Safety Razors

axer

tw0nk wrote: »

Also, do people rinse their face with cold water or warm water after shave?

I rinse with warm water first to get rid of the shaving cream and then with cold water to close the pores.

MediaTank

axer wrote: »

I rinse with warm water first to get rid of the shaving cream and then with cold water to close the pores.

That's the recommended way. You can then optionally use an alum block to help close the pores, and then finish with balm or skin food if needed.

tw0nk

Thanks, I think I will try that sampler pack out, as said before different blades seem to suit different people, anyone know what the blades are that come free as gift from shaving shack? I want to avoid those in the future when ordering. Also its a pity shaving shack have such a small selection of blades when compared to Connaught shaving, I have ordered everything from shaving shack so far and would like to stick with them.

As a side note, the way I shave is as follows:

Pre-shave: Warm water over face, sometimes soak small towel in warm water and warm face with it.

Mix up some Proraso soap with small bit of water in a cup

1. Brush soap lather on face
2. Shave with grain one pass
3. Brush soap lather on face
4. Shave against grain
5. Brush soap lather on parts of face that need another pass
6. Shave remaining places

Post-Shave: Cold water on face. Sometimes apply moisturiser/balm

Gran Hermano

Post shave for me is a mixture of these:

Proraso post shave - leave on a couple of minutes (whilst putting away shaving gear)
Warm water
Cold water
Alum block or witch hazel - leave on skin a couple of minutes (normally whilst brushing teeth)
Cold water rinse
Clinique or Proraso aftershave balm

Probably overkill for most but works for me.

MediaTank

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Probably overkill for most but works for me.

Sounds sensible to me.

Gran Hermano

E2 Fatboy and I1 Slim arrived today, along with several others!

I'm grinning like a cat that got the cream.
Just need to see if this cat still grinning after the next trim of the whiskers.

Amalgam

Gran Hermano, how do you find the Gillette Slim Adjustable in the hand? You can still get them in great condition for quite low prices, I'm tempted.

Gran Hermano

Amalgam wrote: »

Gran Hermano, how do you find the Gillette Slim Adjustable in the hand? You can still get them in great condition for quite low prices, I'm tempted.

I haven't tried the Slim yet, the Fatboy has kept me busy.

You know the cheeky grin on your face as you drive home from the garage
in the new car you've always wanted, or maybe the smile on your face
as you head home the next morn after bedding the woman of your dreams? Well that's how I'm feeling about the Fatboy

I really did not want to like it and ordered it hoping I'd be happy with the
Merkurs. I even changed what I was ordering and got a good but not
mint/boxed one as I thought I'd try it an not like it. Boy was I wrong!
It handles like a dream and after two shaves with a red Personna
and the FatBoy set to 5 I couldn't be happier. I now know I'm going to end up picking up a few more! The Fat Boy gives me a much better shave than the Super Speeds, it feels closer to the shave from a Progress.

I hope to give the Slim a shot when I change blades tomorrow, the one
thing I was surprised by is just how similar it looks to the FatBoy.
The difference size wise is smaller than I had thought.

MediaTank

Check these guys out, based in NZ http://www.goodfella.com/collection.html

tw0nk

that looks pretty cool alright, like the way each one is individually numbered

Amalgam

MediaTank wrote: »

Check these guys out, based in NZ http://www.goodfella.com/collection.html

I was close to getting a satin black one second hand. They are (apparently) milder than they look.

dbar

Are they available second hand?

Amalgam

Badger & Blade B\S\T.. One or two cropped up when I first started lurking. Handle is quite slippy.

Gran Hermano

Just a quickie as still swamped in work, I tried the Gillette Slim last night.
I found it very similar to the shave from the Fatboy. The only thing that
annoys me about it is I find the handle too narrow - probably because I
used a Fatboy before.

My favourite razors at the moment in order of preference are:
- Fatboy
- Progress
- Slim
- Merkur HD
- Futur
- SuperSpeed

I also gave in and ordered some La Toja shaving cream and balm earlier.

Amalgam

Gran Hermano, what La Toja did you plump for, Regular or Sensitive?

You'll love either, it smells nice. Very Spanish.

Gran Hermano

Amalgam wrote: »

Gran Hermano, what La Toja did you plump for, Regular or Sensitive?

You'll love either, it smells nice. Very Spanish.

Keeping true to my nature, I ordered both!

omahaid

Hi all,

Heading up north next week to Enniskillen, anyone have any idea where I could get a safety razor there? Or close by?

Cheers!

Amalgam

Evening shave, not bothered doing it in the morning. I'm using another gift from family. A latherless shaving gel from God knows where, the label seems to be Pan-European on the back. Spanish or Portugese on the front.

Carrefour latherless shaving gel with Aloe Vera. Carrefour is also a chain of supermarkets in France/Europe, it might be part of their range. A bit like Tesco. The logo matches.



Very very eerie sensation, like shaving yourself with thinned out vaseline, great on the sides of the chin, the only drawback is, being transparent, you have to keep track of your shaving strokes. A neutral, modern odour, dull.

Merkur HD with the above and a Crystal (ASR\Israeli Personna) blade. I ended up with what Stewie Griffin threatens other folk with, a sliced nostril. The razor slipped as I was trying to get at the base of my nose, just on the edge. Shaving away from the nostril, dug in nice and proper. The rest of shave was done with a new found timidness and minty fresh gingerly strokes..

Gran Hermano

Amalgam, how does it compare to the King of Shave gels (the stuff in tubes not cans)? It looks similar. I used the KoS stuff in the past and had great results with the range and a Fusion however I found it useless with the DE.

MediaTank

Amalgam wrote: »

Carrefour latherless shaving gel with Aloe Vera. Carrefour is also a chain of supermarkets in France/Europe, it might be part of their range. A bit like Tesco. The logo matches.

Big French supermarket chain. AFAIK, this is made by/for Loreal. You see it a lot in the Emirates, no one I know with a safety razor rates it, which sounds like your review.

MediaTank

Gran Hermano wrote: »

J
My favourite razors at the moment in order of preference are:
- Fatboy

Sweet, another Fatboy convert.

Amalgam

I can't relate to the KOS products, as I haven't used them, but I've certainly lingered at the rack at Boots to have a gander.

Happy enough with the shave, chin is like silk, you could not use this with a disposable razor, I don't see how you could, as you (of course) have stubble as well as skin debris etc mixing with the gel on the cutting edge and being pushed under the safety bar, that just couldn't happen with a bic, gillette etc.

Wallpaper paste is closer to the sensation, than vaseline, heat thins it out, rinsing isn't too bothersome.

I was given this by accident, the person wasn't too sure what to get me. They were presented it by staff in a shop when it was mentioned what kind of razor I use.

I'll finish off the tube, I might use it as an excuse to get some Cremo Cream, which as far as I can tell, is latherless also.

MediaTank: Sorry, just read your post, yes.. neutral, but in a, 'Meh, it's there, might as well use it kinda way'. I thought the shave was okay. Chin sides good, elsewhere passable.

Gran Hermano

MediaTank wrote: »

Sweet, another Fatboy convert.

You know you're partially responsible, I just had to see what the hype
was all about


How do you find it compared to the Slim? I'm so tempted to just swap
back to the Fatboy after only giving the Slim one outing.

dbar

Also finding it difficult to move away from the Fatboy, goes something like this:
Hmm, Progress- Tech-Aristrocrat- OK, Just one more shave with the Fatboy, then I'll try one of the other razors the next time....

MediaTank

Gran Hermano wrote: »

You know you're partially responsible, I just had to see what the hype
was all about


How do you find it compared to the Slim? I'm so tempted to just swap
back to the Fatboy after only giving the Slim one outing.

The Fatboy is easily the best razor I own, the Slim would be number 3 or 4 on the list. Amazing shave for a razor that was made in the 50s.

MediaTank

dbar wrote: »

Also finding it difficult to move away from the Fatboy, goes something like this:
Hmm, Progress- Tech-Aristrocrat- OK, Just one more shave with the Fatboy, then I'll try one of the other razors the next time....

MediaTank

Anyone here like pre-shave oil? I've 2 bottles of the AOS oil, oil unscented and one Lavender up for grabs gratis.

PM me if you are interested.

Lavender is gone, unscented still up for grabs.

Fajitas!

It's been a while, but there's a Progress en route.

Cheers all!

dbar

I dont need pre-shave anything anymore, also I've noticed it is a strange event if I see blood, some turnaround, I used to cut myself every single time with disposables and gloop...

MediaTank wrote: »

Anyone here like pre-shave oil? I've 2 bottles of the AOS oil, oil unscented and one Lavender up for grabs gratis.

PM me if you are interested.

dbar

OK,
Who got the nice boxed fatboy? you just beat me to it :rolleyes:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=83527

Gran Hermano

dbar wrote: »

OK,
Who got the nice boxed fatboy? you just beat me to it :rolleyes:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=83527

All I'll say is

The price wasn't the best but it's Friday and I've had a bad week in work and needed
a treat.


I'd a shave with a Fatboy and a yellow Gillette using Musgo cream last night,
amazing shave! I decided I had to pick up another Fatboy so I'd
have a back-up.

dbar

I thought it was you!
Backups are essential, If you change your mind I bags it first..

Gran Hermano

dbar wrote: »

I thought it was you!
Backups are essential, If you change your mind I bags it first..

I'm spending far too much time on B&B lately, if I see anymore on there I'll drop you a PM. I think and hope my razor purchasing is under control now
- until I want a slant bar.

MediaTank

Gran Hermano wrote: »

I'm spending far too much time on B&B lately, if I see anymore on there I'll drop you a PM. I think and hope my razor purchasing is under control now
- until I want a slant bar.

Trust me :D you won't feel fulfilled until you own at least 10

Gran Hermano

MediaTank wrote: »

Trust me :D you won't feel fulfilled until you own at least 10

I just did a quick stock-take:

Merkur Futur
Merkur Progress
Merkur HD
Gillette SuperSpeed (40's style Super Speed) - Z1 code 1954
Gillette Flare Tip SuperSpeed - B1 code 1956
Gillette Flare Tip SuperSpeed - B4 code 1956
Gillette Superspeed TV Special - D2 code 1958
Gillette Flare Tip SuperSpeed - E2 code 1959
Gillette Fatboy - E3 code 1959
Gillette Slim Adjustable - I1 code 1963


I'm waiting delivery on another Fatboy, think it's a 1959 as well.

All the Gillettes were picked up on Badger&Blade. I need to thin
out the number of Flare Tip SS - I'll most likely keep the 40's, the TV
Special and just one of the 50's Flare tips. (Just need to give them a
all turn again and see which I prefer).

Gran Hermano

MediaTank wrote: »

Check these guys out, based in NZ http://www.goodfella.com/collection.html

tw0nk wrote: »

that looks pretty cool alright, like the way each one is individually numbered

Amalgam wrote: »

I was close to getting a satin black one second hand. They are (apparently) milder than they look.

Looks like there is one up at the mo' on B&B for USD50 or will swap for a Futur.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=84116

Luckily my razor purchasing for this week is done


On another note I'm really liking the La Toja sensitive shaving cream.
The La Toja balm has me undecided, it's heavier than the Proraso balm
on the skin.

Fajitas!

Well, my gear's been delivered to Waterford, but I'm stuck in Dublin... Is it worth the journey for the shave :pac:

Amalgam

Gran Hermano wrote: »

On another note I'm really liking the La Toja sensitive shaving cream.

Milky isn't it? Not sure what minerals are in it, but the town itself has a reputation for what they put in that shaving cream.

waraf

Took delivery of my new Merkur Vision today and.....ehm.....well it's big. Really big (see pic below alongside my Merkur HD). I also took delivery of Trumpers extract of lime shaving soap and a pack of feather blades.
I've been reading up about the vision on badger and blade and the general concencus seems to be that this thing will take your head clean off if you're not careful so with that in mind I decided to leave my first shave with a feather blade for another day.
Anyway, I lathered up with the lime soap (very nice) and dialled the razor right down to almost closed and did the first pass WTG. I (happily) noticed that my head was still intact so I tentatively opened her up a bit and went for another pass WTG. Head still intact after two passes with the beast (much to my amazement) so I opened her up a bit more and went for a third pass XTG and I have to say...what a result!! Absolutely baby smooth and not a nick in sight. I've never had a shave so close with the HD and I usually do four passes with the HD, the final one being ATG. This thing is awesome!! (mind you it bloody well should be considering the price).

sendic

Hi all

started reading this thread a couple of weeks ago and got curious. Over the years i've shaved with disposables before moving onto a wilkinson protector and have been using a mach3 for the last ten years i reckon. My father used to use a DE before he passed away but i have no idea where it is now.

Anyway,got curious and started looking around some pharmacies. Bought a badger hair brush, palmolive cream and a wilkinson DE plastic/metal razor with blades and watched mantics videos on youtube. Quite impressed so far so have ordered a progress, sampler blade pack and two types of soap from shaving shack. Looking forward to getting to grips with them but i think regardless of how the razors work out i can't see myself ever abandoning the brush and cream/soap approach, its so good.

Also changed back to nivea sensitive from boots aftershave balm when i realised the boots stuff contains alcohol.

Anyway just wanted to say thanks for all the advice about and will post again in a week or so with any questions i have about the progress.

p.s. It occured to me that this is probably the only woman free forum on boards. How long before bgrh people start migrating? ;-)

Fajitas!

Day 2 in to DE shaving myself, already so much more happier, no more sore red face after shaving, nothing

After the first run of the Progress, I ended up with two nicks, but felt it wasn't sharp enough at 5, brought it down to 3, and has been perfect since - no more nicks. Am using Aloe Vera after shaving, and it's working great.

It really dosn't take as long as I thought either, which is always a bonus.

waraf

sendic wrote: »

Hi all
Bought a badger hair brush, palmolive cream and a wilkinson DE plastic/metal razor with blades and watched mantics videos on youtube. Quite impressed so far so have ordered a progress, sampler blade pack and two types of soap from shaving shack.

Looks like you've caught the bug. I hope you've a big credit card limit cause it's gonna take a beating....;)

My current colection is:
Gillette superspeed
Gillette aristocrat
Gillette tech
2 gillette fatboys
Merkur HD
Merkur futur
Merkur vision
2 brushes (1 pure, 1 silvertip)
9 shaving creams
4 post shave creams
1 large credit card bill and a 1 very smooth face

luckily enough the need to experiment/purchase stuff has worn off so I won't be buying anything else. In fact I may offload half of the razors in the next few weeks as I have my favourites now. Anyway, welcome to the wonderful world of DE shaving.

axer

waraf wrote: »

Looks like you've caught the bug. I hope you've a big credit card limit cause it's gonna take a beating....;)

My current colection is:
Gillette superspeed
Gillette aristocrat
Gillette tech
2 gillette fatboys
Merkur HD
Merkur futur
Merkur vision
2 brushes (1 pure, 1 silvertip)
9 shaving creams
4 post shave creams
1 large credit card bill and a 1 very smooth face

luckily enough the need to experiment/purchase stuff has worn off so I won't be buying anything else. In fact I may offload half of the razors in the next few weeks as I have my favourites now. Anyway, welcome to the wonderful world of DE shaving.

Am I the only one that is actually getting the financial saving from DE shaving?

I bought a progress about 3/4 years ago. Used that for about 1.5 years before buying a Slant Bar which is the only one I use now and I pretty much just use feather blades but sometimes gillette platinums if im stuck. I pretty much just always use Taylor shaving cream (although i did buy D.R Harris soap but didnt really like it as much).

Purchases to date:

• Merkur Progress
• Merkur Slant Bar
• MÜHLE Slivertip brush (not used anymore)
• Shavemac Slivertip brush (regular brush - cost me about 100 euro a year or two ago - probably are better brushes out there though but it works fine for me)
• Shaving blade sampler pack (at the begining)
• Lots of feather and gillette razor blades
• An Alum Block (only got it fairly recently but it is something I use now)
• A Styptic Pencil (never really used it)
• A 3" handheld mirror with x5 magnification one side and normal the other side (small to carry in toiletries bag - very handy)
• A leather razor pouch (connacht shaving - closing button fell off after about 2 months but still use it)
• Proraso shaving cream and pre shave cream (only use the pre-shave stuff now)
• Proraso gel for nicks and cuts (not very good imo)
• A metal bowl from euro shop for making lather (so can be brought in toiletries bag without damage)
• Round protective tube (very handy for transporting brush in toiletries bag)

My shaving procedure (I normally shaving in the shower nowadays):

• Wash my face near begining of shower
• Put on Proraso pre-shave cream after washing - leave until end of shower
• At end of shower I create the lather
• Then I rinse off the pre-shave cream
• The lather my face for about 2 mins
• Then shave one pass with the grain (leaving areas around mouth until last)
• Re-lather and then I shave one pass across the grain
• Re-lather and then I shave one pass against the grain only on the sides of my face
• I rinse with hot water to get rid of lather and then with cold water (the cold water will close any small nicks etc and closes your pores).
• I then wet the alum block and rub it gently over my face.
• Pat dry with a towel
• I dont moisturise or put anything on my face after that (used to at the begining just to try it but I found it made my face very sensitive to touch and thus got irritated).

waraf

axer wrote: »

Am I the only one that is actually getting the financial saving from DE shaving?

Yes I think so judging by what I read here and on the B&B forum. I've just put my Diplomat up on the American version of ebay. Sorry to see it go but I'm on the dole these days so what can ya do....:(

Gordon

Fajitas! wrote: »

Day 2 in to DE shaving myself, already so much more happier, no more sore red face after shaving, nothing

Yeah strange, I don't seem to be getting much rash anymore and rarely a nick in sight after a while using the DE. I don't think I'm doing anything different, maybe I am subconsciously.

Amalgam

Gordon wrote: »

Yeah strange, I don't seem to be getting much rash anymore and rarely a nick in sight after a while using the DE. I don't think I'm doing anything different, maybe I am subconsciously.

I think your skin just reacts to the better blade and shaving regimen, do you, like myself, have tougher stubble now?

---

My Barber, who's of Turkish origin, has started selling shaving products. Ali's - 23a Aungier Street. They have Arko shaving sticks for €2. There was a limited stock of Pure Badger shaving brushes, €30. Two very distinctive types of oversized Boar hair shaving brushes, proper, tough looking straw coloured hairs, exactly like the Omega Boar hair brushes, but not branded by them. A variety of safety blades, Derby I think, along with pre-split blades for Shavettes and a limited assortment of very workman-like Shavettes (brightly coloured plastic)

They're not bad for a haircut, they take some time with you.. and chat is optional. €8 euro for myself.

The Arko looks like this.



---

Gordon

Amalgam wrote: »

I think your skin just reacts to the better blade and shaving regimen, do you, like myself, have tougher stubble now?

Faster growth and slightly tougher, not quite sure if that was on its way before getting the Merkur or after now you come to mention it.

Fajitas!

I've actually seen that barber, Amalgram - it was during my hunt for DE razors around town I came across them, but didn't pop in. Must do so.

Gordon wrote: »

Yeah strange, I don't seem to be getting much rash anymore and rarely a nick in sight after a while using the DE. I don't think I'm doing anything different, maybe I am subconsciously.

Big time, I think it's the lack of pulling the hairs from a 4 bladed razor, it's more of a clean cut. The fact we're giving some proper lathering and hydration to the beard is helping no end too, just general more thought going into the process... and it really dosn't take too much longer.

Amalgam

I had an accident with a ceramic mug a few weeks back, the handle broke off (hit the sink lifting it from the bath rim) and I thought I'd continue using it.. I went to pick it up later in the shave and my finger was well and truly impaled by the shovel shaped ceramic stump left of the handle, blood in large amounts.

I decided to eliminate any ceramics from my shaving experience. I picked up the following from a camping shop on Capel Street, two doors down from the AIB, beside the Pub there, but facing Capel Street, not the one on the side of Pub down the side road.. if that makes sense.

As far as I can recall, €1.99. Not too shabby, does what it has to. Functional, military green, they have blue too.

waraf

Amalgam wrote: »

I had an accident with a ceramic mug a few weeks back, the handle broke off (hit the sink lifting it from the bath rim) and I thought I'd continue using it.. I went to pick it up later in the shave and my finger was well and truly impaled by the shovel shaped ceramic stump left of the handle, blood in large amounts.

I decided to eliminate any ceramics from my shaving experience. I picked up the following from a camping shop on Capel Street, two doors down from the AIB, beside the Pub there, but facing Capel Street, not the one on the side of Pub down the side road.. if that makes sense.

As far as I can recall, €1.99. Not too shabby, does what it has to. Functional, military green, they have blue too.

Yeah I bought a metal handelled shaving brush and I'm constantly worried that I'll break my shaving mug with it. My advice is to stay away from metal when buying a brush. Also, talking of mugs, my moss scuttle is my favourite thing in the whole world. Pour boiling water from the kettle into the bottom of it and you're in for a very luxurious shave....:D