[Closed] few questions about DE razor shaving......

getting closer to final decision, couple more questions on razor choice please......
i like the looks of the bluebeards razor best (sad, but i like the etched logo on the head :-)), but with it being a smooth mirror finish think it could be a bit 'slippy' to hold. so now im leaning towards firestarters EJ 89L because of the lined handle and also a bit cheaper. has anyone actually got a smooth mirror finished razor and can tell me if thats a valid concern?
also, if i went for the EJ, theres 2 sizes of handle, long and short. id be interested in advice on which may suit er.....medium hands please.

i like the look of the merkur better, the satin look. also like the thought of an adjustable. am i right in thinking tho that the merkur heads are bigger than most (sure i read that on one of the thousands of reviews over the last few days)? i think id prefer a smaller head for face contours/under the nose area, but at the same time im thinking all razor blades are the same size, so arent the heads too??
and if the merkur is indeed a larger head, any other satin stylee razors? havent found any yet.

thanks for sticking with me, ill get it nailed down shortly im sure 😀

Cougar: http://www.shaving-shack.com/the-bluebeards-revenge_privateer-collection-brush-and-razor-stand.html but take the razor out before the brush or the whole thing tips forward and deposits the razor in the sink!

sadexpunk: I just use bog standard Nivea aftershave balm. Seems to work. Also, I use a long-handled razor for control and to see what's going on in the mirror better...

After trying a few different combos I've now been using a Merkur 39c with feather blades and Arko bar for years. Gives me as good a shave as I could possibly want for a fraction of the cost of disposables. I'm on my third cheapo brush but a decent one is on my Christmas list 🙂

The key, for me at least, is to remember not to apply any pressure when shaving, just let the blade glide and do its work.

OP I'd say that a handle with a heavier texture is preferable as it helps prevent slipping.

If you are taking about the Merkur Futur then yes the head is bigger than something like a 33c for example. The EJ you mention, Merkur 34c and Muhle R89 seem to be the most popular first razors.

Personally I went for the Merkur 33c with a short handle as I thought it was better balanced and gave more control than the 23c with the longer handle. I was able to try a few out at the store these guys run

http://www.executive-shaving.co.uk/

They have an exclusive razor called a Braveheart that seems to be well reviewed and I will make my next purchase. It seems to be a bit more aggressive so maybe not for your first razor.

I'd recommend Proraso Pre shave cream as it can be used pre and post shave and a cream or soap that you like the smell of. My favourite currently is Queen Charlotte soap Vostok. Like the place it leaves your face very cool feeling.

For blades Personna platinium are a good beginners option as they are really forgiving.

has anyone actually got a smooth mirror finished razor and can tell me if thats a valid concern?

OP

you may laugh at this, but are badgers harmed in the making of the brushes?

I was going to get a new brush,so

[url= http://badgertrust.org.uk/badgers/legislation/badger-hair-shaving-brushes.aspx ]You made me search[/url]

[url= http://www.bruceonshaving.com/2010/09/07/vegan-and-vegetarian-traditional-shaving/ ]me too.[/url]

that was one of many sites ive just been looking at, suggesting alternatives. from what ive read, it does indeed seem that badgers [i]are[/i] harmed (killed), but probably were going to be anyway for food in china.
i dont like the thought of poor badgerwadgers being killed (for whatever reason) so ill probably look at alternatives. probably still makes me a hypocrite as i still eat meat, wear leather etc etc but just dont like the thought of contributing to a badger being killed somewhere far far away cos sadexpunk decided to try DE shaving 😀

ill probably look at alternatives.

I'm going to stick with my luddite tone from earlier and say that having used quite nice badger brushes as well as my cheapo synthetic, I can't say it actually makes any difference to the process.

my 2p worth...

i read the de threads a few years back, being sick of paying silly cash for gillete mach 3, and just to give it a go bought a silly cheap lord razer that came with some blades.

http://www.shaving-shack.com/lord-l6-metal-double-edge-safety-razor-model-lp1822l.html

for soap i bought a stick of turkish ARKO (about 3quid) and a really cheap brush, and it was a bit of a revelation so next i bought a mixed pack of blades and worked through figuring out what worked for me (sharks are my fave allround, hate derbys too blunt, feathers if ive got a pile of stubble to do shred my face) and i've only just come to the ends of that mixed pack.

stuck with the lord for nearly a year until my wife got me an edwin jagger for xmas. not sure what model but prob the 20quid one. it is heaps better than the lord in terms of feel and ease of use, but i would still recomend the lord for a fiver to give it a go.

i've been using oil rather than soap, cheap stuff for a few quid from sainsburys. i do prefer the shave (i'm a lazy shaver, just in the shower with min fuss or prep) with oil but its more of a hassle keeping the blade clear of gunk.

anyhow, i would'nt go back to mach 3 and i would buy a better razor... my utter regert is that for some reason my mum bought me years ago some old gillettes from a jumble and i skipped them when i cleared the house a few years back.

Punk, I've got the mirror finish EJ short arm, it doesn't slip and i find it fine for shaving -can't understand why you'd need a large arm anyway..??

ive only gone and seen the muhle vivo r331 sr with a plum wood handle now havent i.... 😀
thing of beauty or what?

[img] [/img]

wow, just watched that vid that Woppit posted up, and TBH I can't believe that that bloke is advocating doing 3 passes over your beard, and then to make it sooo much much worse he uses the dirty soapy stubbly water to rinse his face...Is that what passes for shaving advice these days? Or is it that these razors take 3 passes to actually do the job they're supposed to do?

dont think youd need 3 passes, think its just for 'the perfect shave'. 1 pass may be better than normal cartridge shaves, but then again if you did 3 passes with one of them too im sure itd still be a good shave.

incidentally, those soaps in a bowl...... do you just wet the brush then work the soap into a lather in the bowl? doesnt that get a bit messy? how do you clean it all up when youre done?

sadexpunk - Member
dont think youd need 3 passes, think its just for 'the perfect shave'. 1 pass may be better than normal cartridge shaves, but then again if you did 3 passes with one of them too im sure itd still be a good shave.

DE shaving is not going to give the perfect shave in one pass. It will be close, probably better than a multi blade. I've read it described as beard or stubble reduction. Two passes will give a good close shave, three will be super close. Each pass of the razor should be one stroke, not repeatedly going over the same spot. Shave the lather off, quick rinse, apply more lather, shave lather off.

incidentally, those soaps in a bowl...... do you just wet the brush then work the soap into a lather in the bowl? doesnt that get a bit messy? how do you clean it all up when youre done?

Coat the brush in soap, lather on your face. Or buy a bowl, ceramic, metal, glass, and whip up a lather in that. I'm a face latherer, I then just rinse the bowl under a running tap and dry the outside of the bowl.

In the video, the chap does make a point of asking you to listen at the second pass so you can hear the blade still working across the bristles...

I don't think using the "dirty" water makes any difference TBH and may even be advantageous as he says - keeping the skin "slick" during the process. I can't say I've noticed any impediment to a successful session myself, by doing this. The final rinse is with clean cold water.

Or buy a bowl, ceramic, metal, glass, and whip up a lather in that. I'm a face latherer, I then just rinse the bowl under a running tap and dry the outside of the bowl.

i imagined just wiping a bit of soap onto a damp brush, then lathering in a seperate bowl or straight onto the face, leaving your soap and bowl relatively clean. that not the case?

hot water on brush, lather in bowl, brush to face and shave.
rinse outside of bowl if it needs it, rinse soap out of brush. done.
I don't usually rinse inside the bowl.

Well just used my new razor and its great 😉 no cuts either. Tho i did take my time very good shave wish id swapped razors sooner

I've been puzzled why my "Proraso" shaving "cream" (comes ready to use in a plastic bowl) wasn't whipping up the expected lather, more of a watery thin covering. This stuff is not as hard as a soap, but not as soft as a cream, but should still work.

Turns out it's a problem living in a hard water area. If you live in a HW area, sadex, apparently what you need (and me, evidently) is a proper [i]cream[/i] - these come in tubes, like a toothpaste.

Couple of almond-sized dollops in the bowl and whisk with the wet brush...

If you use shaving cream then you either lather on your face or whipped it up in an empty "shaving bowl". Most of the branded ones are overpriced ramikins or small dessert bowls.

The soap in a bowl, either coat the brush and lather on your face or in an empty bowl as the cream. If you whip up in the soap bowl then you can end up using more soap than you need.

Like I said I lather on my face. I then rinse the whole soap bowl under the tap and dry the outside. Never noticed the soap change due to added water. It's fairly hard anyway, it's not like soft bath soap that disappears at the hint of moisture.

I chuck my stick of Arko into the sink of hot water (along with the brush and razor) to soften up before use - I rub it onto my face and then brush to create the lather.

proper cream - these come in tubes, like a toothpaste.

Just need a pea size dollop on your brush, lather on face, it's enough for 3 passes if required.

[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Proraso-Shaving-Cream-Tube-150ml-With-Eucalyptus-Oil-Menthol-and-Glycerin-/281489037490?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276 ]This stuff [/url] is great and lasts for ages...

thanks chaps. think those arko sticks are cheap enough for me to order one alongside all the other stuff too, so ill probably experiment, see what i prefer.

btw, has anyone actually seen or used one of those muhle vivo razors in the pic above? they look a bit more 'special treat at christmas' than 'value for money first razor', but just wondered if anyones got any experience of them.

cheers

I just use a generic shave gel (currently a KoS one) and a bog standard Wilkinson Sword brush. Blob of gel into the palm of my cupped had, lather up with the brush, and then onto face. I realise I'm not a true afficionado as i haven't got a weasel pube brush or a handcrafted ceramic bowl engraved with the name of the artist who decorated it, but it works well enough for me.

Merkur razor and Astra Platinum is my hardware. Also not very niche.

(You may have guessed, i also have an Inbred)

Turns out it's a problem living in a hard water area. If you live in a HW area, sadex, apparently what you need (and me, evidently) is a proper cream - these come in tubes, like a toothpaste.

Couple of almond-sized dollops in the bowl and whisk with the wet brush...

Jeez, looks like a right old faff that lot. How much time do you lot have in the morning? Trimmer set to 3mm, rag it round my face, and if I'm feeling generous, a bit of moisturiser.

M6TTF - Member

Jeez, looks like a right old faff that lot. How much time do you lot have in the morning? Trimmer set to 3mm, rag it round my face, and if I'm feeling generous, a bit of moisturiser.

You trim every morning? 😯

I only shave once every three days because, for whatever reasons, I find that using DE razor I don't have to shave everyday.

Also, I shave during the night so just take things slowly ...

🙄

No, every two to three days. My skin is far happier not having a close shave. Not had a wet shave for years

has anyone actually got a smooth mirror finished razor and can tell me if thats a valid concern?

I have the lined version of the Edwin Jagger razor which I use at home and it is fantastic value. I could not imagine buying anything else.

I also travel with the chrome handled version. If your hands are just wet with water it grips well. As soon as you get some water with some cream on to your hands then it can become slippery.

I use the English Shaving Company shaving cream as it is only £1.29 in Home Bargains. I actually put it in to an old wooden shaving soap bowl and use it like soap but it is much softer and easier to get a good working lather.

A bit of a PSA here. I just googled Merkur razors and a couple came up on a site called lookfantastic.com at a decent discount. I just got a Merkur 43C for £19.

Jp-t853.
I'm off to home bargains!

M6TTF - Member
Jeez, looks like a right old faff that lot.

Well, I think it's a fairly basic excercise that's developed into a whole ritualistic pleasure. Sort of like a guy's version of the ladies' hot bath with scented candles and whale music thing...

My Sunday mornings now consist of a hot shower, full 3-pass shave with all the bits'n'bobs (cream, lathering bowl, balm, aftershave) then fresh coffee and toast on the sofa in the bathrobe and comfy slippers feeling fantastic...

During the week it's just the shave bit, but I set aside 20 minutes for that and start the day feeling fresh and ready to rock.

I suppose it's like if you're a real, or instant, coffee kind of guy. 🙂

A bit of a PSA here. I just googled Merkur razors and a couple came up on a site called lookfantastic.com at a decent discount. I just got a Merkur 43C for £19.

To save searching, I think that's http://www.lookfantastic.com/merkur-stainless-steel-handle-razor/10448718.html (with the code 'movember' for 20% off the listed price).

Never heard of the site before, but that's a very good price indeed.

Thanks Cougar, I meant to put the link in. There is also the Merkur Barber Pole at a cracking price.

[url= http://m.lookfantastic.com/merkur-barber-pole-safety-razor-in-black/10465650.html ]http://m.lookfantastic.com/merkur-barber-pole-safety-razor-in-black/10465650.html[/url]

can anyone tell me whether that stainless merkur ^^^ has one of the larger heads as per the 'futur', or is it the smaller type please?

also, bit of a silly question perhaps, and shows my naivity, but DE blades...... does the 'double edge refer to both sides of the blade being used at the same time, or can you flip the blade over and use 'the other side' too?

ta

Means you can use both edges of the blade, one each side of the head. You don't flip the blade in the head and reuse it. I guess it's the distinction to a single bladed razor (cutthroat style) when DE was the new fangled choice!

thanks mate, id have guessed that but wasnt sure.

im about to press 'buy' on a load of stuff including that merkur, so can anyone just confirm the heads not as big as the futur?

cheers

The head isn't as big as futur. Do it!

Having read through this thread I'm thinking of asking Santa for a kit like [url= http://www.shaving-shack.com/safety-razor-starter-kit-badger-brush.html ]this[/url] and see how it goes.

The head isn't as big as futur. Do it!

im sure ill have more questions when it all arrives 🙂

thanks a lot chaps

£80??!!
How did you manage to do that?
Razor: £20
Brush: £20
Soap: £3-10
Blades £5ish

The key is to start small and simple then buy more razors!

The head isn't as big as futur. Do it!

£80??!!
How did you manage to do that?

merkur stainless steel razor £23
bluebeards revenge brush and stand (synthetic to save dem badgerzz) £22
taylor of old bond st shave cream (coconut) £9
assortment of blades (feathers/israeli/derby) £8
styptic pencil £4
proraso shave cream £5.50
bluebeards revenge shavette - free cos i added another cream to qualify for it.

actually its just over £70 when i count it up now. can see this being one of those hobbies that i keep spending on, just like i used to with bikes, but just not as expensive 😀

Don't forget the palm strop.

Don't forget the palm strop.

didnt know if you were taking the p*ss or not wop, so googled and youtubed. still dont know if you were or not 😀

obviously theres nothing else to buy, but im a little confused as to when youd do this. some sites said when the blade is new to remove imperfections, some inferred itd prolong the life of a blade, much the same as my razorpit and cartridge heads.
i spose youd do it the same as a barber would strop a single edged blade on leather, but i dont know when he'd do this either.

any advice on this now? 😀

😀

I took it to be the first case although I haven't tested it. It adds to the whole ritual aspect of the shave at least.

Don't forget to clean the blade after the shave by wiping it length-wise on each side from a grip at each end on your towel before using it again (ie: four times, two each side)...

obviously theres nothing else to buy

Oh yeah?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TrueFitt-Hill-Ultimate-Comfort-Pre-shave/dp/B000F5NRQY

http://www.thefragranceshop.co.uk/Mens-Aftershaves-and-Fragrances.aspx