Phew, I'm back - at least for now. I've been away for a few months due to moving, job search, starting a business, buying a very old house that needs lots of work, beginning to set up my new wood shop, etc. But, i wanted to drop back in and make a few notes that I found interesting. Warning, since leaving here I'm back to shaving being mostly utilitarian and my ADs have greatly subsided. I haven't spent a dime on shaving stuff and won't until I have a steady income unless I run out of blades.
The short version
Try Palmolive Euro Soap Sticks. The DE89 is great. Hurray for Bic Chrome Platinums. Curious to try my purchased-a-few-months-ago SE bought from a guy who thought I might be crazy for wanting it for use. Put some Bic Metals in your arsenal. 4711+Lucido = perfect.
The long version
First, Euro Palmolive sticks.
If you haven't tried them, do so. Unless you like Arko. I tried and tried to like Arko. The lather is superb; a half-step above Palmolive, I'd say. But I can't do the scent. I can rinse for minutes and I still smell the stuff. So, If you haven't tried Euro Palmolive sticks, do it. Soap/cream and brush make more of a difference for me than anything else. i found I can even use some of the bad disposables (some, not most or many) with a good cream/soap, but can't use a good razor with bad goo from a can. I don't even use any of my other soaps or creams at this point.
Second, blades.
If you followed any of my [admittedly overboard] shave journal, I tried a lot of blades. For a very long while I settled for Feathers because I could get around two shaves from them. Astra SPs and a few others (yellows, greens, etc) could give me a 3-4, but even from day one they tugged pretty bad. I'm going to circle back to my collection slowly, but lately I've been using Bic Chrome Platinums with rather great success. I often get 5-7 shaves with one. They are never as sharp as a Feather, but not that far off and hold their edge. Still want to try Blacks sometime and will try to order some when I next order the Bics.
Third, the mighty razor. [queue Tim Allen 'Home Improvement' grunt]
I started with a EJ DE89 because people said it was a good mild starter. Later I purchased a birth quarter SS (1980) and was let down. No matter what I did, I couldn't get close with the SS. But, I could shave as fast as I wanted with it and couldn't cut myself. It was like a two-blade jobby for me. I gave it away to a friend who's now converted to DE shaving. I've since picked up an SE and have to order some blades for it when I next order. Suggestions, please. Anyway, I find the DE89 to be FAR more aggressive than the SS and am well-rewarded when I pay attention to my shaves. If I don't, I get bit a bit.
It's a Gem Micromatic for those shouting at their computer, "WHAT SE DID YOU BUY?!" i found it a few months ago for $3.50 at an antique store in a college town nearby. The proprietor, probably in his 70s or so saw me pick it up and said, "That's a razor." I smiled and said, "Yeah, a single-edge Gem Micromatic." And turned the knob to lift the top. Surprised I knew how it worked, he said something like, "Can you believe people used to shave with those? Don't see many around and every now-and-then some kid asks me what it is." Everything moved smoothly, teeth were straight, most of the plating was there. I said, "I'd like to buy this. I'd like to try a single-edge razor." I think he thought I was joking until I told him about using a DE, brush, etc. He didn't know whether to think he should try it again all these years later or call the looney bin. Either way, I got a pretty decent Gem for $3.50.
Third and one-half, the less mighty disposable.
I was living with others for a bit as we transitioned to the new home 700 miles away. I moved my family to MI and was in NJ for a month living with others. When I moved them out, I accidentally left my DE89 there (now here). It's not a good feeling to open your shave kit and find no razor. It's downright bad. I needed to shave, so I picked up some two-blade things at CVS/Rite-Aid/Somewhere. They were crap. Really, really bad. Don't remember which they were. So, I bought some Bic Metals. Great little razors that saved me like the SS but a little closer. For those who don't know, they're a single-blade disposable. They don't last long, but don't cost all that much either. I've since found some of the name brand 2-blade ones work very well also. None shave as close as my DE89 though. Oh, the Metals make fantastic little razors for anyone who can't fit a DE under their nose or wherever; they're tiny little heads.
Forth, AS.
I tried a bunch of stuff and like LEA balsam that one of the vendors sent me with an order. Was just a trial tube and he never responded as to where I can get more. I've not seen it, but have seen what looks like it sold as BEA balsam. I'll order some to try if no one says it's not the same next time i do order. But, thanks to another kind PIF, I've decided mixing 4711 and Lucido is pretty much the perfect ASL for me. 4711 is good enough and has what I think is a great, light, not-too-long-lasting scent. Lucido is one of the most effective ASLs I can imagine. I love that it adds some umph including cooling to my 4711. Perfect.
The rest is the same. I still the Frank Shaving finest that was PIFed to me. Thanks again, Snargle. Someday I want to get a travel brush, but for now I put this one in an empty toilet paper tube with some tape over the handle end. Lets the top stay open while holding it in place. If I don't put it away too wet it works better than expected for a single-use travel tube. Not hard to come by either.
The short version
Try Palmolive Euro Soap Sticks. The DE89 is great. Hurray for Bic Chrome Platinums. Curious to try my purchased-a-few-months-ago SE bought from a guy who thought I might be crazy for wanting it for use. Put some Bic Metals in your arsenal. 4711+Lucido = perfect.
The long version
First, Euro Palmolive sticks.
If you haven't tried them, do so. Unless you like Arko. I tried and tried to like Arko. The lather is superb; a half-step above Palmolive, I'd say. But I can't do the scent. I can rinse for minutes and I still smell the stuff. So, If you haven't tried Euro Palmolive sticks, do it. Soap/cream and brush make more of a difference for me than anything else. i found I can even use some of the bad disposables (some, not most or many) with a good cream/soap, but can't use a good razor with bad goo from a can. I don't even use any of my other soaps or creams at this point.
Second, blades.
If you followed any of my [admittedly overboard] shave journal, I tried a lot of blades. For a very long while I settled for Feathers because I could get around two shaves from them. Astra SPs and a few others (yellows, greens, etc) could give me a 3-4, but even from day one they tugged pretty bad. I'm going to circle back to my collection slowly, but lately I've been using Bic Chrome Platinums with rather great success. I often get 5-7 shaves with one. They are never as sharp as a Feather, but not that far off and hold their edge. Still want to try Blacks sometime and will try to order some when I next order the Bics.
Third, the mighty razor. [queue Tim Allen 'Home Improvement' grunt]
I started with a EJ DE89 because people said it was a good mild starter. Later I purchased a birth quarter SS (1980) and was let down. No matter what I did, I couldn't get close with the SS. But, I could shave as fast as I wanted with it and couldn't cut myself. It was like a two-blade jobby for me. I gave it away to a friend who's now converted to DE shaving. I've since picked up an SE and have to order some blades for it when I next order. Suggestions, please. Anyway, I find the DE89 to be FAR more aggressive than the SS and am well-rewarded when I pay attention to my shaves. If I don't, I get bit a bit.
It's a Gem Micromatic for those shouting at their computer, "WHAT SE DID YOU BUY?!" i found it a few months ago for $3.50 at an antique store in a college town nearby. The proprietor, probably in his 70s or so saw me pick it up and said, "That's a razor." I smiled and said, "Yeah, a single-edge Gem Micromatic." And turned the knob to lift the top. Surprised I knew how it worked, he said something like, "Can you believe people used to shave with those? Don't see many around and every now-and-then some kid asks me what it is." Everything moved smoothly, teeth were straight, most of the plating was there. I said, "I'd like to buy this. I'd like to try a single-edge razor." I think he thought I was joking until I told him about using a DE, brush, etc. He didn't know whether to think he should try it again all these years later or call the looney bin. Either way, I got a pretty decent Gem for $3.50.
Third and one-half, the less mighty disposable.
I was living with others for a bit as we transitioned to the new home 700 miles away. I moved my family to MI and was in NJ for a month living with others. When I moved them out, I accidentally left my DE89 there (now here). It's not a good feeling to open your shave kit and find no razor. It's downright bad. I needed to shave, so I picked up some two-blade things at CVS/Rite-Aid/Somewhere. They were crap. Really, really bad. Don't remember which they were. So, I bought some Bic Metals. Great little razors that saved me like the SS but a little closer. For those who don't know, they're a single-blade disposable. They don't last long, but don't cost all that much either. I've since found some of the name brand 2-blade ones work very well also. None shave as close as my DE89 though. Oh, the Metals make fantastic little razors for anyone who can't fit a DE under their nose or wherever; they're tiny little heads.
Forth, AS.
I tried a bunch of stuff and like LEA balsam that one of the vendors sent me with an order. Was just a trial tube and he never responded as to where I can get more. I've not seen it, but have seen what looks like it sold as BEA balsam. I'll order some to try if no one says it's not the same next time i do order. But, thanks to another kind PIF, I've decided mixing 4711 and Lucido is pretty much the perfect ASL for me. 4711 is good enough and has what I think is a great, light, not-too-long-lasting scent. Lucido is one of the most effective ASLs I can imagine. I love that it adds some umph including cooling to my 4711. Perfect.
The rest is the same. I still the Frank Shaving finest that was PIFed to me. Thanks again, Snargle. Someday I want to get a travel brush, but for now I put this one in an empty toilet paper tube with some tape over the handle end. Lets the top stay open while holding it in place. If I don't put it away too wet it works better than expected for a single-use travel tube. Not hard to come by either.
.
