Safety razor and travel

[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]

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.

[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,

[Yonkdaddy]

I don't have a really thick beard, but I do love a luxurious wet shave. Here's my input:

I use Geo F Trumper's Coconut Oil Shaving Cream; beautiful, subtle scent & very rich lather. It's available online either from Trumper or there are a few places in the US that stock it. ALso, eShave's White Tea Shaving Cream and After-Shave Cream are wonderful. GREAT scent, and the after-shave cream really leaves my skin feeling fantastic.

I have some great super badger brushes I got from Taylor of Old Bond Street and Geo F Trumper. Both are really nice and I recommend them.

If you're in London, you have got to go to Trumper's barber shop just off Jermyn street for a shave. Hot towels, hand-whipped shaving cream, straight-blade shave, more hot towels, cold towels, skin food, aaahhh. Not to be missed; it's part of my ritual every time I'm in London!

I use an Art of Shaving Proglide Power Razor... it's really nice... and it has a headlight!

For anybody out there who's a head-shaver, I also highly recommend the HeadBlade product line. The only way to have a smooth dome w/o nicks! I shave my head more than my face, so have a lot of experience with these products.

[jcaramis]

I ordered some Taylor of Old Bond Street aftershave from West Coast shaving and they instead sent me their shaving cream (which I didn't want to try for 19$) and was happy they did as they let me keep it as compensation for their error. Boy am i happy with it. Smells great and shaves superbly.

However if you aren't sure if you want to spend that much on a whole jar Shoebox shave store has 1/4 oz samplers for $3. I ordered 5 of them to check out all the scents, they will be delivered today. If you go this route I highly recommend Eton College, its new to me but has quickly become my favorite scent.

[Fat Crip]

I ordered some Taylor of Old Bond Street aftershave from West Coast shaving and they instead sent me their shaving cream (which I didn't want to try for 19$) and was happy they did as they let me keep it as compensation for their error. Boy am i happy with it. Smells great and shaves superbly.
.

$19!!!!! £6.90 here (about $10-11). It's half the price of Trumpers here, though 150g rather than 200g. I really like their sandalwood, but can't make up my mind between soap in it's nice turned wood bowl and the cream in a plastic tub. Both are great.

[Fat Crip]

I nicked myself shaving today. Not remarkable you're thinking, not so I say! When I started this DE shaving thing I slashed my face to bits. Today a small nick, the first in ages. I must be getting the hang of it ... at last!

[dang]

I use a safety razor too. For strictly carry on, there are two options:
1. buy the blades at your destination.
2. If you know where you are staying, mail the blades ahead of time to your hotel. They should be able to hold them for you.

[Shanisol]

I realize this is an incredibly old thread, but it seemed like a good place to put my random recommendation... I just placed an order for shaving supplies from Maggard Razors and was really impressed with their customer service. I've ordered from Classic Shaving and West Coast Shaving before, and don't have a bad word to day about them, but Maggard went above and beyond. I placed my order on Sunday afternoon and received a personal email within about 20 minutes that they had received my order and would process and ship it out on Monday. I received the shipping notice and email on Monday afternoon and received my package on Wednesday. I'm really pleased with the soaps - they have lots of artisan brands to choose from.

It is a family run business that reminds me of Tom Bihn and Goulet Pens... that focus on customer service. I figure people here might appreciate that.

[tdivcr]

I use a safety razor but don't dare take it as part of carry-on. I travel mostly internationally and what goes in the US may not go elsewhere. A few years ago I had needles confiscated out of a sewing kit in Manaus, Brazil. Go figure.

[Peruvian]

As most of you know, I only travel with carry-on on domestic or international flights. I have been using a safety razor for about 1.5 years and luckily haven't had any problems. I found an outstanding travel pouch made by Waterfield Designs, which I love:






I highly recommend it.

[Kstrooz]

I also use a safety razor at home. Blades, brush, soapstone…the whole 9 yards.
As a surgeon in training my roommates feel as though I'm about to operate every other morning that I shave.
You see, my face is extremely sensitive, so I'm pretty thorough.

So in traveling... Same delimma.
I am far from a minimalist, so I buy the disposable razors from Walmart (typically a 3 bladed razor) and I use the razor once or twice before throwing it away while abroad. I also use the Red Gillette foam travel canister.

It simply comes down to the sharpness of your blade. Since I only use the disposable razors once, I don't really care if I gunk them up with the foam. This way I don't even have to deal with TSA.

[Fat Crip]

Wow this is an old thread!

I tried something the other day. I was just doing a 2 night stay, so I took the first safety razor I ever bought, a plastic, almost semi-disposable Wilkinson Sword number, put a fresh blade in it and put it in my TB wash bag along with my brush, soap and alum block. No problem at airport either way! I'm not sure I'd want to risk a Gillette vintage razor like this, but the £5, including 10 blades, one was worth the risk!

[ClaireJ]

Since this thread was just revived, I wanted to ask people who said they buy the blades at their destination, where do you find them? Traveling with my safety razor has been a bit hit or miss - I'd say a little over 50% of the time, TSA confiscates the blade (I always leave it in the razor, thinking that it makes my intended purpose clear, but they'll remove it and take it). This doesn't seem to be airport dependent, as the same airport has reacted differently. Last time this happened, I went to a CSV hoping to find a blade to use while on my trip, but no luck. I've resorted to traveling with a disposable razor, but I much prefer using the safety razor.

[Fat Crip]

Gillette blades, not the best, but passable, are available in most Spanish supermarkets and shops like Druni. In the UK, Wilkinson Sword blades, again a bit dull, are widely available in chemists/pharmacies.