I would like to share my experience of transitioning to wet shaving. I am grateful to you all for helping me make the right choices, and I want to express my gratitude through this post.
I had always used plastic cartridge razors for my shaves, as I'm sure many of you can relate to. Shaving was never a pleasant experience, but rather a necessity. I became interested in DE razors as they looked much more elegant and stylish than modern ones, but I never researched the subject. One day, while I was buying some cartridges for my razor in a store, I spotted a Wilkinson Classic (the plastic version) which cost only 5 euros. Intrigued by the low price and my interest in DE razors, I decided to give it a try.
When I got home, without any prior research, I went straight to the bathroom, applied some shaving foam to my beard, and tried the Wilkinson DE razor. I expected cuts and burns, but to my surprise, I got the best shave I had ever had. I was instantly hooked.
Over the next few days, I read hundreds of threads on this forum and other places to learn more about wet shaving. I realized that I needed a real safety razor, so I searched for the best one and decided on the Muhle R89 Twist, which cost me 50 euros. I was very excited to receive it. (I also bought shaving cream from Proraso, a cheap brush with boar hair from Nom, and Proraso aftershave)
However, when it arrived, I was disappointed to find that it had a manufacturing problem. The part that twists to open the head was unscrewing and detached itself from the razor, making it impossible to open the head. I returned it and got a refund, but the real problem was the build quality of this so-called "premium razor." The metal was very thin, and the interior looked cheap. So I started my research all over again to find a good and reliable razor.
Thanks to the advice of this forum, I discovered the old but gold Gillette razors and found an online store where I bought a Gillette Super Speed from 1967 for 25 euros. Although I don't have much experience, this is only my second razor, but it is incredible. For any beginner out there, I have to tell you that you can't go wrong with a razor like this. It feels and looks infinitely better than my broken Muhle. You can feel the build quality in every inch of the machine. The twist-to-open mechanism is pure finesse, and you feel like a lord when you put the blade in and then close it. It's incredible how these machines work flawlessly despite their age, while new brands charge you 50+ euros for a metal rod and a screw.
As for the shave that this little guy offers, again, I don't have much experience, but I can't imagine a better shave than this. At first, I thought that the razor was broken because I didn't feel anything. It's like it's floating; you don't feel anything when it passes, but it cuts everything. The weight is perfect, and you can control it effortlessly. I didn't get a single cut from it, and I am an absolute beginner. From my second pass, my face was clean, and the shave was really close to the skin. (I use Astra blades. For the first shave with my new razor, I used the blade that was in my plastic Wilkinson, so you cannot attribute the quality of the shave to the blade.)
Thank you very much for all the information and dedication that you put into this forum. It is truly a goldmine for everyone interested in this topic! I hope that my story will encourage anyone who wants to start this journey to give it a try and keep an eye out for vintage razors.
I had always used plastic cartridge razors for my shaves, as I'm sure many of you can relate to. Shaving was never a pleasant experience, but rather a necessity. I became interested in DE razors as they looked much more elegant and stylish than modern ones, but I never researched the subject. One day, while I was buying some cartridges for my razor in a store, I spotted a Wilkinson Classic (the plastic version) which cost only 5 euros. Intrigued by the low price and my interest in DE razors, I decided to give it a try.
When I got home, without any prior research, I went straight to the bathroom, applied some shaving foam to my beard, and tried the Wilkinson DE razor. I expected cuts and burns, but to my surprise, I got the best shave I had ever had. I was instantly hooked.
Over the next few days, I read hundreds of threads on this forum and other places to learn more about wet shaving. I realized that I needed a real safety razor, so I searched for the best one and decided on the Muhle R89 Twist, which cost me 50 euros. I was very excited to receive it. (I also bought shaving cream from Proraso, a cheap brush with boar hair from Nom, and Proraso aftershave)
However, when it arrived, I was disappointed to find that it had a manufacturing problem. The part that twists to open the head was unscrewing and detached itself from the razor, making it impossible to open the head. I returned it and got a refund, but the real problem was the build quality of this so-called "premium razor." The metal was very thin, and the interior looked cheap. So I started my research all over again to find a good and reliable razor.
Thanks to the advice of this forum, I discovered the old but gold Gillette razors and found an online store where I bought a Gillette Super Speed from 1967 for 25 euros. Although I don't have much experience, this is only my second razor, but it is incredible. For any beginner out there, I have to tell you that you can't go wrong with a razor like this. It feels and looks infinitely better than my broken Muhle. You can feel the build quality in every inch of the machine. The twist-to-open mechanism is pure finesse, and you feel like a lord when you put the blade in and then close it. It's incredible how these machines work flawlessly despite their age, while new brands charge you 50+ euros for a metal rod and a screw.
As for the shave that this little guy offers, again, I don't have much experience, but I can't imagine a better shave than this. At first, I thought that the razor was broken because I didn't feel anything. It's like it's floating; you don't feel anything when it passes, but it cuts everything. The weight is perfect, and you can control it effortlessly. I didn't get a single cut from it, and I am an absolute beginner. From my second pass, my face was clean, and the shave was really close to the skin. (I use Astra blades. For the first shave with my new razor, I used the blade that was in my plastic Wilkinson, so you cannot attribute the quality of the shave to the blade.)
Thank you very much for all the information and dedication that you put into this forum. It is truly a goldmine for everyone interested in this topic! I hope that my story will encourage anyone who wants to start this journey to give it a try and keep an eye out for vintage razors.
I already look for a Gillette Aristocrat, or a Tech 
but I will wait a bit, firstly I want to get some experience in shaving.
