Thread: What is your Optimal Shave Kit?

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!

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?

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.
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?

Originally Posted by HardCase

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 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.




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.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

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.

i still want the satinedge in the green acrylic you have. its a beauty

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).