How Much Have You Invested in Our Wet Shaving Hobby?

[Lane101]

Hi everyone! Haven't seen a thread similar to this. One of the great things about wet shaving is the range of options available from basic kits for under $50 U.S. to exclusive super premium products and collections that can run into the thousands of dollars (or local currency of your choice). I suspect that many here will be interested in seeing that, no matter where they are in the spectrum, there are fellow B&Bers with similar preferences.

How much have you invested in soaps, creams, razors, brushes and other equipment since you began wet shaving? For those who have been wet shaving for decades the answer can be focused on what you invested in the most recent 5 -10 years. I've included a poll that will help summarize where we are across the spectrum.

I'll go first. While I started with a pretty basic kit, that included a Weishi razor, some Derby blades, Williams Shaving Soap and a cheap no-name brush for under $35, I've invested around $775 U.S. since returning to DE shaving just over five years ago. My investment has included roughly:

• Razors: $100 for a Weishi, King C. Gillette & Razorock Adjust plus a backup of each. (All purchased at sale prices, also 3 other razors that didn't work for me)
• Brushes: $80 for Razorock Big Bruce, Monster and Blondie brushes and a backup of each (Also a couple of cheap discarded brushes)
• Soaps & Creams: $425, this has been my primary rabbit hole where I've expanded my variety and inventory of now discontinued/reformulated products over the past two years
• Blades: $110 for a 1,500 Derby, Dorco and Astra SP blades. Also a to-be used sample pack. Around 1,200-1,300 of these left.
• Misc. Equipment: $60 for mugs and brush/razor stands etc.

Overall, for me, spending under $800 over five years is a reasonable and even low cost for what has become an enjoyable and relaxing hobby/activity. Unless I fall into another rabbit hole the cost per year should go down given that my tools work well and I've plenty of software. Perhaps I'll wait another year before digging into that blade sample pack.

I hope that you will find the included a poll interesting. Look forward to everyone's responses.

P.S. Don't worry about exact calculations, ball part estimates are fine.

 

[Mojo88]

In a few weeks I will celebrate 17 years on B&B. At that time there weren’t any new razors with the exception of Merkur, vintage was king. I found literally boxes of razors that I sold online and those sales allowed me to buy at no cost. I tried a few newer razors, but once I found Aristocrats, the need to buy anything else wasn’t necessary. If I had to reflect on items purchased it was soaps and creams and I quit buying those until I am out. Now if you count gas and time going to antique stores that’s a different story.

 

[silverlifter]

I was doing well until I started straight shaving and buying expensive rocks to hone them on...

 

[Lane101]

In a few weeks I will celebrate 17 years on B&B. At that time there weren’t any new razors with the exception of Merkur, vintage was king. I found literally boxes of razors that I sold online and those sales allowed me to buy at no cost. I tried a few newer razors, but once I found Aristocrats, the need to buy anything else wasn’t necessary. If I had to reflect on items purchased it was soaps and creams and I quit buying those until I am out. Now if you count gas and time going to antique stores that’s a different story.

I'm kind of in the same place now with my soaps and creams. Purchased a lot when I started seeing the plethora of discontinuations and formula changes of favorites around two years ago. Purchases included inventory of favorites at risk of change and new soaps and some creams as alternatives. Now focusing on using what I have with minimal purchases of new items.

Shaving soaps last a long time. Even a small purchase, this year is was a few soft Italian soaps I wanted to try, can add over a years supply to inventory. Fortunately I'm mostly into hard pucks/sticks that have long shelf lives.

 

[Slock]

I'm not sure investment is the right word.

 

[BigJ]

Great question!!

As LOTH can attest, however much is still far less than on any of my other hobbies!

 

[Old Hippie]

I'm not sure investment is the right word.

I'm with you, man. Haven't invested anything, but I've spent a bit of money. It's a hobby, not a retirement plan.

O.H.

 

[Lane101]

I'm not sure investment is the right word.

Of course it is. All those 99 cent Williams pucks now listed for $50 on Amazon! Too bad it looks like few if any are being bought at that price.

Given what many of us put into this hobby, it just sounds more appropriate to say "investment" versus other terms like "spend" and "cost". Also we often position DE shaving as requiring investment in a good razor to enable future cost savings via use of cheaper DE blades versus cartridges.

 

[Marco]

I have no exact numbers, but my guess is that in my +30 years of wet shaving I have spent certainly more than €10,000.

 

[never-stop-learning]

Some things are better left unsaid.

 

[Lane101]

I have no exact numbers, but my guess is that in my +30 years of wet shaving I have spent certainly more than €10,000.

Given the collections we've seen here and how the votes are coming in I suspect you are not alone! Since joining B&B I've found your posts to be some of the most educational and interesting to read. Your depth of shaving knowledge is much appreciated.

 

[roaduck]

Since I landed on this site a month ago I`ve bought quite a few razors (13 in one day) loads of shaving soaps, whipped soaps, shaving butter, mirrors, brushes, frags , attars, essential oils, 80 bars of good soap, Menthol, Grinders, an 1850 antique Indian brass pan, bowls, essential oil boxes, razor stands, razor racks, shaving bags, 8 vintage travel razor / grooming kits, two vintage 1960`s battery travel razors, 10 litres of Castile soap and about a 1000 blades.

I think it`s well over a grand in 4 1/2 weeks; before that a couple of hundred (used mostly s/h antique carbon straights) in 45 years - before October 2024 the most I ever spent on any razor was £25 that lasted me decades.

 

[TOVT]

Realistically, I've spent too much since jumping in here in Spring of 2023. Sure, I've learned a lot, did good research, and bought good quality stuff. From razors, to blades, to soft-ware.
As my skills and experience have become greater, I've narrowed down what works well for me and makes me happy to use.

I like my BRG treated Gillettes, and want to send off a Tech or two for plating. That would join my Fatboys, Slims, Aristocrats, and Super Speeds. These are plated in both nickel and 24K. Haven't added up what this antique Gillette foray was, but I've also got eBay favorites that weren't plated but shave great.

My passion and what I really enjoy shaving with are Blackbirds. Those add up to $1800 alone, for razors and plates purchased new and used.

After beginning last year heavily in the Euro-creams and AS splashes, as well as Clubman/Lustray products. I've come to appreciate and enjoy shave soap rather than cream. The shave soaps, as well as AS, and EdT's that I like best now are American made, for the most part.

Similar with DE razor blades. I hoarded the early blades that worked well for me. Then I got more experience and figured out which do best for me and hoarded up some of those as well. There's enough blades here for me to shave one and done twice a day for a decade I'd bet.

There's a bunch of good stuff in my closet and drawers that I'm not very interested in using. Or if I'm interested, I've probably got multiples and don't need that many.

Given what I know now, if I were doing it all over again, I wouldn't invest in 3/4 of it. Not because it sucks. There are other things I would much rather use.

If I were smart, I'd set up my PP to receive money and try to sell off some excess.

Much, much respect to gents that enjoy the benefits of DE shaving while maintaining some minimalism and frugality in regard to shave acquisitions.

 

[gpjoe]

Let's see...

...yeah, I'm in the upper group.

And ironic that I could be perfectly happy with one pre-war Tech, a single tub of soap, and a bottle of Clubman, Old Spice, and Ice Blue.

 

[ERS4]

I just heard that there is a secret society of wives discussing "How much have your husband invested in DE or SE wet shaving?"

The statistics here will be a good reference for them.

 

[Marco]

Given the collections we've seen here and how the votes are coming in I suspect you are not alone! Since joining B&B I've found your posts to be some of the most educational and interesting to read. Your depth of shaving knowledge is much appreciated.

And your very kind words are much appreciated as well, Sir.

 

[Ravenonrock]

I’ve spent plenty. I will spend more.

 

[deafficianado]

And people come and join thinking that they can save money by using DE or a straight . I would have made a killing if I’d had joined some investment forum instead. It’s quite alright as I’m content without regrets, could always be worse.

 

[Trollky]

Before joining B&B (however many years ago that was) my only outlay was an occasional tuck of blades or one soap to replace whatever soap I just used up.

After joining B&B my spending habits "evolved".... I've bought almost nothing this year but the years prior were carnage on my wallet!

 

[DesertIguana]

And people come and join thinking that they can save money by using DE or a straight . I would have made a killing if I’d had joined some investment forum instead. It’s quite alright as I’m content without regrets, could always be worse.

You can save money buying One Razor like 20 Buck Tech, One Brush like CHEAP Omega Boar-hair, 100 De blades for 7-8 bucks, one Puck of Soap, or using left over body soap. No one needs 10 of everything, or 1000 blades, it isa filling WANT.

It is not the Arrow, it is Indian's skill that brings home game to feed family. Vegetarian is a word that the Navajo's, transmutation is Pee POOR HUNTER.