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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?
I would have to say I am a beginner since I have alot more soaps and creams I "need" to try as well as a lot more brands and models that I need to shave with and hone. My active roster would be about 14 razors, but I have others that I use on occasion as well as all the ones that I restore and hone. I am trying slowly to build my 3rd 7 day set since I don't want to have too many right now otherwise I would be limited to only using a certain razor once a year if I had my way. My favorite razors are the ones in my rotation otherwise they wouldn't be in my rotation, but I do occasionally change them out for something else since I have a lot of other brands and models that I would like to try. They are my favorites because of the edge they take or the ascetics appeal. No pre-shave items for me. As for the soaps and creams it comes down to whatever mood I am in. Post-shave items are limited to me, but it also depends on the mood. If money was no object I wouldn't change anything other than having every different type, brand and model of razor as well as all the soaps and creams, but there wouldn't be fun in that since the journey getting there wouldn't take long and the experience wouldn't get savored.
It's a slippery slope isn't it? So much to enjoy but it all makes sense. I have an interest in astronomy too. Same thing. Telescopes, lenses.... I invest in all the things which make sense and bring enjoyment. It IS an investment in more than a money sense. It's an investment in your life and the things which make it it better. Fuller. Richer.
1. I have been using a straight for about a year and a half.
2. I have about 40 razors ready to go but I have a 7 day set that gets most of the action.
3. My set is all DD Satinedge but I have a 17/16 W&B FBU I pull once in awhile. I never met a razor I didn't like but, that's what I use.
4. Hot water/towel is my pre-shave.
5. Mama Bear's every day. When I feel like messing around I whip up some of Al's (the Bomb) cream. The 2 together is lather heaven.
6. I use Channel for men everything. Lotion and cologne or aftershave.
7. When it comes to me, money is no object. I do have simple pleasures like shaving and cloths. If I like, I just get ,after shopping for the best price of course.
I've been using a straight for about 7 months. 4 that normally see use. My favorites are a dovo masters and a fightin rooster. I don't do a preshave, my skin dosent care. Ppf cider house is my goto soap but ill use razor rock son of Zeus on occasion. Ill use some sort of pinaud as... Even the hated vegetal .if money was no object I'd have a DD reaper within grasp!
I would classify myself as a beginner. I own and regularly use a Boker straight and a Lady Gillette DE. The straight is my favorite. My preshave routine consists of hot shower and hot towela. I use 2 creams and one soap regularly. C.O. Bigelow, Real Shave Co., and VDH Deluxe.Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveTheCanuck
Post shave is cold towels and alcohol based AS. Old Spice most of all.
If money were no object? Well, it's nice to dream, but that'll never be. And there's not enough bandwidth on this site to carry the load of what I would do were that a reality.
I'm happy with the razors, soaps and creams I mentioned. I do have it in mind to get a Silvertip and maybe a horse hair brush, just for comparison to the VDH Boar I already have. But I could be happy using just it for the rest of my life, if it lasts that long. I also intend to get another decent straight and another DE, strictly for backup.
But I will be trying different soaps and creams, as there is so much out there, and most of them are fairly cheap, so why not?
I do and you can find other razors that shave as well. Autocraft makes one and the blade is the exact same feel and if you look the only difference is the name.Quote:
Originally Posted by HardCase
Attachment 161940
Attachment 161941
I do get it though :<0)
I am definately a beginner. Been SR shaving sonce December. Using a shavette for a year before that.
I currently own and use 4 razor and have another 2 razor in the process of being usuable.
Have not yet found out what to be my favorite. Wade & Butchers are nice and big and heavy and deliver great shaves but on the other hand my Clauss razor ismy easiest to use and delivers somenice BBS shaves.
My favorite to use is the Proraso pre/post shave cream. But I have also used pre-shave oils and some nice artisan soaps that have been really nice as a preshave
My Art of shaving Sandalwood cream is my favorite. Favorite scent and performs great. Out of the 15 different soaps and creams I have tried its my stand out product.
I use an alum block after every single shave. Love the light sting it gives and really tones my skin.
And if money were no object I would probably have closer to 400 razors than just 4.
i still want the satinedge in the green acrylic you have. its a beautyQuote:
Originally Posted by 10Pups
These are some good questions!
1) I have been shaving with a straight razor for 8 months. Before that, I shaved with a DE for a little over a year.
2) I probably own 30-40 razors, but about 15 or so of them see active duty.
3) My favorite razors in the rotation are my Filarmonica 14s (Doble Temple, Taurino, Sub Cero), an Ongo Solingen 14 15/16, Heljestrands MK 133 (about 6/8), and a 7/8 Greaves near wedge. I like the extra weight behind bigger blades and how you do not need to rinse or wipe the blade as often.
4) Pre-shave -- I dip my brush in water with ice cubes, and I brush some cold water on my face to lift the whiskers.
5) My go to soaps have been Mystic Waters. I own 3 varieties: pumpkin spice, lavender and tea/eucalyptus. I like this soap because it has both glycerin and tallow. I find it lathers better then other gylcerin-based soaps I have used.
6) Post shave -- alum block, follow by cold water rinse and then I apply coconut oil as a moisturizer/aftershave.
7) If money was no object I would buy: a NOS 8/8 Filarmonica Especial Para Barbas Duras; an 8/8 Dorko, or a Heljestrand MK 134. Further, I would buy a strop made out of Cordovan leather (horse-butt membrane).
1) Some where between Beginner and Experienced UserQuote:
Originally Posted by SteveTheCanuck
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.....
1. Probably advanced-beginner now. I no longer cut/ nick/ burn myself, unless I rush or don't lather correctly (forgot my brush)Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveTheCanuck
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)
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveTheCanuck
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)
