In the early 80s, when I started shaving, I borrowed my grandfather's adjustable Gillette razor and whatever blades he had on hand, which to my recollection, were also Gillette in the metal dispenser. He used shaving cream in a tube and a brush of brands I do not remember. Eventually, I started using a Trac II, a decent shave, and I still have a Trac II handle and razors for my travel Dopp kit. As time passed, I tried Bic disposables and Gillette disposables (Good News, I believe) before the trend to add more and more blades to a cartridge began. Like most, I was drawn to the marketing propaganda and couldn't wait to try cartridges with the latest gizmo. At one point, I got the vibrating head version of a five-blade cartridge in a gift bag, and for a few short weeks, I thought I'd reached shaving nirvana. However, I couldn't get more than one or two decent shaves from those cartridges before shaving was a tugging, painful endeavor. In the small town I lived in, blades at the grocery store were $34 for a package (I can't remember if that was four or eight blades), and I grew weary of the business model being pushed on men.
From late 2012 to early 2013, I found Badger & Blade, and while I did not register as a participant, I learned a lot about wet shaving, which brought back fond memories of using my grandfather's razor and the smell of his shaving soap and Old Spice aftershave. I researched, ordered a Semogue Owners Club Badger brush, an Above the Tie R plate razor, and some Proraso shaving cream with a sample pack of blades, and began my journey! Eventually, I switched to Mitchell's Wool Fat, added D R Harris Arlington Aftershave Milk, and settled on Feather blades. Candidly, I could have easily gone the rest of my life using that setup, and I saved a significant amount of money over the last decade sticking with those products for my regular shave.
Recently, I got the itch to try a different head on my trusty ATT Atlas handle and then quickly spiraled deep into the rabbit hole. With a few ATT head and handle options, brushes, shaving soaps, and aftershave arriving soon, as well as a couple of SE, and DE blade options on hand, any thoughts of my shaving routine being a money saver have flown the coop. Although I have enough on hand, with some gentlemanly restraint, that I need not purchase anything for some time. I have more combinations available than I could realistically test appropriately over a year.
As I've grown older, I appreciate the finer details of my crazy life and have slowed down in taking it all in. Shaving doesn't take me particularly long, and I don't waste time luxuriating in my bathroom building a lather. But, I appreciate the zen-like routine and, of late, enjoy the scents associated with my shave. Every soap and lotion I use is unscented, and I do not wear cologne, so the scent of my shave soap or aftershave is my only additional scent. Whether my scent comes from a fine English Company, Italian, or a US based artisan, it is comforting knowing my choices are different than the vast mojority, and unique to my tastes. I lean towards lighter scents but have enough new products heading my way that I may be venturing into more pronounced aromas!
On another note, I have started wearing more jewelry beyond my trusty Seiko watches due to appreciating the minor details. Whether it is a watch, my 1879 Morgan Silver Dollare coin ring, or the finer details of a shaving routine, I find satisfaction in the process and an expression of individualism that seems lost in much of society today. Am I saving money? On a cost per shave basis, yes. From a shaving aquisition disorder viewpoint, no. However, I get immense satisfaction from my routine, and interacting with like minded gentleman here at Badger & Blade is a wonderful part of the equation.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and being so welcoming as I share parts of my shaving journey!
From late 2012 to early 2013, I found Badger & Blade, and while I did not register as a participant, I learned a lot about wet shaving, which brought back fond memories of using my grandfather's razor and the smell of his shaving soap and Old Spice aftershave. I researched, ordered a Semogue Owners Club Badger brush, an Above the Tie R plate razor, and some Proraso shaving cream with a sample pack of blades, and began my journey! Eventually, I switched to Mitchell's Wool Fat, added D R Harris Arlington Aftershave Milk, and settled on Feather blades. Candidly, I could have easily gone the rest of my life using that setup, and I saved a significant amount of money over the last decade sticking with those products for my regular shave.
Recently, I got the itch to try a different head on my trusty ATT Atlas handle and then quickly spiraled deep into the rabbit hole. With a few ATT head and handle options, brushes, shaving soaps, and aftershave arriving soon, as well as a couple of SE, and DE blade options on hand, any thoughts of my shaving routine being a money saver have flown the coop. Although I have enough on hand, with some gentlemanly restraint, that I need not purchase anything for some time. I have more combinations available than I could realistically test appropriately over a year.
As I've grown older, I appreciate the finer details of my crazy life and have slowed down in taking it all in. Shaving doesn't take me particularly long, and I don't waste time luxuriating in my bathroom building a lather. But, I appreciate the zen-like routine and, of late, enjoy the scents associated with my shave. Every soap and lotion I use is unscented, and I do not wear cologne, so the scent of my shave soap or aftershave is my only additional scent. Whether my scent comes from a fine English Company, Italian, or a US based artisan, it is comforting knowing my choices are different than the vast mojority, and unique to my tastes. I lean towards lighter scents but have enough new products heading my way that I may be venturing into more pronounced aromas!
On another note, I have started wearing more jewelry beyond my trusty Seiko watches due to appreciating the minor details. Whether it is a watch, my 1879 Morgan Silver Dollare coin ring, or the finer details of a shaving routine, I find satisfaction in the process and an expression of individualism that seems lost in much of society today. Am I saving money? On a cost per shave basis, yes. From a shaving aquisition disorder viewpoint, no. However, I get immense satisfaction from my routine, and interacting with like minded gentleman here at Badger & Blade is a wonderful part of the equation.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and being so welcoming as I share parts of my shaving journey!
