[Fuzzface]

I'm not talking straight razors, i'm talking safety razors, along with shaving soap and a boar brush. I haven't got any of that stuff yet, but I want to, for 4 reasons, it's cheaper in the long run, it gives a better shave, it sounds like the boar brush against my face would feel amazing and its old school and I think old school is better in some cases.

Anyways is it worth it? It seems like taking that extra ten minutes to shave would be worth it for the better shave, and less irritation.

 

[gahdzila]

Subscribed, because I'm vaguely interested.

I'd probably never get into this, though. I'm extremely lazy when it comes to shaving. I often go a couple of weeks before I get enough shag that it starts to annoy me enough to shave.

 

[owaindav]

There are folks interested in this. Commander Quan actually got me interested in it and I love it.

Here's a forum devoted to wet shaving. Badger & Blade

For me, I absolutely hated shaving. I kept a razor in the shower and when I just couldn't stand it any more, I'd shave. I don't know why but it was such a chore.

Once I found wet shaving, I guess it's become kind of a ritual or process for me. I picked up a razor from CQ and he also sold me a blade sampler pack. I got some shaving soap and went to town. Now I find myself thinking, "I've got to remember to shave tonight." And it's not such a chore. I realize that's odd, adding steps and it not turning into more of a chore but it has.

I don't spend much time on the above forum. What little time I have is spent here on Puff. But, for me, it's been revolutionary!

 

[TXsmoker]

Yes. Straight razor and DE razor. Before I went to wet shaving, I couldnt shave more than once every 3 weeks or so due to irritation and ingrown hairs. Now I shave daily and enjoy it.

I would hit antique stores and find a vintage DE razor, then order a blade sampler pack ( bullgooseshaving.net has some good deals) some soaps to try and a cheap boar brush. If you get into it, you will probably like a badger brush better. Boar is coarser, but badger lathers better. I use a boar brush with my preshave soap because it massages the soap into my face better, then a boar with the shave soap for better, more protective lather.

If you have any questions, ask away and I will give the best advice/opinions I can. I'll put it this way, that mach5 crap will never touch my face again. Same for the foam in a can. That stuff is all trash.

 

[David_ESM]

This is a really old photo. Probably just 2-3 weeks in to starting my DE kick.

 

[fivespdcat]

DE shaver here. To me it is absolutely the way to go. I use either a Palmolive shave stick (from Germany) or TOBS/DR Harris puck. Lather up with a Badger hair brush and then cut it all down with a Merkur Futur loaded with a Feather blade.

As far as is it worth it? Yeah, in the long run it's definitely cheaper. There are some initial start up costs for the tools, but you're not spending $5 a cartridge every 2 weeks so it doesn't take long to recoup the cash.

Finally, does it make a difference? Big time. Everyone I converted has stuck to it, just because it doesn't really take that much more time, but it makes a huge difference in the way your face feels. Check out B&B and you'll get a lot of info, but beware, the slope is not only for cigars!

 

[RedZeppelin]

I tried DE shaving for a couple of weeks and got some great tips from the aforementioned Badger and Blade community. I rather enjoyed the experience but in the end went back to my boring old electric razor. I found that the electric gave me just as close of a shave in a fraction of the time.

I have a very tough beard and sensitive skin -- not a good combo for wet-shaving. There are a few areas on my face that I just couldn't get smooth without making so many passes that it would cause irritation.

If I had to wet-shave I'd choose a DE over a disposable any day, though.

 

[owaindav]

Yeah, Abe. I'm kinda hatin' Joe right now for bringing this up. I'm shopping again. I've only got the boar brush you get from a drug store chain and I'm wondering about badger brushes and the like. Stupid slopes!

 

[Quietville]

Tweezerman badger brush is cheap, much softer than boar, and frankly does a better job.

Amazon.com: Tweezerman Men's Shaving Brush: Health & Personal Care

I've had one for close to three years now, it works great and I've had no problems

Oh, and Badger and Blade is how I came to puff. Someone there recommended me here!

As far as it being cheaper... it is BY FAR cheaper. The initial investment can be around $20 and last you half a year! Check out mama bear's soaps http://mamabearssoaps.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1 they're homemade soaps and they are very nice.

Cremo cream is a great cream to add to a shave soap or cream that isn't slick enough, and is cheap. It has a chemically orange smell to it, though... so that is a little off-putting, but well worth it if you ask me.

Taylor of Bond Street creams are awesome. Trumper's cream is awesome too. As with cigars you pay for quality, but it's well worth it and they'll last a good long time.

 

[TXsmoker]

I have a very tough beard and sensitive skin -- not a good combo for wet-shaving.

I have to very strongly disagree with this. I have sensitive skin and a tough beard and wet shaving was the the cure for irritation, redness, bumps etc. Also, its way faster than an electric. If you had problems, I would say it was due to bad technique. Were you appyling pressure to the razor? All you need is a very light pressure. Also, 3 passes work best, once with the grain, once against the grain and once ear to nose. Smooth as silk and irritation free every time for me.

 

[TXsmoker]

Tweezerman badger brush is cheap, much softer than boar, and frankly does a better job.

Amazon.com: Tweezerman Men's Shaving Brush: Health & Personal Care

I've had one for close to three years now, it works great and I've had no problems

Oh, and Badger and Blade is how I came to puff. Someone there recommended me here!

As far as it being cheaper... it is BY FAR cheaper. The initial investment can be around $20 and last you half a year! Check out mama bear's soaps http://mamabearssoaps.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1 they're homemade soaps and they are very nice.

Cremo cream is a great cream to add to a shave soap or cream that isn't slick enough, and is cheap. It has a chemically orange smell to it, though... so that is a little off-putting, but well worth it if you ask me.

Taylor of Bond Street creams are awesome. Trumper's cream is awesome too. As with cigars you pay for quality, but it's well worth it and they'll last a good long time.

How did I forget Mama Bears? Ive only got 8 of her soaps... The Ye Olde Barbershoppe is a favorite of mine, as well as Ocean Rain, and the Sea Buckthorn oil is great if your skin is dry. Ive also got Cella, Mitchells Wool fat in my rotation.

Oh yea, if you are from B&B, you might get a kick out of this, I can lather Williams. LOL

 

[cartey]

Ever since I started trying DE safety razor 2 years ago, I never looked back. It's cheaper, it shaves cleaner, and I get to scoff off the Gillette users. LOL

My current favorite set up is:
Murker DE safety razor
Personna Israeli platinum chrome blade
Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving cream
and unfortunately I only have a cheap Art of Shaving badger brush.

I really want to try straight blade though...

 

[TonyBrooklyn]

I'm not talking straight razors, i'm talking safety razors, along with shaving soap and a boar brush. I haven't got any of that stuff yet, but I want to, for 4 reasons, it's cheaper in the long run, it gives a better shave, it sounds like the boar brush against my face would feel amazing and its old school and I think old school is better in some cases.

Anyways is it worth it? It seems like taking that extra ten minutes to shave would be worth it for the better shave, and less irritation.

Adam Tx Smoker was very generous and sent me some soap samples a safety razor blades and a straight razor. I ordered a strop and brush and cup online! Can't wait to try it all out thanks again ADAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[piperdown]

I've tried it and have gone back to using my gillette fusion as it irritated my skin. Tried all the different methods, different blades, different soaps but I kept getting razor rash something fierce.

I had two vintage DE's from my dad, which were cool to have and then picked up the other stuff. Now it just sits in my drawer.

 

[TXsmoker]

Adam Tx Smoker was very generous and sent me some soap samples a safety razor blades and a straight razor. I ordered a strop and brush and cup online! Can't wait to try it all out thanks again ADAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your welcome Tony. Let us know what you think once you've tried it out.

 

[RedZeppelin]

. . . Also, its way faster than an electric. If you had problems, I would say it was due to bad technique. Were you appyling pressure to the razor? All you need is a very light pressure. Also, 3 passes work best, once with the grain, once against the grain and once ear to nose. Smooth as silk and irritation free every time for me.

Faster than electric? Now it's my turn to strongly disagree. Even the die-hard wet-shavers at Badger and Blade concede that wet-shaving takes much longer. I'm talking total time, including prep -- making lather, at least three passes, and re-lathering after each pass.

I followed all the recommendations you mentioned, all of which I found from the good folks at B&B. I used no pressure at all when shaving; I just let the weight of the razor do the work. I went once WTG, once XTG, and once ATG.

I did get a decent shave, but it's much easier and faster (for me, at least) to do a 5-minute shave with the electric, prep for which consists of removing the plastic cover from the cutter and hitting the On switch.

I'm not disparaging DE shaving. Obviously it works for a lot of folks. I just prefer the electric. And like a lot of the things we discuss on this forum (cello or no cello, cut or punch, KL or beads) it all comes down to personal preference. As a wise man once said, smoke what you want...errr shave how you want.

 

[Quietville]

Faster than electric? Now it's my turn to strongly disagree. Even the die-hard wet-shavers at Badger and Blade concede that wet-shaving takes much longer. I'm talking total time -- making lather (2-3 minutes if you do it right), at least three passes, and re-lathering after each pass.

I followed all the recommendations you mentioned, all of which I found from the good folks at B&B. I used no pressure at all when shaving; I just let the weight of the razor do the work. I went once WTG, once XTG, and once ATG.

I did get a decent shave, but it's much easier and faster (for me, at least) to do a 5-minute shave with the electric.

To each his own you know?

I can't use an electric after spending a ton of money on one and it tugs and pulls and still gives me irritation.

I'm willing to spend 15 minutes vs. 5 to have a comfortable shave with no pulling! I have a TOUGH beard and DE's are the only thing I've found that don't pull.

 

[RedZeppelin]

To each his own you know? . . .

Exactly! Which is why I didn't say "DE shaving BAD!!!" I just said electric works better for me.

 

[TonyBrooklyn]

I to have tried electric many times in my life! All i got was loads of irritation and very dry skin! I have a very coarse hard beard and a very tender face. This might be why i did not work for me personally I think shaving like cigars alcohol etc. Is a very personal choice what works for one may not for another. Every time i walk by the draw the Straight razor is in i hear it calling me. Can't wait to try it out. I have had many cut throat shaves after a hair cut at the barber shop. This is the first time i shall attempt it myself. I have been watching video's on you tube about it. I used safety razor's years back when i was a teenager. A nice shave i remember the occasional nick. But the straight razor damn that thing is awesome looking!

 

[TXsmoker]

Faster than electric? Now it's my turn to strongly disagree. Even the die-hard wet-shavers at Badger and Blade concede that wet-shaving takes much longer. I'm talking total time -- making lather (2-3 minutes if you do it right), at least three passes, and re-lathering after each pass.

I followed all the recommendations you mentioned, all of which I found from the good folks at B&B. I used no pressure at all when shaving; I just let the weight of the razor do the work. I went once WTG, once XTG, and once ATG.

I did get a decent shave, but it's much easier and faster (for me, at least) to do a 5-minute shave with the electric.

Maybe my Norelco was a POS, but yea, it took alot longer. I would have to keep going over the same area trying to get it all. With the DE's I whip through it fairly quick. I do have soft water, so lathering takes no time. 30 seconds or so to load the brush, about the same to lather in a bowl, and Ill have thick, rich lather overflowing out of the bowl. Even with a cartridge razor or an electric, I did the hot towel, and a pre-shave (Lectric shave for the Norelco), so the ony difference would be lathering. And the fact that the Norelco itself took way more time. Plus, that whole "lift and cut" thing causes ingrown hairs, or did for me.