Just asked

[f86sabjf]

Hi Gang
My sister in law has just started asking about my "WAY" of shaving. With a house hold of soon to be 3 men, Husband and two teens just starting to shave. She is scared to death of having to supply fusion blades for the three of them . How would you recommend setting them up economically and correctly.

 

[Rohrbach]

Correctly won't be a problem on this board, but that economically condition...

The question is how deep do your in-laws want to get into traditional shaving? The nice thing with so many people is that they get to try out different things and actually use it up.

 

[f86sabjf]

I would say just good solid functionality to begin with . There not fancy folks by any stretch. So lets say razor $30-$50, blades are cheap enough. I'm figuring shaving soap might be the cheapest and easiest to find. Then a good $20-30 boar brush each. Figuring I have to convince her husband first and get him excited about it so he will get the good stuff.

 

[Ron Scott]

What does the husband have to say about it? Maybe he'd be interested in wetshaving if you guys spoke.

 

[f86sabjf]

good question I'll have to see

 

[BigFoot]

good question I'll have to see

I think that is your best best. If they are interested you can get started pretty reasonable.

 

[Prof. Moriarty]

Semogue 1305 or 1800 (only tried the latter)
Edwin Jagger DE89
Blade Sampler Pack
Just a puck of a good shaving soap (Mikes or something).

Total Cost $70 without shipping.

 

[Rohrbach]

Italian Barber added some nice starter sets for little money. If the husband gets really into traditional wet shaving, he will discover the other products pretty fast and have plenty left over to equip his sons in no time. But do talk to him first. Shaving is such a YMMV thing. He might be just happy to use a brush and soap with a TRAC II razor instead of the Fusion.

 

[ksblazer]

Semogue 1305 or 1800 (only tried the latter)
Edwin Jagger DE89
Blade Sampler Pack
Just a puck of a good shaving soap (Mikes or something).

Total Cost $70 without shipping.

Thats would be about the same set up I would recomend. Just add some styptic pencils, maybe some witch hazel and some aftershave and your ready to go.

 

[Prof. Moriarty]

Thats would be about the same set up I would recomend. Just add some styptic pencils, maybe some witch hazel and some aftershave and your ready to go.

The aftershave I figured they had already, or they could just pick up some Nivea Sensitive themselves. I never need a styptic, I just put a piece of tissue until the bleeding stopped. Also have never used witch hazel and am normally irritation free (unless I have a terrible shave like I did two days ago which I am still suffering for, old blade, new soap that my skin didn't like, led to an unhappy me).

 

[Tannhauser]

A sample shopping list from WCS, assuming the three of them won't be sharing products:
$10.50 http://www.westcoastshaving.com/DE-Blade-Sampler-Pack-Choice_p_20.html
$114 3x http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Edwin-Jagger-DE89L-Double-Edge-Safety-Razor-Lined-Chrome_p_726.html
$60 3x http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Semogue-1800-Pure-Bristle-Shaving-Brush_p_1509.html (the aforementioned Semogue 1800)
$30 3x http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Proraso-Shaving-Cream-Menthol-and-Eucalyptus-150ml_p_1502.html (also sold as C.O. Bigelow at Bath and Bodyworks, so easy to get)
$15 Aqua Velva Ice Blue Aftershave from the local grocery or drug store.

Grand Total: $229.50

They all might want their own aftershave, and their own shaving soap/cream, but this is a good start, and far cheaper than just a year's worth of Fusion blades: Amazon has those for $30 for an 8-pack, so assuming one blade per person per week would be $585.

 

[Toothpick]

vintage razors, VDH luxury or deluxe kit (includes bowl, soap, brush), Astra SP 100pk (enough for all 3 of them)

$100-130 total for 3 new shavers.

What are the chances that all 3 of them will like it and stick with it? This way if one or two decide "eh, just not for me" then the loss is small.

 

[John Von Wuggz]

Get them into Duck Dynasty. Those boys have the cheapest shave routine you can get.

 

[johnnyspud]

Good Luck - I like the challenge you've described. Anything you can do to save the teens from Axe body spray and Fu$ion Blade$ would be great. A couple of thoughts - Razorock razors and eco tools kabuki brush. Good price points and the synthetic bristles don't have a funky smell during the break in period.

 

[OkieStubble]

Trac II's all around.

 

[The Dean]

You will hate this idea. Hell, I hate this idea--but I think it might have some merit. (I should have just started with "Hear me out" and then you'd get the right vibe for how strange this is going to seem.)

I'd introduce them to shaving with an decent inexpensive brush: boar, Whipped Dog, Frank Shaving, etc. Something under $20 that has some quality.

I'd buy them one inexpensive good cream and one soap each--of if they are the sharing type, maybe a small collection (2-3 of each of different types) they can trade back and forth.

Remember PREP is at least half the battle.

Let them decide on their own aftershaves. I agree that Axe and all that is horrendous--but it's their face/body--they need to be happy with the scent. And this concession should help with the early buy-in.

Now for the "you'll hate it" suggestion. Get them a bag of Bic Sensitive or Metal blades. They are dirt cheap. They are single blade and require a modicum of technique (not much, but a bit). They have no pivot, no spring and no lubrication strip. Then, over the course of a month or two, perhaps you can work with them individually to identify a vintage razor (Tech for example) or new model that appeals to them. Maybe you can loan them a razor or two (if you have the inventory and are inclined to do so) for a short time. Now, I understand these aren't your kids, so maybe that is too much of a time commitment/bonding experience. But you could coach your brother up and he could do that part with his boys. Either way it would be a project they do together--but allows them a bit of individuality and involvement in the process.

Anyway, just an odd thought. Sometimes this happens when I'm relatively sober.

 

[The Dean]

Trac II's all around.

This would be a perfectly acceptable option to my weird idea.