Shaving, Wet shave vs electric

Right, I'm considering switching from multiblades to DE. Questions:
Is it silly to start with Feather blades?
Is the Merkur 34c the best razor for a beginner?
Can I find said razor in an actual shop in London?

I like Feathers because they're sharp. If your beard is coarse it makes sense, as endless going over with a duller blade will cause more irritation than a few passes with a sharp one (though you can never tell whether your face will just have some unexplainable objection to certain brands irrespective of sharpness).

There's no harm in trying, if you let the blade do the work. You've got to exert ZERO pressure against your skin, and get the angle right(ish). Let the weight of the razor head do the pushing, and no more. Don't expect to get things done in a single pass. I do 3 passes, and it took about 6 months of getting to know my face/beard to work out what worked best, regarding direction of strokes, etc.

You can also get cheap sample packs of mixed blades from Connaught Shaving (I think that's what they're called).

Was looking for a Lord DE holder as they are metal and quite cheap.

For Lolo

^ Truefitt and Hillmore
71 Saint James's Street, City of Westminster, London, SW1A 1PH, United Kingdom
020 7493 8496

or

Taylor of Old Bond Street.

Although my colleague says don't get the Lord DE. Buy the Edwin Jagger DE89 instead.

Also trumpers

Thanks. I think I'll give it a try.

Just started using a DE, suddenly shaving has become a pleasure again! I still need to perfect my technique though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4oHzFNclzQ

Also I like the shaving shack as they have reviews of the products.

I tried some Edwin Jagger after shave lotion, it was really good, so I thought I'd get some, but it's £22!

Any other similar recommendations for under a tenner?

My current routine is to use a Dovo Shavette for a first pass using ready snapped Derby blades having lathered up with La Toja shaving soap and badger brush. A second pass with the same but going sideways and finally touching up with a DE razor and a Feather blade.

But I'm lazy these days and only shave about once a week.

I still really like the 39c / Feather combo, but in the interest of seeking out the holy grail of WTG DE shaves, I'll soon be experimenting with the r41 Grande (although the latest iteration is supposed to be tamer). Looking forward to the acoustic change anyway...

This feels like the wrong forum :/

Would you compare a DE shave to riding fixed? To feel so connected to the skin, following the flow of the grain and having so much control of your stroke is enlightening.

Would you compare a DE shave to riding fixed? To feel so connected to the skin, following the flow of the grain and having so much control of your stroke is enlightening.

No, DE shaving is like SS. Cut-throat shaving is like fixed i.e., slightly terrifying and counter-intuitive.

I don't really draw analogies between riding fixed and anything else; except making love to a beautiful woman.

Would you compare a DE shave to riding fixed? To feel so connected to the skin, following the flow of the grain and having so much control of your stroke is enlightening.

It's actually much cheaper because there's less disposable parts

Greetings from Turkiye.

Mrs. mespilus is Turkish so we seem to end up here for a couple of weeks each Summer.

Simple treat, leave the beard to grow out for a few days, then off to any barber with a bit of a queue for a shortened trim and a wet shave, from a stranger wıth an open razor.

Bit of theatre about the haircut,
a short length of elastic(?) bandage wrapped round the neck first,
then put on the cape,
and the bandage folded over to prevent any hairs going down your neck,
lit spill used to burn away the bushy hairs on the ears & the top of the cheek.

This time another non-choice option was ıncluded.

Hair trimmed,
growth down neck removed with slim trimmer,
eyebrows trimmed,
the barber reached for a pot of stuff İ had not noticed,
he checks its temperature on his hand a few times and liberally coats my ears ın stingingly hot wax.
(Ears uncomfortably hot for about four minutes as the overall cut is checked and stray hairs are trimmed).

Wax is pressed firmly onto all ınternal surfaces and about the first inch of the back of the top of my ears. Evidently the fine white hairs, due to my advancing age, on my ears have reached a notifiable density and must be removed.

Mrs mespilus laughing at the prospect,
as are the other barber, & all the other customers.

Wax is removed in five expert pulls, and thrown on the floor, to join the other sweepings.

Ears are a glowing red, primed by a couple of days exposure to Turkish UV levels,
and now wıthout the fine white 'down' that previously covered them.

Another part of my aging body to worry about unwanted hair growth.

so finally gave in, after shaving with a DE for a few years, went to shavette. Just got my Feather Artist Club SS (Japanese handle). Damn, when you add in the feather pro super blades, it's a bit lethal.

Guess Ill have to practice a bit before using this in the morning when not awake!

Thinking of getting a cut-throat. What's the best, sharpest (ergo the least likely to irritate my baby-face) blades?

Also can anyone recco a nice herby soap with menthol in for that fresh yet natural scent of a Man?

Thinking of getting a cut-throat. What's the best, sharpest (ergo the least likely to irritate my baby-face) blades?

Also can anyone recco a nice herby soap with menthol in for that fresh yet natural scent of a Man?

Are you going for a cut throat that uses disposables? If so then this might be a good starter. http://www.traditionalshaving.co.uk/razor-blades/4514774-Traditional-Shaving-Razor-Blade-Sample-Pack.html

For finding the right scents, this is a great option. http://www.truefittandhill.co.uk/products/Creams-and-Balms-Sample-Pack.html

Try a Feather:

http://connaughtshaving.com/feapro.html

Remember to strop regularly if you get a non disposable job. And consider razor training first to avoid any unfortunate neck / blade incidents

Does anyone want to try out some feather DE blades? I tried them, but really didn't get on with them so I've got a few left in the box. I'll throw in some other types that I have left over as well. Free to the first person to PM me, but if you want them posted, you'll need to convince me you're over 18.

Edit: Provisionally gone

Was it just Feathers that you didn't get on with, or the whole DE thing?
I got a Merkur razor last summer and a huge pack of different blades to try. I thought feather were ok, but didn't really live up to the tremendous hype. My favourite so far have been Asco.

Was it just Feathers that you didn't get on with, or the whole DE thing?
I got a Merkur razor last summer and a huge pack of different blades to try. I thought feather were ok, but didn't really live up to the tremendous hype. My favourite so far have been Asco.

No, I love DE shaving but I found feathers to be really rough. They didn't feel half as sharp as the hype would suggest. I've settled on Astra Superior Platinum, which are smooooooooooooth! They are genuinely a step up from everything else I tried (Dorco, Shark, Derby etc.). Their only annoying feature is that they have gum on them (presumably to stick to their wrapper), which is a ballache to get off your razor. They're also not very expensive, I got 90 for 8p each.

i don't think i had any of them, I'll try them next

I can give you a couple if you can pick them up.

Where are you? I'm in Camden Town.