Safety razor and travel

[Yonkdaddy]

Hi All... fascinating set of messages. I have a couple of favorite shaving creams... the first is from Geo F Trumper in London. I use the Coconut Oil for normal skin, and it's really nice. Available over the web from a number of US sources as well. Here in the States, I've picked up the eShave White Tea shaving cream and after-shave cream. The scent is both sublime and subtle, and the after-shave cream is really marvelous.

I have great super badger shaving brushes from Geo F Trumper and from Taylor of Old Bond Street. Both are really good, and can be ordered over the web.

No safety razor for me... I use the Art of Shaving Fusion Power Shave razor and like it alot.

Finally, for folks traveling to London, I really recommend a visit to Geo F Trumper's barber shop in Jermyn street for a luxury straight-blade shave. Hot towels, hand-whipped lather, more hot towels, cold towels, skin food, the works. It's expensive but an important part of my travel ritual when I hit London!

Finally,

[misterN]

Watch that you don't have too much water in the brush. I made that mistake moving up from a bristle one. Try shaking it till you've shaken most of the water out then start making the lather. If it's too dry then just dip the brush in the water a little before carrying on lathering. Youll soon judge how much you need, but to start with it's easier to add than subtract. Also a new brush will take a week or two to really break in and soften up.

Good luck though, it's worth the effort. Keep the styptic pencil/alum handy for your first few attempts and stick to with the grain (downwards mostly) for the first couple of weeks unless you like pain and blood;-)

Yea, I definitely nicked myself a few times. It was nice though, but I feel like it's going to take awhile to for my skin to adjust to using this blade. I was also going through about 5 days worth of growth. I think if I do every other day, having more maintenance shaves, I should be fine and my skin will adjust fine. I was using the Proraso shaving soap, with their before/after creme before. It'd be best doing it fresh out of the shower, as opposed to using a hot water towel to help open the pores.

[Fat Crip]

I just got a bunch of shaving supplies today based on the testimonials in this thread. Going to try it out when I get home from work (I started trying to build up lather with a badger brush during lunch, I didn't get super far though...)

Using the Proraso Shaving Soap and a Merkur 180 safety razor.

Watch that you don't have too much water in the brush. I made that mistake moving up from a bristle one. Try shaking it till you've shaken most of the water out then start making the lather. If it's too dry then just dip the brush in the water a little before carrying on lathering. Youll soon judge how much you need, but to start with it's easier to add than subtract. Also a new brush will take a week or two to really break in and soften up.

Good luck though, it's worth the effort. Keep the styptic pencil/alum handy for your first few attempts and stick to with the grain (downwards mostly) for the first couple of weeks unless you like pain and blood;-)

[misterN]

I just got a bunch of shaving supplies today based on the testimonials in this thread. Going to try it out when I get home from work (I started trying to build up lather with a badger brush during lunch, I didn't get super far though...)

Using the Proraso Shaving Soap and a Merkur 180 safety razor.

[gargoyle]

[QUOTE=Frank II;24576]At home, I started using Proraso Shaving Cream. It's from Italy and a small nickel size will lather beautifully with a badger brush and give you enough for two "coats." It's now my favorite shaving cream/soap.

http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shavin.../dp/B000RI8BZQ

I use Proraso too...love the stuff.

FYI, you can buy it from Bath & Body works stores too.

-gargoyle

[Frank II]

At home, I started using Proraso Shaving Cream. It's from Italy and a small nickel size will lather beautifully with a badger brush and give you enough for two "coats." It's now my favorite shaving cream/soap.

http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shavin.../dp/B000RI8BZQ

On the road, I stick with Somerset's Shaving Oil Heavy Beard formula:

http://www.somersets.com/orderform.php

Order 10 GBP pounds worth of oil and they offer free shipping worldwide. I stock up as the stuff lasts forever.

[thorn]

If you use a plastic safety razor and have sensitive skin like me, then use shaving oil instead of shaving cream.
http://www.amazon.com/SHAVE-SECRET-S.../dp/B0023XF60Q
Works great and leaves your skin smooth. You could also try olive oil, may almost be the same thing. I bought some at a local store but I can't remember which one at the moment, either grocery store or the local megamart. Pretty sure it was near the top shelf and hard to find.

[Fat Crip]

Oh dear, no wonder I've not bought another bag for over a month! I just ordered two more different Merkur razors, two brush stands, a wooden soap dish, some shaving cream and an alum block. This on top of a new Kent badger brush, an excellent scuttle (how did I live without it?) and a Merkur Futur razor last month. All I need now is another brush for my other house ... oh and and another scuttle, and another alum block and, and, and ........

This i as addictive as bags and shoes! At least my wife won't think I'm turning gay for buying razors ... I hope!

[bnett]

I've been using a DE razor for years, and here is my go to kit:

Merkur Futur Razor - great weight and balance
Moss Scuttle - the original retro scuttle and -- IMHO opinion -- the very best
Shavemac Brush - had a few brushes, this was the best
Feather Blades - very sharp, but perfect and smooth
Tobac Shaving Soap - just great lather and scent. That said, I'm really enjoying a new shave soap from Em's Place, Bay Rum. After years of Tobac, Em's Bay Rum may well become my default.

I can't imagine going back to a cartridge razor. BTW, I usually get 5-7 shaves per blade (two passes each shave).

[Fat Crip]

Thanks Gargoyle.

So it seems a better shave, with blades costing less than half the price, that last five times as long! The cost of a £30 razor will be repaid in weeks!

However, I just bought a shaving scuttle. It arrive today and works brilliantly ... I had to stop myself performing a 4th pass with lovely warm lather! So that's another £35 to 'recover'.

[gargoyle]

How many shaves from one blade is a hard question to answer. It depends on your beard and the sensitivity of your skin, but I think that most people get 3 to 7 shaves on one blade in a DE razor. I change my blade every Monday, which for me is 5-6 shaves because I often don't shave on Friday or Saturday.

I usually get about 2 weeks on a DE blade, shaving every alternate day and not on weekends. I've found that I can get an additional 1-3 shaves if I flip the blade around halfway through it's life.

-gargoyle

[Fat Crip]

I use both, I have an old style plain block of alum that works really well. Seems overall that the alum block stings a bit less on the nicks than the pencil does.

Other good sources of info are badgerandblade.com

Other places i've had good luck with product wise is classicshaving.com and leesrazors.com

And I want to +1 the West Coast Shaving recommendation, they shipped me the wrong item and got the correct one out to me a few days later and let me keep the wrong product as a "free sample" great people.

Thanks for that. I've found a couple of really good places here in the UK, www.mankind.co.uk in particular. I'll order an alum block with my next order - I've got an urge for a decent badger brush. I have three brushes, but they are all bristle, and not really very nice. I fancy a decent silvertip!

[jcaramis]

Anyone any thoughts on styptic pencil vs alum block?

I use both, I have an old style plain block of alum that works really well. Seems overall that the alum block stings a bit less on the nicks than the pencil does.

Other good sources of info are badgerandblade.com

Other places i've had good luck with product wise is classicshaving.com and leesrazors.com

And I want to +1 the West Coast Shaving recommendation, they shipped me the wrong item and got the correct one out to me a few days later and let me keep the wrong product as a "free sample" great people.

[Fat Crip]

How many shaves from one blade is a hard question to answer. It depends on your beard and the sensitivity of your skin, but I think that most people get 3 to 7 shaves on one blade in a DE razor. I change my blade every Monday, which for me is 5-6 shaves because I often don't shave on Friday or Saturday.

Thanks mep. When my disposable gets blunt, I know it because it starts to rip my face to bits. I'm kind of nervous of these DE blades because they are very sharp and scarily exposed, so I feel like if I get it wrong I might just cut off something vital! I generally only shave when I have a client meeting or something important. That means between say 2 and 5 times a week. However, at the moment I can't wait to shave!

Oh and a styptic pencil. I've never used one before, but I'm seriously impressed. The only downside is that when I used it on my top lip and it dripped in to my mouth - not nice! Anyone any thoughts on styptic pencil vs alum block?

[mep]

How many shaves from one blade is a hard question to answer. It depends on your beard and the sensitivity of your skin, but I think that most people get 3 to 7 shaves on one blade in a DE razor. I change my blade every Monday, which for me is 5-6 shaves because I often don't shave on Friday or Saturday.