So I'm only a couple of months into wet shaving. I'm coming up on the Big 7-0 birthday in a few months, which just goes to show it's never too late to learn something new.
Or old, as the case may be.
I've posted before that my memory of my early shaves is just non-existent. The Gillette Trac II came out the year I graduated high school, 1971. I have no recollection of shaving before that or when I tried my first cartridge razor. Like most guys, I just accepted that the latest 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-blade cartridge was the best way to shave. But as the years went by, particularly the last five or so, I became increasingly disgusted with both prices and performance. I'm retired now, so the quick "gotta shave in a hurry and get to work!" days are gone. I can take as long as I want or need. And so eventually, tired of expensive, mediocre cartridge razors (where there is no commonality between competing brands), horribly disappointed in every electric razor I'd ever bought and used, I turned to what my father and his father before him used: safety razors with DE blades.
Being careful by nature, I didn't want to jump in too fast or too hard, so I spent a modest sum ($13.00, if memory serves) on a Van Der Hagen TTO razor, which included 5 blades, and a tub of Proraso Green and some cheap Gillette Gel aftershave.
But once I tried it andliked loved it, it was on to another: an Edwin Jagger DE89. When I'm in Full Immersion Mode, I read and watch videos voraciously, so I learned what shavers liked and for what reasons.
In the meantime, I was acquiring blades. Lots of blades. Because for reasonable prices, you can purchase sample packs of razor blades from all over the world. It fascinated me. And also allowed me find blades I really like.
But, then, why not an adjustable razor? Doesn't that make sense? Who wants only one setting, for heaven's sake?
How about a Rockwell 6C with SIX different settings??
Of course, razors and blades are only part of the equation. I wanted to try different brushes (I was generously gifted one and bought one) and soaps. So I bought some Cremo. Two scents so far: Original and Bourbon Vanilla. And then two Stirling soaps, Margaritas In The Arctic and Bay Rum and even a tube of Palmolive Classic.
And then (for now, at least), just one more razor. Because as good as Zamak is, isn't stainless steel better? Of course! So why not a Razorock Game Changer? Heck, yeah!
And so here I am, a couple of months in. I actually look forward to shaving every day instead of dreading it. And I get the best shaves of my life. I have 4 razors, over 160 blades, six soaps, two brushes, a couple of shave mugs/bowls and I'm done. No more purchases.
Really!
I swear!
Or old, as the case may be.
I've posted before that my memory of my early shaves is just non-existent. The Gillette Trac II came out the year I graduated high school, 1971. I have no recollection of shaving before that or when I tried my first cartridge razor. Like most guys, I just accepted that the latest 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-blade cartridge was the best way to shave. But as the years went by, particularly the last five or so, I became increasingly disgusted with both prices and performance. I'm retired now, so the quick "gotta shave in a hurry and get to work!" days are gone. I can take as long as I want or need. And so eventually, tired of expensive, mediocre cartridge razors (where there is no commonality between competing brands), horribly disappointed in every electric razor I'd ever bought and used, I turned to what my father and his father before him used: safety razors with DE blades.
Being careful by nature, I didn't want to jump in too fast or too hard, so I spent a modest sum ($13.00, if memory serves) on a Van Der Hagen TTO razor, which included 5 blades, and a tub of Proraso Green and some cheap Gillette Gel aftershave.
But once I tried it and
In the meantime, I was acquiring blades. Lots of blades. Because for reasonable prices, you can purchase sample packs of razor blades from all over the world. It fascinated me. And also allowed me find blades I really like.
But, then, why not an adjustable razor? Doesn't that make sense? Who wants only one setting, for heaven's sake?
How about a Rockwell 6C with SIX different settings??
Of course, razors and blades are only part of the equation. I wanted to try different brushes (I was generously gifted one and bought one) and soaps. So I bought some Cremo. Two scents so far: Original and Bourbon Vanilla. And then two Stirling soaps, Margaritas In The Arctic and Bay Rum and even a tube of Palmolive Classic.
And then (for now, at least), just one more razor. Because as good as Zamak is, isn't stainless steel better? Of course! So why not a Razorock Game Changer? Heck, yeah!
And so here I am, a couple of months in. I actually look forward to shaving every day instead of dreading it. And I get the best shaves of my life. I have 4 razors, over 160 blades, six soaps, two brushes, a couple of shave mugs/bowls and I'm done. No more purchases.
Really!
I swear!
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