How about: Merkur 1904/1906 razor, Personna med. Blades, pure badger brush, VDH Deluxe soap, witch hazel AS. That's all I need.
Marv
Marv
Anyone have a simple set up
- Thread starter madmax20
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I've got a number of samples, and I'm still trying some out... but I've got a set of favorites that I always seem to come back to:
Maggard MR1 razor, Astra SP blades, Vie-Long horsehair, c.o Bigelow or Arko shave soap, and Thayer's alcohol-free witch hazel. It's a really hard combo to beat, IMHO.
Maggard MR1 razor, Astra SP blades, Vie-Long horsehair, c.o Bigelow or Arko shave soap, and Thayer's alcohol-free witch hazel. It's a really hard combo to beat, IMHO.
I have plenty of stuff in my den, but what I'm actually using right now is very simple...
1. Ball-end Tech w/Personna Lab
2. Arko
3. Corn Husker's for pre-shave
4. Witch hazel
Doesn't get much simpler than that.
1. Ball-end Tech w/Personna Lab
2. Arko
3. Corn Husker's for pre-shave
4. Witch hazel
Doesn't get much simpler than that.
I have ambitions of one day becoming more of a minimalist.
I have only been doing this since August, so I am still trying out things.
I have tried the Super Speed, Schick Krona, Slim Tech, Old Type Open Comb, Gillette New, and Merkur 37C Slant. I am settling on mostly the Slant. I admit to being curious about the R41, but I can see myself falling into a rhythm with one or two razors and that being it.
I have tried a lot of soaps, and am narrowing them down to Stirling, Tabac and the Fat. I can be content with those, I believe.
Brushes are where I struggle.
Two Whipped Dog Silvertips, one a bulb set deep and the other a fan; an Omega 49, a Semogue 620 and a 1305 on the way.
And I really want a Semogue SOC.
See?
I have only been doing this since August, so I am still trying out things.
I have tried the Super Speed, Schick Krona, Slim Tech, Old Type Open Comb, Gillette New, and Merkur 37C Slant. I am settling on mostly the Slant. I admit to being curious about the R41, but I can see myself falling into a rhythm with one or two razors and that being it.
I have tried a lot of soaps, and am narrowing them down to Stirling, Tabac and the Fat. I can be content with those, I believe.
Brushes are where I struggle.
Two Whipped Dog Silvertips, one a bulb set deep and the other a fan; an Omega 49, a Semogue 620 and a 1305 on the way.
And I really want a Semogue SOC.
See?
Don't try. You will hate the BBS from all other razors after that. This is my problem after I sold my R41. Nobody knows what a true BBS is unless they have tried a R41. Not knowing it is a bliss and you will be happy with the result of your other razors.
(Or was this to "enable"
)
I'm not philosophically a minimalist.
I use one razor virtually every day because I like it better than my other razors. I usually use either one of my SOC's or my BK8 - but I know those are my favorites because I have a large enough collection to make an informed decision.
I rotate Castle Forbes and Ultimate Comfort because I like them the best of the 25 or so creams I have tired. I don't regret trying even one of those creams, I just don't like them enough to replace them at this time.
So I guess I ended up a bit of a minimalist, but I don't leave my curiosity unsatisfied and if I see something I want I buy it. I'm not that young - I can't afford a lot of missed opportunities.
I use one razor virtually every day because I like it better than my other razors. I usually use either one of my SOC's or my BK8 - but I know those are my favorites because I have a large enough collection to make an informed decision.
I rotate Castle Forbes and Ultimate Comfort because I like them the best of the 25 or so creams I have tired. I don't regret trying even one of those creams, I just don't like them enough to replace them at this time.
So I guess I ended up a bit of a minimalist, but I don't leave my curiosity unsatisfied and if I see something I want I buy it. I'm not that young - I can't afford a lot of missed opportunities.
I'm pretty much a minimalist. Been at this for 2 years, and I have 1 razor (Edwin Jagger 89DE), 1 brush, use one type of blade (Astra SP, $11/100), 3 soaps (2 QCS and 1 Mama Bear), 1 cream (C.O. Bigelow) and 1 after shave. I didn't try out a lot of stuff starting out either, just a "sample pack" of blades. Figured out what balde worked best for me in the razor, and that was that.
I like the QCS soaps, and since I like to support local craftsmen when I can (QCS is located in literally the next town over from me), I see no reason to try other soaps.
I like the QCS soaps, and since I like to support local craftsmen when I can (QCS is located in literally the next town over from me), I see no reason to try other soaps.
Right now and for all of 2014 I am only using:
Simpson Eagle
Merkur 37c
Astra SP
RR Don Marco
Handmade shaving bowl
Organic, unrefined, raw Shea Butter
if there is no 2014 ultimate shaving challenge then I will use different soaps but just 1 til done b4 moving to another.
Simpson Eagle
Merkur 37c
Astra SP
RR Don Marco
Handmade shaving bowl
Organic, unrefined, raw Shea Butter
if there is no 2014 ultimate shaving challenge then I will use different soaps but just 1 til done b4 moving to another.
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I have two razors, a merkur slant and an EJde89. I have two brushes an old pure badger AOS brush that is the one I use most, and then a Vie long horse hair that I use for tougher soaps. I use the same blade, a Polsilver, everyday. However I have more soaps, creams and aftershaves then I could use in a year and only more on the way as I'm getting the Penhaligons Sartorial for christmas.
I was a minimalist once. Back when all I knew was a blunt Fusion with canned gel.
I stumbled into my current setup,
cold water shave.
R41,alum block, home made shaving oil(castor+olive oil)
I'm getting the best shaves ever and I don't even need any after shave care with this setup and the alum block I am using more out of habit than any real need.
cold water shave.
R41,alum block, home made shaving oil(castor+olive oil)
I'm getting the best shaves ever and I don't even need any after shave care with this setup and the alum block I am using more out of habit than any real need.
I consider my self to be a minimalist but I still do have a few options on deck.
proraso white being my #1
but I keep a tub of cella hiding somewhere.
as for razors only 2
I have 5 brushes but only use the 2 in pic
RUBBERSET/ever ready
Now when it comes to cologne I have 5/6
but what you see is what I use every time.
it depends on the person,I've been wet shaving over three years now and have tried many many different soaps/pucks
I think it's something you must go threw before you pick what you want for your shaves
But it's nice to try different things from time to time.
proraso white being my #1
but I keep a tub of cella hiding somewhere.
as for razors only 2
I have 5 brushes but only use the 2 in pic
RUBBERSET/ever ready
Now when it comes to cologne I have 5/6
but what you see is what I use every time.
it depends on the person,I've been wet shaving over three years now and have tried many many different soaps/pucks
I think it's something you must go threw before you pick what you want for your shaves
But it's nice to try different things from time to time.
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Generally speaking I am a minimalist. I used my Merkur 34C for years, and only just acquired my second razor last week. I worked through a sampler pack of blades, but have stuck with Derbies for over a year. I bought a 100 pack so I'll have them for quite a while. They work well for me so I feel no need to change them.
Where I do change things up periodically is my choice of soap and aftershave. For the last year I've been using a combination of Ogllala Bay Rum shaving soap and Pinaud's Bay Rum aftershave. In the winter I've switched the aftershave to Saint Charles Shave's Bay Rum with a Twist since I tend to suffer from dry skin this time of year. But I also have several other soaps and after shaves on hand that I'll eventually burn through before finally settling down to a preferred combination.
Where I do change things up periodically is my choice of soap and aftershave. For the last year I've been using a combination of Ogllala Bay Rum shaving soap and Pinaud's Bay Rum aftershave. In the winter I've switched the aftershave to Saint Charles Shave's Bay Rum with a Twist since I tend to suffer from dry skin this time of year. But I also have several other soaps and after shaves on hand that I'll eventually burn through before finally settling down to a preferred combination.
