F...Shaving

You sold me on the Merkur by pointing out the cost of the blades. Gonna order one right now.


Which one exactly are you guys buying? can you provide a link. I see a whole bunch on Amazon.

I recommend not shaving at all as a solution. :)

By not spending 5 minutes a day shaving, I save 35 minutes every week, which adds up to 30 hours a year. By embracing the beard I add a day to every year.

Which one exactly are you guys buying? can you provide a link. I see a whole bunch on Amazon.

I'm looking at the 180 or the 178, not sure what the big differences are.

Where's Buster the shaving pro?

I'm looking at the 180 or the 178, not sure what the big differences are.

Where's Buster the shaving pro?


I think it is the length of the handle.

You called? My face feels like my daughter's bottom and I enjoyed the shave too.



Bay Rum Soap + Clubman aftershave today.


Anyways, the Merkur razors are great pieces...I just sold mine for $40 actually (cleared out some of my accumulating razors before baby was born). However, I'm not a fan of Merkur blades, but everyone's face is different.

Best source for blades: (best price, service and selection)
Men's Wet Shaving, Grooming, Skin and Hair Care - West Coast Shaving (http://www.westcoastshaving.com)

I use Crystal blades, about a dozen bucks for 100 blades and a blade lasts me a week! Israeli Red Pack Personna blades are a great starter blade...sharp but not aggressive.

I'd recommend to anyone, get a blade sampler pack and find out which brand works best for your face. A lot of people like Derby blades, but they wrecked my face. After months of testing all kinds of blades, I settled on Crystals and bought some in bulk (100 pack).

sample packs:
Razor Blade Sample Packs | West Coast Shaving (http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Sample-Packs_c_1.html)


Good luck.

Also, Badger & Blade - Home (http://www.badgerandblade.com) is the best shaving resource in the world.

How about a recommendation for a good all in one starter kit?

I got this: Merkur Model 180 Long Handled Safety Razor:Amazon:Health & Personal Care (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NL0T1G/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1315537949&sr=8-1)

And this: Merkur Double Edge Safety Razor Blades- 3 Pack of 10 Blades:Amazon:Health & Personal Care (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NCMMBA/ref=mp_s_a_3?qid=1315538013&sr=8-3)

Great selection for the razor!

Try out plenty of blades before blaming the razor for disappointing shaves though!


If you are going to switch be sure to get good shaving cream and brush.

I prefer shaving soap to cream. Col. Conk is my favorite brand. Using Bay Rum right now...Almond is another favorite of mine. I also have some Lime and Amber I have yet to try. Reasonably-priced, but great performing brand.

Shaving Soaps (http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Shaving-Soaps_c_16.html)



When I travel or am in a rush, I'll use C.O. Bigelow shave cream from Bath and Body Works. Stuff has a great menthol (COLD) kick.

I recommend not shaving at all as a solution. :)

By not spending 5 minutes a day shaving, I save 35 minutes every week, which adds up to 30 hours a year. By embracing the beard I add a day to every year.

This is my preferred, but I never more than 2 weeks before the itching and irritation forces a shave. Any suggestions there?

How about a recommendation for a good all in one starter kit?

I started out with a Van Der Hagen kit from CVS, but they just released a "luxury kit" that looks very nice.
Amazon.com: Van Der Hagen Men's Luxury, Shave Set: Beauty



I started out with this. Small investment and effective in learning the technique to see if wetshaving is for you. You can pick this up in most pharmacies or Walmart for $10.
Amazon.com: Van Der Hagen Premium Shave Set (Soap, Bowl, Brush): Health & Personal Care


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Those kits include everything but the razor and aftershave. To get a razor, e-Bay is a good source for vintage razors. For someone starting out, a Gillette Tech is a mild razor, great for beginners. I'm no beginner and I still use one half the time because it just shaves so well.

gillette tech | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=gillette+tech&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=)

Don't pay over $20 for a Tech, they're far from rare. You can get one in pristine condition for $10-15 if you look.




Amazon is a great source for new ones:

Amazon.com: safety razor (http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&tag=mozilla-20&index=blended&link_code=qs&field-keywords=safety%20razor&sourceid=Mozilla-search)


Top brands:
Merkur
Edwin Jagger
Parker

Inferior:
Lord
Feather
Wilkinson Sword
(all of these companies make GREAT blades, but avoid their cheap razors)


Avoid anything Chinese!

good info thanks