Shaving

[Averageman]

I shaved every day in the Military even when I didn't have a whisker and was just taking the tops off of zits. I hated every minute of it.
In the late Seventies we were first introduced to double edged Blades and gel shave cream rather than old school foam. This was a giant step backward from a comfortable shave.
The biggest reason I hated shaving every day because I was I was doing it too fast, and with the wrong equipment.
I reevaluated all of this and changed some things;
First never shave with a cold face, shave after your shower or after leaving a warm wash cloth on your face for two minutes.
Second I went to the old school Butterfly Razor. The blades last sharp longer and then you clean the razer over and flip the blade over and go at it again.
Thirdly I gave up shaving cream and bought shaving soap and a Barbers Brush. Sweet Molly Brown is this stuff good. Drop a round bar in a coffee cup and you'll will shave for a year or more with a quality soap, that smells better and lasts at least ten times longer than a can.

When I retired from the Military my damned whiskers came in grey and with a vengeance.

[Gabriel556]

Definitely a GD topic, nothing carbine related. But I can commiserate. I have used a 1956 Gillette FatBoy for about 8 years now, and a tub of shave soap that’s about 7 years old and will last a LONG time now. I have had a beard for 4+ and will likely keep it until my wife decides to trade in for a newer looking model without having to go through the drama. My beard is grey even though I’m 40 but I do still have to trim the neck and cheeks.

[Honu]

For blades mirror in the shower is my preferred method and agree on proper soap or shave lotion no gel its just irritating
Stropping blades works with a small piece of leather helps extend them its like they still wear out in close to same time maybe a bit longer but they stay super sharp up till that point it seems and is less irritating
Not sure on the butterfly how you would do that ?

But IMHO try a mirror in the shower I just turn up the temp and let it run on my face for a bit and then lather up use a touch of the soap to wipe the mirror so no fog and its easy to clean the razor to and a nice thorough rinse as I hate hate hate anything left that is soapy on my face

Always wanted to get a good badger hair brush and straight razor for the simple old school aesthetics and give it a try one day

This last year I started to just try the electric daily and its working OK but there is something about a blade I prefer still as many have said you have to let your face adjust to the style of shaving you do ?

[Co-gnARR]

I was just lamenting the topic of shaving, myself. My facial hair is dense, so cheap blades don’t last, nor do they give a good shave. Check out Badger & Blade, a forum dedicated to shaving. All kinds of knowledge there for how to shave, the right way. A few years back I inherited an old fashioned butterfly double edged razor. With the right blade, along with correct prep (hot towel, properly prepped brush & lather) it is exceptional. Good blades seem harder to find any where except online. Equally important is the post shave routine, namely cold wash, astringent rinse and moisturizing.

[joedirt199]

Yup a case of double edge safety razors blows dollar a day shave out of the water. Merkur Solingen adjustable razor, henry cavendish soap, gillette nacet razors, nivea after shave lotion and a good badger hair brush cause honey badger don't give a shit.

Shave while in the shower is the best.

[JediGuy]

I no longer shave, other than to cleanup around the edges of my beard. After being required to shave for 10.5 years for school or work, I stopped when given the option.

However, things I learned... Shave in the shower, if possible. Heat up the shaving cream (there is some good stuff) if not. Use a sharpener disposable blades; seriously, it’s a thing, I found mine the other day. Use a quality “aftershave.”

[SteyrAUG]

For me the biggest thing is I don't have to shave every day. I can go 5 days before I start looking really scruffy and I seem to get a more comfortable shave than if I was scraping off the shadow from the day before.

I really haven't found much difference in soap vs. shaving cream. At the sink I use shaving cream, in the shower I use soap. At the sink I use very cold water in the shower I use very warm water, doesn't seem to make much difference. Seems like when I use cold water I tend to get everything on the first pass vs. in the shower where I have to hit some parts of my face three or four times. But shaving in the shower does let me multi task a bit more.

I use some kind of Mach III BS razor because I can't get a decent shave with a bic disposable and the Mach III nonsense is the most cost effective razor when it comes to refills, etc.

[Disciple]

Drop a round bar in a coffee cup and you'll will shave for a year or more with a quality soap, that smells better and lasts at least ten times longer than a can.

What brand do you like?

[joedirt199]

Henry cavendish soap is nice, comes in a round puck and smells good. I get mine from amazon. Don't use a ceramic coffee cup. They break like crazy when you drop it in the shower. Who knew soap would be slippery. I have a plastic DARE coffee cup now. Thanks sheriff's dept extra crap they can't give away.

[jbjh]

My Merkur 38HD and Astra Platinum blades changed everything for me. The razor is heavy enough that I don’t have to put much pressure the make a clean pass, and the blades aren’t so aggressive that they abrade my skin (I’m looking at you Feather).

Oddly, my favorite shave cream is from Trader Joe’s (pretty sure Jäson makes it for them).

The other big thing that helped was using aftershave. It helps to disinfect all the micro abrasions I just made by dragging a sharp piece of metal across my skin.

Only real issue I have is if I fly, I have to check my bag because DE blades aren’t allowed in the cabin of the plane.


Sent from 80ms in the future