I have seriously considered getting that little area around my Adam's apple lasered off. It sounds ridiculous but I have very coarse hair and very sensitive skin on my neck, and there's basically nothing I can do to shave that area without it getting irritated. I have a Merkur HD and preferred the Feather blades when I was shaving that way. That was/is absolutely the best, most comfortable way to shave. It also feels luxurious - a heavy chunk of metal in your hands, very precise and measured shaving methods, the lathering up of creams/soaps that actually smell good... For those considering it, "mantic79" on YouTube has some excellent videos on how to approach it. Don't get too wrapped up in analyzing it - it's not that hard to start - but the videos might help improve the shave once you've started: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjhIy9rgWQU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjhIy9rgWQU</a> Right now, I'm using a Panasonic wet/dry foil electric razor. I like the convenience because I can shave with high quality shaving creams at home, for a very comfortable shave, but when I travel I don't have to pack anything but the razor - and it makes it very easy to shave at a house where I'm a guest and may not have the run of the place. The Panasonic is the only electric I've used that didn't make my neck feel like I had scraped the hair off with a microplane, and when wet shaving, it's a very close shave. Not quite as close as a blade, but much better than a lot of other electric razors.
Re: TiB Tips and Tricks I've seen some sold at the pharmacy near my house, for cheap too ($4 for a soap) - might have to do with the age of my neighbourhood (old)
I have tried a number of different blades for my adjustable Merkur Progress Long Handle. For the Feather blades I have to dial the setting down (less aggressive) as Feathers are super sharp ninjas. I quite like the Red Pack Personna Blades. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.razorbladesandmore.com/content/100-israeli-red-pack-personna-blades" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.razorbladesandmore.com/conte ... nna-blades</a>
This thread is fantastic, I ordered a Merkur on Thursday from Amazon, came with a stand, brush and bowl. Got it from Fed-Ex today, I am converted to using a safety razor after my first shave. I used to get razor burn every time no matter what the hell I did. Shaved today using the Merkur and I couldn't believe how awesome it was. Used to shave once a week because I hated the way my neck would be covered in razor burn, shaving will be a more normal thing now. Gave the old Gillette to the wife to be, no more spending 40 bucks on blades.
Any DE blade is going to be cheaper than a cartridge, but if you can get away with Derbys... 8 cents a blade. Cheap as fuck.
You can get cheap blades, but Feathers, which are sharp as fuck and expensive for a DE blade, can still be had for $0.50 or less per blade, and you can wait for sales then buy in bulk. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Feather-Double-Edge-Razor-Blades-100-Blades_p_23.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Feather ... _p_23.html</a> I used to shave twice with each side and then toss 'em, but depending on your beard, you may be able to get a lot more. I was probably using 60-70 blades per year. So you can get a premium shave with an always-sharp blade for a pretty small yearly cost. Not discouraging anyone who likes the shave that the cheap blades will give them, of course, just pointing out that the relative cost may be a lot higher, but the absolute dollar values here are still pretty small.
I have heard this from every single person I converted to wet shaving. The technology of scraping a knife against your fact hasn't gotten better, it's gotten worse and more expensive. But they vibrate!
Yeah, what is up with the blades that vibrate? How could anyone think that is a good idea? The only thing I can fathom is that women are using their razor handles as sex toys in the shower. I can't think of a reason a vibrating men's razor would be useful however.
Via some rep questions, this is the set I ordered from Amazon. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Shaving-Merkur-Safety-Husband-Boyfriend/dp/B0010Y1KYA/ref=sr_1_7?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1326655358&sr=1-7" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.amazon.com/Shaving-Merkur-Sa ... 358&sr=1-7</a>
I prefer the beefer Merkur razors with the shorter handle, but that's a nice one. The set is nice looking for sure, but that's a pretty low end brush. I just ordered a new brush from Kimson in Vietnam. Super cool bone and buffalo horn handles, silvertip knots, and the one I got has some abalone inlay. It was about 90 bucks, but would be 300+ from a big company... which is way more than I'm willing to pay, especially after my wife bought me an expensive brush that sort of sucks. Pretty swanky looking, I'll be interested how it stacks up to my nice Rooney and Shavemac brushes.
I had a gift card from Christmas so that set didn't really run me but 50 bucks, and never having used one before it wasn't a big deal if I didn't like wet shaving. 90 seems high for a brush? Although maybe it isn't, I looked at a few at shave nation that went over 300.
Thanks to everyone (especially BrianH) for letting me know about everything. Another question, how well do the Feather blades deal with excessive growth? I only shave about once a month and with cartridges I need to trim with an electric razor first if I don't want the process to take fucking forever. Can a guy with a pretty average growth rate shave once a month with no issue? Will it even affect the situation?
Can anyone give insight on ingrown hairs? I have naturally curly hair and there's always a few new hairs growing under the skin that I have to dig out and cut after I shave every morning. Also, when I do wet shave, I break out a bit a few days down the road. Any thoughts? PS, I just use an electric razor, I don't really have time in the morning to do the full on brush, straight razor, etc.
Dude, blasting through a lot of growth is one of a sharp blade's finest pleasures. I grow hair FAST, but after a week or two of growth (approaching full beard), after a shower a fresh Feather blade plows through it as if it was a day's growth. The biggest headache with multi-bladed razors is dealing with big growth, but a DE razor gets right down to the skin and trims it off with no hassle.
I use a brush and DE razor every morning, and can accomplish the shave in under 5 minutes. I used to have TONS of ingrown hairs, but not anymore. Once you get your technique down, you can brush up a lather pretty damned fast, do a quick pass with the grain to knock down hairs, re-lather, and get a nice, tight against the grain pass done. To accomplish this, I stay away from soaps for quick shaves, which I reserve for days when I have a bit of extra time to pull up a nice lather in a bowl. I typically use Crabtree & Evelyn cremes or the rebranded Proraso stuff, which lathers on the face extremely fast. Also, stay away from floppy brushes if you want a quick lather, which make it more difficult to build up a good one on the face. I have a really expensive Rooney brush that bowl lathers fantastic and feels like a trillion bucks on my face, but could never be used for a quick shave. I use a smaller, tighter Shavemac or Vulfix brush for that. I love straight razors, but that DOES take time to shave in a socially acceptable (read: military) way. I only use it when I'm going on a date with my wife or something of that nature.
Holy shit, this thread is the best thing to happen to the internet. I kind of assumed what you just said here just based on how the blades look, but wanted confirmation, I'm going to pawn my cartridges off on my GF (for her leg hair you sick fucks) and start going the DE route within a week or so. Luckily I'm not going to be seeing clients for a little while so even if I fuck up I should be ok. Also, what is your soap lathering method? I'm not sure if what you use is bar form or like a gel. Do you put it in something and add hot water, or do you just dip your brush in as is and apply?
Everything you need to know about lathering (and everything else) can be found on this guy's videos. He'll put you to sleep, if you aren't careful, because he's like the Bob Ross of wet shaving. He also has a video on DE shaving technique. USE IT. Do the whole bit where you take a Q-tip and use it on your face to see how the grain of your hair grows. I shave with the grain, the way it ACTUALLY GROWS, the first pass. The second pass, the exact opposite. It will take you a week or so before you stop cutting yourself a few times. In the meantime, by a fucking stypic pencil at Walgreens, which works wonders on a light cut. I still keep one around in case I nick myself. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7Aj9vwrtc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7Aj9vwrtc</a>
Not to be a cynical prick, but is this not common practice? I'm not trying to undermine you here, but I've always assumed that every man shaves with this method. That aside, please keep the awesome advice coming. First thing I'm doing when I have a spare $100 is buying that DE kit linked on the last page. It may not be perfect, but it sounds like it'll be a wonderful step in the right direction.
First, VERY few guys actually learn how to shave properly, especially in the day and age of hinged, 3-bladed shavers. They slap the blade on their face, drag away, and typically pull up on their necks (against the grain!) on the first pass. I shave down on my neck (actually, two directions, because that's how my hair grows) on the first pass. If you want to spend 100 bones on shave gear, buy this stuff: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Merkur-34C-Heavy-Duty-Safety-Razor_p_31.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Merkur- ... _p_31.html</a> <a class="postlink" href="http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Vulfix-375S-Super-Badger-Shaving-Brush_p_552.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Vulfix- ... p_552.html</a> Those are two pretty serious pieces of kit, and will last you your whole life. The Vulfix is stiff enough to work a lather on your face (if you want), but the silvertip holds a TON of water so you don't have to wet your brush ten billion times. That's the key to a good brush (other than a shitty brush shedding hairs): stiff enough to get a nice lather (I have a 200 dollar floppy brush at home that I hate), and good enough hair that holds a lot of water (obviously, silvertip is the best). With shaving creams/soaps, you can knock yourself out. I've used super expensive Art of Shaving stuff all the way to cheap stuff, and it is all pretty decent. The Proraso stuff you get under C.O. Bigelow (as was mentioned many times) is VERY good, and I love Taylor of Old Bond Street as well. For learning, it's hard to beat Tabac soap. A bit pricey, but smells tits and works up a serious fuck you lather. ALSO, get a blade sampler back from West Coast shaving. You have no idea what you like until you try them all. I (and many others) swear by the crazy, ridiculously sharp Feather blades, but I know many who got a sample pack a like Gillette or (if you are lucky) Derby more. Take the Pepsi Challenge. EDIT: If you want another brush, as a beginner, look for something in the 21-23mm knot diameter range. The prices go crazy depending on what you get, but if you get something simple it isn't so bad. My go-to brush is this Rooney brush, and it has shed maybe 6 hairs in 3 years of use. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/2053630/2184101.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/i ... 184101.htm</a> Get a case for your damned razor, too: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.westcoastshaving.com/West-Coast-Shaving-Badger-Blade-Leather-Safety-Razor-Case-Brown_p_1284.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.westcoastshaving.com/West-Co ... _1284.html</a>