Shaving and proper razors

I found a bowl of erasmic soap in a chemist the other day. Awesome lather and great shave. Just thought I'd share.

althiugh I did like this image I found when googling for erasmic images

Reading this reminded me that in about 1963 my dad got a single razor blade as part of a "consumer survey" i.e. try it, and we'll be in touch to find out what you think.

It was unbranded and he recalls that it not only gave him the best shave he'd ever had but it lasted about 10 times longer than usual.

Oddly, the market research people never got back in touch. This led to all sort of conspiracy theories, like Gillette had sabotaged the research etc. etc.

Yesterday I bought one bottle each of this from my local barber shop (well about 2 miles away). They are also selling them on Ebay so just search for the name of the product or Maguires Barbershop and you will see their products. The Italian aftershave is a bit difficult to find so I was surprised to find someone selling them in the Toon.

Proraso 400ml

Floid Blue 400ml (Italian version not Spanish as the latter contain high alcohol)

Both have nice scent that I like as they are not overpowering like cologne. The scent can last for 1 to 2 hour which I prefer so everything is good. Got both of them with barber style aftershave atomisers like this one.

Barber style aftershave automiser

I also briefly tried Floid Amber at the barber shop like this one and I like the scent too but most people prefer the Blue. (will buy this later)

I haven't managed to buy Erasmic shaving soap locally but I am not bothered as I can find Palmolive shave soap stick (49p – 69p), Palmolive shave (lather) cream in toothpaste type tube (£1.58) and Ingram shave (lather) cream in toothpaste type tube (£1.68 – £1.75) easily. IMO Palmolive shave stick is by far the best and far cheaper too. I bought eight … 😆

Price might be a more but with 400ml that will last you a long time …

Time to see how the chicks react to all this manly scent 😆

Just picked up a 48p palmolive stick and a £3.48 shaving brush and got this as the "you'll probably want this too" voucher

Can only assume tesco monitor STW and assume I'm going to attack myself with a 60's razor!
Soap and brush gave a brilliant shave with a modern razor so I'll not be buying expensive foam again!

no, no, this what you want, about £1.50 from Tesco or Boots. dab, sting, sorted
Stops bleeding faster and cleaner

Right then.

I’ve just taken delivery of my new (old) Gillette safety razor – this one, I think it’s a Tech.

Do I call the ambulance before I start or get MrsG ready to call halfway through? I live in a rural area.

Nice razor freddyg and an excellent price as well!

From what I have read the Tech is supposed to be quite a mild shave in terms of aggressiveness.

Have fun anyway.

I’ll try.

I must admit I’m a little nervous. I’ve had loads of cut-throat shaves, but they’ve always been performed by someone who knows what they’re doing. My 25 years of shaving has always been with multi-blade jobbies.

There was a single unused blade in with it, but I’m going to hang on until the new Derby Extra blades turn up.

just take your time, shower first, plenty of lather (soap and brush, not foam), cheeks first, very unlikely to cut yourself so get some confidence and do the tricky bits, under lip and under nose last. don’t press against the skin, just hold the razor against the skin, it’ll work. maybe try it without the blades in just to get the feel, remember run the blade across the skin, don’t press against or into it.

Inspired by this thread, I picked up an el cheapo WS razor at the weekend, fiver from Boots. Not tried it yet.

If this turns out to be my last post on here for a while, it’s because I’m in A&E.

Well I’m not dead and I’m not posting this from a pool of blood on the bathroom floor. I’m actually quite impressed and, more importantly, so is MrsG.

BBSB – thanks for the tips. Worked really well.

My verdict, so far, is that I’m going to stick with it. I think my technique needs some work as there parts that still feel like they could do with another going over. I gave it two passes over two days worth of stubble, trying to go in the direction of growth (but below the jaw line, the growth is in different directions – odd). The result is slightly better than my trusty old mach 3 and I do feel a little razor burn; however, as my technique improves, so will the quality of the shave.

I’ve ‘invested’ in a few different types of blade to try – at a couple of pounds a pop (for 10 blades) it’d be silly not to; also sourced some samples of shave cream from Taylor of Bond Street and Geo. F. Trumper – they smell great.

A good aftershave balm will help to calm down any razor burn.

I bought some Body Shop Razor Relief yesterday and used it this morning and it certainly does what it says on the tin.

freddy – first pass with the growth, second against it. third across it if yiou can be ar5ed, don’t usually bother with the third myself.
if it’s your first go, well done, you’ll get better and faster with practice.
I use that erasmic soap i mentioned at the top of this page – >£2, nice smell and once the brush is loaded I can lather so i look like santa claus twice. found it in an independant chemists. never used post shave other than after-shave (high alcohol contebt, nippynippynippy)or witch hazel (no smell). Might try some of that body shop stuff hohum mentioned.

Cougar, are you still with us? hello? cougar? anyone know his blood type?

Yep, first go. I might have another go this evening as even though it’s only 6 hours since the last one, I can feel some growth already. I’ll try a different blade (I used the unused 7 o’clock blade that came with the razor – it was donkeys years old).

You mention that the second pass should be against the growth – is that right? I thought that was a guaranteed way of getting burn/ingrowing hairs etc.

As for Cougar – he’s still around, hopefully there hasn’t been too much blood-loss. 8)

You mention that the second pass should be against the growth – is that right? I thought that was a guaranteed way of getting burn/ingrowing hairs etc

Very lightly in both directions works well for me. I await my new/old Tech to arrive and have a feather ready to go when it does! Thanks to STW I have been DE shaving for about two weeks now, razor burn has disappeared! Technique just about sorted 😉

shaving’s an up to you thing. some places say first pass with, second against, third across, others say second across, third against. i do with then against and that’s it. i think as long as the first pass is done properly you should be free from ingrown hairs. i’ve only ever had razor burn from being too enthusiastic about the settings on an adjustable razor and setting too aggresively for my skin.
the important thing is get comfortable with handling the razor and making sure you don’t erupt (blood/spots/rash) then, when you know what works for you, start taking other people’s advice. when that turns out to be crap, because it will, it’s your skin, you’ll know how to revert to something that works for you.
😳 <shiny red face>

EDIT – and as pointed out above VERY LIGHTLY is the way to go

below the jaw line, the growth is in different directions – odd

left side below the jaw = left to right, right side = back to front
I thought it was just me

I await my new/old Tech to arrive and have a feather ready to go when it does!

That’s a great combo. The Tech is a very mild razor and works well with a very sharp blade.
I’m currently using the Aristocrat Junior I got a few weeks ago with a Feather blade and it’s really good but will also try with a Derby blade as I seem to get on very well with them.
can’t decide whether to sell either the AJ or the SuperSpeed – I like them both but they are very similar.
The Tech is nice to keep as I only paid about £4.00 for it and the Merkur Futur is just a beast for when I need an extrea special shave – just love the noise as well!
Glad you guys are enjoying the experience – isn’t it great to have a real choice of what to shave with? 🙂

freddyg: the Tech is a great starter razor but I can guarantee you’ll love something a little more agressive in a couple of weeks.

Cougar, are you still with us? hello? cougar? anyone know his blood type?

“Red”.

Still here, aye. Not had a go with the new razor yet, for various reasons. Might have a punt at the weekend.

In related news, I was looking at these ‘sampler’ packs of blades the other day. Fifty quid looks like it’ll keep me in blades until my kids die, and I don’t have kids.

the important thing is get comfortable with handling the razor
+1. first few shaves resulted in pink water until I realised got the balance right.

merkur hd
derby blades
virgilio valobra soap
muhle alum block

i do need a new brush though. any recommendations?

sharkbait –
Member
freddyg: the Tech is a great starter razor but I can guarantee you’ll love something a little more agressive in a couple of weeks.

I’ve seen the term ‘aggressive’ used a few times but, as a newbie, I’m not sure of its exact meaning; can you enlighten me?

freddyg – Member
sharkbait –
Member
freddyg: the Tech is a great starter razor but I can guarantee you’ll love something a little more agressive in a couple of weeks.
I’ve seen the term ‘aggressive’ used a few times but, as a newbie, I’m not sure of its exact meaning; can you enlighten me?

It’s to do with how much of the blade is showing.

A very aggressive razor shows lots of blade and you need to be very careful with it or it will bite you. However, with a very good technique you will obtain a very close shave.

A mild razor does not show so much blade and is more forgiving. However, you will never get a really close shave.

It’s swings and roundabouts as with everything in life.

Which Merkurs are aggressive then? Liked the look of the long handled 34C maybe a progress or futur as I have the tech on it’s way. Take it the 34 and the tech are similarly mild?

futur’s adjustable.

a more aggressive setup is more likely to give a bit of burn, so if you’re going to use an adjustable, start mild (1) and work up.

The progress is adjustable as well.

I am seriously considering ordering one tonight as I am beginning to suffer from the DE shaver’s disease Rapid Acquisition Disorder.

Hmmm, just one more razor can’t hurt and it will be adjustable as well so I can tweak it to suit me and there’s room in my bathroom cabinet and…

razor bling?

i like the futur because it has a touch of “the day the earth stood still” about it, so it will always look a bit special no matter how many superspeeds, techmatics, calvacade of sports you find competing with your bike bling for your attention
it has to be the matt model, not the chrome one – too gangsta bling

Been trying to bid for some safety razor on the bloody ebay only to be out bid every time … damn!

Oh the above 3 bottles of aftershave are brilliant! I love them all but the Amber Floid might come out top for me.

😛

Should I buy the Progress and a few other things?

It’s Friday night and I am pished and they will do wonders for my shaving ability…

1) Merkur Progress to start with as it’s a good razor.
2) Blades like Iridium, Gillette Yellow Sharp Edge, Astra or Personna to start with as any of them will be good. 78p to £1.60 per pack of 5 blades. (get one pack of each to start)
3) Cheap alum stick from Superdrug for £1.75 (5g).
4) Semogue 620 Boar less than £15.
5) One Palmolive shave stick 48p to 69p.
6) One small bowl to lather up.
7) Aftershave … any of the above but perhaps 100ml to start with.
8 ) Boot’s witch hazel … 200ml for £2.59. (does not smell good by the way but very effective as aftershave. You apply it immediately after finishing your shave and wash it out with cold water after 1 or 2 minutes time before apply proper aftershave like those above).

So apart from the initial set up cost you will be good for a long time.

😛

oh ya … Do Not apply pressure when you shave as you will get razor burn after that. Only apply very light pressure so that the razor head can do all the work for you. Do 3 passes … with the grain, across the grain then against the grain for final shave. Do not shave the same spot over and over again because that will give you razor burn as well.

chewy – buy it now

LycraLout – Member

chewy – buy it now

Do you know what model it is? If it is a Big Fellow / Big Fellow Deluxe I would go for it.

It’s in France … hmmm … a bit far?

😉

no idea, did a quick look for bin’s. picked up a late model superspeed for £15 posted that way. i’d go with £25 for an old gilette can’t be bad

I don’t have to get any more but somehow I just want to keep buying … LOL! I want to try something more heavy like Fatboy.

if you want heavy, try and get your hands on a futur – seriously weighty, but looks not to everyone’s taste

ooooooohhhh

I prefer the traditional looking ones like Progress or HD so not that keen on Futur so the only way is to go stainless steel which I am saving up for one at the moment. In the meantime I do like the look of Gillette Big Fellow but it’s one that is so damn hard to get.

Ohhhh … 😯

Those cut throat razors look rather dangerous there.

😆

that’s a ’57 superspeed that is, and an ’82 on the right