The Manly Shaving Thread

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I get them from Connaught Shaving. There were ten of them in one of the sample packs so that's probably the best way to try them as you'll get a few different types.
 
I had my first Arko shave this morning. Its been sitting in my bathroom for around 8 months unused. Pretty impressed, though the smell is pretty strong and certainly not 'citrus' as some people have said. Perhaps that was a different stick?
 
Get a Vulfix 660 Super badger for £15 at diamond edge (or via the Amazon shop)

It's essentially a Simpsons Colonel Best with a bit less density and injection moulded handle. Similar size/knot type brushes include the Kent BK4/H4 or Vulfix 2234 super.
Amazing value for money and miles better than most pure badger brushes like the 660 Pure.

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The only alternative for that price is a Frank Shaving finest direct from China. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Ian-Tangs-Shaving-Workshop
 
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Done a bit of a look into this and have decided a Best Badger hair 1st and then the silver tip after a while.

The reports I've read are that the pure bristle brushes are a little rough so you're best going for a 'best' 1st.

I am willing to be corrected as I am yet to purchase a brush so am just relaying what I have been told by people.
 
Zatoichi.uK said:
I had my first Arko shave this morning. Its been sitting in my bathroom for around 8 months unused. Pretty impressed, though the smell is pretty strong and certainly not 'citrus' as some people have said. Perhaps that was a different stick?
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It smells like a urinal block lol
 
Maundie said:
Done a bit of a look into this and have decided a Best Badger hair 1st and then the silver tip after a while.

The reports I've read are that the pure bristle brushes are a little rough so you're best going for a 'best' 1st.

I am willing to be corrected as I am yet to purchase a brush so am just relaying what I have been told by people.
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sounds good to me.

i bought in this order:-

- Edwin Jagger Best Black Badger - came with my starter kit, not very dense knot, super floppy - useless brush
- Simpson Duke 2 Best Badger - Excellent face lathering brush, dense knot, good backbone
- Custom Rod Neep African Stone 26mm (48mm loft) Extra Silvertip - Excellent face lathering brush, dense knot, good backbone

I used the EJ BBB for a few months when i started DE shaving, after using the Simpson i realised just how bad the EJ BBB was!
 
The trick with Arko is to leave it open for a few weeks and the smell will diminish. I found it was very much like the screenwash I got from the Shell garage but it's much better once it's been left in the open for a while.
 
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Alum block turned up today so thought 'best have a shave', it's quite nice, definately not as sharp as the styptic pencil, would recommend to everyone
 
I haven't tried Arko yet :o So many different soaps, so little time! Next year maybe :p

Maundie said:
Has anybody used the wool fat soap, was going to get the TOBS Sandalwood cream but the wool fat soap appears to get really good reviews?
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Mitchell's Wool Fat is fantastic, especially the hand/bath soap!
Kent and Bluebeards Revenge is the same stuff too, they can pop up in places like TK Maxx if you keep your eye out.

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(Love this old Gillette NEW :))
 
Had a shave last night with some Taylor of Old Bond St - Sandalwood. Smell is nice.
Kinda smells vintage. This morning I can still smell it. It didn't lather much but was enough to have a thin layer for shaving. Is that right?

Got a few nicks, mainly on my neck which is an area that always causes irritation. Anyone got any tips for the neck area? Any tips on moisturiser?
 
sarge78 said:
(Love this old Gillette NEW :))
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looks good, after using a FaTip Head on my Weber Bulldog handle (Below) for a while and loving the way it shaved.

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i ended up buying some old OC Gillette's, i'll probably get the heads re-plated at some point and use them on the Weber handle. I got an Old Type, a New Improved , NEW long and short combs.
 
Ohhh, which a 'New Improved' did you get? There was a £35 BIN for a brassy Brit on fleebay recently, great candidate for a re-plate.

Post pics, open combs rock! :cool:

Swarfega said:
Any tips on moisturiser?
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Try some base Aloe Vera gel, it does a wonderful job at healing skin. Trumpers extract of limes skin food is usually highly recommended too, Feek has some.

Captain Planet said:
Ooh!

And an unused aristocrat bidded up to £102 so far! It's very nice.
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That Aristocrat ended on £310! Yikes!
 
sarge78 said:
Ohhh, which a 'New Improved' did you get? There was a £35 BIN for a brassy Brit on fleebay recently, great candidate for a re-plate.

Post pics, open combs rock! :cool:
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It was a tuckaway a few weeks back (mostly Silver plated ;) £19 delivered), i think that is the only type of New Improved that can be used with another handle?

the old type is a tiny one as well as i only wanted the head.

The Old Type head and Gillette NEW Long Comb head need a polish, 7 O'Clock Long Comb NEW is fine. The New Improved and NEW Short Comb could do with a re-plate.

These are my Open Comb's

FaTip Piccolo
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FaTip / Weber Bulldog
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Old Type
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New Improved
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English Gillette NEW Long Comb / Fat Handle
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US Gillette NEW Short Comb (bad re-plate)
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English 7 O'Clock NEW Long Comb
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That's one hell of a selection! It'll be interesting to hear your thoughts on all those different designs. :)

The tuckaway looks fantastic and everyone needs a fat handle tech/NEW :cool:

spaceman said:
It was a tuckaway a few weeks back (mostly Silver plated ;) £19 delivered), i think that is the only type of New Improved that can be used with another handle?
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Bah you wouldn't want to change handles on a Bostonian/Richwood/Aristocrat etc anyway, they're stunning! :p
I've grown fond of using thin/light handles with heavy medium/aggressive heads. You get a nice balance with surgical precision and effectiveness, that 7 O'Clock is a good example (even a brassy one like mine :p)
 
Swarfega said:
Kinda smells vintage. This morning I can still smell it. It didn't lather much but was enough to have a thin layer for shaving. Is that right?
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No! You should have a big thick fluffy lather, see some of the pictures over the last couple of pages in this thread.
 
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