RAD Control

[mbrossar]

Hi, my name's Mike, and I'm a shavaholic.

Like so many of my B&B brethren, I suffer from most forms of xAD. I am attempting to keep my afliction under control by maintaining a small den. My Rooney 1/1 is helping me keep my BAD under control. I remind myself that I am young and there will be plenty of time to buy other soaps when my current puck runs out. It's hard, but it's working.

My biggest challenge is the perfectionist in me, looking for that perfect shave and looking for the perfect razor to deliver it. I know that variety is the spice of life, but trying to control my costs, I also feel that one good razor should deliver years of good shaves. Actually, I may have found that razor for me, but I keep wondering. I'm currently using a Mühle R89 (the 2009 version). I shave every day, but my beard does not grow super fast, so I can get a BBS (or darn near) with two passes (Gillette Slide and ATG, although much of the ATG is slighly angled) and a little blade buffing. The razor itself is an increadibly smooth shaver. I am irritation and nick free. Always looking to improve, I'm trying to figure out if a different razor (a slant or something) would deliver the same or better with less effort or if I've found nirvana (or am darn close) and should just concentrate on fine tuning my technique?

I know, mileage varies on razors, and I'm actually not asking for razor recomendations. My question is more, based on my results, are other razors likely or unlikely to improve my shave?

Appreciate your thoughts.

 

[Legion]

I was the same. I bought at least one of every type of razor I could find or afford. The end result was I just ended up with a whole bunch of razors I never used and a bunch of spares for the ones I did use.

It was all a part of the learning process but it cost a lot of cash.

Now I just use one or two of my favorite razors. Most of the time my shaves are good, sometimes not as good. But, if you choose a razor and stick with it, you will remove one variable from the equation. Then chose your favorite, brush, soap, etc. Then, when the quality of your shaves differ from day to day, you can refine your technique knowing that any variation is solely down to you.

That's just my opinion. I know it differs greatly from a lot of the guys here.

 

[Antique Hoosier]

I truly don't mean for this to sound like a smartaleck but........... you ULTIMATELY will find the one or two razors that REALLY shave you the best for your face...( remember that the BLADE itself is a huge determing factor). Most likely you will spend a lot of cash finding that one or two...and really until you have tried MANY....in your mind, you will always wonder if there is a better one out there.......AND THEN YOU WILL SWITCH TO STRAIGHT RAZORS AND START THE PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN!!!

But, in all seriousness, the BEST advice I can give you is.... Purchase either a Merkur HD or a Merkur 38C.... also purchase a Gillette Super Speed, FatBoy, or Slim adjustable. Then purchase an older open comb Gillette like the NEW or Bostonian. I'd bet among those you would find a real dream razor experience. Keep what you like and sell the rest.

 

[AFG]

The right razor and blade combination does make a difference.I was lucky, the third razor I bought was the one for me, a Merkur 38C. Combining it with a Feather blade and I was there. I later bought a Jagger Chatsworth with the same Merkur head and some months later a Futur, just to have something different. If you follow Antique Hoosiers advice you will no doubt find what is right for you.

 

[Walt Whitman]

Most likely you will spend a lot of cash finding that one or two...and really until you have tried MANY....in your mind, you will always wonder if there is a better one out there.......AND THEN YOU WILL SWITCH TO STRAIGHT RAZORS AND START THE PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN!!!

But, in all seriousness, the BEST advice I can give you is.... Purchase either a Merkur HD or a Merkur 38C.... also purchase a Gillette Super Speed, FatBoy, or Slim adjustable. Then purchase an older open comb Gillette like the NEW or Bostonian. I'd bet among those you would find a real dream razor experience. Keep what you like and sell the rest.

This is where I am right now.

Sorry, I am a victim of RAD, too...

And it is great fun!

 

[mbrossar]

Thanks all for your advice. Taking direction from Hoosier, I reread the reviews on your recommended Gillettes and find they read remarkably close to my experiences with my Mühle. I already have an HD and find they produce very similar results. I find the Mühle a tad smoother on the shave, and I prefer the light, agile feeling of the Mühle versus the heaviness of the HD. I think I'll keep the HD around a while though and pull it out in a month or two to see how it feels. The NEWs have always intrigued me, but given my slow growing beard and the fact that I shave it every day, I didn't think there was much of a need for an open comb. I tried a Mühle R41 (2009) to try an open comb and found I much prefer a closed comb. Keep an eye on B/S/T, as soon as I'm old enough, it'll be there. Maybe I'll try one out anyway. You can get them relatively cheaply and there seems to be some magic that people attribute to them. WDYT?

 

[RBE17]

I have RAD, too, but am trying to keep it under control. So far I've only bought two razors since joining B&B.

 

[kingfisher]

You've probably gotten as close to shaving nirvana as you're ever going to get.

Every time you get a new razor that works for you, you'll think it's better, at least for a time (honeymoon period). Then you'll go back to one of the old ones and think "look what I've been missing."

The truth will be that all the ones you like will be about the same, but you'll convince yourself that one is better than the other, and vice versa, over and over again.

My advice? If you are really doing that well already, spend your money on software rather than hardware.

 

[adonnellyr]

I agree to a large extent with the previous post, but it's just so hard to know where to spend your money. I do agree that if you have a great razor/blade combo already you might as well pick up some new software, but then there's the other side of the coin. If you love wet-shaving you might want to spend the money on something that won't be gone in a couple years, but rather save up a bit longer and buy a really nice collectable razor that you will have for your entire life.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[Stubblefield]

I know, mileage varies on razors, and I'm actually not asking for razor recomendations. My question is more, based on my results, are other razors likely or unlikely to improve my shave?

Appreciate your thoughts.

You soo need to try a few vintage Gillettes. I was a diehard Merkur fan, but have switched to the Slim Adjustable and Red Tip as my weapons of choice. Give vintage Gillette a shot, you will not come away unhappy. Or that much poorer.

 

[03GTCruiser]

You soo need to try a few vintage Gillettes. I was a diehard Merkur fan, but have switched to the Slim Adjustable and Red Tip as my weapons of choice. Give vintage Gillette a shot, you will not come away unhappy. Or that much poorer.

As a wet shaving newbie I could not agree with this more. I started out with a new shiny new parker, then I bought a blue tip SS, and now I am shaving with an ugly 30's Tech that is missing plating. With each razor my shaves have gotten better and more comfortable.

 

[giantcanopy]

Contagious. I seem to need to peep at the B/S/T section daily

But RAD seemed to have curb my slightly more expensive Camera/lens aquisition syndrome

Ryan

 

[mbrossar]

Mike's got the advice that fits again! Maybe it's the name, maybe it's being children of the early 60s, but thanks for reminder of the importance of the blade.

I had some feathers in my den that I wasn't using because they consistently left weepers in my 34c. I put one in my Mühle and it was pure heaven. Smooth, easy glide, no nicks or irritation and a DFS+ with only two passes. If there's a better shave out there, it's marginal at best, but I don't think this combo can be beat.

 

[grouse79]

I think RAD is a bit different to AD for soaps, creams or AS as the razors will last. I have 9 razors and won't let myself buy any more. My main desire was to get a vintage Gillette TTO which was my last acquisition. Given the price of most new razors I'd strongly suggest buying them used. They are generally so well made that you won't be able to tell the difference.

 

[Luc]

I agree with the above, I do not think that you are looking for another razor at this point. A shaving soap/cream, different prep, blade maybe might be what you are after. Maybe an Aftershave? If you were to try something else, well, Slant or Open comb should do the trick!