Real man shaving.

[Dogtrousers]

Going into Boots was your first mistake, you're not going to get quality shaving kit there. I don't think many people on this thread are extolling the virtues of cartridge razors. DE blades are a standard size, cheap, and virtually plastic free.

If electric works for you then fair enough, I tried it and didn't like it at all.

DE=Double edged? I must admit that was my alternative to going for an electric, when I reached crisis point with my batch of blunt blades from Amazon. After all, they were good enough for my dad for his entire life. And my mum used to use them for slicing beans.

However, being a gadgety person I went for the gadgety option. I can now upload all my shaves to Shava and win KOM (King of the Mandibles) points.

By the way I don't only go to Bootses. I sometimes go to Superdrug.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Plug it in mate.

Very droll

 

[Tail End Charlie]

That is the funniest line I have read on this site for years!

You are too kind.

Actually I knew @Ming the Merciless wouldn't have plugged it in as I happen to know a few years ago he bought a chainsaw and a few days later returned it to the shop saying it was too hard work - it had taken him an hour to fell one small tree. The shop keeper said "I can't believe that, it should do about 20 trees in an hour" and he took the chainsaw from Ming and started it up, whereupon a startled Ming said "what's that noise?" !!

 

[EltonFrog]

DE=Double edged? I must admit that was my alternative to going for an electric, when I reached crisis point with my batch of blunt blades from Amazon. After all, they were good enough for my dad for his entire life. And my mum used to use them for slicing beans.

However, being a gadgety person I went for the gadgety option. I can now upload all my shaves to Shava and win KOM (King of the Mandibles) points.

By the way I don't only go to Bootses. I sometimes go to Superdrug.

The Braun shaver, does it shave as close as blade? Do you use it with foam or gel and use it in the shower?

 

[Bollo]

I’ve used a Merkur DE razor for time, mostly with feather blades. I have the beard of a 13 year old who’s just bought his first can of Lynx Africa, so I can stretch a blade to a couple of weeks easily. My issue was that it would take me 3 or 4 passes to get things how I like them. Sometimes I just could not be arsed.

Some of the Merkur’s cosmetic chroming had started to flake so I used this as an excuse to spend money on gadgets. I ended up with this….

https://leafshave.com/products/the-leaf-kit

It works like a multi-blade cartridge razor but using the blades from a DE. I never realised until buying this that you can snap DE blades, but it’s easier than you think. It can use 1, 2, or 3 half blades depending on your preferences.

Reviews were mixed but I like the idea and took a punt. A fair number of negative reviews were either about build quality vs price or cuts. For the build quality the jury is out, but if you’re slicing yourself up with this then you shouldn’t be allowed scissors.

With 3 feather half blades one pass is good enough and two leaves my manly chin buttery smooth. Under the nose can be tricky due to the size of the guide above the blades and my bum chin is tricky whatever, but it generally delivers in the best-of-both promise.

 

[Dogtrousers]

The Braun shaver, does it shave as close as blade? Do you use it with foam or gel and use it in the shower?

The end result is pretty much the same as a blade, in that I don't need a shave any more, which is my desired outcome. "Closeness" in both cases is probably down to how fastidious I am in using it - which to be honest is not terribly fastidious.

I've never used products like gels and foams. I've never considered the idea of shaving in the shower, that's a new one on me. I think these things would be possible with my shaver though, according to the instructions.

 

[Milzy]

Went to bed last night, had to get up and shave. Couldn’t sleep with itchy beard. Normal bics and foam, was a massive hack fest. Stubble looks great but a big beard can mean they could be weird. Seriously though some look good but I can’t stand the itch.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I tend to shave my head every 2, even 3 days now that summer is long gone and my bonce is covered all the time outside. I still facial clean shave every day, which today made me think about growing a beard. Yes, it's that once every 10 or 15 years moment when you get the urge. The last time I grew a beard I was in my mid 30's when I had a full head of hair. I grew a mustache about 12 years ago, but still had hair, albeit a thinning comb over. Will I Look daft with a bald head and a grey beard?🤔 Well I think it'd be grey, but It might have some brown or ginger in, but that's doubtful.

 

[T4tomo]

The end result is pretty much the same as a blade, in that I don't need a shave any more, which is my desired outcome. "Closeness" in both cases is probably down to how fastidious I am in using it - which to be honest is not terribly fastidious.

I've never used products like gels and foams. I've never considered the idea of shaving in the shower, that's a new one on me. I think these things would be possible with my shaver though, according to the instructions.

A leccy shaver will never get a close a shave as two or three passes with a double edge (used with proper shaving soap).
I think the lack of fastidiousness is the issue, that and using cheap cartridge blades with presumably just water?
You just haven't found whats good looks / feels like yet.

 

[Dogtrousers]

A leccy shaver will never get a close a shave as two or three passes with a double edge (used with proper shaving soap).
I think the lack of fastidiousness is the issue, that and using cheap cartridge blades with presumably just water?
You just haven't found whats good looks / feels like yet.

I beg to differ. I think I've found perfection. "Closeness" is not my objective. Faff-minimisation is.

 

[Venod]

Nothing fancy here Gillette double edge disposables and a can of whatever cheap foam the wife buys, I did find a Gillette triple blade razor in the wardrobe, (a forgotten Christmas gift) it was OK but the blades are more expensive than disposables, forty plus years since I sported a beard and tash, I sometimes get think about growing one but two or three days of growth has me reaching for the razor.

 

[winjim]

I beg to differ. I think I've found perfection. "Closeness" is not my objective. Faff-minimisation is.

A close shave is nice but TBF it's a Sisyphean task, it's always going to have grown back by tomorrow.

 

[EltonFrog]

When my Mitchells soap ran out I bought a couple of pots of Arko ( link) shaving soap. My goodness this stuff lathers up very well, and lasts ages. I bought it in March 21, I shave three times a week and have only used a third of a pot.

 

[T4tomo]

A close shave is nice but TBF it's a Sisyphean task, it's always going to have grown back by tomorrow.

Do you bother with showering or cleaning your teeth?

 

[winjim]

Do you bother with showering or cleaning your teeth?

I don't think I'd put dental caries in the same category as 'having a slightly imperfectly smooth chin for a couple of hours longer in the day than might otherwise be the case'.

Fillings are a real faff.