Hi all from Deepest Darkest Dorset in the UK! For our cousins over the pond, you may know Dorset for either:
1) Thomas Hardy the Author.
2) The Jurassic Coast.
3) The Cerne Abbas Giant - the naked and rather aroused figure cut into a local chalk hillside.
So, how have I ended up here? Well I have been lurking for a number of months but decided to make it official. I am in my mid-forties but have been using cartridge razors for most of my post-teens life.
I was never that bothered about the process, it was just a means to an end. In my late 20s, after meeting my late wife, I grew a goatie and have had variations on that theme ever since - so shaving became even more of a chore. I once shaved off the beard and received such a chorus of disapproval from my other half and the kids, that I have never done so again. The future Wife is of the same opinion.
In January, after my long lived Wilkinson Sword Quattro finally gave up the ghost, I started looking into alternatives. I never liked the cost of cartridges but because I didn't enjoy shaving, I didn't use the razor much, they did last quite some time. I was also becoming a little miffed about the non-recycleable waste they produced.
After some research (on here, other forums and articles), I decided that it was worth giving a safety razor a try. So I found a reasonably priced but well regarded one on Amazon and so started the journey that has brought me to this stage. That razor was a Edwin Jagger 89 short handle, which came with some Derby blades.
I wouldn't say the first shave was a revelation but it was easily as good as I was getting with the Quattro using the same methods and no nicks or cuts (to be honest, it has beem a rare thing for me to get nicks). I kept the Quattro for a little while, just in case.....it is now in landfill.
As I slowly discovered shaving soaps (Arko is still my normal in the week one) and brushes....and aftershaves, balms, alum etc etc, I got the bug and now for the first time in my life - I actually look forward to shaving!
Alas, like many others, I have a rather....acquisition addiction personality (I have many Guitars and Basses too - that is called GAS), so quickly got RAS. So after nearly 5 months, I now have in my shaving arsenal:
Razors: EJ89S, Wilkinson Sword Butterfly, Fatip Piccolo SE, Razorock German 37, Razorine, QShave,
Bluebeards Revenge Shavette and CJB Kamisori Shavette.
Shave Prep: Proraso Green Set (Pre, Soap, AS, Balm), Proraso Cologne wipe set (Wood & Spice, Lime and the other one), Tabac Stick (for travel), Arko (for general morning shaving use), Proraso Red Cream, Proraso Cut Stop Cream (rarely used thankfully), OSMA Alum Block, Omega Classic 49 Bristle Brush and Bluebeards Revenge synthetic brush (again for Travel).
I also have many blades that I am currently running through in each of the razors and am looking now at other *** (Bay Rums and Spanish are my currently research target). So that is my journey so far - so many blades, *** etc - too slow growing facial hair lol.
1) Thomas Hardy the Author.
2) The Jurassic Coast.
3) The Cerne Abbas Giant - the naked and rather aroused figure cut into a local chalk hillside.
So, how have I ended up here? Well I have been lurking for a number of months but decided to make it official. I am in my mid-forties but have been using cartridge razors for most of my post-teens life.
I was never that bothered about the process, it was just a means to an end. In my late 20s, after meeting my late wife, I grew a goatie and have had variations on that theme ever since - so shaving became even more of a chore. I once shaved off the beard and received such a chorus of disapproval from my other half and the kids, that I have never done so again. The future Wife is of the same opinion.
In January, after my long lived Wilkinson Sword Quattro finally gave up the ghost, I started looking into alternatives. I never liked the cost of cartridges but because I didn't enjoy shaving, I didn't use the razor much, they did last quite some time. I was also becoming a little miffed about the non-recycleable waste they produced.
After some research (on here, other forums and articles), I decided that it was worth giving a safety razor a try. So I found a reasonably priced but well regarded one on Amazon and so started the journey that has brought me to this stage. That razor was a Edwin Jagger 89 short handle, which came with some Derby blades.
I wouldn't say the first shave was a revelation but it was easily as good as I was getting with the Quattro using the same methods and no nicks or cuts (to be honest, it has beem a rare thing for me to get nicks). I kept the Quattro for a little while, just in case.....it is now in landfill.
As I slowly discovered shaving soaps (Arko is still my normal in the week one) and brushes....and aftershaves, balms, alum etc etc, I got the bug and now for the first time in my life - I actually look forward to shaving!
Alas, like many others, I have a rather....acquisition addiction personality (I have many Guitars and Basses too - that is called GAS), so quickly got RAS. So after nearly 5 months, I now have in my shaving arsenal:
Razors: EJ89S, Wilkinson Sword Butterfly, Fatip Piccolo SE, Razorock German 37, Razorine, QShave,
Bluebeards Revenge Shavette and CJB Kamisori Shavette.
Shave Prep: Proraso Green Set (Pre, Soap, AS, Balm), Proraso Cologne wipe set (Wood & Spice, Lime and the other one), Tabac Stick (for travel), Arko (for general morning shaving use), Proraso Red Cream, Proraso Cut Stop Cream (rarely used thankfully), OSMA Alum Block, Omega Classic 49 Bristle Brush and Bluebeards Revenge synthetic brush (again for Travel).
I also have many blades that I am currently running through in each of the razors and am looking now at other *** (Bay Rums and Spanish are my currently research target). So that is my journey so far - so many blades, *** etc - too slow growing facial hair lol.