Multi-blade razors

Author
Discussion

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Sunday 14th October 2012
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So... The first time you drove; his did you do?
How about before that and someone else drove you; how did that go?

Learning to shave properly at fifty felt a bit odd, and some pride was swallowed. Worth the effort? God yes. It's a whole new skill which has improved my life. Sounds over-dramatic, maybe, but when you're properly shaved its quite liberating. Machismo too. hehe

If you have the time and inclination it's probably worth the effort. Maybe. wink

Agrispeed

988 posts

158 months

Sunday 14th October 2012
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Ok gents (well, I think only gents...) here is my shoppng basket so far...

Timor razor (as i need a gentle razor, and will probably get a more agressive one later)
mitchell's woolfat soap (has to be the ceramic bowl, too)
Alum block
proraso pre/post shave cream
proraso cut healing cream

hows that? biggrin

Bonefish Blues

26,450 posts

222 months

Sunday 14th October 2012
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What are you going to lather with?

Agrispeed

988 posts

158 months

Sunday 14th October 2012
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Bonefish Blues said:
What are you going to lather with?
already got a brush and other basics, i have several soaps already, some palmolive, WK, and boots, i just feel like some nicer stuff hehe was looking a brushes but i cant justify spending that much dough while i have a basic but functional one... (maybe in a week or two.. biggrin )

Davey S2

13,075 posts

253 months

Monday 15th October 2012
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Craphouserat said:
So far after reading this thread I'm leaning towards the Proraso Pre/Post shave cream followed by Trumper Extracts of Lime.

Cheers

CHR
Exactly what I use.

The skin food isnt cheap but look on Amazon as several places sell large bottles of it. Also as it has glycerin in it a little goes a long way. I shave every other day usually and my bottle will last about 8 months.

Likewise with the Proraso cream. You dont want to put too much on as its menthol.

madbadger

11,555 posts

243 months

Monday 15th October 2012
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Davey S2 said:
Exactly what I use.

The skin food isnt cheap but look on Amazon as several places sell large bottles of it. Also as it has glycerin in it a little goes a long way. I shave every other day usually and my bottle will last about 8 months.

Likewise with the Proraso cream. You dont want to put too much on as its menthol.
You must splosh it around. wink

I have used just over half a bottle in about a year, shaving pretty much every day.

Or I have a bigger bottle. It was about £30.

Serendipity72

191 posts

138 months

Monday 15th October 2012
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IanMorewood said:
I’m not the WS razor was my entry into DE shaving and still gets the odd outing. Its better in my opinion than the cheap Lord DE metal razor that you can find for about £8.

As for the Timor TTO its OK but in no way aggressive I've suggested it before as suitable and inexpensive for beginners.

The option of electric shaving doesn’t appeal to me, been there done that didn’t like it one bit, but if it works for you then knock yourself out.


Edited by IanMorewood on Saturday 13th October 17:28
The WS classic is a great mild razor. Perfect for the third pass when you want to be super super smooth. Buy cheap at Boots.
The Weishi is a lovely piece of precision aluminium engineering and is also very mild, however it is very sensitive to head angle and with a bit of experimenting can be quite effective. Buy cheap on eBay from China/Hong Kong.
The Edwin Jagger DE89 is your basic standard DE razor. Inexpensive, well made, not too mild or aggressive, does the job. Sometimes they are very cheap on Amazon. Otherwise its the English Shaving Company. Sometimes they fit the Barleycorn handle which is just a fantastic piece of kit.

Serendipity72

191 posts

138 months

Monday 15th October 2012
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Agrispeed said:
already got a brush and other basics, i have several soaps already, some palmolive, WK, and boots, i just feel like some nicer stuff hehe was looking a brushes but i cant justify spending that much dough while i have a basic but functional one... (maybe in a week or two.. biggrin )
Look at Frank Shaving brushes from China on eBay. Google for more information on them.
Or get a Vulfix 404 badger/boar mix. Buy online from Diamond Edge, currently £10.20.

NDA

21,490 posts

224 months

Monday 15th October 2012
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Agrispeed said:
Im doing a big shaving shop now hehe I haven't ever really used anything other than palmolive and Wk soap, so what is a good soap? I have heard some good things about Mitchell's woolfat soap, and it sounds pretty nice... and most importantly what type of bowl, ceramic or wood hehe
I use this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Taylor-Bond-Street-Jermyn-...

I've tried just about every soap and cream - this smells great and makes a superb lather.

As always with shaving, everyone has different tastes and needs. But the above, for me, is the best by far. 100g lasts forever and the refills are much cheaper.

Having a decent brush makes a big difference too.

Craphouserat

1,494 posts

200 months

Monday 15th October 2012
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Agrispeed said:
Ok gents (well, I think only gents...) here is my shoppng basket so far...

Timor razor (as i need a gentle razor, and will probably get a more agressive one later)
mitchell's woolfat soap (has to be the ceramic bowl, too)
Alum block
proraso pre/post shave cream
proraso cut healing cream

hows that? biggrin
The Timor is decent enough razor for a starter. My first safety razor but even after a couple of months I'm already thinking of going to an adjustable - Merkur Futur - I'm finding the Timor very mild. Tried with different blades - Gillette 7's and Derby's. Once you start this shaving you will find yourself which blade suits you - I found the Derby's harsh and never used them, had to go back when I ran out and now prefer the Derby to any other i've tried. I've not tried any cream you have mentioned - I'm still on the first one I bought - a bit steep at £17 but I find taylor of Old bond Street Jermyn collection for sensitive skin gives great protection still loads left after a few months. The alum block - I have really liked this - a little nippy at first but gives a great finish to the shave. Anyway good luck and enjoy it...I have started too biggrin

Thanks to all who offered thoughts on my last question - a bigger bottle of extract of limes along with Proraso is the way I'm going.

Cheers

CHR

Dan_1981

17,352 posts

198 months

Monday 15th October 2012
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My Mitchells Wool Fat ran out the other day.

I found a dish of Wilkinsons soap someone had bought me for christmas last year.

It lathers up really really well, and smells quite nice too.

Won't be a stop gap now - i'll actually be using it.

Agrispeed

988 posts

158 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
well, thats all ordered smile I fancied having a mild razor for those days you can't be bothered and travelling. (hang over razor)

im still on some blade sample packs, but my best so far are feathers (although the fact your trembling with fear doesnt help with them hehe ) and persona platinums, but i think Im going to keep using the packs (ive used one of each so far) to see if that changes.

cant wait to try the woolfat though! biggrin


Serendipity72

191 posts

138 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
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NDA said:
I use this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Taylor-Bond-Street-Jermyn-...

I've tried just about every soap and cream - this smells great and makes a superb lather.

As always with shaving, everyone has different tastes and needs. But the above, for me, is the best by far. 100g lasts forever and the refills are much cheaper.

Having a decent brush makes a big difference too.
ToBS have the best value of the posh London shaving suppliers and their range of creams is very highly rated. More so than their soaps. Worth going into the shop, smelling all the samples and then buying a few. The avocado is especially lush. Whilst there look at their synthetic brushes which are regarded as the best of their kind and which are perfect for travelling.

MWF is a legend in real shaving circles, there are a lot who think it is the best shaving soap/cream that there is. But it takes management. It likes to be used every day so it doesn't dry out. And it likes to be in a sealed container between shaves. Obviously being a soap it works best with a brush with some backbone.

Serendipity72

191 posts

138 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
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Agrispeed said:
well, thats all ordered smile I fancied having a mild razor for those days you can't be bothered and travelling. (hang over razor)

im still on some blade sample packs, but my best so far are feathers (although the fact your trembling with fear doesnt help with them hehe ) and persona platinums, but i think Im going to keep using the packs (ive used one of each so far) to see if that changes.

cant wait to try the woolfat though! biggrin
Feathers are definitely very sharp, but they feel sharper than they are because they are not the smoothest edge. So they are better on the second shave with them than the first, as the edge beds in. Also they don't last very long. Try one in a slant for the ultimate experience!!!

Petersburg Products International (PPI) is probably the most advanced DE blade factory in the world and is one of the biggest, making many of the finest brands available. There are subtle differences between these (allegedly) and much fun can be had experimenting and comparing.

Serendipity72

191 posts

138 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
Craphouserat said:
The Timor is decent enough razor for a starter. My first safety razor but even after a couple of months I'm already thinking of going to an adjustable - Merkur Futur - I'm finding the Timor very mild. Tried with different blades - Gillette 7's and Derby's. Once you start this shaving you will find yourself which blade suits you - I found the Derby's harsh and never used them, had to go back when I ran out and now prefer the Derby to any other i've tried. I've not tried any cream you have mentioned - I'm still on the first one I bought - a bit steep at £17 but I find taylor of Old bond Street Jermyn collection for sensitive skin gives great protection still loads left after a few months. The alum block - I have really liked this - a little nippy at first but gives a great finish to the shave. Anyway good luck and enjoy it...I have started too biggrin

Thanks to all who offered thoughts on my last question - a bigger bottle of extract of limes along with Proraso is the way I'm going.

Cheers

CHR
Take a look at the Progress, it is very highly rated. Better still try and get hold of the re-engineered version from America known as a Mergress. There is a waiting list for these which is understandable once you have tried one. It is what I used this morning. Read the reviews here: http://www.leesrazors.com/products/Mergress-XL-Adj...

Davey S2

13,075 posts

253 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
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Serendipity72 said:
MWF is a legend in real shaving circles, there are a lot who think it is the best shaving soap/cream that there is. But it takes management. It likes to be used every day so it doesn't dry out. And it likes to be in a sealed container between shaves. Obviously being a soap it works best with a brush with some backbone.
Mine is in a wooden container (I have the Kent branded MWF) but I've lost the lid. The cake of soap can dry out a bit an dcrack but it has no effect on the lather.


Bonefish Blues

26,450 posts

222 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
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Davey S2 said:
Serendipity72 said:
MWF is a legend in real shaving circles, there are a lot who think it is the best shaving soap/cream that there is. But it takes management. It likes to be used every day so it doesn't dry out. And it likes to be in a sealed container between shaves. Obviously being a soap it works best with a brush with some backbone.
Mine is in a wooden container (I have the Kent branded MWF) but I've lost the lid. The cake of soap can dry out a bit an dcrack but it has no effect on the lather.
It seems to divide opinion, I've noticed. I just couldn't make it work for me at all (in a hard water area) wore quickly, poor lather. L'Occitane has been much much better, as was Crabtree & Evelyn, and Boots own brand.

fatpasty

1,561 posts

165 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
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IanMorewood said:
Dan_1981 said:
Trumpers Skin Food is still the best thing I've tried.
Indeed but its expensive, I normally use the alum block and then some aftershave a few moments later, im not sure how good it is for your skin but subdues any irritation or bleeding I may have caused with the razor.
I have the sandlewood and the lime. Still can't make up my mind which smell I like the most. I've just been uses the skin food after I've rinsed. Haven't had to use my block to much just lately my tekkers must be improving. smile

Serendipity72

191 posts

138 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
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Bonefish Blues said:
It seems to divide opinion, I've noticed. I just couldn't make it work for me at all (in a hard water area) wore quickly, poor lather. L'Occitane has been much much better, as was Crabtree & Evelyn, and Boots own brand.
Interesting.
In a hard water area would a cream not work better than a soap because you need to use less tap water to make a lather?
Or perhaps one of the Italian soft soaps.

Bonefish Blues

26,450 posts

222 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
Serendipity72 said:
Interesting.
In a hard water area would a cream not work better than a soap because you need to use less tap water to make a lather?
Or perhaps one of the Italian soft soaps.
Perhaps, but L'O has worked really well for me since I switched to it, so I'ma happy chappy. My brush (Muhle synthetic) is probably better suited to soap, too.