Would you please allow me to ask you some questions re: your quest for a great shave? Feel free to post. Or delete my questions. I mean no harm no foul. I guess I want to judge where I stand in the ritual of the art of manly grooming. What got you started? Is there always more room for razors, soaps ect?Is this a hobby dedicated to your love of the shave?Or in any hobby can there be money for the collector in this market? I have been turned off for years by the moderncompany called gillette. Those damn multi blades have gotten so silly. On day I just decided to go back to where I started from an old hand me down gold tech that was my grand dads. Like I said I want to keep things on an even keel. So with that said so far I have about 12 or so Gillette's. have invested in a 1.50can of noxzema foam, a septic pencil and a 100 pack of Astra blades. So any suggestions would again be a great help.
General shaving questions
- Thread starter Beerhunter
- Start date
Welcome to B&B Beerhunter. Speaking for myself and I'm sure many others, What got me started wasn't just the price of cartridges. It wasn't just the better quality of soaps and creams and how they effected my skin. It started out that way, but suddenly became something else all together.
Spending my time here on B&B, I started to realize that I had found something I was longing for other than a cheaper shave or even a better shave. I realized I was looking for an escape. An escape back to a simpler time in history. A better time. Maybe not an easier time, but a nostalgic era when men were men and all men were gentlemanly had character,loyalty and honor was the norm.
When the world wasn't so loud and fast you could still hear yourself think, and a man could slow down, find a quiet place and have a nice simple quality shave while contemplating his world and meditating on the road he is on.
Hopefully as a new member, you will find there aren't to many places to visit anymore like I just described. But when you come to B&B, you have found one.
Spending my time here on B&B, I started to realize that I had found something I was longing for other than a cheaper shave or even a better shave. I realized I was looking for an escape. An escape back to a simpler time in history. A better time. Maybe not an easier time, but a nostalgic era when men were men and all men were gentlemanly had character,loyalty and honor was the norm.
When the world wasn't so loud and fast you could still hear yourself think, and a man could slow down, find a quiet place and have a nice simple quality shave while contemplating his world and meditating on the road he is on.
Hopefully as a new member, you will find there aren't to many places to visit anymore like I just described. But when you come to B&B, you have found one.
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What got me started was curiosity. I was not a fan of the Gillette cartridges. They pulled too much (even though for a long while now I've only shaved the bottom of my neck. And the ability to spend less after the initial investment was a contributing factor as well.
Wetshaving is whatever you want it to be. Lots of people are content with a very minimal list of hardware and software. Others get into collecting and/or testing different items and like to have lots of options in their shaves.
I suppose if you buy a large stock of a certain product and it ceases to be manufactured, you could make some money that way. But most members here are not in it to make money.
It looks like you have what you need for a basic shave. You could add a brush, aftershave, more soaps or whatever. But being happy with your shaves is the most important thing, in my opinion.
Wetshaving is whatever you want it to be. Lots of people are content with a very minimal list of hardware and software. Others get into collecting and/or testing different items and like to have lots of options in their shaves.
I suppose if you buy a large stock of a certain product and it ceases to be manufactured, you could make some money that way. But most members here are not in it to make money.
It looks like you have what you need for a basic shave. You could add a brush, aftershave, more soaps or whatever. But being happy with your shaves is the most important thing, in my opinion.
- Thread starter
- #4
@Dennard I like your quotes" "its not about the money" & being happy with your shaves is the most important thing"
And Okie thanks for the warm B&B welcome.
I actually have the best of both your comments. I have some fine vintage razors sure they may not fetch a ton of money. The sentimental value of them and who they represent is more important than anything.
And Okie I go to one of those old time barber shops where time stands still. I never noticed it before but you are right on the money. I originally went because he was a vet and served alongside my uncle and my uncle told me about him and his shop.
Sure I may never make it rich on ebay but what I do have I can pass down. I think my cousin would like to have his dads red end razor and I get to see his face when I am still here. Not after I am gone.
PS
Sorry didn't want this to end up like group therapy
And Okie thanks for the warm B&B welcome.
I actually have the best of both your comments. I have some fine vintage razors sure they may not fetch a ton of money. The sentimental value of them and who they represent is more important than anything.
And Okie I go to one of those old time barber shops where time stands still. I never noticed it before but you are right on the money. I originally went because he was a vet and served alongside my uncle and my uncle told me about him and his shop.
Sure I may never make it rich on ebay but what I do have I can pass down. I think my cousin would like to have his dads red end razor and I get to see his face when I am still here. Not after I am gone.
PS
Sorry didn't want this to end up like group therapy
Not many of those left. You are blessed.
No need to be sorry, group shave therapy is what B&B is all about.
- Thread starter
- #6
That's a good one and cheaper for me. As for the barber shop. I walk in and smell the bay rum/barber shop smell it's like I am in a whole diffrent world and for a moment life is different, but it took you to open my eyes.
shaving to me is as much about the journey as it is the destination. I used to do a quick M3 'showershave' and hated shaving in the bathroom sink - now I love it. I look forward to my daily shaves. sometimes I tease myself and miss a day just so I can enjoy it even more! a bit odd? yes I suppose it is but it works for me - ymmv!
sick of paying for M3 blades and getting plenty of ingrowns esp around the chin I thought I'd investigate other forms of shaving and decided on using a straight, not even considering DE/SEs. then I 'discovered' the concept of wetshaving and I've been on a huge learning/buying/enjoyment curve ever since.
well done beerhunter - the next step is to get rid of the canned soap and get a brush and some Arko, you won't regret it!
sick of paying for M3 blades and getting plenty of ingrowns esp around the chin I thought I'd investigate other forms of shaving and decided on using a straight, not even considering DE/SEs. then I 'discovered' the concept of wetshaving and I've been on a huge learning/buying/enjoyment curve ever since.
well done beerhunter - the next step is to get rid of the canned soap and get a brush and some Arko, you won't regret it!
- Thread starter
- #8
Re: the brush and soap.
I went to my local pharmacy p/u a vdh brush and Williams soap yes cheap and under 10 bucks I just want to see if I do the extra step of making my own lather shouldn't be a problem. Already have a list of soaps I want to try. But w/ valentines day around the corner my best bet is making the better half happy than me buying up stuff that can wait.
I went to my local pharmacy p/u a vdh brush and Williams soap yes cheap and under 10 bucks I just want to see if I do the extra step of making my own lather shouldn't be a problem. Already have a list of soaps I want to try. But w/ valentines day around the corner my best bet is making the better half happy than me buying up stuff that can wait.
+1 to all comments as I think they all have great merit. Wet shaving is not so much about just removing hair from your body as it is about perfecting a distant art, requiring skill and patience. It is a learning experience that perpetually evolves and with the integration of new products can become an increasingly exciting and unique ritual. The process involved in shaving provides the opportunity to relax and really pay attention to yourself in the present moment. While having an abundance of variety in products is hardly essential, it allows for one to have novel experiences every day instead of getting into a redundant cycle of drudgery.
Personally, I would invest in a brush and some soaps (which i see you already plan on doing). Just out of curiosity what are the 12 Gillette's you have??
Personally, I would invest in a brush and some soaps (which i see you already plan on doing). Just out of curiosity what are the 12 Gillette's you have??
- Thread starter
- #11
Here's. the info bemillerAll are Gillette razors.1.) One in a green box (pls see my pics on my B&B pg)2.) One red end (pls see my pics on my B&B pg)3.) One with a criss-cross pattern on the handle (pls see my pics on my B&B pg)4.) One gold one ( looks like it has a cap on the end).5.) Several w/a ball on the end.6.) 2 that kinda look like the red tip but no color.7.) One adjustable slim.Other than the ones that belonged to grand dads, uncles and my dad. Some were just given to me. These I have kept for the sentiment or for the heck of it. I do not know their history but some look older than others.Cheers.
• What got you started?: I got a free fuzion razor and extra cartridge in the mail. Previously I had been using an electric and mach 3 carts, which I always hated buying because of the the price and this caused me to use them for way too long. So I used the free fuzion until I needed new carts and can remember saying out loud in the aisle at Wal-Mart "This is ridiculous" when I saw the price. I had also purchased a puck of the VDH luxury which I used incorrectly for a shave (another funny story) And both of thise things led me here after a little searching. The rest was history.
• Is there always more room for razors, soaps ect?: Of course! I tend to be a bit of a minimalist so I have a few core products but I do try new things every so often.
•Is this a hobby dedicated to your love of the shave?: It is now. I have to shave for work, so for me, I have turned it from a chore to an enjoyable ritual. The fact that My skin is better and I no longer hack up my face doesn't hurt either.
•Or in any hobby can there be money for the collector in this market?: There can, but I wouldn't know since I'm not in it for that.
I think a few other posters hit it on the head when they said it transports them to a simpler time. I find it amazing that I use a Gillette adjustable from 1964 and it still functions so well nearly 50 years later, you just don't get that kind of quality anymore.
• Is there always more room for razors, soaps ect?: Of course! I tend to be a bit of a minimalist so I have a few core products but I do try new things every so often.
•Is this a hobby dedicated to your love of the shave?: It is now. I have to shave for work, so for me, I have turned it from a chore to an enjoyable ritual. The fact that My skin is better and I no longer hack up my face doesn't hurt either.
•Or in any hobby can there be money for the collector in this market?: There can, but I wouldn't know since I'm not in it for that.
I think a few other posters hit it on the head when they said it transports them to a simpler time. I find it amazing that I use a Gillette adjustable from 1964 and it still functions so well nearly 50 years later, you just don't get that kind of quality anymore.
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