I started shaving with a DE razor about 4 years ago and have finally, I think, figured out what works for me. Since I learned a lot from this site, I wanted to share my experience.
My setup is:
Fatip Piccolo Razor (Fatip il Piccolo Originale Gold, Open Comb DE Safety Razor - https://maggardrazors.com/products/fatip-il-piccolo-originale-gold-open-comb-de-safety-razor)
Personna Blue Blades (100 Personna Stainless Steel Double Edge Razor Blades - https://www.fendrihan.com/collections/safety-razor-blade-packs/products/100-personna-stainless-steel-double-edge-razor-blades)
RazoRock Big Bruce Synthetic Brush (https://www.amazon.com/RazoRock-Pli...g+bruce+synthetic+brush&qid=1668864202&sr=8-2)
Proraso Single Blade Shaving Cream (Single Blade Shaving Cream: Cypress & Vetyver - https://proraso-usa.com/collections/shave/products/single-blade-shave-cream-tube-cypress-vetyver)
The Homestead Witch Hazel Distillate (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TH71W0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Here’s my shaving journey:
I am 63 years old. My mustache area is very heavy, my chin area is medium heavy, and my cheeks are light. I’ve always been clean shaven and couldn’t grow a full beard to save my life, but I could probably grow a formidable mustache and goatee. It is very uncomfortable to shave my upper lip against the grain, and not much better around my chin, so I have given up on that. I shave almost every day.
For about 20 years I shaved with Schick ST2 disposable razors (https://www.amazon.com/Schick-Dispo...chick+sensitive+skin+disposable,hpc,89&sr=1-6). I found they were very comfortable and gave me a decently close shave – they still give the most comfortable shave I can remember. Until recently, I’ve almost always used Barbasol shaving cream and Skin Bracer aftershave.
I would probably still be following that regimen if I hadn’t wanted to find something that produced less landfill waste. I tried a Harry’s permanent handle/disposable blade system, but I have an angular face and the wide razor head completely missed hairs in certain areas of my face, even if I did multiple passes. I had that experience with another multi-blade razor as well – can’t remember the brand.
My next handle/blade combination was a Dorco two blade system, which worked reasonably well, but then Dorco stopped making two-blade cartridges since I was probably the only one buying them. That’s when I ventured into DE razors and, shortly after, shaving soap.
After a little research, my first DE razor was a Feather butterfly with which I ripped my face apart – I used it only a few times. I did some more research and bought an Edwin Jagger, which, after a while, I found woefully inefficient for me. Even with multiple shims, I couldn’t get a reasonably close shave.
From there, I tried a number of other razors. I spent a good amount of time with a Merkur 34c and a RazoRock 37 Slant, but had trouble getting a consistently close shave with either of them. I tried a Muhle R41, but it was just a little too harsh for me. I also tried a Mr. Fine Marvel razor, but didn’t like the very specific shaving angle it required.
Eventually, I tried the Fatip Piccolo and, after going back and forth between the different razors I had, found it gave me the closest shave of everything I tried and was reasonably comfortable. With the Fatip, I usually do just one pass (as opposed to two or, sometimes, three with my other razors) with some buffing with/across the grain. The Fatip is not as nicely finished as the other razors I’ve tried, and there is a small amount of play in the blade before it is clamped down, but it gives me the best shave, and that is what I am after.
For shaving soaps, first let me say, that, while it is unlikely that I will ever abandon DE shaving, I will never go back to shaving foam. I find that shaving with plain bath soap is more comfortable than shaving foam. It is an evil creation in my mind. I’ve tried a number, but far from exhaustive, list of shaving soaps. The ones I remember are: Tabac, Pre de Provence No. 63, Palmolive stick, Arko stick, Henry Cavendish, Men’s Soap Company, RazoRock XXX, Taylor of Bond Street, Proraso Cream, and Proraso Single Blade.
Briefly, Henry Cavendish, Men’s Soap Company, and Taylor of Bond Street all get used up too quickly for my taste. I did not like the shave I got with the RazoRock XXX. Up until about a year ago, Tabac was my favorite, followed by Pre de Provence No. 63. The others were all okay.
I now use Proraso Single Blade shaving cream because it seems to give me the closest shave of all the products I’ve tried – yes, I think it’s noticeably closer than regular Proraso cream. I also like that I don’t have to spend any time loading up my brush and that it is easy to take with me and use without a brush when I travel (either with a Schick ST or, with a little care, my Fatip).
I’m not sure if it makes a difference, but I prefer to start off my shave by rubbing a little Proraso cream straight from the tube into my skin with my hand as a preshave. The Big Bruce brush I use does not require soaking (it’s the only brush I’ve ever used). I just dunk it in hot water, squeeze it out and start creating foam. After creating a foam, I dip the tip of the brush back into the water once more before going back to the bowl to create what I find to be the best foam consistency. I use only a large pea-sized amount of Proraso and it provides enough thick foam for three passes (even though I usually do just one). By chance, I started using a very large, cheap, ceramic cereal bowl I picked up at the supermarket for a couple of dollars (7” diameter, 4” high – yeah, it's really big) as my shave bowl and I prefer it to anything else I’ve used. It’s less messy and maximizes foam creation.
I think, because I have a coarse mustache area, I prefer Personna Blue blades which I think are among the sharpest I've tried. I’ve tried a number of other blades, but most felt too dull for me.
My skin has always been somewhat splotchy, especially after using alcohol aftershave, but I think it’s gotten worse as I’ve gotten older. And with Zoom calls becoming popular at work, I’ve also become more conscious of it. I’ve tried a bunch of aftershaves and a couple of balms, but about four months ago I started using 100% Witch Hazel and I find that tones my skin down. The Homestead brand I use has a shaker top, so I don’t end up using too much. The smell of 100% Witch Hazel takes some getting used to, and I do miss the menthol of my favorite aftershaves, but I’m getting over it.
As far as shaving technique, the one thing that so many DE shavers say that took me so long to really understand was to use a light touch. That has made the biggest difference for me in terms of irritation and also not cutting myself.
As for the Fatip, I agree with many shavers who say that it is a pretty smooth shave and not scary, even though it is an open comb razor. I’ve read on this forum about some people who say they ride the cap when shaving with a Fatip. I didn’t find that worked for me and use what I think of as a standard angle.
One last thing. What’s up with this guy:
? How can someone with a mustache and goatee think he is able to give valid reviews of shaving products? That’s like someone who rides bicycles with training wheels giving cyclists advice on what bike to buy.
My setup is:
Fatip Piccolo Razor (Fatip il Piccolo Originale Gold, Open Comb DE Safety Razor - https://maggardrazors.com/products/fatip-il-piccolo-originale-gold-open-comb-de-safety-razor)
Personna Blue Blades (100 Personna Stainless Steel Double Edge Razor Blades - https://www.fendrihan.com/collections/safety-razor-blade-packs/products/100-personna-stainless-steel-double-edge-razor-blades)
RazoRock Big Bruce Synthetic Brush (https://www.amazon.com/RazoRock-Pli...g+bruce+synthetic+brush&qid=1668864202&sr=8-2)
Proraso Single Blade Shaving Cream (Single Blade Shaving Cream: Cypress & Vetyver - https://proraso-usa.com/collections/shave/products/single-blade-shave-cream-tube-cypress-vetyver)
The Homestead Witch Hazel Distillate (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TH71W0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Here’s my shaving journey:
I am 63 years old. My mustache area is very heavy, my chin area is medium heavy, and my cheeks are light. I’ve always been clean shaven and couldn’t grow a full beard to save my life, but I could probably grow a formidable mustache and goatee. It is very uncomfortable to shave my upper lip against the grain, and not much better around my chin, so I have given up on that. I shave almost every day.
For about 20 years I shaved with Schick ST2 disposable razors (https://www.amazon.com/Schick-Dispo...chick+sensitive+skin+disposable,hpc,89&sr=1-6). I found they were very comfortable and gave me a decently close shave – they still give the most comfortable shave I can remember. Until recently, I’ve almost always used Barbasol shaving cream and Skin Bracer aftershave.
I would probably still be following that regimen if I hadn’t wanted to find something that produced less landfill waste. I tried a Harry’s permanent handle/disposable blade system, but I have an angular face and the wide razor head completely missed hairs in certain areas of my face, even if I did multiple passes. I had that experience with another multi-blade razor as well – can’t remember the brand.
My next handle/blade combination was a Dorco two blade system, which worked reasonably well, but then Dorco stopped making two-blade cartridges since I was probably the only one buying them. That’s when I ventured into DE razors and, shortly after, shaving soap.
After a little research, my first DE razor was a Feather butterfly with which I ripped my face apart – I used it only a few times. I did some more research and bought an Edwin Jagger, which, after a while, I found woefully inefficient for me. Even with multiple shims, I couldn’t get a reasonably close shave.
From there, I tried a number of other razors. I spent a good amount of time with a Merkur 34c and a RazoRock 37 Slant, but had trouble getting a consistently close shave with either of them. I tried a Muhle R41, but it was just a little too harsh for me. I also tried a Mr. Fine Marvel razor, but didn’t like the very specific shaving angle it required.
Eventually, I tried the Fatip Piccolo and, after going back and forth between the different razors I had, found it gave me the closest shave of everything I tried and was reasonably comfortable. With the Fatip, I usually do just one pass (as opposed to two or, sometimes, three with my other razors) with some buffing with/across the grain. The Fatip is not as nicely finished as the other razors I’ve tried, and there is a small amount of play in the blade before it is clamped down, but it gives me the best shave, and that is what I am after.
For shaving soaps, first let me say, that, while it is unlikely that I will ever abandon DE shaving, I will never go back to shaving foam. I find that shaving with plain bath soap is more comfortable than shaving foam. It is an evil creation in my mind. I’ve tried a number, but far from exhaustive, list of shaving soaps. The ones I remember are: Tabac, Pre de Provence No. 63, Palmolive stick, Arko stick, Henry Cavendish, Men’s Soap Company, RazoRock XXX, Taylor of Bond Street, Proraso Cream, and Proraso Single Blade.
Briefly, Henry Cavendish, Men’s Soap Company, and Taylor of Bond Street all get used up too quickly for my taste. I did not like the shave I got with the RazoRock XXX. Up until about a year ago, Tabac was my favorite, followed by Pre de Provence No. 63. The others were all okay.
I now use Proraso Single Blade shaving cream because it seems to give me the closest shave of all the products I’ve tried – yes, I think it’s noticeably closer than regular Proraso cream. I also like that I don’t have to spend any time loading up my brush and that it is easy to take with me and use without a brush when I travel (either with a Schick ST or, with a little care, my Fatip).
I’m not sure if it makes a difference, but I prefer to start off my shave by rubbing a little Proraso cream straight from the tube into my skin with my hand as a preshave. The Big Bruce brush I use does not require soaking (it’s the only brush I’ve ever used). I just dunk it in hot water, squeeze it out and start creating foam. After creating a foam, I dip the tip of the brush back into the water once more before going back to the bowl to create what I find to be the best foam consistency. I use only a large pea-sized amount of Proraso and it provides enough thick foam for three passes (even though I usually do just one). By chance, I started using a very large, cheap, ceramic cereal bowl I picked up at the supermarket for a couple of dollars (7” diameter, 4” high – yeah, it's really big) as my shave bowl and I prefer it to anything else I’ve used. It’s less messy and maximizes foam creation.
I think, because I have a coarse mustache area, I prefer Personna Blue blades which I think are among the sharpest I've tried. I’ve tried a number of other blades, but most felt too dull for me.
My skin has always been somewhat splotchy, especially after using alcohol aftershave, but I think it’s gotten worse as I’ve gotten older. And with Zoom calls becoming popular at work, I’ve also become more conscious of it. I’ve tried a bunch of aftershaves and a couple of balms, but about four months ago I started using 100% Witch Hazel and I find that tones my skin down. The Homestead brand I use has a shaker top, so I don’t end up using too much. The smell of 100% Witch Hazel takes some getting used to, and I do miss the menthol of my favorite aftershaves, but I’m getting over it.
As far as shaving technique, the one thing that so many DE shavers say that took me so long to really understand was to use a light touch. That has made the biggest difference for me in terms of irritation and also not cutting myself.
As for the Fatip, I agree with many shavers who say that it is a pretty smooth shave and not scary, even though it is an open comb razor. I’ve read on this forum about some people who say they ride the cap when shaving with a Fatip. I didn’t find that worked for me and use what I think of as a standard angle.
One last thing. What’s up with this guy: