BillyBatts
ALOHA!
When you get there, make sure you ask to say hello to Leon (the Pharmacist and Owner). He's a great guy. Tell him Billy from Hawaii says hello.
The Shaving Thread
- Thread starter BillyBatts
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When you get there, make sure you ask to say hello to Leon (the Pharmacist and Owner). He's a great guy. Tell him Billy from Hawaii says hello.
Johnny B
Well-Known Member
Will do!
gpounce32768
Well-Known Member
Not part of the religion, but I recently ran out of my usual Edge foam and resorted to a badger brush and cream which my father gave me for Christmas a while back. He's part of the shaving cult and was trying to suck me in. I decided I like the brush and cream thing for 2 reasons;
1. The thinner cream clogs the razor less (I use a 2 blade disposable)
2. But the biggest win of all- the ladies don't want to fiddle with the brush and cream so they leave it alone! They keep passing around the dull rusty razor in the shower for their legs and I keep my sharp clean one up out of sight on top of the medicine cabinet. So for months now not only have I not run out of shaving cream, but I've not had to cut my face off with a dull razor!
1. The thinner cream clogs the razor less (I use a 2 blade disposable)
2. But the biggest win of all- the ladies don't want to fiddle with the brush and cream so they leave it alone! They keep passing around the dull rusty razor in the shower for their legs and I keep my sharp clean one up out of sight on top of the medicine cabinet. So for months now not only have I not run out of shaving cream, but I've not had to cut my face off with a dull razor!
BillyBatts
ALOHA!
Wet shaving (especially straight razors) is not for everyone. If you enjoy luxuriating in the shaving den and grooming, then it may be your thing. If you are the kind of guy that just wants to jump in the shower, quickly shave, and hit the road, then it may not be something you will ever enjoy.
For me, mastering a straight razor was the pinnacle of wet shaving. And once mastered, it became my primary method of shaving, unless I'm in a hurry. Then it's a Double Edge (DE) Razor.
Had one of my favorite shaves this morning. I really enjoy my Stirling Pineapple soap and aftershave. Badger Brush. Ontario Cutlery Razor.
For me, mastering a straight razor was the pinnacle of wet shaving. And once mastered, it became my primary method of shaving, unless I'm in a hurry. Then it's a Double Edge (DE) Razor.
Had one of my favorite shaves this morning. I really enjoy my Stirling Pineapple soap and aftershave. Badger Brush. Ontario Cutlery Razor.
8xlaxx
Have you ever seen a spleen that large?
@BillyBatts
Been enjoying these blades lately.
Super close shave 'n very sharp.
Maybe two passes at most,...very pleasant.
Been enjoying these blades lately.
Super close shave 'n very sharp.
Maybe two passes at most,...very pleasant.
BillyBatts
ALOHA!
@BillyBatts
Been enjoying these blades lately.
Super close shave 'n very sharp.
Maybe two passes at most,...very pleasant.
Awesome. They are still my favorite overall. Can't be beat when you compare sharpness vs comfort.
These are the only blades (that I have seen) that have a special off-shelf strip highlighting them at Pasteur's Phamacy in New York City.
BillyBatts
ALOHA!
Posted this in the soap thread too, but just got these new (rare fragrance) shaving soaps from Humphrey's Handmade Soaps;
Got the Just Lilac to match Pinaud's Lilac Vegetal aftersahve, and got the Sweet Orange to match Lucky Tiger's Aftershave that has a subtle but delightful orange scent.
Got the Just Lilac to match Pinaud's Lilac Vegetal aftersahve, and got the Sweet Orange to match Lucky Tiger's Aftershave that has a subtle but delightful orange scent.
DocMontana
Active Member
I've always heard that if one spends the time to learn a straight razor it becomes their preferred method of shaving.
WOW! Some really nice shaving kits on here!
I have a nice straight razor, and tried once to use it, didn't cut myself but it wasn't much of a shave either! I do have to say here if ever I subject my face to a straight razor it's going to be by my own hand, not someone else's! Even watching someone in a movie getting a shave from a seedy-looking barber with one of those gives me the freakin' willies!
Right now I'm letting the 'ol beard grow, but when I do shave I prefer a wet shave, only I use disposables. Never cared for electrics, although they're OK for morning shadow. I like the Pinaud stuff like the beard balm and moustace wax, and I used to get a shaving cream locally that I think is made up in Missoula, really good stuff, but also really pricey. Right before I stopped shaving I found a cream made by Burt's Bees, it comes in a tube and does a pretty good job. Something I've always liked as well as anything is good old fashioned shaving soap!
Seems it's getting hard to find the Gillette disposables I prefer without those dang "lube strips" that I hate..I might be seeking out something along the lines of the good non-disposables when I do get the urge to shave again. Retirement is nice..
WOW! Some really nice shaving kits on here!
I have a nice straight razor, and tried once to use it, didn't cut myself but it wasn't much of a shave either! I do have to say here if ever I subject my face to a straight razor it's going to be by my own hand, not someone else's! Even watching someone in a movie getting a shave from a seedy-looking barber with one of those gives me the freakin' willies!
Right now I'm letting the 'ol beard grow, but when I do shave I prefer a wet shave, only I use disposables. Never cared for electrics, although they're OK for morning shadow. I like the Pinaud stuff like the beard balm and moustace wax, and I used to get a shaving cream locally that I think is made up in Missoula, really good stuff, but also really pricey. Right before I stopped shaving I found a cream made by Burt's Bees, it comes in a tube and does a pretty good job. Something I've always liked as well as anything is good old fashioned shaving soap!
Seems it's getting hard to find the Gillette disposables I prefer without those dang "lube strips" that I hate..I might be seeking out something along the lines of the good non-disposables when I do get the urge to shave again. Retirement is nice..
BillyBatts
ALOHA!
Congrats on being retired @DocMontana . I'm not too far behind, thank goodness.
Let me offer you four key points regarding shaving with a straight razor:
1.) They must absolutely be properly HONED and STROPPED. There are stones made (both synthetic and natural) for honing (sharpening), and then leather straps (strops) for stropping. The misconception is that stropping sharpens a straight razor. Not really. Stropping is meant to straighten the edge for a shave. It may mildly put a finer edge on the blade, but most of the benefit of stropping is blade straightening, not sharpening. Honeing (stones) are for sharpening, stropping (leather straps) are for straightening. Think of the edge of a straight razor as getting thinner and thinner to an almost impossiby ultra thin edge that can actually bend and curl just from normal hair cutting. The Strop straightens it out between shaves so that it cuts the hair cleanly. Honing (stone sharpening) is for making sure the blade is sharp. There are "Barber Hones" that are designed to quickly put an edge back on the blade after a few dozen shaves. These are inexpensive but necessary. But we're getting way ahead of ourselves with that conversation.
2.) The beard and skin must be properly prepared. Cleaning your skin, adding a per-shave product (if you want), and then properly lathering with a soap or cream that is applied in the right consistency is paramount to an irritation and nick free shave. You may still have a few small nicks (weepers), but with the proper prep, most can be avoided. I rarely nick myself with a straight razor.
3.) Hold the razor at the proper angle and let the blade do the work. NEVER push the blade. A properly honed and stropped blade will pop wiskers off like a hot knife through butter. You can't MAKE it cut. That's a recipe for disaster. Hold the blade around a 30 degree angle for the best compromise cutting angle between agressive and smooth. Keep your skin taught. Learn to stretch your skin where needed. Go slow. Be careful. Never get in a hurry with a straight razor.
4.) If you are using a Shavette (a razor blade in a holder that looks like a straight razor but is a manufactured blade in an straight open holder) then you must open up the angle a bit when you shave, perhaps to 40 degrees or so as a benchmark. Real straight razors have a more forgiving shaving performance than the razor blade Shavettes. I tend to cut myself far more with a Shavette than I do with a true Straight Razor. They are far less forgiving than a true straight razor. However, because Shavettes just need a new razor blade to perform, they are a good alternative to the man who does not want to learn honing nor stropping. Just pop in a new blade in your Shavette and you are set.
I posted this before, but it's worth reposting, Here is what I'd consider one of the best "Intro to straight razor shaving" videos. It's Lynn Abrams doing the video. He hits all the points for beginners in one succinct video.
Let me offer you four key points regarding shaving with a straight razor:
1.) They must absolutely be properly HONED and STROPPED. There are stones made (both synthetic and natural) for honing (sharpening), and then leather straps (strops) for stropping. The misconception is that stropping sharpens a straight razor. Not really. Stropping is meant to straighten the edge for a shave. It may mildly put a finer edge on the blade, but most of the benefit of stropping is blade straightening, not sharpening. Honeing (stones) are for sharpening, stropping (leather straps) are for straightening. Think of the edge of a straight razor as getting thinner and thinner to an almost impossiby ultra thin edge that can actually bend and curl just from normal hair cutting. The Strop straightens it out between shaves so that it cuts the hair cleanly. Honing (stone sharpening) is for making sure the blade is sharp. There are "Barber Hones" that are designed to quickly put an edge back on the blade after a few dozen shaves. These are inexpensive but necessary. But we're getting way ahead of ourselves with that conversation.
2.) The beard and skin must be properly prepared. Cleaning your skin, adding a per-shave product (if you want), and then properly lathering with a soap or cream that is applied in the right consistency is paramount to an irritation and nick free shave. You may still have a few small nicks (weepers), but with the proper prep, most can be avoided. I rarely nick myself with a straight razor.
3.) Hold the razor at the proper angle and let the blade do the work. NEVER push the blade. A properly honed and stropped blade will pop wiskers off like a hot knife through butter. You can't MAKE it cut. That's a recipe for disaster. Hold the blade around a 30 degree angle for the best compromise cutting angle between agressive and smooth. Keep your skin taught. Learn to stretch your skin where needed. Go slow. Be careful. Never get in a hurry with a straight razor.
4.) If you are using a Shavette (a razor blade in a holder that looks like a straight razor but is a manufactured blade in an straight open holder) then you must open up the angle a bit when you shave, perhaps to 40 degrees or so as a benchmark. Real straight razors have a more forgiving shaving performance than the razor blade Shavettes. I tend to cut myself far more with a Shavette than I do with a true Straight Razor. They are far less forgiving than a true straight razor. However, because Shavettes just need a new razor blade to perform, they are a good alternative to the man who does not want to learn honing nor stropping. Just pop in a new blade in your Shavette and you are set.
I posted this before, but it's worth reposting, Here is what I'd consider one of the best "Intro to straight razor shaving" videos. It's Lynn Abrams doing the video. He hits all the points for beginners in one succinct video.
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the skipper
Professional Curmudgeon
Well, chemo is a double edged sword, or razor blade. I have/had a fairly thick beard and even with my beloved 5 blade Gillette razors it's a bit of a struggle. Now that chemo has had my hair, beard, and hair from other parts of the body falling out (don't ask), what's left of my beard is so thin that it doesn't feel like I have a blade in my razor when I shave. ...but I get a perfectly smooth shave with absolutely no stubble.
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