The Shaving Den

OK all, I'm curious -

For some, shaving is a pain in the butt, but over the last 6 months or so, for me at least it's gone from being a chore, to a ritual to a pleasure... all because I've gone 'old-school' (and no, I'm not talking straight razors here - they scare the out of me), courtesy of sites such as Badger & Blade, The Shaving Room and The English Shaving Company.

These are sites which extoll the virtues of a good shaving brush, proper soaps (not gels!) and that most important of items, the razor itself.

So, without googling:

Do you know your Cart, from your SE from your DE from your straight?

Proraso, Trumper, Jagger, C&E, Erasmic or other?

Hard puck, stick or cream?

Do you know what an alum block is, what it's for & how to use it?

Merkur Futur, Jagger DE89, Feather Popular or a vintage Slim?

Which of the above is mildest?

Could the above be construed as a trick question?

For the edge, Feather (black or yellow), Derby Extra, Iridium Super, RuiKe WeiFeng or some other?

AS, EDT, Cologne, moisturiser, skin food or none of these?

If you give enough of a damn even to answer all of the above, chances are, like me, you are one of the rising number of people turning away from cheapo throw away razors to well manufactured quality pieces which may just last the rest of your life - as an example, my current razor of choice on those occasions when I can really spend the time (bearing in mind, using one of these means you have to re-learn the art) to use it properly is this:



A Gillette Slim Adjustable, date coded as I3

I = 1963
3 = 3rd quarter

Therefore, this razor was manufactured in the period I was born (possibly even the month), so like me, is nearly 50 years old; loaded with a Derby Extra gives damn near a BBS if I use Geo.Trumper eucris, applied with my best silver tip badger (I can still only guarantee a BBS with my trusty M3 cart mounted on an EJ nickel plated handle, but I'm still learning)

If you've got this far & understand all of the above, or even better, can list your own old-school requisites of choice, or even even better are actually a member of TSR or B&B, then huzzah!

I am genuinely interested, although my wife Vicky would say obsessed... I've only got 4 razors, 2 brushes & 7 shaving soaps!



So far...

Edited by Jim Garten - May 10 2013 at 07:37

I don't do wet shaving - simply because I look like a teenager - especially the day after where my face looks like a city of zits. I do enjoy them though, but I find using a trimmer is a lot easier - plus most women my age(and below) prefer stubble nowadays. Thank ford for fashion fads

Blacksword wrote: It would take a lot to convince me of the need to fill my bathroom up with traditional shaving accessories unless doing so was guaranteed to get me laid or make me rich. Preferably in that order...

Blacksword wrote: As for all that posh shaving soap stuff, I can't really comment. I use some squirty blue Gilette sh*t, that sells quite nice. I apply with my hands, not some hand crafted oriental silk applicator, and I shave it off with Gilette Mach 3 Turbo razers

I think it was Lee (ManErg) who first made my ears prick up on this subject - whe he stayed with Vicky and I a few years ago, he was saying about not having a quick shave when you have a few minutes, but making the time to be able to turn it from a chore to something you look forward to & enjoy.

I also remember the word 'Trumper' coming up at the first prog-curry, but whether that was to do with Lee shaving or something else, I'm not sure

Nihau

Edited by Guldbamsen - May 10 2013 at 08:31

I started using my dad's old electric razor (dating from 1963), but I converted to wet shaving sometime during the second half of the 90's.
Nowadays I have two Gillette razors (a Contour Plus and since last month a newer type with five blades for the sundays), shaving foam or a stick, and the shattered remains of an alum block when necessary.



Edited by someone_else - May 10 2013 at 08:38

Guldbamsen wrote: PA is all things to all people. Today it reminded me to shave. The Internet butler

soneone_else wrote: and the shattered remains of an alum block when necessary

Aha - our 1st alum block user

I generally shave daily with an electric razor, which ironically I skipped this morning.  I can't really grow a beard, and it takes a few days for me to grow a semi-5 O'Clock shadow, but my occupation is such where it is best that I remove the stubble on a daily basis.

Jim Garten wrote: I am genuinely interested, although my wife Vicky would say obsessed...

 Vicky strikes me as being quite an astute person.  

Edited by Dean - May 10 2013 at 09:10

I have a grizzly curly beard right now because I'm too lazy to shave, and nobody at the office cares.  When I do actually shave, I usually use a pull razor (or whatever the hell those are actually called) but mainly just because the trimmer on my electric razor is busted.

Next week I'm planning on going back to my porn-star 'stache of yore.