Square peg, round hole?

[parapaul]

YMMV, right? But I can't be the only one.

I started DE shaving in an attempt to improve the very mediocre shaves, reduce the ingrown hairs and rash that I was getting with all the 'modern' gear. Within the first week I knew I was converted and I won't go back, so on that count, it was a complete success.

It's 2013. I'm a thirtysomething year old man, and I like to think that I'm modern. I don't follow fashion because, quite frankly, it's mostly ridiculous, but I dress well and I take pride in myself. I was happily oblivious to my current predicament before joining here, so it's your fault. All of you.

I genuinely don't follow the appreciation that almost everyone has for the very traditional side of wet shaving. Rose, Lavender and Violet scented shave creams just smell cheap and feminine to me. Classic aftershaves like Old Spice, Brut, Bay Rum and Clubman do nothing but conjure memories of my grandparents' houses from when I was very young. Good memories, granted, but not anything I'd ever want to wear myself. My aftershave collection consists of Hugo Boss, Diesel and Davidoff.

I see the pages and pages of discussion about the various merits of horse, badger and boar brushes. I own one and it works wonderfully, but given even a whisper of a chance I'd swap it for a synthetic one if they performed as well. I've seen the websites of the guys who craft beautifully made brush handles from a huge variety of materials, but I wouldn't give any of them cupboard space and my search for a carbon fibre handled brush continues.

I read the Wikis about birth year razors and I've even looked for one for myself, but I just don't like the look of them and I would pick my own DE89 every time on a purely aesthetic basis.

I browse the shave den pictures and I marvel at the time, effort and expense that has gone into amassing the collections some of you have, but there won't ever be anything like that in my bathroom.

So, am I the only one who wants to be a modern traditional shaver?

 

[Delawareguy]

I don't think you're the only one. We are about the same age and I feel the same way you do about some of the scents and products you mentioned. I actually felt that Clubman smelled too old for me until I found the item of the week thread. Now I love it. I would also take my Futur over most vintage DE's. I also think a carbon fiber brush handle would be awesome. I also want a straight with carbon fiber scales. All that being said my time here has helped me appreciate some of the more classic scents and materials. Ultimately for me I've always enjoyed the blending of the traditional with the modern. Like a classic muscle car with a modern drive train. The best of both worlds.

 

[John Von Wuggz]

I'm not sure if I'm modern, minimalist, or both. I settled down with my Futur, 3 kinds of blades(7blacks, 7yellow, GSB), 3 creams, 3 brushes, and 2 soaps. I guess it isn't super minimal but I tried to hit all the angles once.

 

[mgoldmann]

I don't see anything unusual in your point of view. Basically, you're using what works for you. No different than someone mixing a modern cartridge razor with soap/mug/brush or using your DE89 with canned foam or gel when necessary.

 

[Archer808]

A little more pressure on your razor will shave the edges off and make your round...

I'm in my late 30s myself, I like a lot of the vintage things: Clubman, Barbershop scented soap, vintage razors etc.. But I also have new Merkurs and I don't care what the hair in my brush is as long as it holds abundant lather and performs well. Guess that makes me kinda on the fence between vintage and modern?

 

[The Dean]

I'm an older man (56 actually) and I'm a bit like you. I love the collections people have here, and the pride they take in their beautiful stuff. Fantastic stuff and I'm glad they share it with us. That just isn't me. I really don't even know what a "shave den" is. I shave in the bathroom.

And a square peg will fit just fine in a round hole. The peg just has to be smaller than the hole.

 

[aihpcfl]

I follow part of what you are saying. I too don't get the hobby idea of shaving. You aren't alone there. But I do understand how a person can get into it in the same way a person can get into any other activity or collecting or whatever. But I'm not the type, and if I were my obsession would not be shaving. Still, I understand those who do immerse themselves.

However, I don't know what modern means. Or maybe I do know what people mean when they talk about modern, just I don't get the impulse. I use Bay Rum aftershave because I like it, for example. I don't use it because it is a classic; and I wouldn't consider not using it for the fact that it is a classic.

 

[Chadao]

I'm an old guy but I love the new razors. I particularly like the EJ's. I travel a lot. My travel razor is a DE89L, and my home razor is a DE89 Barley. I am about ready to try a synthetic brush. I don't know if liking Mike's soaps is old or new. The manufacturing process is traditional but Mike is a modern kind of guy offering old fashioned products in a modern way. Then, scuttles, old fashioned going back to the days before hot and cold running water, but today they are produced by modern artists like Robert Becker. So...go for it, but I say pick what works.

 

[Alphonse]

I can't figure out these two statements together:
"I started DE shaving in an attempt to improve the very mediocre shaves, reduce the ingrown hairs and rash that I was getting with all the 'modern' gear."

AND

"I genuinely don't follow the appreciation that almost everyone has for the very traditional side of wet shaving."

 

[Chadao]

I can't figure out these two statements together:
"I started DE shaving in an attempt to improve the very mediocre shaves, reduce the ingrown hairs and rash that I was getting with all the 'modern' gear."

AND

"I genuinely don't follow the appreciation that almost everyone has for the very traditional side of wet shaving."

+1

 

[parapaul]

I can't figure out these two statements together:
"I started DE shaving in an attempt to improve the very mediocre shaves, reduce the ingrown hairs and rash that I was getting with all the 'modern' gear."

AND

"I genuinely don't follow the appreciation that almost everyone has for the very traditional side of wet shaving."

Not sure why it appears those two statements are connected? I wanted a better shave, that was more comfortable. I got that. But I don't understand the 'old-fashionedness', if you like. I, personally, can't imagine why any man below retirement age would want to splash any of those traditional aftershaves over himself. I can't imagine why any man of any age would find the perfumed, traditional creams and soaps appealing. I don't quite understand why so many people have such huge collections of razors and brushes. But that's just me. I'm obviously in a minority, and that's fine - I just wondered if I was in a minority of 1...

Does that make it any clearer?

 

[fsturnz]

I'm older, 57, and only started down this traditional road in January. At first, the newness got me intrigued, and the RAD started. I bought 6 DE's, and now have 4 straights. But I'm done with that. I keep coming back to my EJ 89 barly, and the same classic straight. I have 7 or 8 soaps and two brushes, and around 6 after shaves. Some are classic and some aren't. I choose the one I want depending on how I feel that morning. Classic if I'm feeling nostalgic, or my Aramis that I've used for 30years. I guess that's it for me...sometimes I just feel nostalgic, and think of my dad and my grandfather as I shave with traditional tools and methods. Sometimes I just need a quick shave. Either way, a chore I used to dread is now a ritual I look forward to every day.

 

[DevilDog0402]

Either way, a chore I used to dread is now a ritual I look forward to every day.

I wholeheartedly agree with this statement.

 

[mattdenicola]

I, personally, can't imagine why any man below retirement age would want to splash any of those traditional aftershaves over himself.

And some people can't imagine why any man of any age would want to wear repetitive and tired "modern" cologne scents. Thankfully we all get to make up our own minds around here

I can't imagine why any man of any age would find the perfumed, traditional creams and soaps appealing.

Just as you don't like them, others do. Not too difficult to grasp.

I don't quite understand why so many people have such huge collections of razors and brushes.

Is it really this tough for you to understand that some people have different tastes than you do?

But that's just me. I'm obviously in a minority, and that's fine - I just wondered if I was in a minority of 1...

Does that make it any clearer?

No. There are no minorities of 1. No one is actually that unique. I for one can totally see it from your perspective.

 

[The Dean]

I don't think age has much to do with any of these products, unless that's the way you want to view them. I was using some products perceived as for an older man when I was young , and I now use some products that may be considered a bit too young for me. (Some of the women I date are almost certainly too young for me--or many would think so.) I use what I like. What else matters?

I tell you what, though. Things that last through the decades, things that seem timeless (art, music, literature, etc) are typically more to my liking than stuff that is trendy: here today and gone tomorrow.

 

[The Dean]

A
No. There are no minorities of 1. No one is actually that unique. I for one can totally see it from your perspective.

Actually we are all that unique. We are all minorities of 1 (when all our quirks are taken as a whole).

 

[Go West Young Man]

If we all liked the same things it would a pretty boring world.

 

[WVUfanMG]

I'm 31, and I really enjoy the old school scents and shave gear. They're DIFFERENT from what everyone else my age would even think about wearing or has even heard of. It almost makes me feel enlightened. I'm just enjoying the ride and seeing where it takes me. YMMV!

 

[derjoachim]

YMMV, right? But I can't be the only one.

(...)

So, am I the only one who wants to be a modern traditional shaver?

I'm not sure what you mean by a modern traditional shaver. So you want to use 'modern' products. However, in the shaving industry, innovation has moved away from DE shaving. IMHO DE shaving is by definition 'traditional'. That's not a bad thing.

 

[Redstickjohn]

I love vintage gear. Now, I'm 61, but I surround myself with vintage things--fountain pens, lighters, pocket knives, watches, guitars, golf clubs, etc. Razors and shaving gear was a natural progression. My first razor was a Fatboy, almost 50 years ago, and I get a huge kick out of using one today. Even the presentation makes me feel good....think about it...a Vintage Aristocrat from the 30's or 40's in a custom fitted leather case just exudes quality--versus a multi-blade cart razor in a bubble package?