How has your shaving journey evolved?

[Sideburns]

I began my straight razor path using a Feather SS shavette. I was not sure I wanted to learn to hone. Feather makes guarded blades. I used them to start.

Only ever had a few straight shaves, all took place in the 80’s and without fail, I didn’t need to shave for a couple of days afterwards. The skill and theatre involved made them highly memorable moments in my life. Oddly enough, I had to be travelling in Turkey to have that experience, in fact it was where I bought the alum block I have in my shave kit to this day - thankfully I don’t need to use it.
In addition, the barber had a spirit lamp burning on his counter and used it to singe the peach fuzz off my ears. Time travel forty years on and my peach fuzz has upgraded itself to wire wool and we seem to have “ barber” shops in so many of our high streets.
For now, I think I’ll leave the straight shaving to the experts, but good to know there’s a way in for a total newbie.

 

[TRS]

I started with a Gillette sensor and shaved with cartridge razors for decades. Then came DE razors, followed by razors with a half-DE blade. After that, I started exploring SE razors. I have a Gem, an injector, a conditioner, a Valet Autostrop, and a Wilkinson. Now, injectors and AC razors are my top choices. But I still have some untested Rolls Razor and Weck razors lying around. I prefer SE razors because their thicker blades provide a more comfortable and close shave. And I still need soaps and lotions—there are so many of them.

 

[Kamp]

That’s an interesting journey. I’d been on cartridges for what seems like decades. Your point about clogging cartridges is something I’d never thought about, but since DE shaving I don’t have a clogged blade and that’s a real bonus. Clogged multi blade cartridges were a real pain.
Straight blade shaving seems to be a world away - Respect.
.

TThanks, just try a straight its not so hard as it seems its just holding the correct angle you have to learn if you klearn that its very easy in 14 years i only had 3 or 4 times i had a very minor cut and that is because i cnat see ot of my right eye and I had a straight with a point so that digged in a little around my ear with the point but nothing a stiptic pen cant handle so all those years only a handfull of times Like I said can be very safe as long as yoou hold the correct angle.

I wpu;ld see go for it try it...you never know maybe you like it!

 

[Sideburns]

I started with a Gillette sensor and shaved with cartridge razors for decades. Then came DE razors, followed by razors with a half-DE blade. After that, I started exploring SE razors. I have a Gem, an injector, a conditioner, a Valet Autostrop, and a Wilkinson. Now, injectors and AC razors are my top choices. But I still have some untested Rolls Razor and Weck razors lying around. I prefer SE razors because their thicker blades provide a more comfortable and close shave. And I still need soaps and lotions—there are so many of them.

That’s quite a journey you’ve covered seems like you’ve given many avenues of traditional shaving a try. I can definitely see the appeal of trying different things. I think my next big step will be a lower profile head with rounder or chamfered corners.
Interesting that injectors and ACs ended up being your favourites after all that experimenting.
I also have a Rolls that I inherited, as things stand, I don’t think I trust myself to use it so will probably move it along when the time is right. Design is really well thought through.

 

[AndThatsARockFact]

I began buzzing my head with electric beard trimmers in high school, and continued for the next twenty-five years.

Then a few years ago the wife bought me a tub of shave cream. I foolishly bought the Chinese adjustable razor of the same brand to go with it, and it never held the blade straight or even. It was a frustrating experience.

I did a little reading and started buying Muhle products. I sort of stopped growing after that. I’m very happy with the R89 heads and STF brushes. Proraso and Geo F. Trumper creams have been fine, but I may do some exploring later.

Over time I’ve become more convinced that preparation is the key to a good shave. A good hot shower to start, or a soaking tub. No rushing. Exfoliating the scalp with a razor has become one of life’s pleasures.

Usually I turn into a collector of vintage things when it comes to my hobies, but I’m trying really hard to resist that with shaving equipment. A fun offshoot to DE shaving has been an interest in fragrance collecting.

 

[Sideburns]

I began buzzing my head with electric beard trimmers in high school, and continued for the next twenty-five years.

Then a few years ago the wife bought me a tub of shave cream. I foolishly bought the Chinese adjustable razor of the same brand to go with it, and it never held the blade straight or even. It was a frustrating experience.

I did a little reading and started buying Muhle products. I sort of stopped growing after that. I’m very happy with the R89 heads and STF brushes. Proraso and Geo F. Trumper creams have been fine, but I may do some exploring later.

Over time I’ve become more convinced that preparation is the key to a good shave. A good hot shower to start, or a soaking tub. No rushing. Exfoliating the scalp with a razor has become one of life’s pleasures.

Usually I turn into a collector of vintage things when it comes to my hobies, but I’m trying really hard to resist that with shaving equipment. A fun offshoot to DE shaving has been an interest in fragrance collecting.

Nice journey — funny how one tub of shave cream opened the door to all of this.
Sounds like you found where you want to be with the Muhle setup. I started with the Edwin Jagger DE89 closed comb, I couldn’t get on with the blade protrusion either end of the head. Not sure if the Muhle has a similar characteristic.
Like you, I’m finding that preparation is the key too — taking your time really does make all the difference.
I can definitely relate to the fragrance rabbit hole; I didn’t see that one coming, nor in my case the collection of brushes that I’ve acquired in a pretty short time.

 

[AndThatsARockFact]

Nice journey — funny how one tub of shave cream opened the door to all of this.
Sounds like you found where you want to be with the Muhle setup. I started with the Edwin Jagger DE89 closed comb, I couldn’t get on with the blade protrusion either end of the head. Not sure if the Muhle has a similar characteristic.
Like you, I’m finding that preparation is the key too — taking your time really does make all the difference.
I can definitely relate to the fragrance rabbit hole; I didn’t see that one coming, nor in my case the collection of brushes that I’ve acquired in a pretty short time.

Yes!

It’s been fun, and I think a quality of life upgrade as well. My story is short, but I figured others might relate with some of it.

I’ve heard the DE89 is very similar, including the blade protrusion.

Shaving is certainly a gateway to fragrance. I may be slowing down a little though. I’ve thinned the herd since my over-exuberant start, and the last few Hermes and Guerlain were gorgeous. I don’t see myself upping my game to the next level-diminishing returns and all that. I don’t want to become a hoarder.