DE Safety Razor Shaving Wiki
Archive #19211327
Following on from the Lounge discussion here; click, it's been mentioned several times a wiki may be useful. I don't have enough knowledge of the fine art myself, but here's a starter. Please edit and add to as required.
1. Boots own label or Wilkinson Sword DE Safety Razor < £5.00 Click.
2. Brush < £10 Click.
3. Soap and dish < £4.00 Click.
Mitchell's wool fat
Proraso
Taylor's
Alum Block
Styptic Pencil
Witch Hazel - post shave freshener/cleanser.
DE = Double Edge
TTO = Twist To Open aka butterfly razors
WTG = With The Grain
XTG = Across The Grain
ATG = Against The Grain
Executive Shaving
Safety Razors
Shaving Shack
The Traditional Shaving Company
Video: ShaveNation
Leisureguy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving: Shaving Made Enjoyable, Michael Ham. Click.
A nice set up - courtesy Soovy
Getting Started
The general consensus is to buy a (very) cheap set-up to try out DE Safety Shaving before investing in the more expensive razors, brushes, etc. You can get yourself started at Boots, other high street chemists and shops for about £20 with:1. Boots own label or Wilkinson Sword DE Safety Razor < £5.00 Click.
2. Brush < £10 Click.
3. Soap and dish < £4.00 Click.
Once you've decided it's for you, popular choices include:
Razors
| Make | Example site |
|---|---|
| Timor | Click |
| Mühle | Click |
| Murker | Click |
Blades
| Make | Model | Comment(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Astra | ||
| Derby | Extra | |
| Feather | Reputed to be the sharpest/most lethal out there. | |
| Gillette | 7 o'clock SharpEdge | aka Russian yellows |
| Gillette | 7 o'clock Super Stainless | |
| Gillette | Super Thin | |
| Lord | ||
| Merkur | ||
| Personna | Double Edge | |
| Personna | Platinum Chrome | |
| Personna | Super |
Brushes
| Make | Model | Comment(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Mühle | ||
| Omega | ||
| Simpsons | ||
| Vulfix |
Soaps/Creams
Mitchell's wool fat
Proraso
Taylor's
Accessories/sundries
Alum Block
Styptic Pencil
Witch Hazel - post shave freshener/cleanser.
Terminology
DE = Double Edge
TTO = Twist To Open aka butterfly razors
WTG = With The Grain
XTG = Across The Grain
ATG = Against The Grain
List of popular online vendors
Connaught ShavingExecutive Shaving
Safety Razors
Shaving Shack
The Traditional Shaving Company
Method(s)/Advice
Video: Mantic59Video: ShaveNation
Recommended reading:
Sharp Practice - The real man's guide to shaving, Anders Larsen. Click.Leisureguy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving: Shaving Made Enjoyable, Michael Ham. Click.
From the forum
snowy slopes said:
If you go down the Merkur, badger hair brush, Edwin Jagger shaving cream route, it can get expensive for the initial layout, but if you do what I did, and buy the el cheapo stuff from Boots to see if you will like using a safety razor, then the whole kit and caboodle shouldnt cost much over £13. The soap has lasted me 8 months so far, and at 10 blades a packet for £2, if you don't need to shave as often as I do, then they last a fair old time. What would you rather do, spend £8-10 on fusion blades, or £2 for ten?
snowy slopes said:
digger_R said:
What do you mean by mapping your beard?
Look at your beard in a mirror, very closely, and see which way your hairs grow. For example, my cheek hairs and top lip hairs grow in a V shape towards my chin, my cheek hairs grow straight down, and under my chin, my left side grows horizontaly so to speak, my right side grows at about 45° towards my adams apple. If you can find which way your hairs grow, and follow them with the razor, it is a much nicer shave, as you dont get that burn afterwards.snowy slopes said:
Invest in a good facecloth, which should be soaked in hot water and placed on your face, do this 3 or 4 times and it softens the hairs up lovely, which makes shaving that bit easier. Remember to use cold water after.
A nice set up - courtesy Soovy