(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best men shaving creams, lotions & gels

Prep: Hot shower

Razor: LA Shaving Co. BBS-1

Blade: Kai Stainless

Brush: Edwin Jagger STFv2 XL

Soap: Mitchell's Wool Fat

Scuttle: Moonstar Pottery

Aftershave: L'Occitane Cade ASB (not pictured)


The New Stuff: I placed an order for some EU-made products from Connaught Shaving right before the Christmas holiday. Unfortunately, Connaught was closed during the time I placed my order, so it wasn't shipped until they re-opened after the New Year. I'll include some more info about the products I picked up in the next Monday Mail Call post on /r/wet_shavers, but briefly, I picked up the EJ XL brush, MWF, a jar of Tabac, and a refill puck of I Coloniali mango oil soap.

• Mitchell's Wool Fat: This is my first time using MWF. MWF gets a lot of love on other shaving forums like B&B, but not as much on w_s or w_e. Connaught is definitely one of the best places to buy MWF. It comes out to about $22 compared to $35 with most US-based vendors. Here's an MWF unboxing album. The packaging is top notch! It really feels special receiving and opening this soap for the first time. I like the ceramic jar. The sides can be pretty slippery, so I'll have to be careful not to drop it! The scent is mild. A lot of people say it smells like soap--so it's pretty inoffensive. This soap is known for using lanolin; some people complain of lanolin sensitivity, but as the linked Wikipedia article says, lanolin sensitivity is probably not as high as commonly reported. Many B&M soaps use lanolin as well, and it's rare to hear of sensitivity after using those--so my theory is that people tend to parrot the "lanolin sensitivity" needlessly every time MWF gets mentioned.
  
  
• EJ XL Synthetic Brush: I've heard lots of great things about this brush. I love my L'Occitane Plisson synthetic, but decided to add another synthetic brush to my collection. I was originally planning on getting a Muhle STF, but a number of people have reported that the EJ brush is more dense and a better brush overall. I was wanting to get the 23mm (L), but there's a number of reports that the XL is a very different (and much better brush). So while I'd prefer a 23mm for size, the XL seems to be the clear winner for one of the best synthetics available today. The combination of knot size and loft really changes the behavior of the brush. They come in resin black, resin ivory, and resin horn (the one I chose). Here's the EJ synthetic unboxing pictures. It's interesting to note that my EJ brush is missing the EJ logo.
  
  The handle is fantastic. The EJ brushes come in two handle shapes (EJ28 and EJ87). I picked the EJ28 style. The handle is beefy and pretty heavy for a resin handle. Definitely feels much heavier than the light wood handle of the L'Occitane brush. The EJ28 brush handle fits the hand beautifully. It really works well for those with bigger hands. The fibers feel great. They are almost as soft as the L'O brush. The EJ definitely has a lot more backbone; a lot of people complain about the lack of backbone in the L'O brush, but it's never been an issue for me.
  
  The Shave: I've been using the BBS-1 for about a month now. It's a great razor and has filled the role of "close-shaver" for me. Whenever I want a close shave, I'll reach it. Still doing a little blade exploration, so I'm using a Kai stainless blade. Kai's are super expensive (about $0.60 a blade) and I've never been really impressed with them. They provide a decent shave, but certainly not worth double the price compared to other premium blades. I love the clean look of Kai blades though, there's something super elegant about them. I also like that they don't use any wax when wrapping the blade. I've noticed a lot of really large wax spots on other blades that extend all the way to the blade edge!
  
  I've had the scuttle for almost two years now. I use it year round, but it really is wonderful in the winter time. I start the lather building process in the scuttle and then finish on the face. It's a little small, but since I don't have a lot of counter space in my bathroom, that was on purpose.
  
  Some people have reported that MWF is hard to lather--but I didn't experience anything of the sort. The EJ brush loaded quickly and produced a thick lather within seconds. I did leave a little bit of water on top of the soap puck while I showered, as recommended by some people. The lather was great: slick, comfortable, stable. Some people report that WMF lather is thin--again, not in my experience today. The lather thickness was better than average when compared to other highly regarded soaps. The post-shave face feel is excellent. A lot of people use MWF specifically for the face-feel and the protection that it provides.
  
  The EJ XL synth also performed very well. Lathered extremely quickly. If anything, it produced too much lather (was overflowing by the end). Very comfortable on the face although has significantly more backbone than the Plisson, so it takes some getting used to and requires more pressure to splay the fibers.

BUY A SAFETY RAZOR

Seriously. You'll save boatloads of money and you'll give yourself the best shave of your life. The initial start-up is a bit of an investment (~$50), but after that you'll only pay about $20-30 per year.

Buy a safety razor. This is a perfectly good one for $20 on Amazon. They can last your lifetime.

Next, buy these 100-count razor blades for $10 on Amazon. You can get 3-6 excellent shaves out of a blade before needing to change it. If you're not picky about a super close shave, you can get 10+. That's 300-600 excellent shaves for $10. Or 1,000+ okay shaves for $10.

Now of course, if you go the safety razor route, you'll also want to buy a brush and shaving soap. First the brush. Brushes come with either boar hair or badger hair. Badger hair is superior quality, but's naturally more expensive. Boar hair is perfectly sufficient, it's just not quite as smooth or durable. If your want to try this whole straight razor thing out for a while first before investing any more money than necessary, go with a boar hair brush. You can find them pretty easily at Wal-Mart and Target these days for $5-10, but here's one on Amazon for $11. You may be able to find one for cheaper -- I only spent a few seconds searching.

Next we have the soap. Personally, I'm a big fan of Proraso Shaving Soap for $10 on Amazon -- it comes with its own bowl, so no need to buy one. Naturally it depends on how often you shave, but these last quite a while. I shave 2-3 times per week and I probably go through maybe three a year. There are of course many options - you can also consider buying the solid soap bars that go in a little bowl. I feel like these last even longer. I think I once bought a 3-pack for $15. It lasted me almost 2 years.

Alternatively, many vendors and stores sell combo packs that will include all or most of these components. I know I've seen them at Target and Wal-Mart. I can't attest to the quality, but I'm sure they're perfectly acceptable for a newbie that wants to try it out and see if he likes it. If you decide any of the individual components aren't meeting your standards, you can easily buy an upgrade on Amazon.

Switch to a safety razor. I implore you. It's the best and closest shave you'll ever give yourself - and it costs a fraction of what the stupid Gillette, etc., razors cost.

Sure. I will offer up this as a super cheap example of a decent way to start. It will provide a decent shave at a very reasonable price and you can always upgrade later if you decide that you want to.

Razor. It is cheap as hell, but works surprisingly well.

Blades. Buying a sample pack is a great way to decide on a blade that suits you. Every blade is different for everyone. A blade that works wonders for me may leave you with razorburn or stubble and vice versa. Unlike most things cost is not indicitive of how good a blade is.

Brush. Some people prefer badger hair brushes, some people prefer boar bristle. I like both and I use both. This is a decent boar bristle brush for someone starting out. The more that boar is used, the softer it gets.

Soap. Believe it or not you can easily spend hundreds a year on soaps and creams alone if you decide you want to try everything out there. Proraso soap is a great one for a beginner though, easy to lather, slick, and protective. It gives a nice tingle to your face due to the menthol so that is something to be aware of though.

For under $45 you can get started with a full kit. For under $25 if you just want the razor and some blades.

Now here is my favorite setup

Razor. The Merkur 39c has a head that holds the blade at a slant, enabling it to cut more like a guillotine. This is good for someone like me that has very tough and wiry beard hair.

Blades. Astra Superior Platinum razor blades are my favorite. Each one will last me for 3-4 days of shaving. Remember, a blade that works for me may not work for you. Blades are a trial and error thing.

Brush. I have more expensive brushes, but this brush is my favorite. Very soft, yet has enough stiffness to easily whip up a lather and it holds tons of water.

Soap. This is a shave stick. You rub the soap on your face and then use your brush to build a lather. This listing is for 15 shave sticks. A single stick can easily last 6-9 months.

For about 130 bucks you can make a big jump in quality. The majority of costs involved are in the razor itself and a more expensive brush. If I wanted I could spend upwards of 200 dollars on a stainless steel razor and over 500 dollars on high end silvertip badger hair brush. As I have mentioned before, this hobby is as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be.

I hope this helps.

If he doesn't already have experience with shaving with a straight edge, you should go with a double-edge/saftey razor. They require far less upkeep and are easier to learn to use. The general recommendation is something like a Merkur razor.

If you're thinking of going with a badger brush and shave cream, you'll want to get him a nice brush. That will probably be the bulk of what you spend. I personally have a Saville Row brush from QED that I love but I'm sure others can chime in with their favorites.

As for hypo-allergenic shave cream, there's always Prorasso for sensitive skin. Although I don't have exema, I have sensitive skin and my absolute favorite cream is Taylor of Old Bonds Street Avocado. Contrary to the name, it doesn't smell like avocado, but something else incredible.

Lastly, I'm a big proponent of non-alcohol Witchhazel. I have my mom and my gf addicted to this stuff. It's a natural toner and antibacterial. It works great and and doesn't smell like much of anything. It's good enough that I barely use aftershave anymore. Though Nivea sensitive balm is widely accepted as a good aftershave balm.


That's about what I've been using for the last half-decade. The very last bit is razor blades. There are a number of manufacturers from Merkur, to Derby to Feather. Best bet is to buy him a trial pack (5 blades from a number of manufacterers) from a shaving site online and let him figure out his favorite.

Here's what I would suggest:

Razor: either this one if you want to stay frugal or this one if you want to splurge a bit. I'd stay away from the QShave. It's a clone of a razor with a lot of design issues. One being that the head is so large it's hard to get under the nose, etc.; another issue is that it is extremely aggressive even at its lowest setting.

Brush: This synthetic brush. I think it's much better to start with a synthetic than a boar brush. Boar brushes are less comfortable on your face and actually make it more difficult to make lather until they break in. No reason to mess with those variables when you're just trying to get the hang of it. As for this specific synthetic brush, I have one and it is an amazing value for the money. It is one of about a dozen brushes I own, some of which were $200+, and this $12 brush holds its own with them.

Shaving soap: Lots of options here. Barrister & Mann's Latha line performs extremely well and is a great value. Several scents to choose from. Barrister &
Mann's Glissant line is a bit more expensive but has even better performance and more complex scents. Seville is a particularly good starting point with B&M, just an extremely clean, classic, masculine scent. Pre de Provence and Pre de Provence No. 63 are classic french soaps that smell great and perform very well.

Aftershave: Even more options here. You could go with Thayer's witch hazel with aloe, or if you want a traditional high alcohol aftershave, Fine Accoutrements is excellent. There are several scents, all based on popular and/or classic colognes. Or you could splurge and get the world's greatest aftershave product, L'Occitane Cade After Shave Balm.

Blades: Amazon has some good deals on blades in bulk but just sucks for sampler packs, and you want to start with a sampler pack because reasons. So head on over to TryABlade and order two of the "Top 10 Sampler." You can't use your Amazon credit there, but it's going to come to less than $10 including shipping.

So, if you go with the cheapest option in each category, you come out to fifty dollars or so if I'm adding right, which leaves you room to pick out one or more of those splurge options I mentioned.

Man, I almost made a throwaway for this, but fuck it. I don't care.
Don't do it. It's not fucking worth it. I've been shaving my face with a DE safety razor for about 9 months and I love it. Absolutely love it. I tried shaving my head with it for about a week before I said "fuck this shit." On a lark I tried my girlfriend's lady razor and it works like a fucking charm. I use Arko and a brush in the shower and I cannot tell you how awesome and easy it is. It only takes a few minutes and it's great. Just, ya know, don't tell people. Especially not on here. For me it was free, because I'm not against using the same one as my girl. But, even if you have to buy it for yourself it's not expensive, because they last for-fucking-ever. The damn thing never leaves the shower and we both use it a lot and the blade gets changed like every three weeks. Seriously, bromine, the shit is legit.

You can do better for less money shopping on sites other than Amazon, but you can do okay there if you're careful.

For a razor I'd get an Edwin Jagger Kelvin. The Parker 24c is another viable option; I just don't like the way it looks. And if you're the clumsy type, the Merkur 34c is less likely to break if you drop it or knock it off the counter. In terms of shave quality, I'd say Merkur < Edwin Jagger < Parker, but the differences aren't huge. For build quality EJ is a big step above Merkur and Parker.

There are some great synthetic brushes on the market, but AFAIK none of them are available on Amazon. Which means, in your price range, that boar bristles are the only viable option. The Omega 10049 is a big brush that will break in quickly. I actually prefer the small Semogues such as the 1460, but they take a ton of time (or a fair amount of work) to break in.

For shave soap, I really like Pre de Provence. It's a big puck of hard soap, so it'll last you a very long time. Cella is another top performer (far better than, say, Proraso) for an affordable price. I've also heard good things about Soap Commander and Wet Shaving Products' "Rustic" line. Whatever you do, stay away from Col. Conk and Blades Grim.

For blades, just don't. Go to Try a Blade and get a double helping of their top ten sampler. Once you've found your favorite blade, go back to Amazon and see if you can't get a good price on 100 of them.

If there's anything else you need from Amazon, get it and pick up your shave gear elsewhere. For example, the Maggard Razors budget starter kit is outstanding, and is about to get better with the inclusion of their self-branded synthetic brushes. For $40 you can put together a kit that's a step up from the $60 worth of stuff I recommended on Amazon. But if it's gotta be Amazon, you at least have some viable options.

Edited to add final paragraph.

Guide to budget-buying for your first safety razor? Yes. As a matter of fact, this is the biggest advantage of shaving the old way: Supplies are quite cheap (though enthusiasts can quickly spend quite a lot of money on fancy brushes and hand-made razors). Go to Amazon, and look at these:

Silver Tone DE Razor -- For the money, you can't really beat this razor. I have one, and it works as it ought to. You might pick up an antique for no more than a couple bucks at a yard sale or antique shop; but give this a try if you can't be arsed.

Williams Mug Shaving Soap -- Works well enough; best when lathered on the puck. Cheapest you can buy.

Luxor Pro Badger Brush -- It's cheap. But it works. It will probably start losing bristles and thus wear out after a year or two; YMMV. If you want to get something a little nicer that will last a good long while, plan to spend at least $25 on a shaving brush; boar are better for the cheaper brushes but badger are the best if they are quality.

Most recommend getting one of the blade sampler packs on Amazon if you don't know what you like shaving with. These cost $12-30 or so, depending on how many blades are in them. If you're looking to go really cheap, get a 100 pack of Derby blades for $8. You can get a five pack of cheap blades for as little as $1, but I can't vouch for the effectiveness of those.

All told, this combo will cost you around $18.92, and you'll have adequate shaving supplies to last you for a couple years (depending on how much soap you use).

In time you'll want to upgrade things, of course; but this will do you well.

I shave my legs, armpits, and lady parts daily and almost never get razor burn or ingrown hairs anymore. I used to only shave once every few days because my skin would get so irritated, but I've found that with this process I'm able to shave daily with no issues:

1. Trim long hair first
   
   • Like others have said, if it's been a while since you shaved the area it's a lot easier if you trim the hair down prior to shaving. If you don't have a trimmer using scissors is fine.
     
     
2. Exfoliate
   
   • I recommend doing so once a week or so if you're shaving regularly, or prior to shaving if it's more rare of an occurrence. I really like the Lush Ocean Salt scrub and the Haus of Gloi Sugar Exfoliant
     
3. Use good razor blades
   
   • This is the most important thing. Don't use crappy disposable blades; even a lot of the "better" drugstore brands would still give me bumps and ingrown hairs (like Mach 3 Turbo and equivalents). I currently use the Dorco Shai 6 Smooth Touch blades though I bought one of the Pace 6 Plus handles because the men's razor handles are much sturdier (the Shai handles are entirely plastic and break easily if dropped, and the men's are mostly metal and a lot more sturdy).
     
4. Use a good shaving cream
   
   • Ditch the aerosol foam stuff, it's not helping you much at all. Conditioner is better than those shaving foams. There's a lot of different options, but I've found that for my skin the best are the thicker creams that contain some kind of shea or coconut butter. I really like Lush's Dirty shaving cream, but it's rather expensive so I've switched to the Van Der Hagen Shave Butter that's like 1/4 of the price and works just as well.
     
5. Switch out blades often
   
   • I switch out my razor cartridges every 3 days, which seems to be the limit before they get dull enough to start irritating my skin and giving a worse shave. Don't bother with places like Dollar Shave Club -- they literally just buy Dorco blades, re-brand them, then mark them up. Just find an online retailer and buy direct from them.
     
   • Also, if you do go with Dorco, there's absolutely no reason whatsoever to pay full price. They have some kind of sale every 2-3 weeks so I always wait until they're having some kind of 20% off or buy-one-get-one promotion before buying more.
     
6. Moisturize
   
   • Putting on a lotion that's not going to irritate your skin post-shave helps me a lot. I like the Nivea Sensitive Post-Shave Balm or the basic St. Ives Moisturizing Lotion

/r/wicked_edge for alot of info but I just started shaving alone at 31! I started with a Shavette too so pretty hard. But my ritual works like a charm.

1. Take a hot shower.
   
2. when you are done. come out and wash your face with some Glycerene soap . Any some with the same contents works. I leave it for around 1 mins. Then apply shaving cream lather on top of it.
   
3. Time to make some lather! use a brush it helps moisturizing and massaging the lather into your beard and pores. Two types of Brushes:
   
   

• Synthetic hair brush. option one. Good option 2 cheaper Just keep in mind if you go synthetic then buy shaving creap and not soap.
  
• Boar/Badger - You will need to pay up here. I went Silvertip Badger which is the finest but with the cheapest brush. This has a whole different prep so PM if you wanna shell out a few extra bucks but live in bliss. keep in mind that Synthetic is just as good.
  
  
• Buy a shaving bowl or any soap bowl will do, take your brush into the soap/cream. For soaps creams buy something with Glycerine1 My favorite scent is this one 2. See this video to make lather
  
  

4. Shave. With the grain or across as a beginner. A good Double edge safety razor to start with some blades very sharp so careful
   
   
5. When you are done splash your face with some cold water onceor twice. Use an alum block around your face. If it burns alot it means you were too rough on that area. After that a splash of with hazel.
   
   
6. Wait a few mins and use some nivea sensitive after shave balm
   
   Remember always pat your face with the towel to dry. Dont rub.
   
   Tips on how to shave with a DE are plentiful on youtube.
   
   Enjoy. Feel like a Boss.

• Pre - Imperial Barber Glycerin Soap/T&H Pre-Shave Oil
  
• Razor - Hoffritz Slant
  
• Blade - IP Red
  
• Brush - Bullgoose Beehive Horse
  
• Soap - Arkoooooo
  
• AS - Razorock + Booster Lilac
  
  The combination of the IB Glycerin soap and the T&H Pre-Shave oil is just awesome. The IB Glycerin breaks down REALLY fast. I've used it maybe three times and I've taken a good half centimeter off it. I'm running out of my samples of both, either going to have to bite the bullet and buy some or get budget and try some new things.
  
  First time with Arko. Traded for it, came pre-smushed so just formed it into one of my handy and lonely tins. Scent descriptions have ranged from floor cleaner to "barbershop fresh" but the most flowery one I've heard is "lemon urinal cake."
  
  It's accurate.
  
  The thing is, it's not a horrible scent, and could bring back some great memories like the time with that one chick from Spring Break Lauderdale '92.
  
  Once you get past the scent it's a great product. Took a while for me to face lather. I started fairly dry, and the oil probably didn't help, but this soap seems to love water. Took about 5 tip dips to get it to the right consistency.
  
  Very smooth shave. Got some IP Reds in a trade (like almost everything I use). These were my first blades when I started, so I didn't know what to expect. You look back on your first products either with fondness or fear and wonder what your new techniques will get out of them.
  
  First pass was so good...it was one of those that you consider maybe stopping so you don't ruin it. Went for a cleanup XTG, then minor buffing, turned out great.
  
  So the next time you can get some Arko in a trade, throw it in with an order, or you see that ridiculous $12 deal for 15 sticks, grab it.
  
  Where to find the products I'm using for (what I think) is the best deal. Just because.
  
  
• Imperial Barber Glycerin Soap - $12+ a bar onine. Not worth it.
  
• T&H Pre-Shave Oil - $30. I'm going to buy it direct from T&H just because they usually send samples. I actually do think it's worth it. Can also try it out as part of a sample pack.
  
• Razor - Hoffritz Slant - Vintage. They pop up on eBay quite a bit, usually overpriced.
  
• Blade - IP Red - Get the UK packaging from WCS.
  
• Brush - Bullgoose Beehive Horse - Only one place.
  
• Soap - Arkoooooo - $20 for 15 or $1.95 for 1 from Turkey or $2.39 from shoebox. If buying one, add more items so you don't get rocked on shipping.
  
• Razorock Alum - $5.99 from ItalianBarber.com, bullgoose, WCS, etc.
  
• Booster Lilac - Discontinued, sorry, I've looked.
  

Easy one for me. I'd skip the Proraso White and spend a few extra bucks on a Chosera 1k.

Proraso White made my skin tingle, despite being marketed as a "sensitive skin" soap.

Aside from that, I've been wanting to try an Omega Hi-brush for a while. Price seems kinda high, but I've been pleasantly surprised by the synthetic brushes I've tried so far.

Also, you mentioned you don't need any more soap, but TOBS Lavender. There are better Lavender soaps out there, but for the price TOBS is in my top three. I'm a big fan of Lavender in general, and I love how insanely heavy TOBS goes on the fragrance.

Lastly, CeraVe in the tub. The folks over at /r/SkinCareAddiction turned me onto this stuff. You use it after shaving, like a balm. Seriously, man. Seriously. This stuff is the shit. If you've never tried it, treat yo'self.

Also, Merry Christmas!

Ok, here is what I recommend to start with. This is basically what I started with to. None of these items are the best quality, but you can get a feel for the shave technique and you'll know if you want to spend more money on better stuff quickly.

Razor

Blades note you'll want to try other brands eventually, but these are not harsh, they're inexpensive, and thus a good first purchase.

Bowl & brush note toss this puck of soap, it's shit.

Shave soap



This will get you going for gear. You can sub out stuff for better quality if you want, but I'd keep it cheap to start. You'll also want to learn how to use all this stuff. This is what I used to learn how to shave the first time. You'll find there are many techniques and schools of thought, but this is the best basic guid to learn and develop muscle memory.



Good luck, and if you need help pm me or check us out at /r/Wicked_edge/

This is an interesting question!

On the personal front, Col. Conk's Bay Rum Shaving Soap is quite nice and has a tropical vibe. The lime scent is pretty good as well.



For room scents, we had a party this weekend and there was a ton of leftover citrus. So, I have a big bowl of unpeeled lemons and limes sitting on my table that smell great though it doesn't exactly fill the room.

Lastly, if you have ever stayed in a really fancy hotel, a lot of them have signature scents that fill the lobby. Typically they are light, refreshing, and custom made for the hotel and therefore hard to track down otherwise. I stayed in the La Meridian, Bangkok that had a wonderful smell and I fell like it would be amazing for a tiki bar.

I just learned it apparently was created to smell like old books!

If you are really dedicated to mediocre non-lathering shave creams...

• Everyman Jack Signature Mint shaving cream.
  
• Jack Black Beard Lube
  
• Baxter of California Super Close shaving cream
  
• Burt's Bees Shaving Cream
  
• Shea Moistur Shave Butter
  
• Van Der Hagen Shave Butter
  
• Kiss My Face Shaving Cream
  
• Pacific Shaving Company Caffeinated Shaving Cream
  
  To be fair, a few of these are actually pretty decent. The Kiss My Face and Pacific Shaving Company Caffeinated creams are actually pretty good and work well with or without a brush (though better with a brush). These two are also pretty easy to find at retail, almost every retailer I found that carries Cremo also offers at least one of these two.
  
  Having said that, using a brush with a traditional soap or cream will almost always result in a nicer lather than any of these products.

I have two to recommend. One is a soap that my wife makes, she is the creator of mason boutique soaps, and she makes one called maya which is a very clean fresh scent. The other one I'd like to recommend is Taylor of old bond street avocado. It's one that I think most people would be apprehensive to try, but it's a wonderful scent, nice, cool, clean, crisp. I also like the TOBS Grapefruit, but with that it's either love it or hate it. I honestly can't see anyone NOT loving the avocado one.

> Edit to add: Oh and it is NOT cheaper imo (well unless you go through 1 cartridge a day for the expensive gillette ones I guess). Sure the razor blades themselves are 10 a penny, but all the extras you might need - the butters, creams, lotions, etc... quickly add up, and depending how fast you go through the consumables might be more expensive.

Yeah, you don't really need all of those.

Here's what I use:

• Dorco Prime razor
  
• Williams mug shaving soap - these bars last a long time, BTW; you should be able to get 4-5 months out of a bar easy
  
• A cheap brush I got as part of a $6 gift set with some shave butter from Big Lots years ago (used up the shave butter long ago, but the brush still works great and I use the container from the shave butter as a dish for my soap)
  
  Other than that, everything else about my routine is unchanged. I have a beard oil I use as an aftershave as well as on the bits of facial hair I want to keep (this stuff), and a styptic pencil I keep on hand for nicks, but I don't use any other products, and I'd still be using that stuff even if I was still on cartridges. And I get way less razor burn than I did on cartridges.

Magic Shave Cream - I believe. They sell it in Walmart, wegmans, amazon, etc...fairly inexpensive as well, about 3-5 dollars, but I find one container only lasts one to two applications.

As I said before, I use it on everything waist down and haven't had any problems, but do a test patch just to be sure. I have coarse hair so sometimes I do end up shaving my legs for extra smoothness, but this will work great for butt(hole), the area between the scrotum and butt, and the scrotum itself. It can also be used on the face (that's originally what it was created for), but I don't really grow facial hair so I've never tried it on my face.

Another good thing about this is it doesn't have that burning sensation like nair, even if you leave it on a minute or two longer than suggested (at least not for me)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00C5RI0P8/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1499233659&sr=8-2&keywords=magic+shave+cream

It also comes in different strengths.

Let me know how it goes!

Two years after your first Baby Bottom Smooth, perfect shave, try the cheapest of the cheap soaps and creams: Williams mug shaving soap , Van der Haugen Deluxe soap , Col. Conk glycerine shave soap , 12-pack of Derby shave cream for $11 , Arko shave stick.

You will find that good prep, plus good technique with the razor, plus good technique with the brush, plus good choice of blade that's exactly right for you , will let you get BBS shaves with a huge variety of creams and soaps. Even the cheapest of the cheap.

You may also find that you enjoy one or two not-cheap soaps and creams enough, to allow yourself to pay up for the extra pleasure these little "luxuries" give you .

I used disposables for years, and always had sensitive skin, and ingrown hairs. Four years ago I switched to a safety razor, a cup of glycerine soap, and a badger hair brush. I noticed an almost immediate change in my skin for the better. I replace the blades when they are dull, but that's it.

A key part of this is the pre-shave hot water. Your hair is stiff. Soften it up with hot water. It takes a minute, just splash hot water on your face till the beard feels smooth. If you try to share before your hair is ready, the blade tends to tug on the hair. These 12 blades gillette jobs bypass all the hot water beard prep, but in exchange they fuck up your face. Take the time to get a good shave.

Here's the razor i've trusted for four years.
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/190429.htm
Very similar to yours.

As far as shaving creams go, my experience has been that anything in a can will glog up my blades, and that means more passes over the same area. I now only use a glycerine shaving soap in a cup. It rinses very clean, and gives one hell of a good shave without drying my skin. Add to that, it lasts a really long time, and is super cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001A3DNXC

I've been using this soap for the last few years, and it's great for me.

Practicality? Maybe.

Cost? Not really...if you're buying the expensive end, yeah....I've always bought in the cheap end and been very happy, and gotten a decent shave and a lot of lather from it. You don't need to be in the 20$ range. A puck lasts longer than a can, so that 1.29 goes in repeatedly before you use up a puck, which could (at least with the soaps I use, I'll list them below) even out in costs.

On top of that, canned stuff is worse for your skin and health, that's been shown.

Soaps I've used and use:

Lightfoot's Pine for 7.08

Swedish Dream Sea Salt, avg 6.20

Conk's Bay rum 6.00

Van der Hagen 2.50 (This one I find for about 2 at local stores too)

These are just my soaps that I've used. Not to mention there are other options out there as well!

Not to mention using a brush and lathering has benefits. You mention hassle? Seriously? I can do a full face work ready shave in 5 minutes and I have the shittiest grain pattern imaginable. I can do my neck in 3 minutes (shitty neck grain pattern). That's lathering, shaving, cleaning up, etc. I use a badger brush, so I don't need to soak it, I guess.

Arko sticks are kinda a hassle, I won't argue that because I understand that. But not all soaps and shaves are also hassles because...I mean...come on, if I can do my face with that little hassle, you ought to be able to pull off something.

I'm saying this and bringing up the cost because I switched because of cost alone. Comfort a bit. I don't collect razors. I'm kinda overstocked at the moment with three, and some guys around here have dozens. I'm not a hobbyist, I use a brush and DE because of the cost vs. rattlecans and razors.

Barbasol is cheap, so the cost difference may be small, but to the best of my knowledge, is still there.

If being proven that it at least breaks even, and at best can improve from there, is not enough....at least use this sort of barbasol. The Aerosel and rattlecans are terrible for your skin.

I also see you've posted below about how you know that it's your technique and have decided that you're going to ignore that you have erred in your technique and ditch it anyway. If you're lazy, it won't help you in trying things to the best of their abilities!

However, if after all this you're still going to ditch brushes and soaps, creams, etc, /u/shave_bazaar allows you to post your supplies up and you can give them up for shipping costs alone to newbies who want to try their hand at wet shaving, rather than canning them.

Ok, so I am going to assume (make an ass of both you and me) that you have absolutely no idea what you are doing.
I recommend the following:

• Shaving cream with Aloe (I use Barbasol)
  
• Safety Razor ( I use the Merkur Long handled safety Razor with Astra Blades)
  
• Shave the morning of your shift.
  CAUTION
  IMPROPER HANDLING, EXCESSIVE PRESSURE, OR ALLOWING THE RAZOR TO DRAG LEFT TO RIGHT CAN RESULT IN SEVERE CUTS. DON'T BE A DUMBASS AND TAKE YOUR TIME.
  
  
• Shaving Procedure( FOLLOW IN ORDER):
  
• Get shaving cream and razor
  
• Rinse Razor wit warm
  
• Wash your face with warm water (do not dry face, leave it wet)
  
• Apply shaving cream to your left hand
  
• Gently apply the shaving cream to all of the areas you wish to shave (on your face)
  
• Gently hold the razor at a 45 degree angle to your face and begin shaving in a position that is comfortable against the grain. (I start with the bottom of my neck)
  
• Rinse the razor frequently ( It usually takes me 6 - 7 rinses to finish the bottom of my neck after two days of growth. You can take out a full grown beard with the procedure. It just takes time)
  
  
• Once you feel that you can pass the razor smoothly across your face, its time to really fine tune the shave.
  
• Reapply shaving cream to your left hand.
  
• Apply it to your face.
  
• Move your hand in a circular motion so that you can feel the grain of any hairs that you missed.
  
• Shave against the grain.
  
• Rinse the razor.
  
• Repeat until your face is nice and smooth.
  
  
  NOTE
  
  Remember to touch up your side burns and the points where the curves your nose meets your upper lip.
  
  
  
  LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE:
  
  Link to the Razor:
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Merkur-Long-Handled-Safety-Razor/dp/B000NL0T1G/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1467945848&sr=1-1&keywords=merkur+safety+razor
  
  
  Razor Blades:
  
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QY8QXM/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
  Shaving Cream:
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Barbasol-Soothing-Thick-Shaving-Cream/dp/B001SGLDCO/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1467946485&sr=1-1&keywords=barbasol+aloe+shaving+cream

Ah man it's not a huge investment! They're SOOO much better than even the gillette platinum ones!

This is only 15 bucks for a solid handle. You can spend a lot more, but you don't need to.

Their blades aren't super expensive and they're noticably sharper than even the premium US brands and those you get from those boutique shops in the mall.

Match that with a solid Badger Hair brush and high quality moisturizing soap you're talking under 60 bucks total investment and it's a massive step up in quality and overall experience while shaving.


But for travel, a Defender razor with a pack of blades can't be beat. They're inexpensive, they are disposable, they last a reasonable amount of time, and apart from a premium safety razor, they shave closer than any other disposable I've found, even better than a mach 3, they also rinse super easy.

I browsed /r/wicked_edge for a bit before diving in. Their FAQ should be a good place to get you started.

I've improved my pre- and post-shave routines as well as using a brush and non-canned shaving cream. Anecdotally, the learning curve wasn't very steep for me (a few nicks and cuts starting out) and I'm noticing that my issues with sensitive skin and ingrown hairs are resolving.

Your start-up costs may seem a little steep, but you can find some deals or cheaper gear and upgrade later. The fact that I actually enjoy shaving and feel better after doing it more than makes up for the initial purchase.

I started with the following:

Razor Emporium Sensitive Skin Blade Sampler pack

Musgo Real Lime Glyce Soap

Parker Safety Razor SYNTHETIC Bristle Shaving Brush

Taylor of Old Bond Street Avocado Shaving Cream

Edwin Jagger DE89bl Chrome Plated Double Edge Safety Razor

Gentleman Jon 3.5 Ounce Alum Block

I'm not sure about straight razors, but I switched to double edged safety razors and it is so much better than Gillette crap. I bought this Merkur Safety Razor, 100 Derby Blades, Shaving Soap, And a shaving brush.


I spent a total of $60 and the only thing I've spent money on since is different soap. I bought these things over two or three years ago and I'm not even close to running out of razor blades. I get a closer more refreshing shave and I don't spend anywhere near the money I used to spend on shaving. Also, I thought it would take me longer to shave, but I spend about the same amount of time shaving.


I've never used an old school straight razor, but I'd like to at some point. However, it would be a considerable investment initially. At least $120ish for a nice blade, you gotta buy sharpening stone, probably also on a special strop for finer sharpening. So there is more time in preparation and conditioning before and after shaving. I would imagine that it could be very satisfying if you're willing to spend the time and money.

I would recommend bring your preferred razor, and grabbing a bottle of Jack Black Beard Lube. I just picked up a bottle myself a few weeks ago to use with my shavette and I really love it. It doesn't require a bowl or brush, just pour out a bit and rub it on your face. It goes on clear which is the main reason I got it, then you can see everything while you shave. It washes off easily from my face and my razor, and it really has helped with irritation I used to get.

Is it the best shaving cream/lotion out there? I'm not sure, but I've tried a bunch of different shave soaps and creams and this is on par with some of my favorites. The fact I don't have to mess with a bowl and brush is a major plus, and the fact it goes on clear is even better.

Cheap Starter kit $29.37:

Silver Tone Double Edge Blade Razor Shaver w Nonslip Metal Handle $6.72

Derby Double Edge Razor Blades 30 Ct $3.70

Escali 100% Pure Badger Shaving Brush $13.95

Col. Conk Lime Glycerine Shave Soap 2.25 oz. $5.00

Blade sample pack (nor merkur or feather though):

Double Edge Safety Razor Blade Variety Pack - 100 Blades!

Better starter kit ($110.85):

Parker 82R Super HeavyWeight Butterfly Open Double Edge Safety Razor & 10 Shark Double Edge Blades $30.88

Edwin Jagger 1ej946sds Traditional English Best Badger Hair Shaving Brush Faux Ebony Medium With Drip Stand, Black, Medium $41.72

Geo F. Trumper Limes Shaving Soap in Wooden Bowl $32

10 Feather Razor Blades NEW Hi-stainless Double Edge $6.25

Yeah, keep the soap/cream in its container to load the brush and then build the lather elsewhere as you confirmed. Soaps are generally more dense so you can swirl them around in their own container and get some lather without using too much product, but with creams you'll find that a little goes a long way.

I love lavender as well. I do like the Art of Shaving lavender but it's admittedly pricey for what you get. Taylor of Old Bond Street has a good lavender cream (and really purple) that's quite affordable. Mitchell's Wool Fat is a classic in the wet shaving community and also one of my favorites.

For a post-shave you can look at Thayer's brand witch hazels. They have a variety of unscented and scented astringents and toners, including lavender.

Brush

Razor

Razor Sampler

Cream Or Soap puck

That's all you need to start, I prefer the puck soaps, but many guys love the Proraso.

You could also get

Witch Hazel, toner for after shaving

And any aftershave you like, I prefer a splash like classic oldspice but some people like a balm.

Okay, just IMHO, but...

> using conditioner as shave cream lately

No. Stop now. Get a real shaving cream. Something for sensitive skin, like Proraso Blue.

>since my girlfriend also uses that razor on her legs, and I don't know how many times it's been used by the time I get to it again.

Congratulations, you made my nervous eye tic come back.

Razors are cheap. Get your own, and your own set of blades. Think of razors like toothbrushes--would you honestly let her (or would she even want to) share a toothbrush on a daily basis?

At this point, I'm going to defer to the W_E community, especially those with sensitive skin. You may want to ask their daily regimen for shaving, as it will give you a great idea as to where to start for keeping the bald beautiful.

As boring as it sounds, Barbasol is the way to go in my opinion. My boyfriend and I both use it to shave anything and everything we want and I love it! I think we have this kind but I remember it being cheaper when I bought it months ago (it lasts forever idek) but shop around because certain types are cheaper. Don't be afraid by the super manly/boring appearance, I really love it. I used to be a conditioner gal too but this changed my mind totally. Sometimes I don't even exfoliate first with a body wash & scrub and I'm still fine.

As for razors, I have no clue.

Yes, shaving soap is slightly different from body soap. Here's my favorite. Some are more expensive, you can also get cheaper ones. The major difference is the inclusion of clay, and some may have special oils to reduce cuts, or promote healing. You may want moisturizing soap, or you could just use lotion after using regular bar soap. Overall the benefits are minimal, but the difference in the lather production is the most noticeable difference. When you shave you want tiny bubbles, in order to create a strong lather that looks similar to canned soap, or whipped cream. With body soap you create medium sized bubbles that don't last as long, which means to get a proper lather requires more effort.

BUT... use whatever works best for you. When I was in the military I dry shaved twice a day for two months and never had any cuts, ingrown hairs, or irritation. Soap is a luxury for me, and luxury generally means not necessary.

As Kinganti points out, samples are a great way to find new soaps you like for very cheap.

And as for my two cents, I am loving TOBS avocado though you really can't go wrong with any TOBS.
I also like to have a tube of Proraso on hand for the mornings I really need a "wake up" or for hot summer days.. speaking of, I've been going through a lot of Proraso in the past few weeks...

A shave cream is more detergent like, it lathers in hard water without much trouble. [Here's an example of a lathering shave cream] (http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shaving-Cream-Vitamin-Formulation/dp/B00A9TZMQE/ref=pd_sim_bt_4) Shave soap is a soap that is lathered with a brush just like a shave cream, but the soap is generally less expensive. Soap on the other hand doesn't lather worth a damn in hard water, unless you're using an arko shave stick. The ingredients in shave soap are there to moisten the skin and help the razor glide over your face. Shave creams will keep your face moist as well, as opposed to the canned foams/gels. Hopefully this information helps.

Seriously, take a look at Leisureguy's book. It'll help you decide if wet shaving is for you (it's not for everyone).

Bought/read his book?

Good! Now go out and buy some things.

If you're one to go off the beaten path, look on ebay for vintage Gillette razors or check out your local antique shops. You should be able to get a "vintage" razor for between $5-$15 if you look hard enough.

Next get yourself a good, yet cheaper brush, a blade sampler pack, some soap and/or shaving cream, and an alum block. Have a Bath & Body Works nearby? Pick up this.

At this point, going for a pricey brush/soap doesn't make as much sense, IMO - you're just testing the waters here. There will be plenty of time later to buy a fancier brush (*cough*). The trick here will be to see if you like it more than using a multi-blade cartridge/electric razor.

Cheers, and good luck!

I have yet to try this, but I hear Proraso White is a good one. At only $10 it seems like a pretty good deal too.

Mug and brush is more of a European phenomenon than an American one, at least for now. But yeah, there are a whole bunch of different options regarding soap, brushes, razors, and blades.

A few years ago, I got a very nice, Chinese stainless steel razor free with a large pack of Derby blades that I'm still using. This was shortly after my foray into mug and brush shaving. Since then, I've tried Omega soap I still use the plastic container it came in for my "mug."

After that, it was some Herban Cowboy I got at the supermarket for $4; it lasted over a year of daily shaves. I liked it but they stopped carrying it. So, I bought a 12-pack of Van Der Hagen shave soap from Amazon for about $15 (price has gone up a bit since then.) This stuff is great; it doesn't have quite the longevity of the Herban Cowboy, but it's even cheaper.

I've been shaving this way for about the past 10 years, starting with a hand-me-down safety razor from my father. Along with the much reduced trash output compared to using compressed shave cream and disposable razors, the thing that really got my attention about the mug and brush method is how inexpensive it is. I'm spending less than $10 a year to shave.

Okay, it's $33, but worth the extra $3.

Mitchell's Wool Fat is one of the greatest soaps ever with the best scent possible. It does not get any better than this, plus the refills are only $16.

Go with the Semogue 620.

Soaps: Get some Chiseled Face! It's seriously great stuff, love Summer Storm. And itching to try Santa Paula.

I also like Proraso Red. and Speick. And a favorite of mine, the matching Speick splash

Gotta say, this changed my entire view on my manscaping. Its worth looking into Magic Shave Cream. I use it once a week and it keeps everything looking good, add a dusting of baby powder and everything is smooth as silk. I should probably go for twice a week to keep any stubble down, but for now I'm happy with once.

Funny thing is my wife doesn't care, she just liked everything to be trimmed. But damn, it's nice to keep it cleaned up.

Hi there, I am also irritated by shaving every day, but I do it because it is professional. Upgrade your shaving routine, and you too can have a nice clean shave every day. I recommend a Braun series 7 razor along with its self cleaning station so it is sterilized every day, along with Proraso sensitive skin shaving cream, and a good shave brush. Wet shaving in the shower takes only a minute or two, and is very refreshing. After my shower I use standard skin bracer and a good moisturizer. If the electric razor is to harsh on your face still, a safety razor takes a few more minutes time, but provides and even less irritating shave.

Speick. Dude, please buy a tube of Speick, It comes in a manly lavender scent. It's amazing. Everyone I've ever sampled it out to has loved it as much as I have. 2.5oz tubes are perfect for travel too. Amazon is $3 higher than everywhere else. Typically it's 6.50.

Edit: But it's German! Sorry. I read the title first and than responded too soon.

As the title states, I'm new to straight razor shaving. I've never been able to get a close shave with disposable/cartridge razors, so I've been wanting to try this for quite some time. I finally bit the bullet and put together a cheap kit (want to see how I'll like it before spending a lot of money), which arrived yesterday.

The razor is a cheap, sub-$20 one from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H6HR2M8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

The brush is a Perfecto badger, also from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LDYFGFQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Henry Cavendish Himalaya Shaving Soap
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H8A2KSU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Schone soap dish
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OQDEL8Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And the Old Spice lather mug belonged to my father. Not shown is the strop.

I shaved with this set-up for the first time last night! I may have to hone the razor a bit more. I knew it wouldn't come shave ready, so I honed it, and stropped the heck out of it, but I feel as though it could be a bit sharper yet. I did not attempt the curves of my jaw line this first time. I only shaved the flats of my face and the flatter parts of my neck, then finished up with a cartridge razor. I need to develop a better technique before I try dragging this thing around curves. Without a doubt though, where I used the straight razor is as smooth as a baby's bottom. I've never had this close of a shave before.

I loved the DSC shave butter, and bought this on amazon https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OX5ZDI2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1 it's pretty similar, smells like almonds :)

You can do whatever works for you. There is nothing about a DE razor that prevents it from working with Barbasol canned foam or Gillette foaming gel. That said, I think it's fair to say that most of the folks here enjoy using soap and brush for a variety of reasons.

Personally, my progression went something like this:

• Gillette cartridges and Gillette foaming gel
  
  
• Replace cartridges with DE, continue using foaming gel
  
  
• Replace foaming gel with cheap cheap soap and brush, continue using DE
  
  
• Replace cheap cheap soap and brush with Beard Lube, continue using DE
  
  
• Include slightly better brush and soap in the rotation with Beard Lube, continue using DE
  
  
• Upgrade brush and soap to popular artisans, begin exploring vintage DE razors
  
  edit: formatting

I'm a big fan of Proraso products myself. They are easy to lather, smell great, and last a long time. I've had my most recent tube for over 6 months. They do make a soap for sensitive skin here. It's also available in a tube if you prefer that. You might could try Sephora in the mall as well. Supposedly they sell some decent shave soaps but I've never checked myself. Hopefully that helps you out! :)

Here are a few good options from Amazon. Most of these are available for cheaper from dedicated wet shaving shops.

• Arko 2-Pack
  
• Mitchell's Wool Fat
  
• WSP Rustic Soap
  
• Tabac
  
• Palmolive Stick
  
  Also, any D.R. Harris soap or cream, and any TOBS cream would be a good choice.
  
  Edit: Also, Kiss My Face Moisture Shave cream is good too and available on Amazon. It says it's non-lathering, but it lathers really well with a brush.

Oops! Well all mistakes I've made I've made on my own. This is the razor I ordered: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CP27F5I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Why is the soap not so good? I heard good reviews of it online which is why I ordered it, would you have a different recommendation?

(This is the one I got https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0031OOHB0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

And for posterity's sake, here's the brush. https://smile.amazon.com/Fento-Badger-Shaving-Safety-Straight/dp/B01EUG393E/ref=pd_ybh_a_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=031MRQJWNV2VPPZHHNSF

Thanks for the advice as well! I really appreciate it.

I currently go full Brazilian wax and have been doing so for 5+ years, but since starting in the LS, I've had to shave more often, which encourages faster growth than when I don't shave between waxing.

I've read the advice for "stripper smooth" shaving, but do you actually shave your delicate bits? I've used a fresh razor each time (I then use it for my legs and armpits, so as not to be wasteful), but I get so nervous with a sharp blade on my labia and near my clit.

I've tried Carson Magic per a friend's recommendation, but my hair must very tough, as it didn't work and I was worried about chemical burns.

Help!

Roll the dice on a Rimei, get refund if they send a vaguely similar junk razor

Everyone tries a slant eventually, and you get a great handle for the Rimei immediately

Wilkinson Sword blades are a relatively sure thing -- very sharp, also very smooth

Save Williams for later, unless you're some kind of lathering genius ;)

Start with cream

Indulge with artisan soap

Always a synthetic brush

Not sure it's the same exact scent, but Proraso Red is pretty great.

I use this hair removal cream called "Magic Razorless Cream Shave" and I've been pleased with the results.
Granted, it is not intended to be used there and I am no medical professional, but a lot of the people in the review section admit that this is also what they use it for.
You apply a thick layer on where you want the hair removed and you kinda have to wait it out. I use the "extra strength" kind and I have to leave it on for at least 12 minutes. (Keep in mind the bottle says to me only leave it on for 7. This did not work for me.) after the time is up you take a plastic card (I use a hotel room key) and scrape the cream off. I go against the grain and I press a little hard.
Sometimes I have to go over it again. It should not burn, really. It's more of a fresh feeling. I would reckoned testing a smaller area of your nether regions first. After this I wash the area off. And apply coconut oil.
This stuff is a life saver. It's cheap and can be found at Target or Walmart. I will warn you though, it does smell kind of bad. It's not too bad, and it doesn't leave your public area smelling bad. It's very much worth it.here is the amazon link to show you what it looks like. I recommend you read the reviews.
For me this stuff lasts two to three days, where as regular shaving only lasts one day.

Use beard lube. I know it sounds weird but it goes on clear so you can see where you are shaving. Been using it for years and it's amazing.

Jack Black Beard Lube Conditioning Shave, 6 fl. oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HP9M34/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Jm0MybEAPFSNR

I use the same razor and the same blades. I also get about 3 shaves (3 passes each) per blade.

I use Col Conk's Bay Rum Shaving Soap though, it smells great and makes a great lather.

I shave my boyfriend's head when the opportunity arises, and I've also gotten into wet shaving. There's a really great, if long, video about wet shaving one's head with a DE razor here. He recommends using a shaving cream product and instead of lathering with brush and bowl, just mixing it with water and making a slick and thick slurry on the head. I've been following that advice and have been using this, since I had it for my own use. It has worked beautifully and my boyfriend loves how it feels. It gets a little drippy if you don't get the water content just right, but if he's doing it in the shower it shouldn't matter anyway. It comes in manlier scents, too.

Barrister & Mann's and Catie's Bubbles' soaps available at Amazon, majority of which eligible for Prime, qualify as your best bet. I highly recommend the aforementioned-linked. Let us know what you decided on.

Bought some matching robes with my best friends. I'm in the middle!

I could really use some shaving soap for my new Double Edged razor!

I used a Norelco beard trimmer for the longer stuff to keep my beard looking trim and groomed. I use a mach 3 turbo razor to shape the areas around my beard with Jack Black beard lube. It's better than shaving cream and gives my neck and cheeks a very smooth feel.

Just make sure the neckline of your beard sort of coincides with the shape of your jawline.

I hope this helps! PM me if you have any more questions about beard maintenance.

Whoa, small world. Nice to meet you. I'll keep that in mind. I linked to the select in my original post, but I guess I can do better for the same price.

What would you say about this 12 pack of delux or this 12 pack of glycerin? What are the pros and cons to using either of them?

Masters brush cleaner is the same thing as William's shaving soap. The reason both are great for natural brushes is the high lanolin content.

Arko soap
Very cheap soap that performs great . Plus you get 15 sticks for $20.
Derby blades Good cheap blade, but you should get
a sampler first to see if you like them.
Mandom aftershave or Aqua Velva.

Well I chose a cream because I read that the soaps take longer to lather/prepare, and I really don't want to spend several minutes prepping soap/cream. I would want it to take at most 2 minutes, like regular shaving does.

I actually switched the Proraso cream for one that another user here recommended, Speick Shave Cream.

Is this the brush you recommended?

Just as my two cents, I found some Williams soap for 1.85 at my local higher quality grocery store, and I've been perfectly satisfied with it

Hm, I'm thinking that it might be because you're using a liquid foundation that goes on thick so that it can't get into your pores easily (but don't quote me on that), have you ever tried a compact or a liquid/powder (it's noth, not liquid OR powder)?

This doesn't really have to do with makeup, but another thing that I'd suggest is that if you're using something like this that you stop. Immediately. Can shaving foams tend to be bad for your skin due to the amount of irritants in them and the fact that they can be really hard to wash off completely (if you're not doing that either, you should definitely start). I'd recommend something like this or something that comes in a jar format. If you really want to get into shaving head on over to /r/wicked_edge, they're really good with all that stuff.

My $0.02 -- Van Der Haagen makes a wonderful soap that I used for a while that helped quite a bit (amazon). Following with witch hazel helped clear up a lot of things, too.

Also, what blades are you using? When I switched from Merkur blades to Feathers, things got instantly better.

They had a combo pack last I saw. Happy to help!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0186PA67C/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497179924&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=barrister%2Band%2Bmann&psc=1&th=1

I also like it. Plus the clove scent is nice. It works really well for me with an EJ 89bl in addition to the Arko stick, which I use whipped up in a bowl.

I honestly have no idea. I have very very sensitive skin on my face and have never been able to shave this close without my face feeling like it was on fire and being bright red. For the record, I used Williams shave soap:
www.amazon.com/Williams-Mug-Shaving-Soap-1-75/dp/B00008X5CH

Dont buy it from that link, I paid 79 cents plus $1.50 shipping elsewhere. That could be the difference, it has a good amount of glycerine

https://www.amazon.com/Williams-Mug-Shaving-Soap-Count/dp/B004AI9234/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1525186240&sr=1-5&keywords=shaving+soap

My barber uses this Williams stuff and if it's good enough for him then it's good enough for me. I've never had a problem with it, especially for the price.

I recently visited Merz Apothecary while in Chicago and picked up, among other items, Tabac Original and Proraso Vitamin E and Aloe. I like each quite well thus far, especially the Tabac--I can see why so many swear by it.

sample pack of what exactly? creams? you are better of buying a single cream. If I were starting again, I would go with this one. Or you can get samples from stirling soaps as well.

Do you have a brush? I would say get maggard(ebay or maggard razors website) synthetic or fendrihan (amazon) synthetic to begin with. get a blade sampler from tryablade.com.

With a brush and shave soap you put soap in mug, wet brush, whip up lather, shave, rinse brush, let brush dry. $15 for a decent enough brush with a lifetime warranty, $1 for cheap shave soap that still lathers and lubricates better than canned shaving cream and a puck lasts a good while.

Well, after the responses here, I went ahead and bought cavendish himalayas as a filler item on amazon last night. Do you think thats a good place to start.

Thank you! I'll probably end up checking these out now 🙂 I got you covered for a good lather 💜

I found that DSC's Shave Butter clumped up in my razor. I changed to this and like it much better.

http://www.amazon.com/Barbasol-Thick-Shaving-Cream-Soothing/dp/B001SGLDCO

Best stuff ever.

As others have said, clean the razor, get a pack of blades, and try it. Make sure the blade "aligns" with the head. This means the two halves of the blade holder are parallel to each other and to the edges of the blade.

If the blade looks like it is "twisted" in the head when looking top-down, you should consider getting a different razor. I have been wet-shaving for a few years, own a few dozen razors, and only one of them holds blades like this. It is incredibly difficult for me to shave with it, I get cut by it a lot.

You will also want to get a brush, bowl, and either soap or cream.

Most of us have spent a few hundred dollars on this since starting wet-shaving. My personal problem is buying too many vintage Gillette razors on eBay. For some reason I can't stop myself.

It's $1.38 each in a 15 pack on Amazon with free shipping, which is what I'm assuming this guy ordered.

http://www.amazon.com/Arko-Shaving-Soap-Stick-free/dp/B002UBOEW2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1342702878&sr=8-3&keywords=arko

> Van Der Hagen

I think you're referring to [this] (https://www.amazon.com/Van-Hagen-Shave-Butter-Ounce/dp/B00OX5ZDI2). From what I can tell it's just shaving cream with a good marketing team behind it. I've never used this product, but have used Van Der Hagen shave soap a handful of times. Once I made the switch to artisan soaps I never looked back, since IMO they use higher quality ingredients and the puck/jar lasts long enough to justify the increase in price. YMMV.

Based just on reviews online, I think the new winner for widely available artisan soaps is WSP. $14 for 125g, ships with Amazon Prime, and seems to be flawless in reviews. Mine's coming in tomorrow so I'll have a more personal sense of it, but this might be the one I tell newcomers to get.

Personally, I would try different blades - I've had some bad luck with most of those blades you have tried. I'm a big fan of Perma-Sharp and Voskhod blades - both of which are really smooth. Next, try some different soap - http://www.amazon.com/Barrister-Mann-Tallow-Shaving-Seville/dp/B0186PA67C is my personal favorite.

I started getting a receding hairling about that age, too. Embrace it, because it's going to leave you whether you want it to or not. Get some shave butter (I prefer Van Der Hagen, which can be picked up at most grocers. I use Bic razors, but some like going all out with expensive safety razors.

Embrace it. It's gonna be a losing battle otherwise.

I'm assuming you're interested in the fancy-pants one. It's "Crabtree & Evelyn Sandalwood Shave Soap".

http://www.amazon.com/Crabtree-Evelyn-Sandalwood-Shave-Wooden/dp/B000Q2Y0AI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1323954332&sr=8-2

$22 on amazon and they have soap "refills" for $14.

The cheapy one is "Williams Mug Shaving Soap".

http://www.amazon.com/Williams-Mug-Shaving-Soap-1-75/dp/B00008X5CH/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1323954398&sr=1-1

$2.27 Razor,
$6.00 Shaving Soap,
$7.49 Brush from Walgreens
$15.76 plus shipping for the Amazon stuff. Add some blades and you're good to go.

http://www.amazon.com/Utopia-Care-Straight-Barber-Razor/dp/B00N5HD340/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1415933885&sr=8-6&keywords=shavette



I love this stuff:
http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Irritation-Pre-shaving-Cream-Oatmeal/dp/B003VS5O3Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1415933935&sr=8-2&keywords=prorazo+preshave



With soap:
http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-New-Shaving-Soap-Sandalwood/dp/B00FF77IQC/ref=sr_1_6?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1415933962&sr=1-6&keywords=proraso




This is your 30 mark, but you need some form of post shave:





... $10 for 2
http://www.amazon.com/Alum-Block-Osma-Pack-Value/dp/B004QVCIKE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1415934080&sr=8-3&keywords=alum+block

1. Throw away your gel/cream thingy.
   
2. Procure this from nearby supermarket.
   
3. ???
   
4. Profit

Neat! Hella expensive, though: http://www.amazon.com/Jack-Black-Beard-Conditioning-Shave/dp/B000HP9M34

Mitchell's Wool Fat is what I'm using now. Really like it. But for softer soaps, I'm also partial to Taylor of Old Bond Street or Proraso

Have you tried glycerin soap? It's made a huge difference for me.
http://www.amazon.com/Van-Hagen-Glycerin-Shave-2-5-Ounce/dp/B001A3DNXC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1291279554&sr=8-4

ok, I suppose the Kent still is slightly more expensive at US$31.95 vs MWF at US$28.95.

Depends on the type, but I can get two tubs of TOBS Lavendar two day shipped(Amazon Prime) from regular Amazon for $24.50 all the time.

edit for linkitude

The Magic brand of depilatories is supposed to be good. They have diffeerent varieties, but here is one for course hair.

Proraso Sensitive Shaving Soap is excellent.

They also have cream, but I am not sure how similar it is to their soap.

https://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shaving-Cream-Sensitive-Skin/dp/B00TKOK5KC



 

Proraso should be available in Sweden too. Maybe not on market, but on webstores atleast.

Looking to trade my Speik Shave Cream (over 90% remaining) for your Black Cherry, Lemony Orange and Orange Chill. The Speik has been transferred to a small wide-mouth leak proof container for easier loading.

I want to try different scents but it's really hard to judge a scent over the internet, I ended up buying this after reading some reviews on Amazon.

It does my friend!

Shaving Cream for Men- Canadian My favourite.

Proraso pre shave with Proraso Proraso Pre-Shave Cream,...

Proraso Shaving Cream, Sensitive... Least favourite.

Wilkinson Sword Mens Traditional Classic Shaving Soap Bowl, 125 Gram

already mentioned here by ourufnek99, you should give single blade razor a shot.

• http://www.amazon.com/Merkur-Classic-Safety-Razor-Straight/dp/B002A8JO48/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416541257&sr=8-1&keywords=merkur+razor
  
• http://www.amazon.com/Merkur-Razor-Double-Edge-Razor-Blades/dp/B000JPMHWK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416541284&sr=8-3&keywords=merkur+razors
  
• http://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Old-Bond-Street-5-3-Ounce/dp/B0031OOHB0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416541352&sr=8-1&keywords=taylor+of+old+bond+street+lavender
  
• http://www.amazon.com/White-Handled-Omega-Professional-Shaving/dp/B000CB8Q4Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1416541371&sr=8-2&keywords=omega+brush
  
• http://www.amazon.com/Gentleman-Jon-Ounce-Block-Plastic/dp/B00FA35K02/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416541433&sr=8-1&keywords=alum+block
  
  

Try some beard lube - it's less of a hassle than going the whole shave oil + badger brush + cream/soap but gives comparable results (particularly when you shower shave). The 6oz tube lasts me over a year of every other day shaving.

Questa l'hai mai provata? https://www.amazon.it/Taylor-Old-Bond-Street-Collection/dp/B0031OOHB0?th=1 A me attira alla lavanda...

this stuff https://www.amazon.com/SoftSheen-Carson-Magic-Razorless-Cream-Shave/dp/B00C5RI0P8?th=1

His Brush. A lot of people on B&B rave about it.

Cella Shaving Soap

Speick shaving cream/stick and ASB.

Arko sticks

$11.50 for the 5.3 oz tub from the same place as OP.

have you ever tried a depilatory cream? since the hair is more so 'dissolved' than cut, when it grows back there's no stubble feeling to it. I use 'magic razorless shave cream' on my man bits and it works great.

just be sure to err on the side of removing it too early and needing to reapply tomorrow than leaving it on too long. most of the horror stories i've heard are from people that did not keep track of how long it was on, and kept it on much longer than they should have. i've personally never had any issues.

> My recommendation would be an unscented, non mentholated soap to rule out the allergic reaction

I tried a few German / Austrian creams / soaps that were recommended in a German shaving forum. A gentle soap that was rather popular was this one: Haslinger Ringelblumen (= marigold) Rasierseife. Unfortunately the lather was the worst and very hard to make. You can't really use it directly with a brush because the soap is very soft and the case is way too small. So you have to cut a piece off and use a mug. I might also be my rather hard water. I already bought citric acid, so I give that a try. Unless the citric acid is too harsh for my skin.

The Speick Shave Cream was one the milder ones, but it also gets uncomfortable after a while.

How long are you supposed to let the soap sit on your skin? I massaged it into my skin for about a minute and let it work for five minutes.

>A good recommendation for a soap would be Le Pere Lucien unscented.

I only found a few UK shops that have the soap in stock. Shipping from the UK is rather expensive and including shipping it would be 39 GBP ~ 46 EUR~ 48 USD. That's way too much for me and I already bought so many soaps and creams.

• Thayer Witch Hazel
  
  
• Taylor of Old Bond Street Lemon & Lime Shaving Cream
  
  
• Taylor of Old Bond Street Lavender Shaving Cream
  
  
• Klar Shaving Soap in Travel Tin
  
  
• Proraso Pre Shave Soap
  
  
• Old Spice Lather Shaving Cream Lime Fresh
  
  
• D.R. Harris Marlborough Shaving Cream Jar
  
  
• Speick Shave Cream
  
  
• Weber Razor This is an amazon purchase through there vendor website
  
  
• 3 Pack of Edwin Jagger Shaving Soap
  

Is this one the right one? Some reviews mentioned chemical burns and now the boys are scared.

I use a very cheap barbasol cream and I use some cheap aftershave. If this was the problem how would I go about fixing it?

Sandalwood shaving soap. This shit is manliness in a jar. It's like 10 bucks, too.

That sounds like severe razor burn or maybe minor razor bumps. Some people can have truly sensitive skin and react quite severely when shaving frequently (check out the guy in the wiki article). You can even get a military waver for shaving the reaction can get so bad.

I only changed two things to my daily shave routine when I added my scalp to it. I switched from soap to shave butter produced by Van Der Hagen, and I started swapping out my disposable Bic razors every 2 days instead of every couple weeks.

The irritation on my head also lessened quite a bit when I started taking my time. I dedicate 30-45 minutes to shaving my head, and use it as a rather zen way to start my day.

Honestly, I would go with a Gillette Slim Adjustable. You can get them from 20-50 bucks on eBay and they are a razor that will last for ever. I've got nothing but great things to say about them. Being adjustable if you have a trouble spot dial it down and viola. Here is one for 28 bucks
I cannot recommend this razor enough. It shaves like a Gillette Fatboy but at a fraction of the cost.

Review 1

Review 2


Tube is fine. I've used Proraso green, Speick and Jack Black Beard Lube they all did ok. Still have them for traveling but at the house I foam up. I get a much better shave and less irritation if I use Checke and Speake pucks. YMMV It really doesn't take me that much longer in the morning to make a lather than out of a tube.

Edit: added and checked links

Edit 2: I'm a dumbass

Canned shaving cream dries the hell out of your skin. That's the exact opposite of what it's supposed to do. A stick of Arko will last you over 70 shaves at $3.65 on Amazon right now. Buy it in bulk and it's even cheaper. You can get 15 sticks for $21

I've had trouble forever with Razor Burn / Razor bumps. I've tried just about every product out there. Here's what I've settled in on:

1. Make sure you're shaving with the grain.
   
2. Consider an electric razor. the Norelco Sensotouch 3D does a decent job but nothing will be as smooth as a blade.
   
3. Jack Black Beard Lube Use this instead of your shaving cream. Great stuff.
   
4. Use some kind of abrasive scrub afterwards. The goal is to get rid of ingrown hairs. The beard lube worked so well I've stuck with Jack black on this one and really like their Face Scrub
   
5. Use a moisturizer of your choice.
   
   The only other thing that worked at all was Tend Skin but I hated the stuff. It's salicylic acid in an alcohol solution. If that sounds painful to put on your face after shaving that's because it IS. It also stinks. And leaves a white powder on your skin. And drys it to hell and back.
   
   Fewer razor bumps but my girlfriend (now wife) wouldn't come close because my neck stunk and tasted bad to kiss. Stick with the jack black stuff.