Wet Shaving?

To be honest, I would like something convenient that I can do before I run out the door to work. I will definitely look at Jim's link. What is a DE by the way?

 

Hard to beat a 40's Super Speed no matter how much you spend.

 

DE is a razor that uses a double-edge razor blade. Wet shaving doesn't save me time but it saves my face... I can get a three pass, great shave done in under ten minutes but I take my time. I remember the first time I used a double edge razor it took me almost thirty minutes. You can shave quicker but I'm rarely that pressed for time when shaving.

I've given out lots of starter sets to friends that may have cost me all of twenty dollars but I know it is harder to find the $4-8 razors. A premium set of VDH from target/walmart/other box store can get you set with a brush and soap. West Coast Shaving has a lot of other inexpensive options as well.

 

+ a million. I just want a decent shave. I only go about once every couple of days. But don't want to spend the world. It's just a task that needs doing. Not something that I enjoy to be honest.

Ps based in Australia so am going to look around somewhere close. Or maybe not. Sheesh every thing is expensive these days.

 

I save the luxo shaves for the weekend. on work days, I soak my face with a hot wash cloth for a minute or two, lather a modern cream in my hands and on my face. single pass unless a bit of touch up is needed. rinse and aftershave and done in about 4 minutes. The shave is far superior to any cartridge I had experienced before. If you don't have 4 or 5 minutes to devote to a shave, you could get up 4 minutes earlier.

 

I used to hate shaving now I hate when I don't... so much scruff.

 

Another world of various sharp things opens up, lots of choice and this is like trying to choose my first 'proper' knife a few months ago not quite as bad as though, it looks like you can get something decent for a realtively small outlay

 

It's just another rabbit hole. You can spend thousands or less than a thirty...

 

I will go for the less than 30 option thanks Just want to see the difference going from the normal Gilette cartridge stuff to a decent entry level DE, today is the first time I have thought about it properly so quite confusing, didn't even know what a DE was until a few hours ago!!

 

Ah Warren, you sound like me back in 2008. I was so chapped at the ever growing number of blades in cartridges and the escalating cost that from a strictly economic point I sought out old school knowledge. It was all well and good, and I found that not only was I getting by with 14 cents per blade for a decent blade, mind you, but my shaves went from mediocre to top notch. I was soon afflicted with razor acquisition disorder, soap acquisition disorder and cream acquisition dissorder, but am now on the mend settled into my somewhat stable routine. I only ever acquired two straights which I've sold and probably a high of about 20 DE's (I'm down to 7 now!!) And the thing about it is, I did not have it bad. (You should see some of these guys collections!)

Razor companies have for decades spent millions to make us think that shaving is an onerous task which can only be relieved by us purchasing their latest iteration. My opinion is that Razors never got better than the 1940's Gillette Super Speed, only different. that is until the advent of the cart razor which was a marked step backwards.

So good luck and as I told my wife, "A guy could have worse interests".

 

Already used the 'A guy could have worse interests' for all my fishing gear and now kitchen knives, not sure if it will stretch to shaving equipment as well!! Think I will just point to the various coats and boxes of shoes that never seem to to see daylight, wish me luck

 

It isn't too hard to be happy with what you have from a shaving standpoint. I have one razor (plus a straight), one brush and a handful of soaps to mix it up a notch. I spend more on getting others involved after they complain about hating to shave or hate the cost of cartridges.

 

I was going to have a look at the dedicated shaving forums but think I will get info overload So what would you guys recommend for a first DE? I saw Merkur 37C and Super Speed mentioned in the previous posts, I am in the UK so the normal US sites might not be viable once shipping is taken into account.
Any basic advice guys?

 

Yes please. My wife will kill me if I spend any more. Especially with the baby coming. I only started to care once I started seeing redness and bumps on my neck. Normally I just stop shaving for a couple of weeks and it would go away on its own. But that gets harder the older I get. I honestly don't have much interest in the activity but want better resultd

 

I bought some shaving supplies from http://www.shave-shack.com.au , lovely people with lovely service. They are on holidays at the moment though.

 

I wish I was as minimalist as you. to accomodate my shaving hoarding habits, I had to install another cabinet in the bathroom...I really need to stop buying stuff 2 I know there are people even worse than me which is actually kind of scary

You should also check out the Edwin Jagger DE89

 

I concur with Jim's recommendations a page back. finding a vintage super speed might be tough. they do come up in the buy sell trade threads on Badger and blade though and often from the Uk. I picked mine up for the $5 to $15 range which makes them super deals. A lightly used super speed will outlive you.

 

The Superspeed is a fine razor.

 

Ok so just bought an Edwin Jagger DE89 Barley, I could see I was going to research forever if I didn't just get something, I might grab a Superspeed off the bay to try out if I see a good deal, I was thinking it was just razors and shaving but I am getting that little collecting twitch over the last 30 mins2

 

Warren
Great. That razor could serve you well for decades. If you are just getting into it, please spend the time to look at some newb guides on BandB or other shaving sites as the learning curve can be greatly reduced as can the discomfort from poor technique. The pressure you can get away with from carts will not be acceptable with your new DE.