[Shaving] Old School vs. The World

[Canuck]

The brush will be your biggest investment. Here is my review of some of my brushes. I bought another Rooney's Finest when I was in England last year and it was over $200, but man is it nice. I use that one almost every day. They stopped making them, so they're hard to find now. I regret nothing.

Have you really spent over $1300 JUST on brushes?

[McNutt]

Not quite. The Simpson Chubby was purchased used. That small T&H brush came with a gift set, so even though it retailed for like $65, I think it was free with a $25 purchase. I had a Rooney brush that I returned because it was defective. I also sold that Chubby and that $290 Rooney Finest. But yes, I've spent a lot of money on brushes. They can get addictive. Luckily the good ones will give you decades worth of shaves. At least that's how I justify it.

[Canuck]

Hmm according to this thread: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread ... ftershaves" target="_blank there are some great aftershaves in my own backyard yet for some reason Japanese aftershaves are not well known. I will definitely be dropping by the drugstore tomorrow to pick one of those up.

I think I might try picking up this Japanese aftershave. I practically have to after this review by user "thunderball" on badgerandblade.com

There is a place where men can still be men, and that place is called Mandom. Feared, loved, revered and reviled, much like its frontman Charles Bronson this aftershave is anything but bashful. Like Tabac it divides men...families...armies...and indeed nations. It has been referred to with such far-ranging epithets as "pure unalloyed essence of awesomeness" and "urinal pucks and bugspray". Though I myself lean in favour of the former description, I also understand and accept the latter, just as I accept (and even welcome in a sadistic kind of way) my wife's comments that I "smell older than the oldest person she can imagine"...now that's old.



With Mandom, one must know what one is getting oneself into. This is not something you casually splash on in hopes of attracting the fairer sex down at the mall. This is not Joe Jonas, this is Clint Eastwood. This is not JayZ, this is Jack Lord. 2009? Try 1970. This is a scent for men who are so engaged in manly pursuits that there is simply no time for women. It is to be splashed on when riding alone in the desert, when reclining solo in your buckskins 'round a dying campfire, when fishing without a fishing rod, when wrestling boar mono-au-mono in the African wilds. Is Mandom for you? Only you can answer that.



What I can say is that this stuff works and you're not going to have to use all your poker winnings to get it. It plays 'good cop, bad cop' with your face as it at once burns like tequila and soothes like aloe. The fragrance is a heady mix of alcohol, leather, musk and other manly intangibles. Is it for everybody? I think not, and that is why I like it. Is it my everyday aftershave? Hell no. I simply don't have the stuffing to pack this kind of power daily, but for those special days when I just want to kick back and fly my Spitfire naked or ride out into the desert to hunt sidewinders bare-handed there's simply nothing else I'll use.





Does this man look approachable to you? Hardly. And that, my friends, is Mandom.

Brilliant!

[Archinerd]

I'm going to assume this thread is about shaving, I have not read any posts in it.

I recently discovered that the found of Warby Paker (affordable hipster eyeglasses) is starting a similar business for shaving products called Harry's.
Link: http://www.harrys.com/?gclid=CKfbnevlrLYCFYpDMgodx0QAhA" target="_blank

That is all. If this thread is not in fact about shaving then I apologize.

[Isgrimnur]

One of the principles was on Marketplace with Kai Ryssdal within the last week talking about the new endeavor.

[Madmarcus]

There is a place where men can still be men, and that place is called Mandom. Feared, loved, revered and reviled, much like its frontman Charles Bronson this aftershave is anything but bashful. Like Tabac it divides men...families...armies...and indeed nations. It has been referred to with such far-ranging epithets as "pure unalloyed essence of awesomeness" and "urinal pucks and bugspray". Though I myself lean in favour of the former description, I also understand and accept the latter, just as I accept (and even welcome in a sadistic kind of way) my wife's comments that I "smell older than the oldest person she can imagine"...now that's old.

With Mandom, one must know what one is getting oneself into. This is not something you casually splash on in hopes of attracting the fairer sex down at the mall. This is not Joe Jonas, this is Clint Eastwood. This is not JayZ, this is Jack Lord. 2009? Try 1970. This is a scent for men who are so engaged in manly pursuits that there is simply no time for women. It is to be splashed on when riding alone in the desert, when reclining solo in your buckskins 'round a dying campfire, when fishing without a fishing rod, when wrestling boar mono-au-mono in the African wilds. Is Mandom for you? Only you can answer that.

What I can say is that this stuff works and you're not going to have to use all your poker winnings to get it. It plays 'good cop, bad cop' with your face as it at once burns like tequila and soothes like aloe. The fragrance is a heady mix of alcohol, leather, musk and other manly intangibles. Is it for everybody? I think not, and that is why I like it. Is it my everyday aftershave? Hell no. I simply don't have the stuffing to pack this kind of power daily, but for those special days when I just want to kick back and fly my Spitfire naked or ride out into the desert to hunt sidewinders bare-handed there's simply nothing else I'll use.




Does this man look approachable to you? Hardly. And that, my friends, is Mandom.

I don't even use aftershave and I want some.

[JSHAW]

Most of my adult life I've been using Gilette products, blades/blade handles, foam. Why? Because I saw my dad using Gilette as a kid growing up,
watching him shave, guess it rubbed off on me. If it was good enough for him it'd be good enough for me.

I've had this small collection of Gilette handles in the bottom cabinet in my bathroom, figured what the hell, take some pictures and share.



The oldest one I have, the Excel, have no idea when I bought it but it's been awhile.


The Aramis gold colored, I think my ex-wife bought this one birthday in a gift set, came with Cologne. Needless to say I don't use it anymore.



Carolina Panthers logo handle, because I live in NC this one was available in local Walmart


Mach 3 case, pretty nice when traveling



This is a unusual color, Orange County Choppers made Gilette a bike based off this design.


This is the current one I use, blades store underneath. I'm wondering how many guys on this forum use this type?



I like the Harry's website, think I'm gonna buy their handles and blades and give them a go. Thanks for that link.

It usually takes me less than 10 minutes to shave. Never longer unless I've grown lots of facial hair.
Happy shaving!!!

[Canuck]

I got the package yesterday and had my first shave last night! It's not as easy as it looks that's for sure. On the other hand, I managed to not cut myself even once! As for the shave itself, I would say that right now it's at the same quality as a regular cartridge but that's because I'm just learning and it's a little tough to get the places just below the jaw line. When I get more confident I'm sure the quality will improve.

[Daehawk]

Came across what appears to be a good starter kit that was on Woot.

Razor

[McNutt]

I'd stay away from those deals. Most of those straights sold in starter kits are crap. If you are going to be using a straight razor you sure as hell don't want to use a crappy one. That's one sure way to turn yourself off of straight razor shaving. Plus, I can guarantee you that razor won't be shave ready.

[Canuck]

So I've had my DE razor for a couple of weeks now. Impressions:
I'm still getting used to the technique and figuring out which blade I like best. It's funny that my very first shave I didn't cut myself a single time but since then I've cut myself plenty. I guess I've been less careful. If you get the tabac soap don't drop the bowl it comes in in the sink as it will shatter!
Is my shave better than the normal cartridge razor? I would say yes but with some caveats. First, I'm doing 3 passes normally whereas I would only do one with a disposable. Secondly because of the high costs of disposables I would tend to use a cartridge for an entire month which meant I was shaving my face with a fairly blunt blade. Now I don't mind changing after 4 or 5 shaves.
In the end I would say that while it is better and probably will become more so once I become more skilled with the razor it's nothing life changing like some posts and YouTube videos would have you believe. The biggest change for me has actually been the process of shaving itself. Shaving used to be a chore but now it's become something I look forward to doing. There is definitely something zen about it. I was going to have a nice shave last night even though I barely had 24 hour growth and had a day off the next day. I had to stop myself and ask myself what the heck I was thinking. I've never thought that way of shaving before. So as far as that goes it's a huge success in my book.

[McNutt]

Well, that's somewhat life changing, isn't it? That's how I look at shaving now. I used to dread it and it became something I would do in the car with an electric razor. God, I still can't believe I did that to my face. Now, many years after discovering wetshaving, it's still something I look forward to each day.

[Smoove_B]

I'm glad to hear it. When mentioned to...others that shaving could be actually enjoyable, I was told I was insane. But as someone that could probably shave twice a day, it was a frustratingly annoying ritual that was expensive to boot. But since making the change to "old school" methods 6+ years ago, it's not something I dread anymore.

[Chaz]

Made a discovery this morning. Up to now, I'd been following some advice I'd picked up on the B&B forums, and immersing my brush in water while I was in the shower, then making my lather. The lather always seemed a little thin on the second pass.

Today I decided to try not soaking it and just wet it. Wow, that's a difference. It took longer to get up a lather, and I had to add some additional water, but the lather was a lot stiffer and lasted longer. I wound up with almost no red spots too. So I guess the moral is that too much water is bad, I now know what too much water looks like, and I now think I definitely want a badger brush to hold more water from just wetting (but less than when soaking).

[Anonymous Bosch]

Indeed, in my experience, longer = better when it comes to lathering up. When I'm shaving with a bowl, I usually spend a good two minutes or so lathering up until I hit that slippery, meringue-like sweet spot. Of course, it may take more or less time based on a variety of other factors (e.g. hardness of your water, type of brush, soap/cream etc).

FWIW, properly cleaning your shaving brush can also significantly improve its performance and help maximise its useful life.

[wonderpug]

Hmm, is this the right shaving thread to resurrect?

I am interested in trying real shaving cream and a badger brush for the first time ever. I have confusion.

As I understand it, I need to buy a brush, a stand for the brush, and of course the shaving cream.

Do I also need to buy a bowl for the shaving cream, or do I just dip the brush into the shaving cream dish? Do I need other stuff (aside from the razor)?

[McNutt]

Stands - you don't need to buy one unless you just like the look or you buy a brush that can't stand up on its own (round bottom). Standing a brush on it's base after you shave is fine and what I do.

Bowl - this is not necessary, but a lot of guys prefer it. You can whip up a lather in your bowl or directly on your face. It all depends on what you like to do. If you use a bowl you will basically be painting your face with the brush. I have a big, soft brush that is great for using with a bowl. I prefer lathering directly on my face and do this 99% of the time. To me that just feels better and is less work. I prefer stiffer brushes because they provide a bit of a scrub/massage feeling that you won't get when you use a bowl.

I can give you all the detail you want on creams/soaps/brushes, so just ask if you have questions about particular brands/styles.

[Chaz]

I've been using a pretty basic setup for almost the last year:

Omega boar hair brush. This works just fine to start out with. One day, I'll probably upgrade to a badger brush, but I haven't felt the need yet. Cheap enough that if you don't decide to keep up with it, you're hardly out any money.

Tabac original soap. This comes in a bowl, but I don't lather in that. I've been using the same bowl of this since July, and it's maybe half gone. I like it fine.

A $4 plastic bowl from Target, cereal-sized.

Before I got the plastic bowl, I was using one I had hanging around the house. Got the new one because it fits better in my palm. I tried face lathering a few times, but I like the bowl better. I got a plastic stand with the brush, but I never use it. Rinse out the brush well, squeeze and shake it out, stand it up to dry.

The trickiest thing when learning to brush lather for me was figuring out the right soap:water ratio. For the soap I use, about 15 seconds of swirling to load up the brush does about right when the brush is loaded with water. When I started, I was using too much water, so the lather was really thin. When you get it right, it's basically exactly the same as when it comes out of the can.

I also use Nivea after shave balm (Target or drug stores). It helps with any razor burn and cuz I get really dry face right after shaving.

[wonderpug]

Stands - you don't need to buy one unless you just like the look or you buy a brush that can't stand up on its own (round bottom). Standing a brush on it's base after you shave is fine and what I do.

I got a plastic stand with the brush, but I never use it. Rinse out the brush well, squeeze and shake it out, stand it up to dry.

Huh. I saw a blurb online with a guy being adamant that storing a brush bristles up would significantly reduce its life, but I guess it's just one of those things where everyone has their opinion on right and wrong ways to do things?

I can give you all the detail you want on creams/soaps/brushes, so just ask if you have questions about particular brands/styles.

Ok, soaps? Do you use a soap and a cream, or are they just two different ways of going about things?

After very little research, I was thinking of trying Taylor of Old Bond Street Mr Taylor's Shaving Cream since it showed up on a Best Of list and it mentions having lavender in it, which The Wife fancies.

As for brushes, if you could point me to a badger hair brush on Amazon Prime that hits that sweet spot between 'not totally shitty' and 'not totally expensive', I'll dedicate my first shave to you and think of you fondly as I lather my face. Or not, if that ends up being more of a threat than an enticement.

I also use Nivea after shave balm (Target or drug stores). It helps with any razor burn and cuz I get really dry face right after shaving.

I hadn't thought about aftershave. I don't have nearly as much facial hair to tend to as you do, but I do have issues with dry skin in general (which is a large reason why I want to give fancier shaving cream a try). If aftershave helps with dry skin even more, I guess I'll be looking into that as well.

[Chaz]

I read the bristles up = bad thing too. Then someone else pointed out that they've been making brushes with flat bottoms for a long, long time, and if it was that awful to do, wouldn't they have stopped that a while ago?

And don't write off the cheap boar hair brushes! They totally work too!

[McNutt]

Stands - you don't need to buy one unless you just like the look or you buy a brush that can't stand up on its own (round bottom). Standing a brush on it's base after you shave is fine and what I do.

Huh. I saw a blurb online with a guy being adamant that storing a brush bristles up would significantly reduce its life, but I guess it's just one of those things where everyone has their opinion on right and wrong ways to do things?

I have never used a stand and have many brushes. Never had a problem and haven't read about anyone else having one. My brushes are dry the next time I use them.

Ok, soaps? Do you use a soap and a cream, or are they just two different ways of going about things?
After very little research, I was thinking of trying Taylor of Old Bond Street Mr Taylor's Shaving Cream since it showed up on a Best Of list and it mentions having lavender in it, which The Wife fancies.

Taylor makes very good creams that aren't expensive. I've never tried their soaps, but you can't go wrong with their creams.

Soaps/creams - two different products you use to create a lather. I prefer soaps. The general attitude is that soaps are slicker and creams offer more cushion. Creams are easier to use as soaps have a "slightly" longer learning curve to whipping up the lather. I also find that some of the triple-milled (hard) soaps work best with a firm brush. Some soaps come in sticks that you rub on your face and then lather from there. My travel soap is a cheap stick of Arko. Another advantage of soaps is that there are a lot of really good soaps made by regular people and sold on the internet. Those soaps aren't too expensive and it's fun to try a lot of different ones.

As for brushes, if you could point me to a badger hair brush on Amazon Prime that hits that sweet spot between 'not totally shitty' and 'not totally expensive', I'll dedicate my first shave to you and think of you fondly as I lather my face. Or not, if that ends up being more of a threat than an enticement.

What kind of price range are you considering? Brushes vary a lot in price and if you really get serious about this you might regret a $50 brush that you never use after upgrading to a $100 brush. Once you tell me what you want to spend I'll see if I can get a recommendation. The last brush I bought was two years ago in England. It was a $220 (I think) Rooney and unbelievable. Before that my favorite was a Simpson Tulip 2 which I got for $150. Both brushes are firm 2-band (the color of the hair) badger. Both will last damn near forever too. I also bought two <$100 brushes that were made buy a couple of firefighters who did this on the side. They were surprisingly good, but they went out of business. Simpson makes really good brushes, but they were bought out by Vulfix and I haven't tried one of theirs. Vulfix was known for making floppy brushes while Simpson was the exact opposite. Very tight brushes that stood up to a scrubbing. Rooney makes brushes that vary wildly, but a good Rooney is a great brush.

I hadn't thought about aftershave. I don't have nearly as much facial hair to tend to as you do, but I do have issues with dry skin in general (which is a large reason why I want to give fancier shaving cream a try). If aftershave helps with dry skin even more, I guess I'll be looking into that as well.

Aftershave is huge. You can get creams or splashes. Splashes burn, but don't leave your face clammy. I prefer those. Creams are nice, but take longer to sink in. It's not a problem though and there are many creams I like. Like Chaz said, Nivea is good and easy to come by. Everything else I'll recommend you will probably have to buy online.
Arko Sensitive - Great Turkish cream that is really cheap. No scent.
Proraso - Great cream and my favorite splash. Moderately priced. No scent.
Musgo - This is the best stuff I've ever tried. It has a very masculine scent that I like and makes my face feel great. It's more expensive though, but worth it.

[McNutt]

Also about brushes, one major factor in the cost is the size of the knot. You might think that you want a big knot (25mm+) just because bigger is better, but find, like I did, that you prefer a smaller brush. For me the ideal brush is around 22mm with a full size handle. Some makers but smaller knots on ridiculously small handles. A good example is the Simpson Chubby line. I bought a Chubby 2 and found that it had one of the best knots I've ever used, but it had the worst handle to go with it. That was a seriously dense brush that scrubbed the hell out of my face. I bought it used from a forum and was able to sell it back a few weeks later for no loss. That's also an option if you want to see what is out there.

[McNutt]

Here is a high quality brush that I doubt you would regret buying.

http://www.qedusa.com/savile-savile-372 ... p-136.html

Silvertip badger
22mm knot
$109

If you want to go all out, this is the Simpson Tulip 2 that I love.
http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Simpson ... p_295.html
$165. Only buy it if you like a stiffer brush. Probably not the best brush for somebody who enjoys bowl whipping. If you like that I would steer you towards a Kent, which I haven't tried, but have heard great things about. It's a floppier brush.

Speaking grade of badger hair, Silvertip is usually considered the top tier, unless you have special brand categories such as Rooney's Finest or Plisson's High Mountain White. I've tried plenty of brushes in the three regular grades (Pure, Best and Super/Silvertip) and I definitely think the top tier is worth the extra money. It just feels a lot better.

[Smoove_B]

I hadn't thought about aftershave. I don't have nearly as much facial hair to tend to as you do, but I do have issues with dry skin in general (which is a large reason why I want to give fancier shaving cream a try). If aftershave helps with dry skin even more, I guess I'll be looking into that as well.

I am a big fan of the Lucky Tiger (ships cheaper without Prime). It's definitely something I use in the Fall/Winter before switching back to the tonic in the summer and spring.

I've been using this shaving brush for a few years now, though I certainly did not pay $40 for it. Probably closer to $30 because mine wasn't bundled with a stand. So very much worth it, regardless. I think prior to that I was using a ~$15 synthetic and the difference was quite noticeable when I switched over.

I was given a handmade brush for Xmas that I'm still adjusting to as it's much more narrow.

Welcome to the club.

[wonderpug]

Re: brushes

Knowing how big a kick I'm getting out of getting more old-school things into my routine (e.g., fountain pens, reel lawnmowers) I'm fairly confident I'm going to really like using a brush and stick with it for the foreseeable future. That said, finances are a bit tight at the moment and it's already a little ridiculous for me to be deciding now is the time I want to invest in this stuff.

I had been looking at sub-$50 brushes like this one, which looked better than the ~$10-15 brushes I saw without breaking the bank. But if what I really want is a $100 brush, maybe I should just get something el cheapo for now knowing I'll be upgrading in the nearish future.

As for size, a smaller brush is probably better for me. My facial hair pattern is more:



than it is:

[Chaz]

See, that's why I'm saying go with a boar hair one to start out with. It's going to be stiffer than the badger hair ones, but it works perfectly well, and does it for a fraction of the cost. Once you get a feel for it, you can decide what you like about the brush, and can make a better decision about what "nice" brush you want to get down the line.

When it comes right down to it, when everyone shaved with this stuff, most people used the cheap brushes, and did just fine. If you decide you're really into it, go nuts and get the fancy one, but when you're just learning to drive, there's something to be said with starting out driving the Pinto, then later, you upgrade to the Ferrari.

[McNutt]

The size of the brush has nothing to do with the amount of hair you have. Smaller brushes are more precise and don't accidentally get cream on my nose or ears like my big brushes tend to do.
I have two brushes with the same grade of hair as that one you linked. They will certainly do the job and you will find that using that brush is world's better than using canned cream. The downside of that type of brush is that they usually aren't too dense and they can be a little scratchy. A good silvertip feels like stiff bristles with a mini mink coat at the end of it.

I've never used a boar brush, but I've read a lot of good things about Omega boar brushes. This would be a cheap way to get in the game and would help you figure out what you like in a brush. A lot of people shave every day with these.

[Chaz]

Omega boar hair brush. This works just fine to start out with. One day, I'll probably upgrade to a badger brush, but I haven't felt the need yet. Cheap enough that if you don't decide to keep up with it, you're hardly out any money.

I've never used a boar brush, but I've read a lot of good things about Omega boar brushes. This would be a cheap way to get in the game and would help you figure out what you like in a brush. A lot of people shave every day with these.

I'm saying!

[McNutt]

Yeah, but I liked to the Amazon Prime version. U S A! U S A!

[Smoove_B]

Yeah, the boar brushes lather up real nice and you get the added aroma of wet boar for a while.

[Chaz]

Yeah, but I liked to the Amazon Prime version. U S A! U S A!

Geez, way to kill small business.

[wonderpug]

Omega Boar brush it is! I can't wait for The Wife to tell me how much she loves how I smell like a combination of lavender and wet pig.

[Chaz]

[wonderpug]

Oh. I see. This hobby is yet another that comes with something akin to guitar-acquisition-syndrome or the compulsive need to buy new camera equipment.

I am really really enjoying the new shaving cream and aftershave ritual, so now it seems that I can no longer stand to use cartridge razors. It just won't do, for some reason. After reading up some at Badger & Blade, I do believe I'm going to buy the Merkur HD 34C and give it a try. I think I would probably like the extra weight it has over the Merkur Classic.

Any recommendations on what blade sample pack I should get, and from where?

[McNutt]

Merkur razors are great. I own two and have owned and sold several more. My favorite is the 1904. It's thinner and lighter, which I prefer. It's also the cheapest. The shaving head is the same, so it's just a preference for the handle.

My blade of choice is the Israeli Personna. You can get 100 for $12, which will last you almost two years.

If you want a sample pack they sell those too.

[wonderpug]

Hmm, you like the lighter ones? I wish I could try a sample pack of razors, too, and return the ones I don't want. I've never in my life even attempted using a DE razor so I have no idea what I'll like or dislike. My only direct exposure was looking at my dad's safety razor when I was a wee lad and thinking it looked neat.

[Smoove_B]

I have the 34C and it's fantastic. I toyed with getting one with a more aggressive action, but decided to just experiment with different blades instead. I like the weight and despite the short handle, I quickly learned to use it.

I had been using Shark blades, which worked quite well. However, when my pack of 100 ran out late last year, I decided to get random five packs (also from Amazon) that contained Derby Ultra blades (which I'm still using) and Feathers (which I'm terrified of).

[McNutt]

My preference for lighter should in no way sway you. I think most guys prefer a bit of heft to their razors. The first DE I bought was the Merkur Futur, which was about as heavy as a razor can get. It was also slippery as hell, which is why I sold it. I don't think the 1904 is a terribly popular razor, so I don't think my opinion is a common one. The 34C (aka Hefty) is extremely popular and you can't go wrong with it.

[McNutt]

Blades are very subjective items too. Certain blades are great for some, but not for others. I have a 100-pack of Derbys and they nick me almost every time. Definitely get a sampler and see what works for you.

If you can find Gillette razors online for a good price it might be worth it to try one. They had a popularity explosion a few years ago though and the prices are pretty steep. My stepfather gave me a few that he bought at garage sales for around $.25 each. I got a few Superspeeds and two adjustable razors. Those are all very nice, but I still prefer my Merkur.

[Smoove_B]

That's the weird thing -- I went from the Sharks to the Derby blades and cut the ever-loving crap out of my face. Went back to the Sharks but then gave the Derby blades another try and now they're fine. I don't know if I had a wonky pack or if I just needed to change up the technique, but I absolutely agree that there isn't "one right blade". I've said it a million times - when you factor in the actual hardware, various soaps, creams, oils, brushes, and techniques there's a dizzying number of combinations. Half the fun is finding the right one.