can i use regular shave gel to shave? what benefits does a cream/lather + brush + bowl set up offer?
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can i use regular shave gel to shave? what benefits does a cream/lather + brush + bowl set up offer?
You can use regular gel, but you can also use disposable blades.Quote:
Originally Posted by jehan60188
Cream/soap + brush will save you money over the course of shaving. The soaps and creams offer better scents (IMHO) and they're also not using aerosol and a ton of chemicals. The brush helps get lather between hairs and also helps your skin, as far as I know.
It's also part of the fun!
The benefits of the traditional brush, soap/cream, bowl lather vs. gel/foam business? I don't have a clue in that I've never used the gel. I believe one smooges the gel on with one's fingers which is probably one of the reasons I won't try it. I just don't trust gel or soap slipperied fingers to securely hold a razor. Hence the brush and bowl with soap or cream is my morning magic for whisker depletion.
Your mileage will likely vary as I'm a pick up kinda guy, or YMWLVAIAPUKG. :tu
The brush and puck of soap is cheaper in the long run if you don't go crazy buying brushes, soaps, creams and other accessories. IME it is a lot nicer on the skin and is one of the things I enjoy and look forward to daily.
I suggest trying it both ways. It is like night and day, seriously. When I made the switch I was planning to finish up the last few cans I had in the cabinet but after a few shaves with a puck I just couldn't do it, lol.
As an aside, when I started down the path of straight razors I was a little shocked at some of the brush prices. Of course you want to start with something good and when you first start looking at brush prices they might be $50 - $150. My first thought was "...for a brush? Really?"
I sucked it up and found a $40 badger brush which I've used almost exclusively since. Just recently I found an antique brush for a few bucks. Took it home and removed the old bristles. Went to Fountain Pen parts - NIBS, - Wholesale Fountain Pen Ink - Golden Nib AZ and ordered a badger hair knot, glued it in, and voila! Silver tip badger brush for less than $25!
The $40 brush I got from The Gentlemen's Quarter - Shaving, Bath and Body, Skincare, Home Fragrance, Brushes, Creams, Soaps (TGQ). The owner, Colleen, has a good selection of affordable brushes and more-importantly, you can pick up great homemade soaps and creams. Samples will run you about two dollars and change so you can test out the scents.
Canned product are designed to be fast, not good. In terms of the chemical used, they are similar to those used in traditional creams but the formulation is different. One thing to keep in mind is that the consistency of the lather that you obtain from a can is unsuitable for shaving as the lather is extremely dense and dry. Canned shaving cream is probably the culprit for most lathering problems and uncomfortable shaves that can be traced to lathering problems, even if you do not use a canned product. See, because we only see people using cans, we tend to think that lather should look and feel the way that canned shaving cream does, this could be a serious problem. The method of producing good quality lather has been almost lost due to the wide spread use of the can. The traditional method of forming lather would give you more control and if you chose good quality products, you will also obtain benefits in performance, particularly in terms of conditioning of the skin. Not to mention the differences in the scent, which were already stated. As mentioned before, using a traditional cream/soap + brush combination would save you money in a short time and exfoliate your skin but there is yet other reason to use the traditional method, it is also much better for the environment. The only thing is that the traditional method of forming lather requires skills, so please, make sure you work on your technique. There is a good section in the wiki describing the process: Category:Straight Razor Shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Perhaps this thread would be useful: http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...oap-cream.html
Al raz.
thanks all, the information has been very helpful
the two big reasons i'm switching to straight razor is cost, and environmental impact, actually! also, the allure of using a straight razor is... alluring
I'm very new to straight razors, and because I am not confident I will continue shaving this way, I am working slowly into razors and products. I am doing this slowly, and on the cheap, not being altogether made of money. I shaved for a few weeks with "regular" shaving cream. It worked somewhat. But, I encountered several disadvantages to shaving cream. It was not wet enough, as was mentioned above, and the chemicals irritated my skin when left on too long.
Several days ago I bought a shaving mug and soap for $7 at Walmart. (I know, everyone will now petition the SRP "powers" to have me kicked off this website.) But, it was a mistake not doing this on day #1! I am going to spring for a better quality soap, and brush soon, now that I am enlightened.
My advice to you is to get shaving soap and mug ASAP!
tarred and feathered, GET HIM!!!!!!!!!:nono:
Just kidding, welcome. Good question.
This begs the question, why is there no tarred and feathered smiley?
Although having a humerous smiley for every situation might be overkill....
:overkill:
To save money shaving with a cutthroat you will need an iron will. I've probably spent more on shaving tackle in the last 12 months than I did in the preceding 40yrs. I had one bottle of aftershave received as a Christmas present, now my bathroom shelf resembles a shop display. I'm not sure that using a cutthroat razor will contribute much to saving the planet. However, it is a great way to shave.Quote:
Originally Posted by jehan60188
On your original question, you should find a world of difference between aerosol gel and traditional shaving soap. If you don't, well you could stick to using gel.
When compared to a brush and a good shaving cream there is no comparison with what comes out of a can.
I use a five dollar brush I bought at the drug store it works fine for me but I wouldn't know the difference. :D
Only thing that I can add to the present discussion is that the canned goop does not lather and as a consequence you need to apply it with your hands and as a consequence its a lott more messy then the traditional tubed creams are.
Dip your brush in hot water, then in the soap mug to get lather, then to the face with the warm soapy lather. And, that might be one of the bigger advantages I've noticed to a shave mug/soap: the heat that is continually applied to the beard to keep it soft. This is not the case with shave gel or foam, which aren't hot when applied and seem to instantly cool and stiffen the beard.
Here's my suggestion. Buy the VDH shave set from Walmart, Walgreens, Right Aid, etc. The Bowl in the set is worth twice as much as the set, so its definitely worth it. The brush is okay for a starter I used it for 4 months. Not as good as the Badger Vulfix I have now, but I think its a matter of luxury more than anything. I can lather just fine with the VDH, it just takes more effort, more learning, doesn't feel as good, etc. but at the end of the process the lather is fine. The soap works quite well for $2/being included in the set. This set costs $10 for brush bowl and soap. Doesn't get any cheaper or better value unless you buy something REALLY crappy that won't work.
My other suggestion is to buy the Tweezerman badger brush (Tweezerman = JA Henckels) or the Muehle brand brushes (one is reviewed in the review section) both are badgers less than $20 that get the job done. The knot size is not HUGE, the bristles are not ultra plush, but I imagine its a big step up from boar. Then get CO Bigelow shave cream (repackaged Proraso). I have been using this lately, and while I'm still a soap guy, the chemistry in this cream is great (feels amazing, lathers easily, smells fresh, plus its VERY VERY cheap) and use your own bowl.
There you go. A $10 budget route, and a <$30 entry package.
So, I got a new brush today. A Rooney Heritage...man am I going to save me some money now. Maybe some more eau de toilet with the money I'm saving; a Mastro Livi might be nice.......stones...................
I also want to add, that for the 3 or 4 months I used the VDH set, my costs were:
$10 for the set, plus $2 plus $2 for 2 pucks of soap. Total of $14 for 3 or 4 months. I was only using one razor, an ebay special that was honed for free (+$15). My strop was off of ebay too, and not the best but it gets me by(+$15). I touched up on newspaper, and from time to time levi's. For the first month I stropped exclusively on my oldest most broken in pair of levi's. Not great, but serviceable. So by my calculation, the first month was $25, and overall for 3 months I ran up a bill of $44. From then on it would have been $2 a month. Lets say you use a cartirdge every 2 weeks, and a can of goo every 3 or 4 weeks, lets say a month. After three months thats 6 cartridges, and 3 cans. A razor is lets say $10 and includes one or two cartirdges. Cartridge refill pack, $10-$20. Can of goo @$4 x3= $12, for a total of $32-$42, with more costs of cartidges and goo for the rest of your life.
If its Nivea its a pleasurable choice. Not bad for a quickie ;)
Quote:
Originally Posted by khaos
that's what i ended up doing. i've got a pretty entry level set up now- $7 brush/soap/bowl + a brush holder i made of a wire hanger (to be able to hang it bristle side down in order to dry), a $25 razor, and $20 strop. i still need to go to the hardware store in order to get a hook i can drill in to my wall at waist level to hold the strop. all in all, i'll have gotten started for under $55
(not counting the very nice $130 razor that I'm saving until I get the hang of things!)
so, i'm ready /enough/ to get started. i've got sunday morning blocked out for shave time, that way I'm not in any kind of rush!
edit: hopefully i can get to british isle store sometime this week (not likely seeing as how i usually don't have free time until after they close, but i'll try on the weekend) to at least gawk at some supplies
Pick up some glycerin from teh grocery store/walmart/whatever. Then melt down the vdh in the microwave in bowl/mug/whatever. You will want to do 10-20 burst in the microwave, keep an eye on it.Quote:
Originally Posted by jehan60188
Once it is in liquid form. pour in a bit of glycerin and mix together. then let cool and solidify.
Really improves this soap.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slartibartfast
thanks, i'll give that a try. glycerin would be like right near the rubbing alcohol, and witch hazel?
I think that is where i found it before.Quote:
Originally Posted by jehan60188
You can also get some essential oil and add a couple drops if you want to make it smell nice.
Sometimes i just use a bit of soap to make my face slippery a bit.
Slipperiness is the key in regular shaves, IMO not foam. haven't notice any important difference to justify my time spent in making and applying the soap foam.
There is something called a "shave stick" which is like an extra large lipstick tube thingy full of shave soap. You rub it right on your face, then work it over with your brush. I think this makes a lot of sense.... you're getting the skin nice and soaped up, then you are coating it with lather to seal the moisture in.
I personally use regular lather, but as a "preshave" I wash my face with something nice for my skin.
Be ready to stretch open the pocketbook a bit. My best pure badger brush cost $55.00 alone. I started with a $7 boars brush and $1.50 puck soap from CVS. After two days, I opened up the wallet and decided I had enough and bought myself serious performing tools and I am so happy I did. "How little I knew" is all I kept saying to myself for weeks.
Newbies are allowed some latitude when starting out and SRP is here to help you out. If I can suggest the minimum straight shaving tools to get started:
Diane 21 disposable straight with blades - $15.00 (Feather knockoff)
Col. Conk Soap - $5 - $7
Cough, Cough,..... a boars brush $7
Nice waterbased facial skin cream for after the shave $7-$10
It works, but may you be inspired to upgrade the brush.:hmmm:
Good Luck!
Pabster
I mentioned this earlier, but what I strongly strongly recommend, while the budget option is perfectly fine and workable, that you buy the best things you can afford (though I am a firm believer that the ratio of quality to price of a $400 brush and a $40 is way off). I suggest buying a cheap badger brush, Muehle has been reviewed in the reviews section by a mod and he seemed to think it was great for a newbie brush, Tweezerman makes a $13 badger brush and is owned by Henckels, and there are some cheap Vulfixes. Though if you make teh jump and get a Vulfix, I would recommend the London series. Great bang for the buck, and range from $35 to $60 so lots of options.
Colonel Conk is decent soap, you can find it for $3.50 now and then. Lynn and Don just had a sale where I snagged some almond for that price. A nice shave ready straight, or honestly, a nice vintage straight sent out to Utopian or Leighton for free honing, or even another $15 is well worth it. (A $45 shave ready is the same as a $30 +$15 honing....)
I would say if you have a budget of around $75, thats perfect. Get a vintage straight ($40ish) the Philly strop from Kenrup (I think $20?) Tweezerman brush and soap ($15ish). If you has $100 you're a little better off... Same strop, better brush, and a little more flexibility on the razor.