Anyone out there use the double edge safety razor shaving method?

[RhythmDawg]

Oh, and you think this hobby is expensive? Wait until you get addicted. Then wait until you discover fountain pens. That is much worse. I could buy a car with my fountain pen collection.

[solo1001]

Pay the extra money for a badger hair brush. I use a merkur double blade and gillette blades. Don't use the drugstore brand double edge blades because you'll cut yourself badly. The only issue I have is right under my nostrils. Don't use any pressure at all. Just use the weight of the razor and you should be good. If you have time, give yourself a couple of rounds of lathering and shaving and you should be good. Totally worth the money you save not buying the latest and greatest cartridges.

[techman05]

Pay the extra money for a badger hair brush. I use a merkur double blade and gillette blades. Don't use the drugstore brand double edge blades because you'll cut yourself badly. The only issue I have is right under my nostrils. Don't use any pressure at all. Just use the weight of the razor and you should be good. If you have time, give yourself a couple of rounds of lathering and shaving and you should be good. Totally worth the money you save not buying the latest and greatest cartridges.

Yeah, I am thinking of buying one of the "starter" kits that comes with a good razor, badger hair brush, stand, cream, and an assortment of blades. Hoping my shaving doesn't become an addiction a la HD's description. It would be awesome to come across some antiques after I get started and have an appreciation for it. Hopefully, overall, I can save money over the gillette multi-blade systems.

Thanks guys for all the tips and chat board hookup. I am sure it will all come in handy. If you see a guy at homecoming with gauze wrapped around his head, it could be me!!! Don't worry HD, I will be patient. I always say something worth doing is worth doing right.

[RhythmDawg]

As I was shaving this morning, I was thinking about time. Make sure you are willing to invest the time involved to learn. If you always shave in a hurry, this won't work. When I first started, it literally took me 45-60 minutes to fully shave. But, now I can shave as fast as you can with a cartridge, and as fast as some can with an electric, and get a much cleaner, closer shave of which my wife notices a huge difference...and that is a good thing.

And just FYI, when making the transition to using a straight, the learning curve is 3 times as steep, but fun.

[RhythmDawg]

And when you are sure you want to continue, this is the greatest contribution to wet shaving in the last 50 years:

http://www.sarabonnymanpottery.com/moss_scuttle.htm

[DrumDawg]

i got into wet shaving about 5 years ago; or halfway through my time teaching at tech; The water in Ruston did NOT cooperate with shaving with a fusion razor for me.

so, I hung out on B&B quite a bit. be careful with that site; they have enough topic areas there (except sports) you can kill a LOT of time there.

I introduced Rhythmdawg to it; and I think Germdawg and I talked about it before (i have slept since then).

I would recommend buying a starter kit from one of the guys in the BST; OR introduce yourself in the new member area; lots of the guys there do pay it forwards and you might get a really nice beginner kit for nothing (they generally judge by post count).

I started with a Merkur HD and a synthetic brush and shave soap; and now alternate with the HD, a Merkur Slant or a gillette Tech (that is the same age as me; OLD). I have so many friggin shave soaps in my rotation; but my two favorites are Mama Bear Cocoa (is like shaving with a hersey bar) and QED something or other; cant remember the name but it smells like blue spruce.

and then RD got me friggin addicted to fountain pens; ugh

but as RD suggests, take the time upfront and do it slowly; you will get a much better shaving experience and much less razor burn or weepers.

and shaving this way (with a safety razor or straight) seems to REALLY be a turn on to the opposite sex; my SWMBO really enjoys watching me shave as well.

[RhythmDawg]

and then RD got me friggin addicted to fountain pens; ugh

payback

[Tech77]

that board looks really familiar, I wonder why

Because it's full of polls?

[techman05]

Just got my new razor set in the mail yesterday. Best shave I have ever gotten. I did purchase a preshave oil, and it is great. Those of you saying that it is an expensive, addictive hobby will probably be right. I purchased a Murker 34C razor and the barrel is a little short, I know TWSS. Anyway, I will probably be buying a razor with a longer barrel before long and packing the smaller one when I travel. No razor burn and not cuts!!! Love it.