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How do you get a close shave?

c073186 said:
Did you get a chance to try yours yet, xUKHCx
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Just went and gave it a go. Took my time over it as I didn't want to slash up my face. There are obviously a few areas where I need to work out the best techniques but didn't want to keep repeating the same area. It gives a really close shave on the easy areas but there is still quite a lot of room for improvement. Just going to take a while to get it right and consistent.

Looking forward to tomorrow morning, will get up an extra 15 minutes early.
 
well i got my set yesterday as well. my first shave was actually not so good but here is why:

1. i did it in the shower - i think it was too wet and too hard to control the lather. tonight i will do it after a shower at the sink.
2. i was too impatient with creating the lather - i need to spend more time.
3. because it was so wet in the shower the lather did not get as thick and creamy as it should have.
4. rather than just shaving normally or in slow controlled strokes, i tried blade buffing and i should just stick to what i know for now.

i am still going to use my Mach 3 for a while (at least until the cartridges run out) and just try and get a good feel for the creams and such. i will probably make a run to crabtree+evelyn and try some of their creams as well.

having said that my lady thought it was cool. i forbade from using it to shave her legs tho :)
 
shecky said:
having said that my lady thought it was cool. i forbade from using it to shave her legs tho :)
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Probably a smart move. On a side note, my sister used to steal my mach 3 cartridges and use my razor to shave her legs. Talk about a lot of money down the drain! Glad I moved out of my mom's house. That alone has saved me a few bucks. ;)
 
klymr said:
Probably a smart move. On a side note, my sister used to steal my mach 3 cartridges and use my razor to shave her legs. Talk about a lot of money down the drain! Glad I moved out of my mom's house. That alone has saved me a few bucks. ;)
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I don't know why, but I found that funny. :D
 
So did she just take your razor without asking even though she knew you did not approve?
 
c073186 said:
So did she just take your razor without asking even though she knew you did not approve?
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She'd take all my stuff without asking and without approval. She would take the razor out of my drawer in the bathroom, swap the cartridge and shave her legs, and then swap it back. I was about to take the cartridge that she was using and run it across the concrete outside and put it back, but thought better of myself there. I eventually had to buy a locking doorknob for my bedroom and keep it locked at all times. I made the mistake of leaving it unlocked one day (while I was home) and came up $40 short the next time I checked my wallet. She admitted to taking it so her friends could go to the high school dance that night. I lost over $100 cash to that child. Glad I don't have to deal with her anymore.
 
Abstract said:
That doesn't sound as bad now.......not unless your sister is shaving more than her legs. *cough*
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Yeah, I didn't care to find out what else was going on with it. I decided to play the safe card and not use it at all. ;)
 
well... better shave last night, but i am still getting issues with across the grain shaving on my second pass; some razorbumps around my neck area. maybe i am still being to aggressive. i did do it at the sink this time which was better than in the shower for now. i think i am going to skip a day tonight and let my face heal a bit.

having said that, the parts where the shave was good was VERY good (upper cheeks, etc.) i like doing 2 or 3 lighter passes than one heavy one. i am still not positive i am lathering properly but i think so.
 
puckhead193 said:
wouldn't a single blade like at the barber shop be best?
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Dunno what to make of this thread. It reminds me of an article in the Times when the reporter went to have a shave at G Trumper in London, who shaves the Prince of Wales. The guy working there had been shaving customers for donkeys years and there was nothing he apparently did not know about his work.
The reporter was gutted when he did not produce a cut throat razor or even the traditional double edged single blade as per the Art of Shaving but a Mach 3: "Ooh, no, sir, these are much better. And quicker". *shrugs*


Prof. said:
This is what I use and I get a close shave each and every time.:cool:
..........<snipped picture of Gillette Fusion>..........
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I picked up one of these recently. One blade too many, methinks. The first two shave, the next two slice layers off my chin. Never had so many shaving bumps with any other blade. I do like the fifth blade for getting the hard to reach hairs above just under my nose, though.
 
rossoUK said:
Anyone got any more links to badger hair brushes? The gud stuff?
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Please, won't someone think of the badgers? :)

Seriously though, I have this vision of farms full of badgers having their necks clipped periodically to get the hair for these brushes. If this isn't the case and they go out and shoot them, how is using one of these any different to wearing a fur coat?
 
Who could argue with this, really?

Seriously though. As far as electric shavers go, it's pretty nifty.
 
Antares said:
I've used an electric razor all my (shaving) life and am leery about trying a simple blade razor. That's what holds me back from trying any of the products you guys have mentioned. I wouldn't know where to begin at this point.
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Well if you start with a razor with a flexible head (all the ones sold at the drugstore / supermarket) it really is not very risky in terms of cutting yourself. I think that using the DE safety razors is where it gets more complicated because they do not adjust to your facial contours and so you can get cut real easily.
 
This thread is fascinating...

I've been silently following this thread and it's opened up a whole new culture of shaving. I started early and got on board with a Gillette Sensor Excel which I still use. I've used disposable Bic razors (which I actually think work better, fewer blades maybe?) and once I have the money to invest in this ritual, I probably will.

On a comedic note, this thread reminded me of this article from The Onion. There's a fair bit of profanity (Onion-style of course) so consider yourself warned... :D

cpjakes
 
"electric razor" and "close shave" don't have any business being in the same sentence, in my experience. I have to use at least a double bladed razor, against the grain, otherwise, in combination with my skin color/tone, it'll just look like I just rubbed a thin layer of moist soil on my face. The 5 o'clock shadow is even worse.

I'll literally skip work if I can't shave.
 
jb60606 said:
I have to use at least a double bladed razor, against the grain, otherwise, in combination with my skin color/tone, it'll just look like I rubbed moist soil on my face. The 5 o'clock shadow is even worse.
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I think I have the same situation: after I shave my face is completely smooth and I don't see how I could possibly get any closer. But I can still see the hair follicles just because of my skin's condition / pigment and the fact that I have dark hair. Oh well.
 
c073186 said:
I think I have the same situation: after I shave my face is completely smooth and I don't see how I could possibly get any closer. But I can still see the hair follicles just because of my skin's condition / pigment and the fact that I have dark hair. Oh well.
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Has the new method helped at all though? Just curious if it's working out yet.
 
So, I went to Wal-Mart tonight and was planning on just picking up a new pack of Mach 3 blades, until I looked at the price. They no longer have the 4 pack, it's now a 5 pack I guess (at least that's what it looked like to me). The dang things were nearly $13! :eek: I'll be submitting an order for a real razor and stuff tomorrow. Best I can figure is I'll have the thing paid for in 4 months tops by not using the Mach 3 anymore. Plus I'll feel more like a real man using traditional shaving methods. I'm excited, haha.
 
klymr said:
So, I went to Wal-Mart tonight and was planning on just picking up a new pack of Mach 3 blades, until I looked at the price. They no longer have the 4 pack, it's now a 5 pack I guess (at least that's what it looked like to me). The dang things were nearly $13! :eek: I'll be submitting an order for a real razor and stuff tomorrow. Best I can figure is I'll have the thing paid for in 4 months tops by not using the Mach 3 anymore. Plus I'll feel more like a real man using traditional shaving methods. I'm excited, haha.
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wait i thought those razors on those web sites were just handles and put your own blades on them ie mach 3.
maybe ill go this route if its not like that as i am sick of electric shaves.
 
benlangdon said:
wait i thought those razors on those web sites were just handles and put your own blades on them ie mach 3.
maybe ill go this route if its not like that as i am sick of electric shaves.
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Some of them are just fancy handles for the Mach 3 cartridges, but most are the old style double edge (DE) safety razors. The handles look like this one here:

01282008uploads_073.jpg


There are a few advantages to using a DE razor. Just to name a few, it'll get a closer shave with less irritation, and the blades cost next to nothing! A ten pack of blades usually runs about $5. Compare that to the 4 or 5 (wish I was had payed better attention) cartridges for my Mach 3 and that a HUGE savings overall. Also, the handle on one of these classic safety razors will last an entire lifetime if regularly cleaned and maintained. The blade itself is just a thin piece of metal, just as a razor blade is. The top of the handle opens and you set the blade in and close it shut. This is what the blades look like:

Yellow_Blades.jpg


Anyway, like I said, I'll be submitting an order shortly. No way I'm gunna be paying for those dang cartridges at the prices they are now.
 
c073186 said:
Thanks for all of the replies. To answer an early question, yes, I do wet my face before shaving.

As I read through some of this stuff I decided I should give these double-edge safety razors a try. But I am wondering: which ones are worth the price? I mean, is there any difference between these two, priced at $24 and $50 (and these were on the cheap side)?

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/5416107.htm

http://www.theartofshaving.com/taos6/product.php?product=67003&group=11

I am willing to give this a shot but I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on shaving unless it is going to yield perfect results. (Edit: Actually I don't think I'd want to spend hundreds no matter the results, but I can justify $20-50 if it will make a difference).
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Toss out the AOS stuff. It's poop. Get yourself some trumpers or trufitt or whatever the other "T" brand is, a nice HD Classic safety razor and a starter size badger brush from classicshaving. :)
 
c073186 said:
I think I am going to go for it and try this stuff out. I have decided on these items

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522951/197397.htm

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/190429.htm

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/196010.htm

Now I just need the shaving cream. I am assuming I cannot use my standard can-style dispensable cream with a brush? What type should I buy? Are there any good ones on this page (just so all my stuff is from one place)

http://www.classicshaving.com/page/page/522960.htm

Thanks
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The futur is a good razor, but easy to cut yourself with changing the blades. The way the head is designed is not great. It's also not the best place to start with an adjustable. Go with a Hefty Classic.

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/284057.htm

Also, the Merkur brush. It's good, but it's 80 bucks and is meant to go on a brush stand. (ie hang upside down), not stand upright. Get a Vulfix, Simpsons, Rooney or other brush with a nice ivory (or faux ivory) handle in a 22 or 24mm knot size. You can get these for similar to the Merkur, but they'll be better made.

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/2053630/2184118.htm is one I'd recommend.

or even finder haired.

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/2053630/2184101.htm


As for creams, as my previous post said. Trufitt and Hill, Trumpers or Taylor of old Bond. Creams, not soaps... since they are easy to work a lather with.

Also I invite you to check out www.badgerandblade.com and www.shavemyface.com. They are safety and straight razor 'forums', such as macrumors but for shaving discussion. Lots of great reviews, great people and all around fun.


Also check out.

www.leesrazors.com
www.qedusa.com
 
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