This is just another incarnation of a popular theme...... but it's always interesting, and perhaps people's choices have changed, so here goes...
You are being stranded on a desert island. You may have the following, and ONLY the following:
ONE brush.
ONE straight razor (plus ONE hone & ONE strop)
OR
ONE DE razor (plus ONE brand of blades)
OR
ONE SE razor (plus ONE brand of blades)
ONE hard (or semi-soft) shave soap
OR
ONE shave cream (either tube or tub)
ONE alum block or styptic pencil
ONE aftershave
That's it. That's all. No pre-shaves. No lotions. No balms. No colognes. No witch hazel.
Hardness of water is whatever you'd find on your typical desert island.
All consumables, such as blades, soaps or creams & aftershave would always be in perpetual supply - of the same brand. No switching to something else once a cream, for example, was used up.
Can you deal with only one choice of the bare essentials?
OR would you find the lack of choice too frustrating, and grow a beard instead?
Your final option would be to ignore all of the above, and be issued with one brand of multi-blade cartridge razor, and one brand of aerosol canned goo.
What are your choices? Why those particular models or brands?
My Choices:
Omega 10066 Boar Brush
Merkur 42N (1904) DE razor
Feather Blades
Williams Mug Soap
Styptic Pencil
Pinaud Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum
After much thought, I opted to go the basic, utilitarian route. My only concession to "luxury" is the more expensive Feather blades. But my choices were not based on economy. With the kit listed above, I can achieve a BBS shave each and every time. Just as I can with my Slant, my Tabac etc. etc.
So, my choices will entirely fulfill all my practical shaving needs, fully. I feel, however, that if I had opted for a selection of luxury items, then I would find myself wanting more luxury items. I'd always be craving more variety. But with these choices, and good technique, I'd still achieve my ultimate BBS shave. And that's the bottom line.
You are being stranded on a desert island. You may have the following, and ONLY the following:
ONE brush.
ONE straight razor (plus ONE hone & ONE strop)
OR
ONE DE razor (plus ONE brand of blades)
OR
ONE SE razor (plus ONE brand of blades)
ONE hard (or semi-soft) shave soap
OR
ONE shave cream (either tube or tub)
ONE alum block or styptic pencil
ONE aftershave
That's it. That's all. No pre-shaves. No lotions. No balms. No colognes. No witch hazel.
Hardness of water is whatever you'd find on your typical desert island.
All consumables, such as blades, soaps or creams & aftershave would always be in perpetual supply - of the same brand. No switching to something else once a cream, for example, was used up.
Can you deal with only one choice of the bare essentials?
OR would you find the lack of choice too frustrating, and grow a beard instead?
Your final option would be to ignore all of the above, and be issued with one brand of multi-blade cartridge razor, and one brand of aerosol canned goo.
What are your choices? Why those particular models or brands?
My Choices:
Omega 10066 Boar Brush
Merkur 42N (1904) DE razor
Feather Blades
Williams Mug Soap
Styptic Pencil
Pinaud Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum
After much thought, I opted to go the basic, utilitarian route. My only concession to "luxury" is the more expensive Feather blades. But my choices were not based on economy. With the kit listed above, I can achieve a BBS shave each and every time. Just as I can with my Slant, my Tabac etc. etc.
So, my choices will entirely fulfill all my practical shaving needs, fully. I feel, however, that if I had opted for a selection of luxury items, then I would find myself wanting more luxury items. I'd always be craving more variety. But with these choices, and good technique, I'd still achieve my ultimate BBS shave. And that's the bottom line.