Shaving/Razors

[Lilyboo]

Simply explain that

a) you will look better shaved that will benefit her
b) you will be more chilled out and relaxed from smoking cigars that will benefit her
c) she will have double the choice for presents to buy you for christmas and birthdays
d) you can buy her things that she likes if she buys you cigar and shaving things you like
e) you now have more things to discuss

seems to be a win win situation, or at least that is how i have sold my Mrs on the subject lol

I'm having that, cheers mate.

[davidruddell]

Double +1!

You smooth talking devil!

I too will be using these.

Simply explain that

a) you will look better shaved that will benefit her
b) you will be more chilled out and relaxed from smoking cigars that will benefit her
c) she will have double the choice for presents to buy you for christmas and birthdays
d) you can buy her things that she likes if she buys you cigar and shaving things you like
e) you now have more things to discuss

seems to be a win win situation, or at least that is how i have sold my Mrs on the subject lol

[MarkSDMF]

Cheers guys, now im in the exact same boat as Lillyboo up there ^^

You chaps are going to end me in a lot of debt ye know that ?
There weren't kidding when they said : ''Leave your bank card at the door'' during the warm welcome i received !

Thank you very, very much

[Lilyboo]

I think I am going to go down the route of a cut throat razor. It looks quite cool I think, still not sure whether an open razor in my hands is a good idea but will give it a shot!

[jibjob79]

I think I am going to go down the route of a cut throat razor. It looks quite cool I think, still not sure whether an open razor in my hands is a good idea but will give it a shot!

I thought about a cutthroat myself but worried about having to keep it sharp. I just know i would push harder and harder with the blade getting duller and duller then i'd sharpen it properly one day and that would be that lol.

Another enjoyable shave today. Used the 1805 Truefitt and Hill products today and Mrs approves, what more can a man ask for lol.

[MarkSDMF]

what more can a man ask for lol.

Plenty being the answer to that

Anyways, off to train with an unlucky partner for Aiki-jitsu.

G'devening gents.

[davidruddell]

If you want to try it you could buy a shavette as a starting point, not seen as a 'real' straight razor (uses a disposable blade) and are very cheap.

http://www.shaving-shack.com/product.php?productid=2910&MMCF_GoogleBase2910

Good straight razors cost a small fortune, but last a lifetime.

I've now got a couple of contacts who use straights, they both recommend an extended period of DE Safety shaving prior to graduating to a straight.

Apparently going from Mach 3 type razors to a straight razor is an absolute no no.

If you're really keen on straight razoring, Truefitt and Hill do lessons!!

I think I am going to go down the route of a cut throat razor. It looks quite cool I think, still not sure whether an open razor in my hands is a good idea but will give it a shot!

[Lilyboo]

If you want to try it you could buy a shavette as a starting point, not seen as a 'real' straight razor (uses a disposable blade) and are very cheap.

http://www.shaving-shack.com/product.php?productid=2910&MMCF_GoogleBase2910

Good straight razors cost a small fortune, but last a lifetime.

I've now got a couple of contacts who use straights, they both recommend an extended period of DE Safety shaving prior to graduating to a straight.

Apparently going from Mach 3 type razors to a straight razor is an absolute no no.

If you're really keen on straight razoring, Truefitt and Hill do lessons!!

Cheers mate, the idea does worry me somewhat but I have heard the shave is amazing. Might get one of those shavettes and give it a go.

[Alton_Bee]

Having read through this thread for the past few days I decided I wanted to try using a DE razor. In the past I have mainly used disposables over the years with I think 2 electric razors in that time.

I had a good look at the Shave Shack site and have put some bits on a wish list, BUT then on saturday while shopping with the family in Basingstoke I popped into a high street chemists of long standing. (I wont say the name but most of you probably can work out who). In there I got a Wilkinson's Classic, some shaving soap and a brush for about ?16.50 in total as an introduction to DE shaving.

Having had my 2nd DE shave last night I thought I would add my 2p to this..

My face after shaving is incredibly smooth, but I found I "took off" the top of a pimple like spot on my top lip which I have not done with a disposable since I started shaving. This I take as showing the DE razor actually cuts closer to My skin...

The other (surprising) thing I have noticed is that I feel like the stubble actually grows back quicker. Now I wonder if this is actually because the blade is cutting the stubble at a different angle than a disposable ??

Could my findings above be partly due to the DE razor I am using ??

[jibjob79]

My face after shaving is incredibly smooth, but I found I "took off" the top of a pimple like spot on my top lip which I have not done with a disposable since I started shaving. This I take as showing the DE razor actually cuts closer to My skin...

I have an adjustable Merkur Futur and depending on the adjustment of how much blade is exposed it can either glide over or cut high points on my face. Try altering the angle of your fixed razor and see if that helps. Also go slower and tense your top lip to stretch the skin.

The other (surprising) thing I have noticed is that I feel like the stubble actually grows back quicker. Now I wonder if this is actually because the blade is cutting the stubble at a different angle than a disposable ??

I've noticed that i could probably get away without shaving everyday although when the stubble does grow back it seems to grow back more uniformly, probably because of the better shave i am giving myself in the first place. You can try altering your cutting angle, i think 30 to 45 degrees is recommended.

Also what blades are you using, the reason i ask if I'm on my first week trying the feather DE blades as they are reviewed as being one of the sharpest blade available and my shave is only getting better and better. Not sure if my face is getting used to DE shaving or my technique is getting better but I'm liking the results.

[Alton_Bee]

Jibjob - the razor Im using does not seem to be adjustable in any way.. The blades are the standard Wilkinson Sword blades that came with the razor..

I am stretching my top lip when shaving in order to gain better access to those hairs directly under my nose.

[jibjob79]

Jibjob - the razor Im using does not seem to be adjustable in any way.. The blades are the standard Wilkinson Sword blades that came with the razor..

I am stretching my top lip when shaving in order to gain better access to those hairs directly under my nose.

The razor you have isn't adjustable so that the gap between the blade and the razor is a fixed distance, however if you alter the angle you shave with you might be able to alter the size of the gap that is presented to your face so holding the razor at a slightly sharper angle than normal but not more than 45 degrees might be able to help.

I've only tried a few Merkur and Feather blades so far but you might find better results with a higher quality and sharper blade although half the joy is finding what combination of razors, blades, brushes and soaps works for your face.

[davidruddell]

My tuppence worth.

The stubble grows back quicker due to the way a multi blade (Mach 3 et al) pulls the hair out (ouch) with one blade and then another cuts closer.
This leads to a longer lasting but less smooth shave, with the added bonus of more irritation!

DE cuts closer on one pass and only cuts the hair (no pull)

As mentioned before there's a wealth of this kind of stuff, friendly people, and good deals (just been sent 60 x Feather for ?10.00) at both theshavingroom (UK biased) and Badger and Blade (US biased).

JibJob, you're really gonna hate me but.....

I bought a Gillette Fat Boy 1961 Vintage (Before the Futur) but have been waiting for it to come back from a service and re chroming.

It's smaller than the Futur, only slightly lighter, but is able to get into nooks and crannies far easier than the Futur.

The jumps between settings are more delicate too, 1 on the GFB is equivalent to 2 or 3 or the Merkur!

Getting blades in and out of the GFB is not as scary as the Futur either.

I'll keep going with the Futur, but got a funny feeling that a Razor that is older than me, using nearly 50 year old U.S engineering, is better than my 21st Century German precision engineered razor of the Futur.

I've included a couple of photo's for size comparisons.

The line up is

1) 1961 Gillette Fat Boy
2) Parker DE (Cheap and cheerful, purchased to try DE shaving)
3) Merkur Futur

P.S Jibjob, Hope this post riles you enough, so that you stop beating the crap outta me at Scrabble!

[jibjob79]

It will take more than a post to disturb my composer lol. I was looking at fatboy's but always ended up getting outbid on ebay and thought what the heck go for something new with a warranty. I know of a fellow UKCF herfing friend that has a fatboy in the post so after we meet up and discuss cigars and shaving i might be tempted to start biding on fatboy's again lol.

Why is changing the razor in the Merkur scary? Just push with the thumb on the recessed side to lift it a little then pop the other side off and the blade is just sitting there to take off?

60 feather blades!!! that will be over a years supply then lol.

P.S. My word for today is specious meaning plausible yet wrong. Might have to try and work it onto the board soon lol. As in "yes darling your decision was specious".

[davidruddell]

Don't bid, buy!

http://safetyrazors.co.uk/shop/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=7

This guy is an absolute shaving god.

Took my rather grotty Fat Boy, and turned it into the shiny wonderment that it is today.

I sent it to him on Friday, got it back yesterday. Cleaned, serviced, re plated.
He also sent it back by recorded, without even asking for payment prior to returning it!! (I did of course pay him)

All for the princely sum of ?18.00 inc P&P!!!!!

You'll have a hell of a time finding an adjustable Gillette (Slim or Fat Boy) at the prices/condition he sells them for.

Go on snap one up!