Thread: What do you USUALLY use?

The only thing in my shaving den that gets daily use is my Vulfix badger brush. It's my only one.

I rotate my soaps and cremes according to my mood mostly, but there are my favorites there that get picked more often than others, like the Proraso, or Taylors. Or Tabac. and The Body Shop. hmmm...

I tend to rotate my razors, and trying to figure the best way to do that. I changed them daily, but now I use two razors, rotating them until they get dull, than switch to other pair. When all of them don't shave comfortably any more, it's honing time.

After that it's hot/cold water splash, and Korres (aftershave) time. I clean up my brush and razor, strop a little, and slap some Lush's Cosmetic Lad face cream, it's really good product.

Put my razor to sleep in the razor box or mug, think to my self "What a wonderful world" and go out and conquer it...


Nenad

I always enjoy my shaves and have started to really try and take my time. I have the luxery of not having to be clean shaven for most of the work I do, so I can shave in the morning or at night, or even skip a day so that I can enjoy my shave and not be rushed. I rotate with a few of colleens creams and some mamabear soaps, but use musk aftershave or skin food and always my royall muske cologne. I only use something 8/8's or bigger other than my one 7/8 joseph roger and sons wedge from Bill, and either way I can have one day or 10 days growth and the blade never notices

I used to really enjoy my shaves after the gym, but now with my shoulder the last 6 months or so, I have felt like a lazy slug and do nothing but eat crap and wait to be able to work out again...and have a reason to be healthy

I'm like Randy -- too many soaps, creams, aftershaves/colognes, brushes, and razors to have any routine.

I usually select the full lineup to complement each other. For the razors, particularly, I'll pull out about a half dozen for rotation for a couple of weeks.

I got over RAD, SCAD, and all that a while ago. Up at 4:30 to read the forum. 5:00 in the shower. I strop first about 20 passes on a Jemico Russian using my Dovo 5/8 SS Pearlex. I use the same razor every day. Then I take my shower and apply cream when I get out. Proraso- everyday. Then I let the cream soak while I comb my hair and apply all the other stuff like deodorant. I reapply cream and do the sides and neck. Then I restrop about 10 passes. I reapply cream again only on the goatee area and do the chin and goatee area. I spend 5 minutes with just water only feeling for rough spots. Apply cold water and return after dressed to close the blade.

On the weekend I may grab a different cream like Taylors or whatever just so I use up all the stuff I don't like back when I was SCADing and foolish.

Once I focused on a routine my shaves improved. Now I know my cream, razor and strop.

I have no intention of ever getting a routine; I will not limit myself/enjoyment. Having favorites or go-to's, though, will be fine with me.

For me the brush is always the same (My fathers brush my nother gave him about 40 years ago) after that I go through my rotation although some more often then others. The creams and soap also rotate Taylors, C&B, Trumpers, Classic. This is half the fun.

I grab whatever catches my fancy when I got to shave in the morning. I only have one brush for the time being, so I use that, and then I grab one of several creams, one of several razors, and go to town.

It's a "what do I feel like this morning." sort of thing.

Right now I've divided my razors into two separate groups(My shaving razors, that is.). Each group has four razors plus a fifth in reserve in case the razor of the day doesn't make it through the shave. After several shaves with each and it's time for a touch up I take them off the table and bring out the other 4+1. Mostly these are older razors found in antique shops(Genco,Adolph Blaich,DublDuck, etc.) along with a couple of Fromm #72's. My DOVO 5/8 Special is pretty much retired from regular use. Although it's a good shaver I want to avoid wearing off the gold etching on the blade for as long as possible. As far as soaps I'm useing Burma Shave in a coffee cup. Yes, I know there are "better"(and more expensive) soaps but Burma Shave lathers up well and lasts for just about the entire shave. And I also use either a Burma Shave brush or another one found at an antique store. That's about it for me as I don't really use any pre or post shave products. By the way, Tony, I have a question. I recently picked up several hones from Tilly's Antiques one of which is a cushion strop hone without the strop. After lapping it would it be practical or advisable to attach a leather strop to it's underside as originally intended? I'm looking to assemble a compact "Field Shaving Kit" suitable for travelling, camping or backpacking which would keep a couple of razors shave ready with a minimum of weight/space.

<<< Tony, I have a question. I recently picked up several hones from Tilly's Antiques one of which is a cushion strop hone without the strop. After lapping it would it be practical or advisable to attach a leather strop to it's underside as originally intended? I'm looking to assemble a compact "Field Shaving Kit" suitable for travelling, camping or backpacking which would keep a couple of razors shave ready with a minimum of weight/space. >>>

I id just that for awhile on my website. Tilly sent me the hones and I added a thin coark pad and a piece of either pasted or red latigo leather. Probably didn't need the cork either as they worked fine without it. It does make a compact tool for touchup while on the road.

Tony

At this point I have about 40 razors in my rotation. I used to just pick one out each day but now I go from one to the other so all get used. I alternate brushes between two I got from Matt, an Ivory handled one for the week and a wood handle on the weekends. I alternate between about 6 soaps. two castle forbes, two trumpers and two haslinger. I also alternate between about 8 different aftershaves depending on my mood.