Hi there!
Long time reader, first time poster here and just wanted to introduce myself and drop a few lines about my rediscovery of the wet shave.
My name is Balazs and I’m from the UK(Wales). In the past I was using cartridge razors, but since it frequently caused me irritation and razor burns I’ve switched to rotary electric shavers. I was using them for the past almost 10 years, but I never got a properly smooth shave with them, so from time to time, when needed a super smooth finish I’ve picked up the cartridge razor and went for a round of irritation and so on.
So I’ve just discovered a couple of months ago that my grandfather indeed knew more about shaving than most modern men does, and the razors he used are still cutting edge technology, quite literally that is.
Spent ages to read upon forums, mainly this one, so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who contributed the wealthy information available on this site.
At the end I’ve decided to give it a go, although at this point I was still a bit sceptic, but since I was about to replace my Philips rotary shaver I thought, for the fraction of the price I can give this a go.
So I went for a Merkur 34C, Astra SP blades, Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood shaving cream and pure badger brush, Proraso White Preshave cream and aftershave balm, alum block.
So my first experience blew my mind. Even though I had to learn how to handle this razor properly, the learning curve wasn’t too steep for me and the result was amazing. Close shave, no razor burns or irritation.
So after a couple of week on and hours of research online, I’ve decided to get a Feather AS-D2. I was astonished by the quality of the craftsmanship, and in real life it was even better.
Unfortunately my experience wasn’t pleasant with this razor. Immediately I felt tugging and pulling while using it, just like I had with the cartridge razors, and by the end of the shave I had a couple of little bleeders too. Irritation on my neck, razor burns on my cheek.
At this point I was using Astra SP blades in the razor, because I was convinced that I should only change just one variable, so I can accurately compare the Merkur to the Feather, but after this experience and more research on the forums I’ve put a feather blade in it. Same result, just maybe less pulling. Tried to adjust the angle and all that, spent 3 painful weeks with this beauty but at the end it was just sitting on the shelf while I was using a razor that costs tenth of the price, so I’ve returned it. Maybe a couple of years later, when my technic gets better and/or Feather comes up with the next generation.
Later on I bought a Rockwell 6C because I wanted to have an adjustable razor and to me, at least so far, is shaving nirvana. I use the 2/4 plate, start with a 4 on the fist 2 pass (WTG, XTG) and finish it off with the 2 plate (ATG and clean-ups).
Since then also acquired a ceramic shaving bowl, I was initially just using a plastic mug from the kitchen, but with this ceramic bowl I really enjoy that the leather is quite warm when I put it on.
Also ordered more blades to try (the most recommended ones). For now I only have the Astra SP and the Feather (yellow), but for now I like the Astra better, for a noob that I am it is a bit more forgiving in the Rockwell 6C, at least I make less mistakes with it.
Lately I’ve bought some Proraso shaving cream too, but it feels like miles away from the ToBS cream. Is it something I do wrong when doing the lather, or is the Proraso cream is just not as slick as the ToBS?
I would be grateful if someone could suggest shaving creams/soaps to me. I don’t even know if soaps are any better? I’m not a vegan so I don’t mind if its made from animal fat or such. Where do I start with them? I heard about Mitchell’s and obviously ToBS and Proraso does soaps too.
Currently I’m enjoying the ToBS Sandalwood, but I get bored quickly so with everything I need a variety I can rotate. Not sure what should I do with the Proraso shaving cream though, since it takes me more time to shave with it, I just have to apply the preshave balm between passes to keep my face slick. I did not have this issue with the ToBS Sandalwood.
I apologies for the wall of text, just wanted to drop my 2cent, and say hello.
Long time reader, first time poster here and just wanted to introduce myself and drop a few lines about my rediscovery of the wet shave.
My name is Balazs and I’m from the UK(Wales). In the past I was using cartridge razors, but since it frequently caused me irritation and razor burns I’ve switched to rotary electric shavers. I was using them for the past almost 10 years, but I never got a properly smooth shave with them, so from time to time, when needed a super smooth finish I’ve picked up the cartridge razor and went for a round of irritation and so on.
So I’ve just discovered a couple of months ago that my grandfather indeed knew more about shaving than most modern men does, and the razors he used are still cutting edge technology, quite literally that is.
Spent ages to read upon forums, mainly this one, so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who contributed the wealthy information available on this site.
At the end I’ve decided to give it a go, although at this point I was still a bit sceptic, but since I was about to replace my Philips rotary shaver I thought, for the fraction of the price I can give this a go.
So I went for a Merkur 34C, Astra SP blades, Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood shaving cream and pure badger brush, Proraso White Preshave cream and aftershave balm, alum block.
So my first experience blew my mind. Even though I had to learn how to handle this razor properly, the learning curve wasn’t too steep for me and the result was amazing. Close shave, no razor burns or irritation.
So after a couple of week on and hours of research online, I’ve decided to get a Feather AS-D2. I was astonished by the quality of the craftsmanship, and in real life it was even better.
Unfortunately my experience wasn’t pleasant with this razor. Immediately I felt tugging and pulling while using it, just like I had with the cartridge razors, and by the end of the shave I had a couple of little bleeders too. Irritation on my neck, razor burns on my cheek.
At this point I was using Astra SP blades in the razor, because I was convinced that I should only change just one variable, so I can accurately compare the Merkur to the Feather, but after this experience and more research on the forums I’ve put a feather blade in it. Same result, just maybe less pulling. Tried to adjust the angle and all that, spent 3 painful weeks with this beauty but at the end it was just sitting on the shelf while I was using a razor that costs tenth of the price, so I’ve returned it. Maybe a couple of years later, when my technic gets better and/or Feather comes up with the next generation.
Later on I bought a Rockwell 6C because I wanted to have an adjustable razor and to me, at least so far, is shaving nirvana. I use the 2/4 plate, start with a 4 on the fist 2 pass (WTG, XTG) and finish it off with the 2 plate (ATG and clean-ups).
Since then also acquired a ceramic shaving bowl, I was initially just using a plastic mug from the kitchen, but with this ceramic bowl I really enjoy that the leather is quite warm when I put it on.
Also ordered more blades to try (the most recommended ones). For now I only have the Astra SP and the Feather (yellow), but for now I like the Astra better, for a noob that I am it is a bit more forgiving in the Rockwell 6C, at least I make less mistakes with it.
Lately I’ve bought some Proraso shaving cream too, but it feels like miles away from the ToBS cream. Is it something I do wrong when doing the lather, or is the Proraso cream is just not as slick as the ToBS?
I would be grateful if someone could suggest shaving creams/soaps to me. I don’t even know if soaps are any better? I’m not a vegan so I don’t mind if its made from animal fat or such. Where do I start with them? I heard about Mitchell’s and obviously ToBS and Proraso does soaps too.
Currently I’m enjoying the ToBS Sandalwood, but I get bored quickly so with everything I need a variety I can rotate. Not sure what should I do with the Proraso shaving cream though, since it takes me more time to shave with it, I just have to apply the preshave balm between passes to keep my face slick. I did not have this issue with the ToBS Sandalwood.
I apologies for the wall of text, just wanted to drop my 2cent, and say hello.
I made a post under brushes section about this. In a nutshell, the yaqi is really nice, makes a good lather and it gets dry within the day, something missing on the boar brush feature. You must learn how to splay this brush, it is not that natural as it comes with the boar brush. 
