My journey toward a classic wet shave began many years ago, I just didn't know it. Like many others, I've bought every latest and greatest cartridge shaver in the hopes of finding a shave that did not irritate my neck and cause massive bumps and redness. At the same time, I'm very picky and want to be very clean shaven and having stubble really bothers me. I've also gone through plenty of quality electric shavers, but I still can't find anything that gives a close shave without wrecking my skin.
I truly hate two things - Mowing the Lawn and Shaving.
But then I bought an old fashioned reel lawn mower when my gas powered mower broke. I figured that since I had a small lawn, I could get away with a manual lawn mower - how bad could it be. To my surprise, the darned thing works so good that it put my old lawn mower to shame and my lawn looks better than it ever had. As a bonus, my alergies didn't bother me like they did when I mowed with my gas mower and it's so quiet I can mow early in the morning or late when the sun starts going down. All of a sudden, I was actually enjoying mowing my lawn because it was kind of fun watching the grass get cut up in all the spinning blades. I so was impressed with the quality of cut using the 'old-fashioned' reel lawn mower, that I started thinking that maybe old technology was good and some of the advancements I've grown up with really aren't what they were cracked up to be. Maybe I should look into my second least favorite task - shaving.
So I started lurking here and on other websites and found all sorts of wonderful information. My first switch was from using cold shave gel (Edge - sensitive skin) to a cheap boars hair brush, a mug, and Williams Mug Soap. I put the mug, brush and soap in super hot water while I take a shower and make sure I scrub my face and neck well. After I get out of the shower, I dump the excess water and make a nice warm lather that I work into my face for a good 45 seconds. First of all - this feels and smells really nice - so it isn't really a chore, it is a relaxing face massage. I then would use my Norelco 1150x electric wet/dry razor to shave. It did a much better job than just using it with the shave gel or dry. I still got some decent irritation on my neck though.
After a few weeks of this set up, I decided that I wanted to go back to a blade and try with that and the traditional wet shave set-up. I pulled out my latest cartridge razor which is the Schick Hydro 5. The first shave with that tore up my neck. But I tried again and again and started shaving with lighter pressure and just kept re-lathering and shaving with three or four passes. I'm able to achieve a really close shave and my neck is starting to heal up nicely. I also got some Nivea after shave balm which is supposed to help reduce ingrown hairs and it sees to be helping as well.
I still feel like there is room for improvement though, so I ordered my Merkur Classic 1904 razor and Feather blades yesterday. I'm looking forward to them coming in so I can try a DE shave with the classic wet shave method. I'm sure there will be some experimentation when it comes to the blades, but I'm looking forward to it. After about 15 years of shaving the 'wrong' way, I'm determined to learn how to do it right.
As for equipment, I'm sure there are those who will say the Williams Mug Soap and Boars hair brush are inferior, but since I don't have a higher point of reference, they seem to work great for me. I get a really nice lather from the Williams and Boar brush, and I'm a cheapskate when it comes to buying things and the price point is right. Perhaps it takes a bit longer to get a good lather than a better shave soap and badger brush, but I know what to ask for my upcoming birthdays and Christmas.
I truly hate two things - Mowing the Lawn and Shaving.
But then I bought an old fashioned reel lawn mower when my gas powered mower broke. I figured that since I had a small lawn, I could get away with a manual lawn mower - how bad could it be. To my surprise, the darned thing works so good that it put my old lawn mower to shame and my lawn looks better than it ever had. As a bonus, my alergies didn't bother me like they did when I mowed with my gas mower and it's so quiet I can mow early in the morning or late when the sun starts going down. All of a sudden, I was actually enjoying mowing my lawn because it was kind of fun watching the grass get cut up in all the spinning blades. I so was impressed with the quality of cut using the 'old-fashioned' reel lawn mower, that I started thinking that maybe old technology was good and some of the advancements I've grown up with really aren't what they were cracked up to be. Maybe I should look into my second least favorite task - shaving.
So I started lurking here and on other websites and found all sorts of wonderful information. My first switch was from using cold shave gel (Edge - sensitive skin) to a cheap boars hair brush, a mug, and Williams Mug Soap. I put the mug, brush and soap in super hot water while I take a shower and make sure I scrub my face and neck well. After I get out of the shower, I dump the excess water and make a nice warm lather that I work into my face for a good 45 seconds. First of all - this feels and smells really nice - so it isn't really a chore, it is a relaxing face massage. I then would use my Norelco 1150x electric wet/dry razor to shave. It did a much better job than just using it with the shave gel or dry. I still got some decent irritation on my neck though.
After a few weeks of this set up, I decided that I wanted to go back to a blade and try with that and the traditional wet shave set-up. I pulled out my latest cartridge razor which is the Schick Hydro 5. The first shave with that tore up my neck. But I tried again and again and started shaving with lighter pressure and just kept re-lathering and shaving with three or four passes. I'm able to achieve a really close shave and my neck is starting to heal up nicely. I also got some Nivea after shave balm which is supposed to help reduce ingrown hairs and it sees to be helping as well.
I still feel like there is room for improvement though, so I ordered my Merkur Classic 1904 razor and Feather blades yesterday. I'm looking forward to them coming in so I can try a DE shave with the classic wet shave method. I'm sure there will be some experimentation when it comes to the blades, but I'm looking forward to it. After about 15 years of shaving the 'wrong' way, I'm determined to learn how to do it right.
As for equipment, I'm sure there are those who will say the Williams Mug Soap and Boars hair brush are inferior, but since I don't have a higher point of reference, they seem to work great for me. I get a really nice lather from the Williams and Boar brush, and I'm a cheapskate when it comes to buying things and the price point is right. Perhaps it takes a bit longer to get a good lather than a better shave soap and badger brush, but I know what to ask for my upcoming birthdays and Christmas.
Feathers are my preferred blade.
