Not only that but a DE razor is a quality built mans tool vs a cheap plastic vibrating toy made in china. My weapon of choice is an Edwin Jagger DE89 made in Sheffield England chromed by Rolls Royce. This is a very addictive hobby once started and there is no looking back. Heck I am even thinking trying cut throat razors.
Any other wetshavers out there?
There are forums devoted to these and they are indeed a hobby.
http://www.executive-shaving.co.uk/cut-throat-razor.php
I stopped using an electric shaver years ago, as wet was much better and, I found, quicker - the amount of times you needed to go over bits of stubble meant you lost time and the skin got more irritated.
I use the Wilkinson soap in a bowl and the badger hair (fake) brush it's far superior to any canned foam.
Try Dr. Harris Arlington, the scent is divine and the lather is like a creamy jogurt delight.
you can buy here.
I also just did a quick check and the razor quoted above you can get from Amazon UK.
Life is too short to shave with mass marketed crap. Shaving used to be a chore to be done ASAP. Now I take my time and enjoy every second of it. My wife calls it my 30 min wellness. She is not far from the truth. I can do it faster, but I enjoy taking my time as there is something ritualistic (like mating or eating) that sets the endorphins off.
Get the lined or barley handle as the chrome handle can be slippery if you have soap on your hands. Even though it has never slipped on me, but I am also careful enough to rinse all soap off. Even wet it is not slippery. Great razor.
I hate shaving with avengeance, which is why I have an appreciable beard by the end of the week. If it was a pleasurable experience , I'd do it more often. You might have a convert.
Is where my husband gets most of his stuff from.
I was the same. The best tip I can give you is to buy a sampler pack of blades to find which blade works the best for you. My favorite are shark and astra. Watch out for feather blades from Japan, they are the sharpest and have been refered to as the samari of all blades (best used by a master).
No. Avoid the gillette blades found in COOP aka super silvers. Urban legend has it that they are dull on purpose to discourage people from trying wet shaving thus returning to mach or fusion blades in defeat. $$$$
However gillette does make good blades, try the yellows, blacks or greens.
But like I said a sampler pack is the best to start off as every face is different.
I do enjoy shaving (aka wellness time), but alas, only on a long weekend when I feel like. The rest of the year it's just keeping the stubble in check with the machine. So any further input on those is appreciated
Normal everyday shaves have been a thing of the past since I can't be bothered to shell out so much money for the usual blades anymore..
There was a good/funny article in 20 Minuten today ( see link here in German ) - I wonder how P&G can invest about 2 billion USD for research for blades... I'm pretty sure that they have more choice outside CH of course, but it still seems ridiculous...
What will they come up with next? 5 blades??
Yup, the good ol "lift and cut" aka "pull and tear" system. They can save all that money if they were to consult me, which I would tell them, the first blade cuts the rest causes irritation. No need for 5,6,or even 7 blades. They spent 2 billion on that? Like I said, I am NEVER going back to that system again.
He also sells straights, Dovo Shavette (straights with DE blades), and other stuff. If you go there, try to talk to him personally -- I have found that the two women's service is less than decent. You are not allowed to look around, not allowed to open any tester bottles yourself, etc.
For the soaps, I know only of Crabtree & Evelyn mentioned above, and L'Occitane. Does anybody know of other shops in Switzerland having similar "traditional" products?
Oh, and there is also a knife shop on Rennweg which sells some straights.
Super Badger
Gillette Fusion
The thing is the blades of any razor last forever with a good soap/cream.
1) Wet the face with some hot water
2) Wet the badger and squeeze out the extra water
3) 2 wipes across the cream
4) Lather (sp) onto the face - to get a full rich coating across the entire beard
5) Shave with the growth direction
You'll have a hugely pleasureable, comfortable shave. With no pulling of the hairs. A brush (real badger) will set you back £40 - and a tub of quality cream around £10. The former should in theory last a lifetime. The latter about a year.
Around 2002 a friend here gave me a new-old-stock razor he found that had been made in Neuchatel circa 1920-30, stunning. I've used that one exclusively since then.
You only have to stone them a couple of times per year, otherwise it's just strop and shave. Lather up before stropping and the beard's ready when the razor is.
quoting that because it's quotable