***The Official Manly Shaving Thread***

GiraffePencils said:
Well we're talking one pass with a single blade compared with a multi blade razor, I'd not imagine you'll get as close a shave right off.
maybe try for a 3 pass shave until you get your technique down :)
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Yep, a 3 pass shave with feathers will give you a far better shave than your old razor. If you search for 'mantic59' on youtube there are some great instructional guides. He's a legend.

 
Crowort said:
Funny you spend all this money on creams and soaps and I still find a 50p Palmolive stick is up there with the best. Doesn't smell as nice as some but it gives a great shave.
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I agree it gives a great shave. Only thing (apart from the lack of a lovely smell) I'd criticise it for, is that it can slightly dry after a while, even if it's a wet lather. And it doesn't have any particular moisturising properties in terms of leaving the face feeling nice.

The Proraso stuff above is apparently good for tough beards, which mine is (literally like sandpaper after about 12 hours) so I'm curious to see if a cream marketed for tough stubble makes any difference.

Not sure how much difference the brush will make either, but hey, it's all good fun!

Looking forward to a fresh Feather blade in my shavette and a nice long slow shave in the bath tomorrow morning.
 
Participant, the sandalwood smell is very pervasive on the proraso so take that into account if you wear cologne, particularly one which is very heavy on citrus notes. It makes for a terrible combination (source: I did this ... once)

Actually, it's very pervasive period so consider that if you prefer a subtle smell in the morning because subtle it ain't.
 
[FnG]magnolia;26351434 said:
Participant, the sandalwood smell is very pervasive on the proraso so take that into account if you wear cologne, particularly one which is very heavy on citrus notes. It makes for a terrible combination (source: I did this ... once)

Actually, it's very pervasive period so consider that if you prefer a subtle smell in the morning because subtle it ain't.
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Thanks, I'll bear it in mind.

Just been reading this thread on theshavingroom:

http://www.theshavingroom.co.uk/forum/thread-26305-page-1.html

Someone's had a cut throat razor commissioned and hand made. The result is stunning imo:

fWN6fbu.jpg

gXiz2ek.jpg

Blade: 7/8ths" wide 2.5" long - quarter hollow grind - carbon steel
Scales: African blackwood
Spacer: Giraffe bone
Pins/washers: Brass

Honed up to 12000 grit then stropped on chromium oxide and finished on plain leather.

Drool.
 
Sonea Fifer said:
So - I find myself rapidly running short of shaving soap and with £20.00 of credit on my Rainforest account.

I've tried:

  • Sandalwood - Taylors of Bond Street.
  • Arko - which I quite liked. (:o )
  • Mitchells Wool Fat.
  • St James of London - Cedarwood & Clarysage shaving soap.

Anything else the OcUK forumites would recommend?
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I'd recommend picking up some Proraso if you haven't used it already (any one, I've used the green menthol tube), seems to live up to its rep.

I've also got a couple of Edwin Jagger soap refills (<£4 on the big A), only tried one (Sandalwood) so far, but doing the job nicely.

As for the (unrelated) question of lathering, I've tried various methods, but tend to face lather for reasons of speed, consistency and great lather.
 
Main reasons I'd advocate face lathering are 1. that you are rubbing lather into your beard and face for longer, 2. that more rubbing your face with a brush increases exfoliation, and 3. that no shaving bowl = one less item required in the bathroom.

I'm not sure the lather is better than a bowl though tbh.
 
I also face lather but I think there's some science which suggests that using a bowl produces a better (more consistent?) lather. I can't remember exactly but as with most things shaving related try a few options and do whatever works best for you.
 
Captain Planet said:
TOBS Afteshave gel.

Really nice and will last you a while, so the price isn't as bad as it seems!

Simple Light Moisturiser

A cheaper alternative to post shave balm that you can find in most stores. I find that the gloopy typical "for men" stuff just clots my face and makes it greasy. As I said though, your skin will differ so YMMV.
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These are exactly what I use, the Simple stuff for normal shaves, and the TOBS stuff when going out as it smells awesome.

I face lather using TOBS sandalwood shave cream, 2 pass using Derby Extras.
 
[FnG]magnolia;26365120 said:
I also face lather but I think there's some science which suggests that using a bowl produces a better (more consistent?) lather.
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The point of lathering on the face is it heats the surface up a little more and gets the lather down at the base of the hair - there's no point in slapping soap on the top of a beard, it's got to get down under it, and vigorously brushing helps lift the hairs.
 
Well I had a go with the Proraso Red this morning. I can get on with the smell very happily, it's very 'manly' and I didn't notice it again after shaving. A lot of gents' smells seem too girly these days anyway :p.

But the important bit: the razor glide is really, really good with this. Absolutely no tugging on my coarse stubble where a fair amount of tugging was experienced with the Palmolive stuff (both the stick and the cream).

Very happy so far. I was going to rest my face again tomorrow, but I want to see if it will allow me to go three shaves with my Feathers in the safety razor. Or, I might see if it makes my shavette shave any easier!
 
I'm thinking of changing my razors. I'm been using the Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5. Before i used to use one of the Gillette Fusion . Anyone know of some worth looking at?

I also use shaving oils instead of gel. They are great if you are traveling.
 
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Robot Dog said:
I'm thinking of changing my razors. I'm been using the Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5. Before i used to use one of the Gillette Fusion . Anyone know of some worth looking at?

I also use shaving oils instead of gel. They are great if you are traveling.
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I'm finding the Gillette ProGlide better than Fusion atm.
 
Robot Dog said:
I'm thinking of changing my razors. I'm been using the Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5. Before i used to use one of the Gillette Fusion . Anyone know of some worth looking at?

I also use shaving oils instead of gel. They are great if you are traveling.
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Do you fancy trying a safety razor? Because a lot of people in this thread would recommend them.
 
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Participant said:
Well I had a go with the Proraso Red this morning. I can get on with the smell very happily, it's very 'manly' and I didn't notice it again after shaving. A lot of gents' smells seem too girly these days anyway :p.

But the important bit: the razor glide is really, really good with this. Absolutely no tugging on my coarse stubble where a fair amount of tugging was experienced with the Palmolive stuff (both the stick and the cream).
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Proraso Red is a very nice soap.

After trying loads of different soaps (i dont use creams) over the last couple of years, these are the ones i use:-

- Proraso Red
- Proraso Green
- MWF
- D R Harris Almond
- D R Harris Windsor (I've got the EDT, so i might not replace this one)
- TOBS Luxury Limes (this one is new, the lather is way better than their older soaps IMO)
- Lea shave stick (pretty much MWF in stick form)
 
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