantial’’ investment… Special Creams and Brushes can cost,
but they are not necessary…There are some hardcore fans of this art go for the pricy ‘‘IKON’’
handles, Stands for your Brushes and Handles, etc…but again, not necessary.
To each his own, and in the long run you can save thousands over what one spends on cartridges, and as far as the supplies being scarce in your town, the only
main thing you need are the BLADES after you get the handle… and you can get
TWO YEARS worth of Blades in one order for under 20 Bucks!
[quote]Karado wrote:
Agree with everything except maybe the ‘‘substantial’’ investment… Special Creams and Brushes can cost,
but they are not necessary…There are some hardcore fans of this art go for the pricy ‘‘IKON’’
handles, Stands for your Brushes and Handles, etc…but again, not necessary.
To each his own, and in the long run you can save thousands over what one spends on cartridges. [/quote]
A brush is absolutely, positively necessary if you want to impress visitors to your home,
read National Geographic and drink Tea with your pinky finger in the air.
I’ve used a Brush, I HAVE a Brush, and the experience is no different or magically better
than using your hands and directing the Cream exactly where the fuck you want it.
[quote]Karado wrote:
A brush is absolutely, positively necessary if you want to impress visitors to your home,
read National Geographic and drink Tea with your pinky finger in the air.
I’ve used a Brush, I HAVE a Brush, an the experience is no different or magically better
than using your hands and directing the Cream exactly where the fuck you want it.[/quote]
You have obviously not understood the importance of rituals.
Rituals require utensils.
There are things you do before you leave your home to battle the unmentionables.
A clean white bowl.
Shaving cream.
A brush.
Shave…
Ideally, a hot towel.
Then you can face the unbearable meaningless and the airheads dwelling in it because you are clean shaven and you know you have done it the right way.
Next installment:
Tailored suits and how they help not to loose your shit.
I shave with a 7/8 straight razor. All you need is a strop to keep it sharp. Initial investment is a little heavy for those on a budget, but well worth it, IMHO. I’ve never had a closer shave. Ever.
Having said that, once I got into straight razor shaving, I learned (by necessity) how to properly prepare my face for a shave. Now it doesn’t matter what I use, I never cut myself - even when I shave over my scars. Preparation is key.
I use a badger hair brush, sandalwood soap, a pewter and porcelain bowl, clove oil, two white hand towels and scalding hot water, followed by cold water and ended with a sweetly stinging aftershave.
The ritual, as Orion pointed out, is exquisite. If you don’t have the time to put into it to get the benefit of the ritual, don’t even bother.
After trying a few of the fancy shaving creams, Proraso (rebranded in the US as C.O. Bigelow Premium Shave Cream and sold at Bath & Body Works) has become my go to cream. It’s pretty cheap at $7 or so a tube that lasts for months.
Edwin Jagger makes a decent (Best Badger) brush for around $35. I guess it’s a bit more now, but a worthy investment.
For me, the Turkish Derby blades work best. A few years ago I bought 100 blades for $14 shipped; I haven’t run out yet. But I think a sample pack of blades from a bunch of manufacturers is the way to go to figure out what works for you. My hair is a bit too coarse for Feathers.
[quote]Karado wrote:
A brush is absolutely, positively necessary if you want to impress visitors to your home,
read National Geographic and drink Tea with your pinky finger in the air.
I’ve used a Brush, I HAVE a Brush, and the experience is no different or magically better
than using your hands and directing the Cream exactly where the fuck you want it.
[/quote]
You can suck cannabis smoke from a pipe made out of a toilet paper tube and some tinfoil.
[quote]Karado wrote:
A brush is absolutely, positively necessary if you want to impress visitors to your home,
read National Geographic and drink Tea with your pinky finger in the air.
I’ve used a Brush, I HAVE a Brush, and the experience is no different or magically better
than using your hands and directing the Cream exactly where the fuck you want it.
[/quote]
You can suck cannabis smoke from a pipe made out of a toilet paper tube and some tinfoil.
Would you, if you had other options?[/quote]
The Barbarians are obviously already at the gates.
May I suggest that some way to safe money is not to always go the cheapest route but buy quality and make it last?
Like my double chambered pre cooled Bong that I never ever use?
This is one of the few instances in which I find my lack of real facial hair growth a blessing. Even when shaving daily I go through less than 2 cartridges a year, so while I suppose I could still be saving money, it’s not very substantial.
On the downside, I have a lack of real facial hair growth…
[quote]Karado wrote:
A brush is absolutely, positively necessary if you want to impress visitors to your home,
read National Geographic and drink Tea with your pinky finger in the air.
I’ve used a Brush, I HAVE a Brush, and the experience is no different or magically better
than using your hands and directing the Cream exactly where the fuck you want it.
[/quote]
You can suck cannabis smoke from a pipe made out of a toilet paper tube and some tinfoil.
Would you, if you had other options?[/quote]
The Barbarians are obviously already at the gates.
May I suggest that some way to safe money is not to always go the cheapest route but buy quality and make it last?
Like my double chambered pre cooled Bong that I never ever use?
[quote]angry chicken wrote:
I shave with a 7/8 straight razor. All you need is a strop to keep it sharp. Initial investment is a little heavy for those on a budget, but well worth it, IMHO. I’ve never had a closer shave. Ever.
Having said that, once I got into straight razor shaving, I learned (by necessity) how to properly prepare my face for a shave. Now it doesn’t matter what I use, I never cut myself - even when I shave over my scars. Preparation is key.
I use a badger hair brush, sandalwood soap, a pewter and porcelain bowl, clove oil, two white hand towels and scalding hot water, followed by cold water and ended with a sweetly stinging aftershave.
The ritual, as Orion pointed out, is exquisite. If you don’t have the time to put into it to get the benefit of the ritual, don’t even bother. [/quote]
Do you use the straight blade every day? I figured once I got mine I’d use the DE on weekdays and the straight blade on the weekends. I still use disposable cartridges quite a bit during the week if I don’t have time.
Do you shave daily or every other day? I like the idea of the ritual but don’t always have the time.
james
[/quote]
With the safety razor I don’t need a daily shave with my facial hair. This of course will change depending on the color, density, rate, etc. of your beard.
