Throw some knowledge at me about wet shaving

[TheVrolok]

it takes me roughly about 4-6 minutes more useing my DE then it does my mach3.

I do get a better shave and NO irritation. i think that going slow and keeping my face wet has really helped in that. when i used the mach 3 (and the foam shaving cream) i would always have irritation.

Now i take my time, i have blades i like, cream i like and take my time. sure its slightly longer but well worth it (to me).

i do see how it's not for everyone. if you don't get irritation then teh mach 3 or such is fine (had worse irration with razors after mach 3 for some reason) it's faster and only slightly more expensive.

Sums it up for me. I get a better shave for a couple extra minutes of time and significantly less irritation.

 

[sourceninja]

When you say initial investment, what did you purchase to begin with? Currently I have the following in my cart:

Merkur 180 long
Barber Alum
Proraso Eucalyptus and Menthol Shaving Soap
Parker Badger Brush

Figured I could just get aftershave, etc at the store locally.

I bought a razor, brush, styptic pen, sample pack of blades, and a sample pack of shaving creams. Later I started buying aftershave lotions, alum blocks, etc. Looking back at my receipt in detail, I had gotten some things on sale otherwise I'm sure I would have been in the 120-130 range.

But seriously, to get started you need a $45-55 razor, $20-45 brush, cream/soap, and some razors.

You can get a nice sample pack of cream/soaps for 10.00 at http://www.trumpers.com/product_detail.cfm?ProductID=111547656 this will last you 12 shaves and is a great way to try out creams and skin food (my favorite aftershave lotion)

and a great sample pack of blades http://www.westcoastshaving.com/DE-Blade-Sampler-Pack-Standard_p_17.html this will last you almost a year of every other day shaving.

That kind of setup puts you in the $120 range.

 

[fstime]

ATOT loves to brag about how great shaving with a DE razor is.

I don't care for it. Unless you enjoy making shaving a routine where it is something you have to take the time to prepare for, it isn't that great.

The shave is not going to be any better (a little worse than a 4 blade fusion if you ask me) and it will be more time consuming.

Only way I would do it is if I was one of those guys with skin problems constantly breaking out after shaving.

 

[sze5003]

I have no time for such a procedure would be nice to try too.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Just placed my order:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(I have massive hands)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(Been reading up on blades and these seemed to give one of the closest shaves and work well with sensitive skin)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(I didn't want to break the bank, but at the same time did not want a piece of shit. The free stand is kind of cool too, even if it is cheap plastic)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(Obvious)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(I'm a sucker for Eucalyptus and Mint)

 

[Zargon]

how is it more time consuming?

I ended up with a merkur, and use the shit cream my wife buys for her legs(because I always forget to buy more)

just with using the DE, it takes no more time, I get a slightly better shave, at a significantly reduced cost, I paid 17 bucks for 100 blades, and they last me 2-3 shaves before they give me a 'bad shave'. I would one decent shave out of a fusion or mach 3

it might take ever so slightly longer because I have to actually think and move my face arund when I shave, but we talking an extra minute onto a 5-8 minute job, and a savings a few bucks per shave.

sure the razor was like 20 bucks when I bought it, but 4 years later and shaving on average twice a week......thats an extra 4 cents per shave at this point

 

[waggy]

try a blade sampler pack befoer you buy 100 of whatever.

I did and found i like red personna blades.

at westcoast shaving they are $20 for 100

 

[BurnItDwn]

I use scissors once a month to trim my mustache and clippers once every few months or so to trim my beard and lemmy chops. I suspect I use less than 10 cents per year on the electricity used for all my hair cuts and beard trims.

lxskllr is living large and luxurious with his annual $1 budget!

 

[Born2bwire]

It all depends. I would say at the very least, you will probably feel that using a nice soap or cream will give you a good improvement. That doesn't cost that much either. I get very good results using a Valobra soap which lasts for many months and costs around $12. The soap makes my skin feel very soft and smooth and gives good protection.

If you keep your investment low, then the ongoing costs are very low since soaps and blades are very cheap (usually you will probably spend $10-$25 a year on blades). It's just that people tend to go out and buy a bunch of $40 razors and brushes that cost twice as much. Just get a modest brush and razor and stick with it and you can get the money back in a year or two.

And as for better or not, I don't think people can really get a closer shave, but for me I could get a better shave that I could do everyday. I can get a really close shave with a cartridge, but I can't shave that way everyday. But a DE allows more freedom in the way I shave so that I can give myself a better consistent daily shave.

 

[Sluggo]

I started with the Edwin Jagger razor listed above, but eventually moved to a Merkur for the longer handle.

The Taylor of Bond Street is some great shave soap, so much slicker than Proraso, very much worth the extra money.

Blades are just a personal choice, I hated the Derby blades, and wound up settling on Astra blades, use each blade for 3 shaves.

 

[lxskllr]

lxskllr is living large and luxurious with his annual $1 budget!

Someone's gotta live the life. Me and Alky, ATOT's real ballers, keepin' it real :^D

 

[NoCreativity]

Blades are just a personal choice, I hated the Derby blades, and wound up settling on Astra blades, use each blade for 3 shaves.

I like the Derbys and Dorcos, hated the Astras. Exactly why the sampler packs are a good route.

 

[waggy]

I like the Derbys and Dorcos, hated the Astras. Exactly why the sampler packs are a good route.

agreed. get a sampler pack. they are cheap and you may find something that is great for you.

 

[sourceninja]

I like the Derbys and Dorcos, hated the Astras. Exactly why the sampler packs are a good route.

Crystal and Feather are my favorites.

 

[olds]

I buy whatever twin blades are on sale. Go through about 1 a month.

1. Take shower
2. At end of shower, lather up face with bar soap, shave
3. Rinse face and blade in shower
4. Hang up blade on fog free (lol) mirror that has holder for blade.

 

[TheVrolok]

Crystal and Feather are my favorites.

<3 Feathers. Almost a smidge too sharp for that first shave if you're shaving lazily, absolutely perfect for every shave after though. Melts hair right off, no irritation.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Cancelled the bulk pack of Derbys and order the sampler from Westcoast

 

[jupiter57]

I get a 14-pack of Mach 3 disposables at Costco for <$30.

My housemate usually steals a couple to shave her legs. The other ~dozen will last me 4-5 months.

As long as I buy the "good" shaving cream I don't have any bleeding or razor burn problems.

Wow, that is super cheap. I need to check Sams Club next time I'm there.

A five-pack in a regular (but cheap) store is about $17 here; goes over $20 for the 'nicer' supermarkets/chains.

Are the disposables as good as the cartridge type?
I'm hooked on my Mach3, closest shave I've ever had, and blades last (me) about 3-4 months each. (Wife shares razor, so they don't last as long with both of us using it:whiste.

Currently, this is the best deal I've found on the blades:
http://dx.com/p/gillette-mach3-revolutionary-triple-blade-4-pack-9299

 

[DestinyKnight]

I've been using my 1945 Gillette Superspeed with feather blades for the past 8 years. I'll never go back to cartridges and goo in a can if I can help it.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Well, everything came in on Friday, and I had my first shave on Saturday. Survey says:

Awesome. Purely awesome. I put a new Feather on, got a nice thick, hot lather going in my mug, and got to work. The Feather went through the hair like butter with zero resistance or irritation. It was as if a unicorn was licking the hair right off of my face. I'm proud to say that only one minor nick occured through the entire process

Usually I get a little irritation on my neck a couple of days post-shave, but I'm happy to report that the hair is growing in just fine without any raised, red areas or sensitivity

 

[sze5003]

I was thinking about something like this. Thing is I have very little hair on my face where a Gillette fusion works fine. But I'm tired of getting razor burn and only 3 good shaves off of each cartridge. Then a replacement cartridge is 16 bucks for 3 of them.

 

[JM Aggie08]

I was thinking about something like this. Thing is I have very little hair on my face where a Gillette fusion works fine. But I'm tired of getting razor burn and only 3 good shaves off of each cartridge. Then a replacement cartridge is 16 bucks for 3 of them.

Unicorn...Licking the hair...off of your face.

I wouldn't say it if it were not true.

 

[sourceninja]

I was thinking about something like this. Thing is I have very little hair on my face where a Gillette fusion works fine. But I'm tired of getting razor burn and only 3 good shaves off of each cartridge. Then a replacement cartridge is 16 bucks for 3 of them.

Even if you don't want to go DE, you can switch to cartridge razors from http://www.dorcousa.com/ and save a bundle over that Gillette. Then you can replace the head every 3 shaves at $1 per head (or less if you buy in bulk).

 

[sze5003]

Yeah I just have a mustache that comes in very prickly , hair on chin, neck and for some reason unevenly on the right side of my face but evenly on the left if I grow everything out ..which I dont because I would look dirty.

I'll check that out and go through the options in here. Definitely would like something better than those Gillette razors. Sometimes I buy a whole new one because it's cheaper than the cartridges.

 

[Muse]

I use a straight razor, strop, water stone, cup, brush, and soap. Most were purchased second hand. I probably spend $1 a year on shaving. That includes original purchase prices prorated to the present.

I've tried that route. Don't bother now. I shave after a hot shower using ordinary shaving creams. I caught a deal off Ebay, it was a batch of 50 Schick triple edge disposables. Per a thread I saw here they can be made to last a lot longer than otherwise if they are rinsed and dried immediately after use and removed to a low humidity space. Although I have a heavy beard, one of these disposables will last me ~4 months.

I was thinking about something like this. Thing is I have very little hair on my face where a Gillette fusion works fine. But I'm tired of getting razor burn and only 3 good shaves off of each cartridge. Then a replacement cartridge is 16 bucks for 3 of them.

3 shaves? Read the above. I get around 60 shaves from one disposable. When it starts to become dodgy, I discard and whip out a new one. And I have a heavy beard.