Wet shave ??

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threebikesmcginty

Corn Fed Hick...
Location
...on the slake
[razor nerd mode] I use a 1956 Gillette Tech DE safety razor with Feather blades. I've a couple of other razors but that's my favourite one [/razor nerd mode]
 
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bobg

bobg

Über Member
My son borrowed the double edged razor yesterday and was astonished at the quality of the shave. I reckon that there's a whole generation conned by TV ads trumpeting the wonders of multi edges, double cut, triple action, ergonomic, girl attracting plastic jobs.
BTW thanks for the link, I'll try that stuff...
 

- Baz -

Active Member
Location
Manchester
[razor nerd mode] I use a 1956 Gillette Tech DE safety razor with Feather blades. I've a couple of other razors but that's my favourite one [/razor nerd mode]
Same here but mines 1955 vintage! And Feather blades are the only ones I use - sometimes with a Merkur 34C for a change. Wet shaving nirvana...
 

Chutzpah

Über Member
Location
Somerset, UK
I used to wet shave when I was in a customer facing role. There's something satisfying about doing it properly. Opening up the pores, lathering up, taking your time, patting down.

However, since I stopped being customer facing... well, I've been lazy. I normally let it grow out for a week or two until I look in the mirror and think "jeez, that's looking scruffy", grab my hair clippers and shave it off without a guide. No, it's not smooth but nowadays I just can't be bothered
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If I ever needed to worry about it again I'd go straight back to wet shaving without hesitation.
 

Yellow Fang

Legendary Member
Location
Reading
Grandad used to lather up with a badger brush and Imperial Leather [which I still use] and then prepare a cut throat which he used to strop every morning, braces off, using the kitchen sink and a small mirror.... loved watching him but with a frisson of horror in case....

I bet that was with cold water too. It has recently occurred to me that most people used to shave with cold water
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gavintc

Guru
Location
Southsea
I have always wet shaved and save for a short attempt at using the foams, I have used a brush and shaving soap. I am occasionally lazy at the weekends will sometimes leave it a day. But, during the working week, it is a close wet shave for me.
 

tyred

Squire
Location
Ireland
I never got along with electrics. I could use my stubble as a wire brush substitute and electric razors won't cut it.

About 6 or 7 years ago I switiched to proper shaving soap and a brush after hearing a piece on the radio about how it reduced irritation and I can confirm that it is far superior to foam or gel. Still continued to shave with my old Gillette GII though. It was given to me by my Dad and is possibly older than me. Last year, as GII blades became difficult to get hold of in the shops and the modern day equivalents are crazy priced, I started experimenting with a combination of Bic single blade disposables and a 1960s Gillette Tech. I would never go back to multiblade razors. Single blade razors (even the Bic) give a much smoother shave with less irritation. When using the Tech, I use the Tesco own brand blades which are superior to any of the others I have tried.
 

goo_mason

Champion barbed-wire hurdler
Location
Leith, Edinburgh
Wet shave every day - made the switch to a DE razor (one that you put a real razor blade in, so it's a 'double edge' as you can use both sides of the razor to shave with) last December after suffering from far too much irritation when I shaved around once a week with a Mach 3 & canned foam. Within a few months, I was hooked and began collecting and using vintage razors ( I now have over 30 DE and SE razors, dating back to around 1912), along with acquiring badger brushes and all sorts of shaving creams, soaps, balms, alum blocks, blades etc. About 4 months ago I moved into the world of the straight razor ('cut-throat'), and am now equally at home stropping up and using one of the 4 of those that I own.

I can now shave daily without irritation, get a much closer shave than the marketing-man's latest multiblade monstrosity, and the whole process is very calming and zen-like. Most of all, it's a damn manly pursuit!

If you want some tips & advice on making the switch to real shaving, look for Mantic's excellent videos on YouTube.
 

Amanda P

Legendary Member
I've used double-edged razor blades for years. The Feather blades are about ten times better than any other brand I've tried, and I have a nice Merkur razor to put 'em in.

I used to use old-fashioned shaving soap and a brush, but I've become allergic to soap (really!) so nowadays I use aqueous cream as a shaving lubricant.
 
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