Why did you start wet-shaving?

**cromio** · 08-14-2012, 09:23 AM

I started ws because I got a lot of ingrown hairs in the neck area and to save money.

At least I don´t have ingrown hairs any more

**Valerius** · 08-14-2012, 10:14 AM

My first shaves were with an electric razor. It didn't work with my skin. When I made my military service it was standard to wet shave. My skin then recovered and I never had any ideas to quit wetshaving. To conclude I've been a devoted wetshaver since the 1970ies.

**BigM** · 08-14-2012, 06:44 PM

First, my incredibly honest gf had this way of letting me know that the electric was not "cutting it" (sorry) and I thought that I could save money while being kinder to the environment (by switching from carts most recently). The enthusiasm and knowledge expressed by folks such as those on this forum has me pumped, strangely, for shaving more often. I have been working from home for the past decade or so, so hair has had a tendency to accumulate right much on my face as I would mostly only shave for the weekends (shaving each day Fri, Sat, Sun then going gruff for the workweek while not being seen by anyone on a professional level).

**La Mosca** · 08-15-2012, 09:15 AM

That's how I learned to shave back in 1978.

**Harry Snider** · 08-15-2012, 10:40 AM

Many years ago I was given a brush and soap (Avon?) as a gift from mother and was instantly hooked. Can't remember what happened to them. Fast forward to a month ago, dinner with friends and my good friend Rob told me about this amazing hobby/passion. To me though, I guess that I've always been upset about buying cartridges at the insane prices!

I have to say, "I'M NEVER GOING BACK!"

**A3M0N** · 08-15-2012, 11:23 AM

I didn't shave daily before the military, so any razor burn/irritation I got from shaving was bearable. Then along came daily shaving, and I thought to myself, there's got to be a better way! So I started goggling, and found Badger and Blade. A fellow aircraft mechanic saw my posts asking questions and sent me a Gillette SS, free of charge. It’s been DE since then, with a few deviations back to disposable carts when absolutely necessary.

I sold the idea to the wife on blade costs, but I've found what works for me so I've only bought one more razor and stick with the same few shaving creams, so I actually have saved money :)

**doctordial** · 10-09-2012, 06:27 AM

I've been shaving with the disposable razors and canned cream since the 11th grade in 1977. I went to the Middle-East and found a inexspensive feather razor which I think cost about $17.00 and a 100pk of Gillette 7 O'clock de razors in the green box. I was still using the canned cream. It wasn't until 2010 I said to mysel if I'm going to do this I'm going to do it right. I asked my father if he he knew where I could get a double edge razor and he said in a museum and laughed(as.....)So I found store in Baltimore and bought a Parker 22R which I got tied of because it was opening up and rattling and purchased a Merkur 38C and now I have a 39C. In answer to the question,I always thought that shaving ones face was a very masculine and artful think to do that took some paying attentioon and skill all of which I likeand enjoy.

**Toothpick** · 10-09-2012, 08:50 AM

TO. SAVE. MONEY. ! TO. SAVE. MONEY. ! TO. SAVE. MONEY ! TO. SAVE. MONEY. !

it actually worked for me (did not make a purchase during my first year) until i because a member here (made 3 purchases after being here for only 4 days.)

**AmsterDan** · 10-09-2012, 10:03 AM

My Gilette Excel came to an end after years of doing an alright job. I liked it over Mach3 for its fixed head angle. When I went to the store to get another Excel I started to realize that the handle plus cartridges didn't costs much less than a pack of cartridges and started doubting the cost of these products. After doing some research I got angry and wondered how my ancestors shaved themselves. That's how I got introduced to a new world called wet shaving.

With it I learned about the satisfaction that comes with wet shaving, a potential to save money (if it isn't necessarily a hobby) and the closer shave it can accomplish without irritation! To good to be true I thought, there must be a catch ... the only one I could find was time constraint. That has been taken care of as my view on shaving has converted from 'chore' to a relaxing experience.

So, is it to good to be true? Yes ... because it's brilliant!

**andrestole** · 10-09-2012, 10:28 AM

save money, stupid saving thing. save money they said.. sure... getting them beck in shaveheaven i guess??

**Graybeard57** · 10-09-2012, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by TheVez2

It is odd, shaving used to be a chore, even though it didn't take very long to do. Now it takes 4 times as long (at least) and I can't wait to do it every day. It is the best "me time" I have.

I had been considering using a soap puck and brush with my Fusion when someone showed me their new Parker 91 razor. I loved the feel of it, read this site at his suggestion, and got an EJ DE89. That was in late May. Recently got a '57 Red Tip, and am learning that. I so enjoy shaving now; I never want to hurry it. Enjoy shaving? Never did before, not in 40 years of thinking of it as a chore.

**PugslyCat** · 10-09-2012, 12:49 PM

A fellow at my church mentioned DE shaving as a way to save money. First I tried soap and a brush and swore I wouldn't go back. When I got my DE razor, a Lord L6, a couple of weeks later the shave was amazing.

If I use some really fuzzy logic including the shaving supplies I have bought and PIF'd to others, I can claim that I have many years of shaving products purchased for the cost of a couple years of carts. If I can go until February without any really big binging I will have honestly saved money over carts and gotten better shaves in the deal.

**The Kiwi** · 10-09-2012, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by AmsterDan

My Gilette Excel came to an end after years of doing an alright job. I liked it over Mach3 for its fixed head angle. When I went to the store to get another Excel I started to realize that the handle plus cartridges didn't costs much less than a pack of cartridges and started doubting the cost of these products. After doing some research I got angry and wondered how my ancestors shaved themselves. That's how I got introduced to a new world called wet shaving.

With it I learned about the satisfaction that comes with wet shaving, a potential to save money (if it isn't necessarily a hobby) and the closer shave it can accomplish without irritation! To good to be true I thought, there must be a catch ... the only one I could find was time constraint. That has been taken care of as my view on shaving has converted from 'chore' to a relaxing experience.

So, is it to good to be true? Yes ... because it's brilliant!

I hate the stupid and ignorant idea that "Wet Shaving" is any different from what I have been doing already for almost sixty years. So I hate the stupid user label under my name. OF COURSE I save money. I didn't have to buy an entirely new shaver head for an electric shaver every two or three months.

ELECTRICS are the only "Dry Shave" instruments, and not all of them are afraid of getting wet any more.

Canned goo is liquid, and it is "wet", although I know that many users of the goo fail to use adequate amounts of water, so it's then a case of "not wet enough".

Dry shaving (electric) didn't agree with me 58 years ago, nor 56 years ago, nor with any of several electrics I tried about 53 years ago, and gave up on them for forty years. I used bladed razors from 1953, almost 59 years ago next month, I'd have to guess (not that sure, really), with soap and water, and never stopped wet shaving from about 1963 through now. I started doing it because electrics irritate my skin and do not shave well enough. Pretty simple.

Admittedly, I used a twin blade cartridge, WET, from 1993 to 2011, six days a week (DE on Sunday), in a hurried type shave with one single pass, and used various canned shave liquids most of those six days. At least once a week, I'll still use either a Sensor or a Hydro3 to shave in the shower, without a mirror. My Sensor has a flexible head, as did Atras prior to Sensors (although not nearly as good at following the correct angle).

The last fixed head razors that were using cartridges were TracIIs, and Schick's clone of those.

**NCJack** · 10-09-2012, 03:31 PM

Started with Norelco Double Header (still a fine electric brand) then in college, 1969, decided to try mug&brush, with an injector SE because it just looked cool. Even though my first (I think) DE shave was only a couple of weeks ago (used every type of blade but) , I've never used canned goo because I like to make a little ceremony out of the experience, and the application of warm lather with a good brush just feels so good!

**BennyVega** · 10-09-2012, 03:33 PM

If you're talking about strictly DE wetshaving then:

First it was to save money.

Then it was to spite all of the stupid multi-blade marketing hype.

Now it's purely nostalgic and a fun hobby.

**exxmxxf** · 10-09-2012, 04:34 PM

I started wet shaving because I used to travel a lot. I would put one of those cartridge razors (BIC disposable) in my toiletry bag and it was cutting things up. There had to be a better alternative. I went to a cutlery shop and saw a Merkur travel razor with it's travel pouch. Purchased it to use when I travel. I noticed that I was getting better shaves with my travel razor than my disposable carts. So I seem to be the odd ball having a travel razor as my first DE razor. 10 years ago there was no B&B all the info on wet shaving was scattered across the internet (in those days 56K dial up). Made purchases for other shaving goods from what seemed to me the only 2 resources for wet shaving products Shavemac and Classic Shaving. I had great relationships with guys from other forums who also got into wet shaving. Their interest has since far exceeded mine in the past years. This year they had rekindled my love of the wet shave and I have been learning certain aspects of shaving that were unfamiliar to me: different blades, soaps/creams and after shaves. So my acquisitions fall into these 3 categories + brushes.

**smokeydave** · 10-11-2012, 08:10 AM

all ways used a gillette mach 3 in till de shaving came up in conversation had a go was hook from then on.. i will quote what he said its a lot cheaper you save money

now it is a pleasure to shave brings back memeries of watching grandad shave and showing me what to do

dave

**sychodelix** · 10-11-2012, 08:46 AM

I wanted to impress the ladies with my mad skills with a blade!

Okay, actually, I was just tired of getting sub par, tedious shaves from cartridges, electrics, and thought the idea of using a vintage razor and a good brush to whip up a lather was really cool. And I was right. It is.

**Kylej86** · 10-11-2012, 03:27 PM

I was tired of paying lots of money for cartridges, so I got interested in straight razors and after talking to a barber I researched more and found the wonderful world of safety razors. I set out just to find one Gillette adjustable and I told my wife that it would "save us money".

LoL Now after a couple of months I have eleven razors with two more in the mail. I most certainly have RAZOR ACQUISITION DISORDER now!