The Shaving Thread

[Monk]

Hey man,

yeah things have been pretty hectic and I'd say they were settling down, but I have travel for work coming up again so it would be premature to say so :). I'll post some pics later but basically after a hot shower or bath to soften my beard I go through the following steps:

1.) Wash my face with Clinique for Men Liquid Face Wash and a Sisal Wash Cloth to exfoliate. (http://www.clinique.com/templates/pr...D=CATEGORY3907) and (http://thebodyshop-ca.stores.yahoo.n...washcloth.html)

2.) Apply some "The Art of Shaving" Pre-Shave oil. I use unscented at home and have a small Lavender one for on the road. (http://www.theartofshaving.com/taos6...=10000&group=1)

3.) Lather up with my Badger Hair brush and Kent soap. (http://www.h-s.co.uk/shaving/shaving..._bowl_and_soap)

4). Shave with my "The Art of Shaving" Black and Nickel handle and Gillette Mach 3 blade (I get the blades at Costco... cheaper ;) )

5.) Soak and rinse my face with cold water.

6.) Apply "Clinique for Men" Scruffing Lotion (3.5 I think) to clean pores and further exfoliate

7.) Apply "Clinique for Men" M-Protect SPF-21 mousturiser

8.) Feel and look great and enjoy my day

I also have a cool travel Badger hair brush for shaving, as well as a travel bowl and soap. so I replicate my system when on the go.

-W.

[Bucnak]

I've often spoke to a few of my friends regarding shaving, and it never has been like this.
I'm 44 and since I was old enough to see my Grandfather shave (he is deceased) he always had a wooden bowl a badger brush and one sharp razor, I always would sit by him and watch this routine each morning during the summer, as he whisked up the cream with the brush and applied it to his wet face.
It wasn't until about 20 years ago, I was in a pharmacy where I saw a bowl and soap for shaving which brought back some pleasant memories. I purchased the kit and went home and shaved immediately, what a blast!
Since that day I have been using this system each morning with much pleasure, I did three years ago go onto a site and purchase a Merkur razor and the solingen blades, which are great.
I've purchased some good soaps as well and really enjoy the Almond fragrance.
The only problem I have seen is that after I apply the lather, it is quickly to dry and I did find that I have to do one side of my face than the next.
It is a great way to begin the morning and I look forward each day to my 15 minutes of alone time.

[Monk]

I've often spoke to a few of my friends regarding shaving, and it never has been like this.
I'm 44 and since I was old enough to see my Grandfather shave (he is deceased) he always had a wooden bowl a badger brush and one sharp razor, I always would sit by him and watch this routine each morning during the summer, as he whisked up the cream with the brush and applied it to his wet face.
It wasn't until about 20 years ago, I was in a pharmacy where I saw a bowl and soap for shaving which brought back some pleasant memories. I purchased the kit and went home and shaved immediately, what a blast!
Since that day I have been using this system each morning with much pleasure, I did three years ago go onto a site and purchase a Merkur razor and the solingen blades, which are great.
I've purchased some good soaps as well and really enjoy the Almond fragrance.
The only problem I have seen is that after I apply the lather, it is quickly to dry and I did find that I have to do one side of my face than the next.
It is a great way to begin the morning and I look forward each day to my 15 minutes of alone time.

Hey Bucnak,

It does definately become a ritual, I find it enjoyable and relaxing. I can't always do it the way I did last night... especially on those hangover morning (though I tend just to skip chaving on them ).

About the lather. The Kent soap, as well as a really good one from Germany I use as my travel soap, never seems to have this problem. I have the Clinique and Art of Shaving cremes, but the first time I tried them I didn't realize you needed to mix them with water in a bowl and lather it up . Whoops. You might just need to find a different soap for that. I really like the "Art of Shaving" products which I discovered by accident one day while working in New York and walking down the street. Saw an old school style barber shop which turned out the be their store.

-W.

[Newfie]

From what I've read, 99.9% of the time when your lather is "dry", you just need to add a little water.

Normally, a decent badger brush will hold enough water to whip up the lather, and a good one will hold too much so you need to shake or squeeze a bit out before making the lather.

[Monk]

Hey Newf,

So, I can never seem to get a proper shave with my straight razor. It always seems like I'm pulling the hairs out one at a time. Now, I know the angle you are supposedly supposed to go at. How do you do it? What have your experiences been? (I'm wondering if the damnt thing has just never been properly sharp? No clue.)

-W.

[HabanoHo]

This whole thing seems a bit metrosexual and narcissistic to my unsophistocated self. But each to his own.

I'll continue to keep it simple -- Edge gel and a Gilette in the shower.

[Newfie]

Hey Newf,

So, I can never seem to get a proper shave with my straight razor. It always seems like I'm pulling the hairs out one at a time. Now, I know the angle you are supposedly supposed to go at. How do you do it? What have your experiences been? (I'm wondering if the damnt thing has just never been properly sharp? No clue.)

-W.

My guess is it needs to be honed Will. Ever hear of the "Hanging Hair Test"?? It's exactly as it sounds. With a properly honed & stropped razor, the hair will slice itself off just from the weight of itself "hanging" across the edge of the blade. "Honemeisters" say it takes years to learn it properly. Check out www.straightrazorplace.com for more info, and there's a few guys from T.O there.

This whole thing seems a bit metrosexual and narcissistic to my unsophistocated self. But each to his own.

I'll continue to keep it simple -- Edge gel and a Gilette in the shower.

Hey Ho, 2 things:

• I spent 30 years using the same shaving method you do now, and I hated every bloody minute of it. Now, I look forward to "me" time I spend shaving and I wish I had known about what it's like to "really shave" 30 years ago (probably before you were hatched).
• You like to use big words don'cha??? I'll admit that "metrosexual" and "narcissistic" aren't a part of my daily vocabularly. So that being said, I checked a couple of on-line sources in my attempt to grasp exactly what you were trying to say, and basically, from what I can gather, you were saying that anyone who goes through this "....has gay tendencies and seems to be wayyyyyyy too enamoured with themselves..............". Tell me I'm wrong???

As of this writing, you have 11 posts on this site, and the way I see it, only 3 can even be remotely considered as valuable info towards this place. You, my fine feathered friend, are a classic example of what the FOGs here are referring to when they say "Read more and post less".

I will refrain from putting my exact thoughts into print because by Hex's newly stated rules about attacks, he'd have every right to ban me.

So, that being said, have a good life and if you don't have anything of value to add to a thread I started, I'd appreciate if you didn't clutter it up.

[Monk]

This whole thing seems a bit metrosexual and narcissistic to my unsophistocated self. But each to his own.

I'll continue to keep it simple -- Edge gel and a Gilette in the shower.

Hey, I'm Metro and my wife loves it, and sometimes I wish I wasn't married because the ladies love it too. haha.

Narcissistic would be getting a nosejob or something for looks (as opposed to medical reasons).

Also, its a lost art. A bit like Cigars in some ways. An escape from the modern world to older times.

-W.

[dustinpollock]

all i have to say is has anyone read "american physco"



dustin

[heftysmokes]

all i have to say is has anyone read "american physco"



dustin

Nope, you'll have to fill me in.

[WOXOF]

all i have to say is has anyone read "american physco"



dustin

Nope, I haven't read american physco or American Psycho either. Is the movie a good representation of the book?