My wet shaving journey

Boycie83

Boycie83

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8,275
Location
Devon
I'm 15 months in to my traditional wet shaving journey. I've succumbed to all the acquisition disorders and the forums have been a great source of knowledge, friendship and hardware/software lust. I feel like I'm in a position now to share what I've learnt along the way. Naturally this is caveated as my own personal experience and we all know how different this can be for each of us:
  • I don't have sensitive skin. I assumed I did from the toll cartridge razors used to take on my skin. Other than a couple of sensitivities to certain ingredients, I'd say my skin is fairly normal.
  • I can enjoy the full spectrum of razor types - mild to efficient/aggressive. I learnt early that the most effective way to get the most from a razor is to adapt my technique to suit it rather than trying to use the razor with a set technique.
  • I was fuelled in to believing that stainless steel razors are the best by reading forums but I've had some wonderful shaves from aluminium and zamak razors. I'm convinced my zamak razors will see me through to the end of my days (which will hopefully be a ripe old age!). This isn't too say I dislike stainless steel razors, just that we're doing other razors a disservice by discounting them on their material.
  • Similarly to my point above, I assumed tallow based soaps were the best. I've actually found the vegan and animal friendly soaps to be among my top personal performers.
  • I enjoy boar, badger and synthetic brushes but won't buy another animal brush based on what I now know about their source. I won't bin my current badger brushes as I consider that wasteful. The variation they each bring is part of the fun for me.
  • Some really good products are available for very little money. It's easy to discount these early on but I would advise any noob to enjoy the cheap products first.
  • You don't save money if you treat wetshaving as a hobby.
  • The rate at which new soaps and razors come to the market is phenomenal. I have previously been sucked in to the hype but now know that I already own the things that will give me a great shave. I now only buy something if I want it for my collection, rather than thinking it will be the item that brings me the promise of nirvana. It's great to have so much choice though.
  • This is a good corner of the internet. Those that enjoy this as a hobby tend to be good and principled people and I feel very lucky to have 'met' you all.

That's my opinion piece. I'd be interested to hear yours.
 
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Some wise words of wisdom right there.

Throwing away a badger brush because it offends you would mean the animal really did die in vain, so I heartily endorse your position. I'm holding on to mine, although I don't see myself ever buying another.

The only quibble I have is with your position on soaps. Much as I love Wickhams, I find that it and other non-tallow soaps don't 'melt' quite as quickly, and I'm convinced that's what's been blocking my bathroom sink since I've stopped using that nasty gel.

Could be a water hardness issue, YMMV.
 
Weean said:
Some wise words of wisdom right there.

Throwing away a badger brush because it offends you would mean the animal really did die in vain, so I heartily endorse your position. I'm holding on to mine, although I don't see myself ever buying another.

The only quibble I have is with your position on soaps. Much as I love Wickhams, I find that it and other non-tallow soaps don't 'melt' quite as quickly, and I'm convinced that's what's been blocking my bathroom sink since I've stopped using that nasty gel.

Could be a water hardness issue, YMMV.
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I would try some other non Tallow , Wickhams does seem to produce a certain amount of film/residue. Others such as MDC and Signature don't do the same.
 
A well written account of your personal journey into traditional wet shaving C.
15 month's is an unusually short period of time to get to the point where you are now, alot of us including myself were still in full RAD mode at the 15 month stage, so we'll done for getting to the point in your journey where you seem to have worked out that there is little point apart from the fun side of buying new shiny kit.

It took me nearly four years before I realised that I probably already had the razor that would give me the perfect shave and it happens to be mild razor's the one's I first started with but I suppose it wouldn't have been a journey had I have not tried the mild through to the really assertive razors that will do you harm if you don't have the ability to muster 100% concentration in the morning.

I too tried all type's of brushes and finally settled on badger as my brush of choice.

I totally agree with you when you say you need to adapt your technique to each razor, not by much but a little to get the best out of the razor being used.

I too used to think that tallow soap's were best but now know the there are good non tallow soap's to be had as well and not all tallow soaps are good.

Out of all the blades I've tried I've worked out that one blade rarely fits all razors, for me anyway so I now have a life time supply of a handful of different blades that I can use in my different razors.

I also agree with your last point that most of us on this journey seem to be very nice people and only too willing to pass on their wisdom and even go as far as lend their cherished razors to you.
This is indeed a good corner of the Internet and I am pleased to be here amongst you good people. P
 
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Weean said:
Some wise words of wisdom right there.

Throwing away a badger brush because it offends you would mean the animal really did die in vain, so I heartily endorse your position. I'm holding on to mine, although I don't see myself ever buying another.

The only quibble I have is with your position on soaps. Much as I love Wickhams, I find that it and other non-tallow soaps don't 'melt' quite as quickly, and I'm convinced that's what's been blocking my bathroom sink since I've stopped using that nasty gel.

Could be a water hardness issue, YMMV.
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Very possible. I live in the South West and we have very soft water here which will probably influence my experience somewhat.
 
Blademonkey said:
A well written account of your personal journey into traditional wet shaving C.
15 month's is an unusually short period of time to get to the point where you are now, alot of us including myself were still in full RAD mode at the 15 month stage, so we'll done for getting to the point in your journey where you seem to have worked out that there is little point apart from the fun side of buying new shiny kit.

It took me nearly four years before I realised that I probably already had the razor that would give me the perfect shave and it happens to be mild razor's the one's I first started with but I suppose it wouldn't have been a journey had I have not tried the mild through to the really assertive razors that will do you harm if you don't have the ability to muster 100% concentration in the morning.

I too tried all type's of brushes and finally settled on badger as my brush of choice.

I totally agree with you when you say you need to adapt your technique to each razor, not by much but a little to get the best out of the razor being used.

I too used to think that tallow soap's were best but now know the there are good non tallow soap's to be had as well and not all tallow soaps are good.

Out of all the blades I've tried I've worked out that one blade rarely fits all razors, for me anyway so I now have a life time supply of a handful of different blades that I can use in my different razors.

I also agree with your last point that most of us on this journey seem to be very nice people and only too willing to pass on their wisdom and even go as far as lend their cherished razors to you.
This is indeed a good corner of the Internet and I am pleased to be here amongst you good people. P
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Thank you Paul and I completely agree with you regarding blades.

If I find myself getting excited over shiny new items online, I take a bit of time out to look over my current collection and which reminds me of the nice things I already have (and not yet tried in a lot of cases).
 
Boycie83 said:
I'm 15 months in to my traditional wet shaving journey. I've succumbed to all the acquisition disorders and the forums have been a great source of knowledge, friendship and hardware/software lust.
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Watching you take to this hobby has been like watching a small chubby child take to his bike with training wheels to begin with, then winning the Tour de France a few weeks later.

Quite simply it's inspirational.

Boycie83 said:
  • You don't save money if you treat wetshaving as a hobby.
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Tut tut tut Boyce. You are wrong. Think of the money you have saved on not buying carts in the last 15 months? The wet shaving journey is something completely different! Carts are to get rid of stubble, wet shaving is a hobby and for me form of meditation/mindfulness in some ways, a few minutes away from distractions.

****
Some great points though, and it's really impressive how quickly you not only took to the hobby but worked out exactly what you are after. Personally it took me a good while to work on my technique be it holding the razor at the right angle, pressure, and getting a good lather. I'd say only after around 2 years have I come close to working out what I really like.

Going through the points you went through.

- I have incredibly sensitive skin, pretty much anything with a scent makes my skin burn :(
- Mild razors
- Never used a SS razor, only Zamak & Brass.
- Tallow soaps for the winter, vegan soaps for summer. I find my skin gets a bit greasy with tallow soaps in the summer.
- I like boar brushes, but I'm unlikely to buy another as the losing bristles issue annoys me and it's difficult to beat the consistency/performance of my Yaqi Faux Horse Rainbow. I tried a Badger but it felt like I stabbing my face with a lot of tiny pins, and had the worst irritation ever; took several days to subside.
- I've never really spent much on a single purchase so my favourite items are largely ones at the more budget side of things. All the more expensive soaps I've tried eg LpL, Wickhams have all made my face burn.
- I'm not really that bothered by new releases aside from blades that have pictures of chubby brown cricketers with their thumbs up.
- This is an excellent corner of the internet.
 
donnie_arko said:
Watching you take to this hobby has been like watching a small chubby child take to his bike with training wheels to begin with, then winning the Tour de France a few weeks later.

Quite simply it's inspirational.


Tut tut tut Boyce. You are wrong. Think of the money you have saved on not buying carts in the last 15 months? The wet shaving journey is something completely different! Carts are to get rid of stubble, wet shaving is a hobby and for me form of meditation/mindfulness in some ways, a few minutes away from distractions.

****
Some great points though, and it's really impressive how quickly you not only took to the hobby but worked out exactly what you are after. Personally it took me a good while to work on my technique be it holding the razor at the right angle, pressure, and getting a good lather. I'd say only after around 2 years have I come close to working out what I really like.

Going through the points you went through.

- I have incredibly sensitive skin, pretty much anything with a scent makes my skin burn :(
- Mild razors
- Never used a SS razor, only Zamak & Brass.
- Tallow soaps for the winter, vegan soaps for summer. I find my skin gets a bit greasy with tallow soaps in the summer.
- I like boar brushes, but I'm unlikely to buy another as the losing bristles issue annoys me and it's difficult to beat the consistency/performance of my Yaqi Faux Horse Rainbow. I tried a Badger but it felt like I stabbing my face with a lot of tiny pins, and had the worst irritation ever; took several days to subside.
- I've never really spent much on a single purchase so my favourite items are largely ones at the more budget side of things. All the more expensive soaps I've tried eg LpL, Wickhams have all made my face burn.
- I'm not really that bothered by new releases aside from blades that have pictures of chubby brown cricketers with their thumbs up.
- This is an excellent corner of the internet.
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And you remain our obscure blade Guru :D

It was you that brought the Gillette Winner to our attention!
 
Great Post !

My few for what they are worth.

Too Much Kit doesn't suit me , I like to have a few of everything and get to know them and sometimes sell some and bring in others.

I do have sensitive skin to soaps but find the soaps with quality ingredients I tend to get on ok with - I am Vegan so my soaps are

I learned Kit is no substitute for technique

Once your technique is good you can get a decent shave with almost any blade

They need to buy a new blade sharper in the Lord factory :)

I enjoy all sorts of razors from Mild to Efficient , but I prefer the feel of DE , over SE and Injectors.

I prefer Brushes without protruding glue bumps

I learned I am turning into @Satanfriendly as we own the same Brushes, Like many of the same razors , Love Polislver Lodz, or though my knowledge of Japanese Metal is woeful !

This certainly is a Damn fine corner of the internet from the moment I arrived I was included and given friendly and wise advice.
 
Good write up, Chris

I concur with all you say

I was quite happy with my Merkur Futur and Trumpers creams for over seven years, and then joined TSR - That's when the the acquisition disorders kicked in, and I soon had a dozen razors, and more soap than Unilever (or so it seemed)
Things have calmed down considerably since, and I now only have half a dozen razors, the same with brushes, but - soaps and creams-and-aftershaves are still evidently abundant.
It drives my wife round the twist, but I rarely drink, don't smoke, and rarely leave the house to socialise due to PTSD and general lack of interest
 
Paul L said:
Good write up, Chris

I concur with all you say

I was quite happy with my Merkur Futur and Trumpers creams for over seven years, and then joined TSR - That's when the the acquisition disorders kicked in, and I soon had a dozen razors, and more soap than Unilever (or so it seemed)
Things have calmed down considerably since, and I now only have half a dozen razors, the same with brushes, but - soaps and creams-and-aftershaves are still evidently abundant.
It drives my wife round the twist, but I rarely drink, don't smoke, and rarely leave the house to socialise due to PTSD and general lack of interest
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A good point Paul - it's a fun and harmless way of enjoying some of our own time and not something we should feel guilty over.

I hope you find peace with your PTSD.
 
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