The Manly Shaving Thread

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The Halk said:
I don't know that the Astra blades could be said to be blunt, not in comparison to the other blades that came with the sample pack anyway. They just seem jaggy - as do the lord and shark ones. The gilette and wilkinson sword ones are blunt. The derby are ok too. It's a very difficult thing to judge though, I might be imagining it.

It'd be interesting if someone put the blades under a microscope to see what the cutting edge was like - how sharp and how even... assuming that a microscope could show that.
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Rather than blame the blades, have you ever though that your razor might not be aggressive enough for your needs?

I use a 2011 Muhle R41 with an astra, and it's deadly sharp and mows down my thick bristles like they aren't there.

Astras are certainly one of the sharpest i've tried.

If your using say a HD or DE89 perhaps you could step up to a merkur slant, see that that does for you.
 
It's much more difficult trying several safety razors than it is trying several blades. I see what you're saying though. Perhaps I will eventually buy an adjustable safety razor, and I expect I'll be able to set that at an angle that will be more aggressive. But for now I'm going to try the feather blades with the DE89 and see how I get on.
 
The Halk said:
It's much more difficult trying several safety razors than it is trying several blades. I see what you're saying though. Perhaps I will eventually buy an adjustable safety razor, and I expect I'll be able to set that at an angle that will be more aggressive. But for now I'm going to try the feather blades with the DE89 and see how I get on.
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Well when you do, id suggest getting a fatboy or a slim adjustable.

They're both real nice razors, and can go from tame to aggressive, so you'll certainly find out if it's the blade at fault.

As for astras not being sharp, well that's subjective as everyone's skin is different.

I can't use feathers as i find them very rough, and yet many love them and find them smooth.
 
Astra SP's i find a really smooth shave, not as sharp as 7 O'clock yellows or greens IMO.

yellows or greens are great for me even in my super mild gillette tech. I'll be trying a yellow in my rocket HD on my next shave.

adjustable razors - i like how my slim adjustable shaves, haven't tried my fatboy out yet.

i've got a nice selection of old gillette's now, i'm tempted to try out a Weber DLC or Muhle R41 next.
 
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I don't suppose anyone can point me in the direction of a UK site that sells Stache wax? I have some but it's not strong and it's fragrance is a bit too strong.
 
Edwin Jagger Double Edge Razor DE89L (Plus 5 Derby DE
Progress Vulfix 660 Pure Badger Shaving Brush
Taylor of Old Bond St Shaving Cream (Lavender 150g)
FREE 10 Feather Double Edged Razor Blades (Only 1 Free Offer Per Order!)

Ended up with this lot, not bad for £40.
 
The Edwin Jagger DE that I have is fine. I've switched to feathers and they seem to be seen to be the sharpest blade. You might want to start using the Derby blades as I found them less hardcore than the feathers and you don't want to look like you've been glassed by err, Begbie.

Apparently the pure badger brushes are a step down from the best brushes to use - above that step the brushes are softer but not as useful. Personally I find mine to do the job fine, but I don't really have a frame of reference, mine is a 'pure' brush as well but I might go for a more expensive one later.

It would seem that you've made the right choices.
 
Nice thanks Halk.

It works out so much cheaper than a Mach 3, the price of 15 blades would've cost me that alone!

Hope it arrives mid week :)
 
It's more satisfying, and your cheeks will be baby smooth. However I still can't get my neck area baby smooth - not unless I go in again and again. I've not shaved for a couple of days in an attempt to find out more about that area.
 
I've found, if your razor is adjustable, stepping up the "aggressiveness" of the razor is probably the best thing to do. It seems counter intuitive to make the razor more aggressive if you're getting irritation or ingrown hairs, but by using less pressure or requiring less passes it makes it a lot easier. I'm having to use feathers with my merkur futura on setting 6, and even that takes a couple of passes to get shmoove. My issue is I have really tough hairs, but not a lot of them, not to mention that the grain for my neck hair is ALL to the right, making it a bit awkward to get my neck smooth. I tend to just go for baby smooth cheeks and an acceptably shaved neck (since everyone touches the cheeks anyway ;))
 
i ordered some TOBS Jermyn St. soap today.

I went back to the TOBS Sandalwood soap i got in my starter kit last night and found bowl lathering, i could get a lather as good as face lathering with jermyn st. cream.

The soap will last me much longer though.
 
The Halk said:
However I still can't get my neck area baby smooth - not unless I go in again and again. I've not shaved for a couple of days in an attempt to find out more about that area.
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Well. That worked. Shaved just there as I came out of the bath and my neck is nicely done, without being irritated - and that's the third shave using the feather blade and it's still nice and sharp.

I got some Edwin Jagger pre-shave cream, which I'm not very impressed with. It wasn't especially cheap, it comes in a small jar and you need to use a good amount of it to get anything done. However I put it on straight out of the bath tonight and lathered up perhaps 3 or 4 minutes later. Previously when I've used it I've left it on for a bit longer and done other things before lathering up... It's got a nice menthol sensation to it, but I think it's perhaps uneconomical to use daily.

Here. Perhaps if it came in a great big tub rather than a small 100ml. I think I may keep it for use when I want a really good shave. I can't see it lasting more than 25 shaves or so, which makes it by a long way the most expensive part of a shave. When it runs out I'll be buying a different product.

spaceman said:
i ordered some TOBS Jermyn St. soap today.

I went back to the TOBS Sandalwood soap i got in my starter kit last night and found bowl lathering, i could get a lather as good as face lathering with jermyn st. cream.

The soap will last me much longer though.
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I'm unsure with cream. I've only ever used the one I bought with the starter set (which I'm still using) which is the Truefitt and Hill West Indian Limes. It smells nice and the smell doesn't linger. It isn't seem to be lasting especially long and I wonder if a soap would be a better idea. I've seen other creams on websites and they look much less solid than the cream I'm using. It seems to have the consistency of stick deoderant, while the other creams have something more towards mayonnaise.

Next purchase is going to be Sandalwood and I'll need to see if I can work out what's best out of the various different ones.

To be clear though... you were lathering using cream on your face, and you're finding you can get the same with a bowl and soap... what about a bowl and cream, or are you getting a lather you feel is as good as you can go?

Tonight was the first night I used the stainless steel bowl. I feel I got a better lather and I was more able to tell it needed more water than using the mug. £2.45 well spent. I heartily recommend people look for puppy water bowls rather than £20 shaving bowls!

Edit : Here's one for £1.12 including delivery.
 
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I wouldnt say TOBS cream has a consistency like a deodorant stick, if i touch the cream with my finger some cream sticks to it.

When i face lather with it i soak my brush in hot water for a couple of minutes, give it a couple of shakes, touch it in the cream so the end of the tips get some product on them then start swirling on my face. If the lather isnt slick enough i flick the brush under a running tap and continue.

I might try bowl lathering the cream, but i dont think it's really needed.

It might be worth getting a couple of cream samples and see what you think http://connaughtshaving.com/taylorcream.html

I think i got about 5 or so shaves (just using an almond sized blob on the brush) from each sample i bought before i got a tub.

I've only used TOBS Soap (Sandalwood), TOBS Cream (Jermyn St. & Eton College) and Proraso Menthol Old solid green formula (soft soap) all of those are good.

It might be worth trying Proraso Pre/Post cream (i've got the old formula - solid green), its a proper face freezer. I only use it post shave but the 100ml pot is lasting well.

Preshave i just wash my face, after shaving i use cold water followed by proraso pre/post (leave it on for a couple of minutes), cold water to remove it, then boots witch hazel gel. Styptic pencil if i rushed too much, lol.
 
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buchtis said:
Just had my 1st shave with the Edwin Shagger (:p).

I think I need to learn how to shave coming from a Mach3 for such a long time. The shave was fine but it doesn't feel as close even with a new Derby blade as it does with a new cartridge in a Mach3. I think it's because I can't feel the blade as well on my face if that makes sense and it feels a bit uneven in some areas though I did only 1 pass, anyone got any tips? Feel like a right woman now lol.

Also, are these good value? 30 blades mixed set, I know people here rave about the Feathers but i've never heard of 'Israeli' razors before.

http://www.shaving-shack.com/10-fea...0-israeli-made-double-edged-razor-blades.html
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Anyone?
 
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