Have you found "your" shave yet? I think I did.

[Brandon P K]

Well, I've been at this shaving "thing" for a couple of years now (or thereabouts), and I have sampled just about (just about, mind you, not quite) everything there is in the world of wet shaving. I've tried premier badgers, stout boars, synthetics, and even some horse. I've seen straights, slants, R41, and such. I've hit most of the major players in the soap/cream arena, including MWF, Cella, Tabac, AOS, TOBS, GFT, GFT, Arko, Mystic Waters, Proraso, KMF, BodyShop, Omega, C&E, PdP, Provence Sante, etc, etc. I've tried Tabac AS, Adidas, Clubman this & Clubman that, the minty stuff that burns, the soothing stuff that I wish I hadn't sold (Provence Sante Verlaine), the box store "classics," and so on.

And finally, I think (I think!) I've found "my" shave. My scent, my way, my go-to, what have you. Turns out, I'm pretty boring. My standard shave is a Merkur 34C, Astra SP (or Personna Red), Semogue boar, Tabac soap (face lathered), and Clubman Special Reserve aftershave. Probably pretty common, but I just keep coming back to those elements. I'll keep a few other options around, just so I don't get bored or sick of these favorites.

But I'm wondering what are some of your "signature" shave combos? Please share!

Thanks B&B!

 

[Teppanyaki]

Mike's Lime (or coconut, or peppermint rosemary), Muhle silvertip fiber 2.0 brush. A Gillette New shaving head (various types). Thayer's cucumber aftershave, Lucky Tiger for scent. Working on handle, replating, and razor case.

For some reason I still want to order some Prairie Creations stuff, but I don't know if they are still in business (I never got responses to 2 emails and one product I kept checking on for a month was always out of stock).

 

[Nick Danger]

But I'm wondering what are some of your "signature" shave combos? Please share!

I've tried a bunch of different razors, blades, brushes, soaps and creams. I'm not one of those guys that wants to use a different combination every day. I want to use what works best for me. My winning combinations are:

ATT Atlas razor with the R or H plate.
Semogue SOC boar or SOC 2012 Special Edition mixed badger / boar brush
Polsilver Super Iridum blades
Soap: QCS, Mike's or MdC.

I don't use preshave, and occasionally I use Prorarso aftershave splash.

Other than trying a few more soaps, I appear to have my acquisition disorder more or less under control, and my shaving gear doesn't take up much space in my very tiny bathroom.

I may be in the minority as a shaving minimalist, but I'm very happy with every shave and that's all that matters.

Nick

 

[Jeff_H]

I actually hope I never find "one" shave, as I like to change it up a bit. I would like to have 2-3 of "my shaves", but overall I am pretty simple. I don't use a ton of products like pre-shave oil or creme. Just razor, creme with brush and an aftershave balm. The one constant I do have that I hope never gets supplanted is my aftershave balm. Weleda Aftershave Balm. I haven't tried a lot of the higher end fancy stuff, but nothing soothes my face, leaves my skin moisturized and feeling healthy like the Weleda. I also love the scent...I actually wish it would last longer. I think it's the smell of the Myrrh that I love, but I can't be sure.

I have my blades down to really GSB and Voshkod, but I want to try the Super Irridum's.

So far my best razors are my Merkur 180 oc (25c) and my LC New. Want to try the 2013 R41.

Not decided on a creme yet, but Proraso Red has been my go to.

I really want to enjoy the journey more than rushing to the destination. I don't want to get stuck in a rut, but I do want to have some go to things that I can always rely on.

 

[WesternModern]

1959 Gillette Fatboy, set to 4
Derby blade
Semogue 1305
Soap: Proraso green tub, old formula (Tabac as backup)
Cream: Musgo Real (turkish Old Spice as backup)
Skin Bracer Cooling Spice AS

 

[Haggises]

A go to would still be either a Single Ring on DE, or ER 1914/Schick C2 on SE. I get bored with scents of soaps and prefer variety, but I keep going back to Mystic Waters for soap. TGN Finest for brush. Witch hazel for splash, Real Shaving Co for ASB.

 

[Mako72]

My daily shave is usually a '37 Fat Handle Tech, Astra SP, Col Conk Boar, and Real Shaving Co Shave Cream or Arko Shave Stick, followed up with a nice splash of Aqua Velva Musk.

 

[August West]

I will let you know when I summon the courage to ditch my Mach III.

 

[Teppanyaki]

I will let you know when I summon the courage to ditch my Mach III.

My understanding is that post-war Techs are very mild and forgiving. I wuld consider my Gillette Goodwill (? #162) to be substantially kinder to my face than my old cartridges (Sensor Excel) from years ago. I don't know how it would be starting out, but using it over my scalp blindly at many different angles at high speed I had no nicks/cuts/scrapes.

 

[nymtber]

Slim set to 9 (I will turn it down if I have to get some areas I missed)
Personna Lab Blue
VDH deluxe soap, KMF cream, or Proraso cream
Boar brush
Skin Bracer, Old Spice (P&G in glass), Clubman or Bay Rum.

Works for me

 

[f86sabjf]

Merkur 38c hd
Gillette silver blues
Mystic waters coconut or orange and vanilla
Wolf Whiskers custom brush

 

[Dave Colangelo]

Mine switches on occasion but it is more or less

1. Gillette Slim Adjustable
2. Semouge Owners Club Badger, Duke 1 (when I travel)
3. Astra SP
4. TOBS Eaton College or Grapefruit
5. Face lather, bowl when Im feeling 3 passes
6. Witch hazel
7. Pinaud Aftershave

Regards
Dave

 

[fuzinboston]

My go to is a Merkur Futur with the Personna Med Preps (maybe a Feather or Astra from time to time). Creams and aftershaves depend on season - spring/summer I switch between the Castle Forbes Lime and the TOBS Grapefruit, and I use the CF Lime aftershave, and in the fall/summer I switch between the CF Cedarwoood and the TOBS Sandalwood, with the TOBS Sandalwood aftershave.

Brush is a silvertip badger from Golden Nib reset into a Ralph Lauren Safari brush.

 

[aihpcfl]

I have. But I'm simple and don't change easily. I'm using the Edwin Jagger razor I bought when I started using a DE again. At that time I was using a pure badger brush and Col. Conk soap. I've since switched to a silvertip badger and MWF, and pretty much settled on Dominica Bay Rum for aftershave. Don't see myself doing anything different now. The Dominica and the MWF make the shave for me, and I imagine the Edwin Jagger razor is about as perfect as can be. I am working my way through a sample pack of blades and several hundred Derby's and Astras, but to me a razor blade is a razor blade.

 

[Pedro Navaja]

The only one item I've settle is the Wilkinson Sword blades. Other than that I really like my Slim, but still would like to try two more razors I'm eyeing before making a final call. Cremo and VDH seem to do well enough for most days but I'm still open in that regards.

 

[menghai]

1912 SE for my face, Mach 3 for my head
Musgo Real if cream
Arko if soap (90% of the time it's a soap, so Arko it is)
Still trying to nail down my brush
Musgo Real balm

 

[cottontop]

For razors, if it is early in the morning and my growth is kind of light, the Blue Tip works fine. A little later, with more growth, the Red Tip gets the nod. I haven't found a favorite blade yet. As far as soaps and creams, I am still searching. Aftershaves? I just about like them all so I just keep rotating them.
ct

 

[5Cantonas]

By miles, more than any other razor and brush, I use my Aristocrat jr. and SOC boar. I just acquired a Fatboy, and I must say, I have been enjoying it.

 

[Heron]

I'm six months in and still looking.

 

[TacticalPanda]

Gillette #15(from this point on)with a Personna Lab Blue, Fuller boar or my cheap Tweezerman badger, Tabac(bowl lathered), followed by alum and Proraso Pre/Post shave cream.