The Manly Shaving Thread

[The Halk]

I'm finding that too CatMangler. I get a closer shave than I did with cartridges - although with a brand new one and a lot of effort I could get a 'perfect' shave. By perfect shave I mean no stubble.

It's quicker to have a shave with the cartridge, it's quicker to have a proper shave with the safety razor though - if that makes sense. I suspect I'll get faster with the safety razor too, I've still not nicked myself so it seems I've settled into it nicely.

The two big things are that it's a more pleasing experience, and I also feel I'm not irritating and abusing my skin in the same way.

I think if it were not for this thread (and the advice I got last week when I was exhausted!) I'd not have bothered and I'd have missed out.

One thing I am doing that apparently I shouldn't be is I'm always shaving against the grain. I surely can't be the only person doing it that way?

 

[Mobius 1]

i used to shave with, then against for the smoothest possible shave. but started getting annoying in growing hairs, so i dont bother anymore. i just shave with the grain

 

[spaceman]

against the grain is the only way i can get my neck smooth.

my first pass is WTG on face and neck, my second pass is XTG on face and ATG on neck. maybe a couple of touch ups and i'm done.

it doesnt take much longer than a cartridge shave now i've been doing it a couple of months.

i enjoy a shave now, something i could never say when i used cartridge's.

 

[CatMangler]

Another good shave this morning, 3 x pass. As mentioned above WTG, XTG then finish the only part that needed it, the neck with ATG. Again its the only way I can get it smooth.

Ordered a alum block (Osma Bloc)yesterday as I'm getting a little bit of irritation (a couple of red blobs) on the neck area. I'm putting this down to getting use to the new regime.

Really enjoying the experience thus far

 

[spaceman]

just had my first shave with proraso soft soap/hard cream in the green tub, that followed by proraso pre/post cream was properly refreshing. (both old formula)

i think i'll use that combo all the time if we have a summer.

 

[wozzizname]

I've (partially) abandoned shaving and am now growing what will, hopefully, become an impressive handlebar moustache.

I hate shaving above my upper lip, so it's refreshing not to have to have to do so anymore.

 

[tang0]

Got me some new stuff. I used to get shaving rash round my neck, and the proraso stuff seems to have helped. Got a good manly smell to it too

Taylor of Old Bond Street St.James Luxury Shaving Cream Bowl

 

[Skeptic]

Somebody tell me, in the most lay terms, what the process is with keeping a straight sharp? I want to use a straight in the near future.

Merci.

 

[The Halk]

The hairs on my brush don't seem to be as straight and neat as I'd like them to be. Is this normal for a new brush to go that way, I don't think I'm using much pressure at all... and I try to use a back/forward motion rather than circular when I'm making lather.

Should I be doing anything to the brush other than using it, rinsing it well and squeezing the water out?

 

[BeeP]

I don't squeeze the water out of my brush, I rinse it clean, shake it a few times & hang it in it's little wall mounted hanger thingy I got for a couple of quid. I make my later in a swirly motion & my brush is a bit of a mess during this, it always comes back nicely though.

Bought a Merkur Futur on Friday, showed up today so it looks like I'll be a few pints of blood shorter tonight, can't wait.

 

[NinetyOne]

Waiting for my Taylor's sandalwood cream to come, along with my Merkur 1904. Can't wait. Just using a trusty EJ DE89 at the moment. Wanted to try something different.

Oh and for those of you suffering from ingrown hairs. http://www.mankind.co.uk/tendskin-in-growing-hair-solution-118ml/10282313.html

Whenever I used to shave against the grain I would always get loads of ingrown hairs but after using this I have absolutely zero. Brilliant stuff.

 

[spaceman]

i'm liking my 1961 Gillette Slim at the moment on setting 5, i'm having great 2 pass shaves with it.

i just picked up a mint cased 1960 Gillette FatBoy, i'll see how that compares to the slim after a few more shaves.

 

[Poodmund]

One thing I am doing that apparently I shouldn't be is I'm always shaving against the grain. I surely can't be the only person doing it that way?

It all depends on how coarse and thick your stubble is and how long it is etc. etc.

At the end of the day everyones is different and with all the grains going in different directions just shave the way you feel comfortable and gives you the best shave.

I personally almost never shave with the grain as the pass does almost nothing and then makes subsequent passes harder. The only time I ever really do it is as an extra final pass.

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

A very useful tip I picked up on Badger & Blade was to let your stubble grow for 5 - 7 days. This lets you see exactly how your beard grows and allows you to plan your passes. I tend to stick with the North-South, East-West by quadrant but there is a fiddly bit just under my chin which requires me to go against the grain. I probably wouldn't have worked this out as quickly if I hadn't been able to see it first hand.

More generally speaking, shaving against the grain tends to be less common than going with or across it. It can produce more ingrown hairs, irritation, cuts, and rashes. It can also give you the cleanest shave. As Poodmund said, it's horses for courses. For me, I can get almost as baby-bum smooth with cross passes as I can with against the grain passes but without all the aggro that that method involves. YMMV and let us know how you go.

 

[ExRayTed]

Somebody tell me, in the most lay terms, what the process is with keeping a straight sharp? I want to use a straight in the near future.

Merci.

Stropping. This will straighten the edge. To actually sharpen a straight razor properly requires someone who knows what they're doing.

I treated myself to a Dovo straight a while ago. Very nice blade and the edge lasts a long time. Sent it to these guys for sharpening with good results.

 

[The Halk]

It all depends on how coarse and thick your stubble is and how long it is etc. etc.

At the end of the day everyones is different and with all the grains going in different directions just shave the way you feel comfortable and gives you the best shave.

I personally almost never shave with the grain as the pass does almost nothing and then makes subsequent passes harder. The only time I ever really do it is as an extra final pass.

A very useful tip I picked up on Badger & Blade was to let your stubble grow for 5 - 7 days. This lets you see exactly how your beard grows and allows you to plan your passes. I tend to stick with the North-South, East-West by quadrant but there is a fiddly bit just under my chin which requires me to go against the grain. I probably wouldn't have worked this out as quickly if I hadn't been able to see it first hand.

More generally speaking, shaving against the grain tends to be less common than going with or across it. It can produce more ingrown hairs, irritation, cuts, and rashes. It can also give you the cleanest shave. As Poodmund said, it's horses for courses. For me, I can get almost as baby-bum smooth with cross passes as I can with against the grain passes but without all the aggro that that method involves. YMMV and let us know how you go.

Thanks chaps! I think I'll give it a shot with the grain and see what happens.

I've noticed something though... you mentioned letting it grow for several days so that I can tell which way the grain is. I shaved last night at midnight after a bath. I shaved close in - even though the Wilkinson sword blade I'm using isn't very good - and today I can tell by brushing my finger along my stubble exactly which way the grain is.

So what does that tell me? If it takes someone else 5-7 days then perhaps mine comes out at a bit more of an angle - and perhaps that means I need to go against the grain because of that angle.

In any case I don't think I've ever had an ingrown hair, so I'm perhaps best continuing against the grain? I'll give it a shot with the grain and see though.

So on my novice blade reviews.... Wilkinson Sword and Glllette have been poor - not very sharp. The Shark felt a bit jaggy. The Astra has been the best so far, and the Derby was ok - better than the Wilkinson Sword at least.

The badger brush has also stopped being so uneven and seems to be settling in to look like it should.

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

Thanks chaps! I think I'll give it a shot with the grain and see what happens.

I've noticed something though... you mentioned letting it grow for several days so that I can tell which way the grain is. I shaved last night at midnight after a bath. I shaved close in - even though the Wilkinson sword blade I'm using isn't very good - and today I can tell by brushing my finger along my stubble exactly which way the grain is.

Your finger and your blade don't do the same thing. Your finger will adjust to the contours and shape, your blade will stay in a straight line and cut what it sees. It's Friday morning in the UK right now so don't shave until Monday morning and see what your growth looks like. If it's exactly as your fingers told you it would be then that's great! If it's not then that's equally as great because you know what to do.

So what does that tell me? If it takes someone else 5-7 days then perhaps mine comes out at a bit more of an angle - and perhaps that means I need to go against the grain because of that angle.

No, it tells you that this is why shaving advice 'rules' don't exist because there are exactly none. There are things which work for most people, most of the time and these are guidelines and then there is everything else which basically involves you trying things, experimenting and seeing what works for you.

In any case I don't think I've ever had an ingrown hair, so I'm perhaps best continuing against the grain? I'll give it a shot with the grain and see though.

You should. See what works for you.

So on my novice blade reviews.... Wilkinson Sword and Glllette have been poor - not very sharp. The Shark felt a bit jaggy. The Astra has been the best so far, and the Derby was ok - better than the Wilkinson Sword at least.

Buy some Feathers and never look back.

The badger brush has also stopped being so uneven and seems to be settling in to look like it should.

As long as it is doing its job I wouldn't worry too much about how it looks

 

[The Halk]

Your finger and your blade don't do the same thing. Your finger will adjust to the contours and shape, your blade will stay in a straight line and cut what it sees. It's Friday morning in the UK right now so don't shave until Monday morning and see what your growth looks like. If it's exactly as your fingers told you it would be then that's great! If it's not then that's equally as great because you know what to do.

I'm out for dinner tomorrow, so I shall be shaving... I didn't shave yesterday or today though so the best I can do is leave it until tomorrow lunchtime before I shave. So that's Wednesday night to Saturday morning.

No, it tells you that this is why shaving advice 'rules' don't exist because there are exactly none. There are things which work for most people, most of the time and these are guidelines and then there is everything else which basically involves you trying things, experimenting and seeing what works for you.

That's what I wanted to make sure of - that it's fine if that suits me best and I'm not going to end up looking like the elephant man all of a sudden one day

Buy some Feathers and never look back.

I think I'll use the ones I can tolerate and then get the feathers. If I get them now I'll not work through the 30 odd blades I have. From what I've read different sharpness of blade suits different people, given that I'm not nicking myself at all, I'm not getting razor burn or rash or bumps forming then I can go for a sharper blade. I suspect I'll end up using feathers and nowt else.

As long as it is doing its job I wouldn't worry too much about how it looks

Well, I was worried it'd stop doing it's job and I was seeing the warning signs - looks like that isn't the case.

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

I can't remember which razor you bought but I imagine it has a 'sharpness' setting. This allows you to take the edge off Feathers if you find them too sharp. I don't think you will though; I expect that they'll take your growth off more easily and you may not have to go against the grain.

 

[The Halk]

It's not an adjustable one, no, but I suspect the feathers will be fine.

Going against the grain seems fine - I've just realised I did that for all the years I've used cartridge razors, so I don't see why I'd suddenly start getting ingrown hairs and other problems now.

For now though I'm pretty content with it all, and I'm just going to continue using up the razors - I'll probably bin the **** ones though, it's not as if they cost much, I just prefer not to waste.

I'm tempted by all the expensive nice smelling stuff - might reward myself for my diet with one of everything.

Again though Magnolia (and the others), thanks for your suggestions here.