The Manly Shaving Thread

Gavin · 29 Oct 2012 at 05:59

Ive got a Merkur 34c and have just run out of taylors shaving cream and what ever blades i was using.

Can anyone recommened a shaving cream/balde combo for the very very sensitive......................ME

Cheers.

Sankari · 29 Oct 2012 at 06:48

I use LORD Super Chrome blades and have found them gentle on sensitive skin. For cream I use Gilette gel and bog standard sorbolene.

.:SAmSuNG:. · 29 Oct 2012 at 07:53

Running low on feathers and Taylor's cream so made a order from shave shack.

Blue beards luxury shaving cream.
Blue beards aftershave balm.
Alum block.
30 feathers.

Question is does anyone use that cream or balm? If so what's there thoughts?

spaceman · 29 Oct 2012 at 09:30

birdysaver said:
Same

Any recommendations for cheap soap (Sub £10)? Been using "Taylor Of Old Bond Street Shaving Cream" which i quite liked but looking to try something different

I've tried loads of soaps, my favourites are:-

Mitchell's Wool Fat (about £6 a puck) - hard soap
VITOS Extra Super Coconut (£4.50 a puck) - soft soap
Proraso Menthol Soap (£6 or less a tub) - soft soap

In that order, all produce awesome slick lathers.

if you need something to put the pucks in, i use metal ikea tins - 3 for £5

mr tommo · 29 Oct 2012 at 17:01

Right. I'm finally a convert.

For the past couple of months I've been using my cheap boots safety razor and blades.

At the time it was a choice between some new Gillette super duper mach 9 fusion cartridges or a cheap safety razor.

Safe to say I'm hooked now so I'd like to spend a little more on some kit.

At the moment I have :

The Real Shaving Company shaving cream.
The Real Shaving Company moisturiser.
Wilkinson sword brush (cost around £10)

What should I add to my collection? When I looked this up last time everybody was still raving about the Merker(?) razor? What would people recommend on a budget? I will need blades too as I only have the boots ones at the moment.

Thanks

Frozennova · 29 Oct 2012 at 17:11

mr tommo said:
Right. I'm finally a convert.

For the past couple of months I've been using my cheap boots safety razor and blades.

At the time it was a choice between some new Gillette super duper mach 9 fusion cartridges or a cheap safety razor.

Safe to say I'm hooked now so I'd like to spend a little more on some kit.

At the moment I have :

The Real Shaving Company shaving cream.
The Real Shaving Company moisturiser.
Wilkinson sword brush (cost around £10)

What should I add to my collection? When I looked this up last time everybody was still raving about the Merker(?) razor? What would people recommend on a budget? I will need blades too as I only have the boots ones at the moment.

Thanks

Merkur 34C or Edwin Jagger DE89 is recommended, most people go with Derby blades to start with.

dante6491 · 29 Oct 2012 at 17:49

.:SAmSuNG:. said:
Running low on feathers and Taylor's cream so made a order from shave shack.

Blue beards luxury shaving cream.

Question is does anyone use that cream or balm? If so what's there thoughts?

I use the cream. Fairly decent. Good coverage from a tiny pea sized blob in the middle of the brush. I prefer the shave to the Taylors Sandalwood Soap I was using but the scent isn't as good.

.:SAmSuNG:. · 29 Oct 2012 at 17:52

Do you notice it reduce hair growth?

buchtis · 29 Oct 2012 at 18:00

I do. With my Mach 3 I used to have to shave every other day, now it's between 3-4 days but then again I do a 3 pass shave so...

Feek · 1 Nov 2012 at 11:16

I face lathered last night for the first time.

It felt goooooooood!

/edit - Just bought my second big pack of blades, this time Feather blades at £19.95 for 100.

RoboCod · 1 Nov 2012 at 12:07

Face lathered?

Also, where do you get the feathers from? I need a big back before I deploy in November for 4 months.

MachM · 1 Nov 2012 at 12:25

ManLoveRulesOK said:
Merkur 34C or Edwin Jagger DE89 is recommended, most people go with Derby blades to start with.

Agreed, either the Merkur 34C or Jagger DE89/Muhle R89 (same razor head, different handles) are a smart choice.

I'm not sure I'd start with Derby's though. I find them awful. I've been shaveing with a DE for about 18 months and tried a Derby for the first time a few weeks ago...terrible. It felt like I was trying to shave with sandpaper.

I'd recommend getting a sample pack of blades from somewhere like Connaught Shaving as blades are very subjective. A blade I like (Gillette 7 o'clock Sharp Edge) may be hated by others and it's worth giving a few different ones a try.

Feek · 1 Nov 2012 at 12:36

Captain Planet said:
Face lathered?

Also, where do you get the feathers from? I need a big back before I deploy in November for 4 months.

Yup, no shaving bowl used. I soaked my brush in a sink of warm water while I gave my face a good splashing in hot water, then I got a hot flannel and held it on my face for 30 seconds or so then. After that I scraped some cream out from the tub and rubbed it over my face leaving a light coating. I used much less cream than usual. After that I squeezed some of the water out of my brush and simply rubbed it over my face. There was enough lather created for three passes and a touch up.

For the blades, look on eBay for item number 271028991379. The only thing is that you may not get them in time as my quoted delivery date is between two and three weeks.

lmfy2k · 1 Nov 2012 at 20:59

Tried a few more blades and really liking shark blades.

Feathers no doubt are the sharpest but cut my face open!

Sonea Fifer · 1 Nov 2012 at 21:07

Feek said:
Just bought my second big pack of blades, this time Feather blades at £19.95 for 100.

Word of advice dude - be very, very careful with the feather blades. I've used them before and found them to be sharper than a sharp thing on a sharp day!

Off topic - isn't your birthday coming up Feek? Time to request the infamous posts from the females of OcUK

-Ad- · 1 Nov 2012 at 21:16

Sonea Fifer said:
Word of advice dude - be very, very careful with the feather blades. I've used them before and found them to be sharper than a sharp thing on a sharp day!

Off topic - isn't your birthday coming up Feek? Time to request the infamous posts from the females of OcUK

Once you get used to them they really are no different to any other blades. I hardly cut myself these days with them.

Used a Derby once recently and it felt like going back to a Mach 3. Feather love

Feek · 1 Nov 2012 at 22:24

lmfy2k said:
Tried a few more blades and really liking shark blades.

I had one shave with a Shark Super Stainless and it was very uncomfortable. I had a lot of irritation and redness so won't be using that blade again. I've got some Shark Super Chromes but I really don't want to use them after my experience with the SS.

Sonea Fifer said:
Word of advice dude - be very, very careful with the feather blades. I've used them before and found them to be sharper than a sharp thing on a sharp day!

I have no problems with Feather blades, they work really well in my DE89L razor and I've not even had a nick from them. I think I've found the holy grail for me and reckon I'm going to alternate between Feather and ASCO blades for a couple of weeks and see how that combination works out.

Sonea Fifer said:
Off topic - isn't your birthday coming up Feek? Time to request the infamous posts from the females of OcUK

It is - There's been nothing for a couple of years so I think it's time to do something again

-Ad- said:
Once you get used to them they really are no different to any other blades. I hardly cut myself these days with them.

That's my feeling, it's just a blade, albeit a nice sharp one. All blades should be treated carefully.

Sonea Fifer · 1 Nov 2012 at 22:53

Feek said:
I have no problems with Feather blades, they work really well in my DE89L razor and I've not even had a nick from them. I think I've found the holy grail for me and reckon I'm going to alternate between Feather and ASCO blades for a couple of weeks and see how that combination works out.

Good for you dude - I have the Merkur 34C and have found the Feather *a tad* sharp though that's probably just down to my inexperience with them. It is a learning curve after all though

Feek said:
It is - There's been nothing for a couple of years so I think it's time to do something again

I agree - perhaps you should start a *requesting* thread a few days before the big day? I may even respond myself.

Feek said:
All blades should be treated carefully.

Wise words indeed

currantloaf · 2 Nov 2012 at 02:04

spaceman said:
I've tried loads of soaps, my favourites are:-

Mitchell's Wool Fat (about £6 a puck) - hard soap
VITOS Extra Super Coconut (£4.50 a puck) - soft soap
Proraso Menthol Soap (£6 or less a tub) - soft soap

In that order, all produce awesome slick lathers.

if you need something to put the pucks in, i use metal ikea tins - 3 for £5

Thanks for the suggestions - ordered the first one to try! Got afew empty pots from old soaps so will just bung them in there!

Feek · 4 Nov 2012 at 21:31

I've replenished my TOBS Shaving Shop cream and while I'm at it, I've ordered Castle Forbes Lime and Proraso Green creams to try out.

Not so keen on TOBS Mr. Taylor, it's a bit bland but I do like their Sandalwood.

I'm absolutely loving the feeling of building the lather on my face though, I can't see myself using a bowl again!