Thread: What is your Optimal Shave Kit?

Originally Posted by SteveTheCanuck

We all have an idea of what works for us and what we enjoy to shave with. I'd like to ask the following:
1) Are you a Beginner, Intermediate or High Experience User?
2) How many razors do you keep in active duty?
3) What are your favorite razors to have and use?
4) What Pre-shave items you use?
5) What soaps or creams are your go to?
6) What post-shave products do you use most?
7) If money was no object, what would you change?

1) Some where between Beginner and Experienced User
2) Some where around 10 - 12
3)A Tim Zowada 2H2H or Zowada " Carbon " Razor, Mastro Livi New Grind, Williams SRP LE, one of my Hart Steels and others I may use now and again.
4) I have two Floid pre shaves items that I use
5) My go to would have to be Cella
6) I have been on a Floid kick for a while now not sure why I just can't seem to stop ????
7) I would have at least 1 Razor form all of the Custom Razor Makers. But I only have been able to afford one it is being made now a Tim Zowada Custom hopefully I will have it soon and then on to the next.

1) Just starting my fourth year with a straight.
2) I have 15 on duty and several more in reserve
3) My favorites are a 7/8 Torrey, a very old Bengall, Joseph Rogers
4) Vander Hagen to clean and softer my whiskers and lots of water
5) MdC, C. Forbes, TOBS, Tabac, MWF, Czech & Speake, Penhaligon, Proraso White, Crabtree and Evelyn, DR Harris
6) Nivea Balm
7) A Robert Williams Damascus in blonde horn

1) Working on my fifth year (after a two year break)
2)5 on duty 7 in various points of restoration
3)my current favorites are my Dovo Forestal, an as yet to be determined Solingen, and my red head
4)Grandpas pine tar soap (the oil is incredibly hard to rinse of so I leave it)
5) current rotation is TOBS sandalwood and coconut, St James is waiting for me at home.
6) witch hazel, then balm.
7) A razor made with my own hands.....

Originally Posted by SteveTheCanuck

We all have an idea of what works for us and what we enjoy to shave with. I'd like to ask the following:
1) Are you a Beginner, Intermediate or High Experience User?
2) How many razors do you keep in active duty?
3) What are your favorite razors to have and use?
4) What Pre-shave items you use?
5) What soaps or creams are your go to?
6) What post-shave products do you use most?
7) If money was no object, what would you change?

1. Probably advanced-beginner now. I no longer cut/ nick/ burn myself, unless I rush or don't lather correctly (forgot my brush)
2. Close to 10, but I'm trying to cut it down to 5, maybe 6. 7 at the most.
3. Favourites are extra hollow. I like hearing the hairs get cut, although I like the heavy, stockiness of a wedge.
4. Depends on how much time I have. I like to shower before I shave, then soak my brush while I strop. But sometimes I just hold a hot towel against my face if I don't have time for a shower.
5. I only ever use one at a time
6. I just splash cold water against my face and put some vaseline on my lips.
7. If money was no object? I would get a custom. Damascus-folded meteorite iron scaled in blue mammoth ivory with a solid gold wedge and bog oak/ cocobolo scales.

But as for my optimal shave kit, what I'm planning to do is carve out grooves into a wooden block at the top to hold:
. 1 shave brush
. 7 razors (one of which will be a tamahagane kamisori)

and then in the bottom, grooves for:
. Tube for some chromium oxide (maybe another one for cream and another for pre-shave oil)
. Barber's hone
. maybe a bowl too, if there's room. Unlikely though, since I face lather anyway.
. Would add leather strips on the sides of the block, and use that for pasted stropping.

And then I would just pass on all my other stuff, so that all I need to keep for my shave is a box, a strop, and stock-items (cream, oil, Chromium oxide)

Originally Posted by SteveTheCanuck

We all have an idea of what works for us and what we enjoy to shave with. I'd like to ask the following:
1) Are you a Beginner, Intermediate or High Experience User?
2) How many razors do you keep in active duty?
3) What are your favorite razors to have and use?
4) What Pre-shave items you use?
5) What soaps or creams are your go to?
6) What post-shave products do you use most?
7) If money was no object, what would you change?

1) I've been at it about two years now.
2) 30-40
3) Eirene, W&B FBU, Henkeles Frioudur, Revisor 7/8, and my Thiers Issard Dominator 7/8 French point.
4) A hot shower. I've not been able to find any value in anything else.
5) Castle and Forbes and DR Harris Marlborough
6) Captains Choice bay rum and Em's balm
7) A Mastro Livi razor and an Escher (just to see what the fuss is all about)