OT: Shaving Talk

A few years back I switched to an old school safety razor with a shaving brush/shaving soap. It costs a little bit up front, but the razor itself will last forever and the blades are a few cents each. Much better/closer shave and less irritation, plus the soap smells and feels way better than anything you can buy at the store. I would highly recommend it

After shower. Gornik & Drucker shave cream primarily Shea butter for first pass with the grain. Gornik & Drucker cocoa butter for second pass against the grain. Note this is different than the conventional approach where shave oil used first. Both completely organic. No irritating alcohol or other additives founded in canned foams and gels. Doesn't dry your face like shave soaps. Shave perfection. As close a shave as possible, leaving face as soft and supple as fine Corinthian leather...

Bought them at sams like 8 years ago. 13 cartridges and a handle for like $14. Bought like 6 of them. Still using them. And will be for the next few years.

hated the DSC razors (even using the top one).

But i really liked their shave gel (they call it shave butter), luckily they just opened up their products to non razor subscribers.

 

With no shaving cream. You can go with or against the grain and you won't get razor burn. The hot water acts like the cream. I have thick facial hair and a customer from the bank told me to try this in my early 20's. Been doing it for 15 years and it's the best shave ever. Also I buy Mach 3 blades but buy like 3 years worth because the cost will continue to go up. It's basically an investment lol

I'm cheap but my friend swears by this stuff. He lives in CA and assumes that since I am from MI I must be friends with the owner. A premium razor store at a mall in Arcadia, CA told him that their shaving supplies could not possibly compare with Mike's and he has been loyal ever since.

http://www.mikesnaturalsoaps.com/Mikes_Natural_Soaps/Welcome.html

 

I just switched to a safety razor about a month ago. The first time, I cut myself a bunch and had some razor burn. As I've gotten better at it, I have gotten a better shave with less irritation. As others have mentioned, the blades are cheap once you get past the initial cost and there are options that are as cheap as buying a new blade holder from gillette. I think I put in $30 for the blade holder and the shaving lotion that acts like shaving cream.

A couple of years ago, I decided to grow a beard. The beard trend was just getting started, but for me it was primarily about convenience. I have never really been one to shave every single day, yet I get a five o'clock shadow pretty quick. Plus, I was also going through a period of transition in my career and just felt I needed a change...sort of hard to explain.

1. Wash face vigorously with Nivea for men face scrub with the hottest water I can stand

2. With wet face, lather with Edge sensitive skin shaving gel

3. *Critical Step* Leave shaving cream on face for at least a minute. It's even better if it's two or more minutes. While you're wating, fill the sink with a couple inches of hot water and let your razor soak. This will activate the lubricating strip and warm the blades. (I'm a Schick hydro 3 guy)

4. Shave with the grain at first, then rinse your face, smearing residual shaving cream all over, then shave against the grain.

5. Shower. Don't make it too long or hot, or it will dry out your face.

6. Lotion up the face/neck. No need for aftershave gel, just a light, oil free lotion. I prefer Nivea.

 

works like a charm to remove facial hair.

I use a safety razor. Amazing shave and saved more money than ever. 

Razors are too harsh for me...my liners never go wrong!

I had trouble with ingrown whiskers and general irritation.  Went to a dermatologist.  This doctor was, uh, quite gay.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  At the time I used a nice Norelco electric razor.  He said that was the problem, along with bacteria.  The solution:

• Shitcan the electric razor
• Use Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel
• From the bottom of the beard on the neck to the middle of the Adam's apple, shave up.  The rest, shave down.
• Do this in the shower, washing your hair and face first (which deals with bacteria).

Haven't had one problem since.  I use Gillete Comfort Plus 3 disposable razors that I buy at Costco (I think they happen to be on sale now).  One box usually lasts me a half year, depending on how many the wife and daughters steal.  I am a weekday shaver who avoids shaving on the weekends and vacations when possible.  One razor lasts two weeks.  I then decommision that razor for the sink in case I missed a spot (so I don't have to go back into the shower).  He said razors with 2-3 blades is sufficient.  Anything more is overkill.  I will also use the Target and Meijer knockoffs of the Aveeno shave gel.    

Currently rocking my shitty, 14 year old beard that I've been trying to grow out for 3 years.

A safety razor is definitely worth the trouble, because it really isn't much trouble.  I switched to one about nine years ago and have never considered going back. You can buy a 100-pack of blades online for about $12 (depending on which brand you get), so it's not a problem to use a new blade every 2-3 shaves. And it feels better than a cartridge ever will.

Get a good electric. I have to shave almost daily and I hardly ever use an actual razor. Only times is when I skip a few days and it's too long for the electric to get it. Most decent electrics don't even cost that much anymore. I needed a new head for my old one. Looked them up and a brand new model was only 10-15$ more expensive so I just upgraded.

Then for blades for the razor I bought on Amazon. Was able to get 15 Mach iii blades for something like $15. But that may have been a sale. Still better than buying in a drugstore.

I have a beard, I trim it every other week with an electric razor.  I don't think I could tolerate shaving more, hate it.

if you discover the secret.  I admit when I am back home in MI, I get lazy  and many days, after getting out of the shower(and I guess because its ingrained into all of us), I immediately  think about shaving and then going on about business. But often time with nothing to do that forces me to be clean shaven, it's not difficult to convince myself there is no harm in putting it off. Well that one or two days can turn into six, and as any of you know that have used these disposables, they are designed to collect every possible hair over a certain length. Hell, it becomes frustraing just trying to rinse enough off to continue. This often results in using at least two of these cheap suckers to get the job done.

But for the other half of the year, along with other things that might be difficult to find down here in Mexico, I'll grab me a bag of bics, hell even generic Meijer razors, doesn't matter. Because I go out virtually every night while down here, it's mandatory to shave after shower. You don't even think about talking yourself out of it. 

That obligation - to shave every night - prior to heading out lead to a great discovery on my part. Almost always, you are shaving again within 24 hrs so the lenth of the beard is minimal. Hell, I'm not sure one rinse is necessary during the entire exercise. Shaves are always  smooth, about three times as fast as normal and then just set cheap razor back among all other other items men keep in the bathroom.

My first year down here, after about a month, I realized I hade been unsing the same razor, still effective 30 days later as it was the  first with no signs that it needed to be disposed of soon. I guess its at about the two month period where you just decide, not based on need, to  just toss it and use a new one. But seriously, if you make sure to shave everyday, thereby  eliminating the razor from doing any real work, they stay usable for pretty much ever. i alwasy take about  half of the ten razor bag back home with me after the  4 or 6 month stay. And given that it adds only about 30 seconds to your b.r. time, it's well worth it. Another bus to duration is that you will be nick free for that period.. Razor is not required to pull and when allowed to simply flow over face with virtually no obstruction, result is always good and most of us would do it to realize just one of the benefits.

You guys are all suckers. I use a 6 pack of disposable razors a year. You can get about 20 shaves per razor if you man up and keep the razor in pretty hot water when rinsing. The secret is to use baby lotion immediately after to soothe the skin. It costs me like $9 a year to shave.

I'm a frugal old bastard at the young age of 30...

Because I am highly prone to razor bumps (soft skin, coarse, curl hair) I only dry shave using hair clippers.  Andis makes several models that get fairly close if you dont require a razor-close shave.  

When I worked in an office I used a saftey razor, which reduced razor bumps compared the typical Gilette Mach 50 multi-blade razors that cause razor bumps galore.  However it definitely takes some getting used to and you will probably cut yourself up pretty good for a while until you get the hang of it.

Easy to maintain, easy to sharpen, easy to use. 

I had used the Gillette Fusion razor for years but got tired of paying a tidy ransom for the cartridges. I decided that my investment in the DSC's "Executive" (6 primary blades plus 1 trimmer) was reasonably close and half the price.

So far, I haven't noticed any issues with the blades, except that the point about shavings getting stuck between the blades is right on. I also kind of miss the swivelling head of the Fusion, but that's not worth double the price of the DSC.

I've also tried the shave butter and hair styling gel. Both are pretty good products - I'm totally sold on shave butter instead of cream, and I won't go back except in an emergency.

Only 2 people doing it the right way?

My grandpas Boker 6/8 straight razor (full hollow grind). 24 mm Silvertip badger brush from Whipped Dog. As good as an Omega et al but 1/8 the price.

Taylor of Old Bond Street shave soap. Not a fan of creams. I like to take my time and slowly build a lather. Taylor of Old Bond Street aftershave gel.

Soak soap and brush in warm to hit water while showering. Build lather on soap and in scuttle until frothy. Brush on face for 60 seconds to lift hairs. Shave (2 passes).

Since I have started shaving with a straight razor I have no more razor burn and I get a much smoother and overall better shave.

Straight razor like a man

Dry shave with a jagged conch shell

Gillette with the ball head is the best. Buy a bulk pack at Sam's Club. I don't even shave my face anymore, use trimmer. Only use blades to shave neck every other morning. Gillette after shave followed by St. Ives Collagen Elastin cream will have u feeling like a million bucks afterwards. Trust me, used to buy Polo Sport face cream, but that was too expensive.

I've had really bad razor burn/bumps for most of my shaving life. I tried all different types of electric razors, cartridge razors, techniques and creams/gels. A few months back I finally decided to give in and go old school with an Edwin Jagger safety razor with feather blades (I've been doing badger bristle brush and shaving soap for a few years now). I'll never ever go back. Shaving with a safety razor has been a life changer and the learning curve was virtually non-existent. I definitely would suggest this method to anyone looking for a change.