Is DE shaving expensive ?

[cmannen]

Hello all,

I'm new to this forum and new to DE shaving, actually I have not even received
my DE razor ordered last week but still I'm starting to wonder if this is not an expensive hobby, all I have been reading is that DE's in the long run are cheeper then cartridges.

Why do I claim this ?

Last week I ordered:
Merkur HD
Edwin jagger brush
2 X tubes of Taylor of old bond cream
Alum block
After shave Balm from Taylor
50 differnet razor blades

This costed me som 90 GPB.

I can't wait to get hold of my stuff and have been reading various reviews and threads on this forum and posts about creams vs. soaps and yesterday evening I placed a second order without having received my first for:

Proraso cream
Proraso pre/post gel
Tabac soap
Sample pack of blades

Additional 40 GBP.

So I have already spend quite some money on this and have not even getting started yet.

Seems like I can't resist myself after reading all good stuff on this forum.

Don't get me wrong, so far I'm happy to spend money on this. I look forward
to learn the art of DE shaving.

So do you guys also end up spending lots of money and buying more then you can use at once ?

See you around...

 

[Omnichron]

it is not if you stick to VDH soap and one razor + blades. It is if it becomes a hobby... all hobbies cost money of course.

 

[rickboone1]

Doesn't someone else already have this avatar???


Yes, you can spend more money with DE shaving. The 'cheaper than carts' bit comes in when you compare what a DE blade costs over a cartridge. Additionally you get more shaves out of the DE blade than you will a cartridge. So, if you look at cost per shave you are in mere cents whereas on the Fusion for example it is a little over $1 per shave. A little more for me as I can't get any more than 3 shaves out of those. Then you add in all the ingrown hair treatment stuff you need in order to get your face back in some sort of order. That adds up to be quite a bit. What's worse is you don't enjoy it. It is laborous and dreaded.

Can you get into this and spend a lot? Yep. That's the fun of it. We take a chore and turn it into a relaxation meditative ritual that is enjoyed. Many of us have mroe product than we could consume in two lifetimes.

Can you really put a price on a luxurious irritation free shave?

 

[xjrob85]

It sounds like you have an excellent setup! The Merkur HD is a very good, and popular razor. Edwin Jagger brushes are very well regarded as well. As you have discovered, the upfront cost of DE shaving is quite expensive, but if you stick with that setup for a while, you will definitely save money in the long run. You can have a lot of fun trying out different blades, soaps, and creams, all of which are relatively inexpensive.

 

[cmannen]

If someone feels that I have hi-jacked an already in use avatar let me know and I will change mine, just like that one and did not see anyone else using it so far.

And I'm looking forward to a "luxurious irritation free shave" and I do belive I will get value for the money. I have been using gillette foams up to now and of course there will be a price differance compared to a quality product.

Hope I will get good value out of this.

 

[sproosemoose]

Save money by just using up all your stuff then switching to VDH!

 

[rickboone1]

If someone feels that I have hi-jacked an already in use avatar let me know and I will change mine, just like that one and did not see anyone else using it so far.

And I'm looking forward to a "luxurious irritation free shave" and I do belive I will get value for the money. I have been using gillette foams up to now and of course there will be a price differance compared to a quality product.

Hope I will get good value out of this.

It just looks familiar...I don't know for sure. If I'm wrong, sorry.

You will in time get those great shaves. It is invaluable. You've got a great assortment and are well on the way to lots of happiness in the shave room. Welcome to the wonderful world.

 

[ironbrewer]

Ymmv.

 

[Fiiish]

As a new shaver myself I have also noticed this, however for me i think that's the beauty of it. Taking something which was just a chore and turning it into something you thoroughly enjoy and take pleasure in doing. if you end up with a form of acquisition disorder then it's even better!

 

[Drubbing]

It is more cost effective - so long as you don't keep adding razors, brushes and more soaps and creams and aftershaves than you can get through.

What you have in consumables will last probably a year or more. Need some more blades for the year, but they're cheap.

I've spent more than I expected, but the cost is justified for the enjoyment of using them. Can't be said of cans and carts.

 

[saltypete]

Theoretically DE shaving is cheap. After the initial outlay for a DE, brush, soap, pre and aftershaves, replacement blades are as cheap as chips.
Practically speaking, however, DE shaving can be expensive if you start developing ADs. If you decide to collect vintage razors for instance, the costs can quickly mount. Likewise collecting creams, soaps, brushes, scuttles, or colognes.
In short, DE shaving is as cheap as you make it. If you choose to make it a hobby then be prepared to spend some cash. There are worse things to spend your money on

Pete

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

Theoretically DE shaving is cheap. After the initial outlay for a DE, brush, soap, pre and aftershaves, replacement blades are as cheap as chips.
Practically speaking, however, DE shaving can be expensive if you start developing ADs. If you decide to collect vintage razors for instance, the costs can quickly mount. Likewise collecting creams, soaps, brushes, scuttles, or colognes.
In short, DE shaving is as cheap as you make it. If you choose to make it a hobby then be prepared to spend some cash. There are worse things to spend your money on

Pete

Indeed, tho I am always surprised to learn what people start with (some anyway). I started with a Lord tech, a free mug, ARKO stick and some Lord blades. Had a boar brush lying around. You have to see if it is for you. If so, you can always decide on getting more expensive stuff. But after some 9 months I still get great results with inexpensive things, so I do not want/need expensive stuff.

 

[Rancor16]

It's only expensive if you make it expensive =P

 

[cmannen]

Thanks for the comments.

Think one of the factors for me potentially over buying is that I don't have any local shops in Sweden selling this stuff.

Shopping on-line from the UK and I tend to add a bit more then I need to compensate for shipping cost + lead-time.

Usually shipping takes a week or two.

I also wants to discover what does the best job for me. Even if I would go back to cartridges (which I hope not will be the case) I can still make good use of soaps, creams, after shave etc. so all seems to be good.

 

[Luc]

Thanks for the comments.

Think one of the factors for me potentially over buying is that I don't have any local shops in Sweden selling this stuff.

Shopping on-line from the UK and I tend to add a bit more then I need to compensate for shipping cost + lead-time.

Usually shipping takes a week or two.

I also wants to discover what does the best job for me. Even if I would go back to cartridges (which I hope not will be the case) I can still make good use of soaps, creams, after shave etc. so all seems to be good.

You will eventually find the right shave, it's a learning process that will end up with a few nicks and cuts. Don't worry about it, keep at it and in the end, the shaves will be awesome!

 

[Alec79]

I started with a Wilkinson Sword "Classic" DE + 5 blades - £5.00 - not much more than a single Fusion cartridge.

An old cheapo brush I had been using for years, IIRC, it cost £2.50 in 1999.

An Erasmic shave stick which had been my choice of shave soap for many years - 50p. Sadly it's no longer available so I have to use Palmolive which is no great hardship.

So, no, it doesn't have to expensive.

 

[MrScorpio]

Shopping on-line from the UK and I tend to add a bit more then I need to compensate for shipping cost + lead-time.

Usually shipping takes a week or two.

Hopefully your stuff will get there in good time, what with the ash cloud grounding all planes, I'm waiting for some stuff from abroad being sent to England and i just hope they are sorting out a boat to send it on

I'm pretty new myself and didn't need to spend too much to start, i got a Lord 1822 from the Holland barber shop which was just over £10 delivered which was good considering it has some good reviews in the review section.
I got some Palmolive shave stick that was 55p and some Ingram's menthol shave cream that was £1.69 and my shaving brush was 50p or something from Wilkinsons
I think everyone should use a brush and soap or cream even if using a cartridge razor as it gets you ready for the shave so it really comes down to blades and the huge cost difference.
Take it easy for your first shaves and i suggest watching the mantic59 videos on youtube if you haven't yet, he's a big help

 

[Triumph Coupe]

It can be very inexpensive yes. But like anything it can be taken to extremes.

My shaving does not cost a lot of money, although I am now 'kitted out". I have a superbadger brush from T&H, yes it was expensive but it is the only one that I have and I have had 4 years use out of it so far with many more to come. I only have one Razor, a Merkur HD.

So now I only have shaving cream and razor blades to buy. Blades cost 2/10 of bugger all and shaving creams even if you choose expensive ones are probably cheaper than canned foam.

Even with multibladed razor shaving you should use an aftershave and moisturizer and so these costs would be the same is my old routine so we can ignore these costs (which need not be significant costs either).

But if you want to get down to the nitty gritty of spending money on wet shaving I put it in context when I remind myself that I now spend £10 on a hundred Darby blades, or £15 on some shaving cream and get pleasure out of doing so, where as before I started DE shaving I would hate spending every penny that I had to in order to get a hair free face.

 

[michiganlover]

An Erasmic shave stick which had been my choice of shave soap for many years - 50p. Sadly it's no longer available so I have to use Palmolive which is no great hardship.

The tallow based Erasmic Shave Stick is going back in to production, as the company has learned the non-tallow formula is an utter disaster. We are expecting to see it for sale stateside in a couple of weeks.

As for the topic at hand:

DE shaving can be dirt cheap, if you limit yourself to one razor, one brush, one shaving cream/soap, and one aftershave.

Most of us are unable to pull that feat off, and insist upon trying out multiple products, which can be a ton of fun.

I could use the following setup, and get far superior shaves than I ever got with a cartridge razor, and it would cost very little:

Gillette Ball End Tech (free)
VDH Deluxe Soap ($1.50 per puck)
Omega #49 Boar Brush ($10)
Red IP's ($10 per 100)
Aqua Velva ($5 per bottle)

Total initial outlay: $26.50

However, the same setup day in, and day out would get very boring for a lot of us on this board.

 

[LordTyranus]

"dom dom dom, another one bites the dust, dom dom dom..."

you are trapped in the world of Acquisition Disorders. Resistance is futile, give in to the power of Wet Shaving