What is it about Wet Shaving?

[bbobbdd]

I am amazed by the amount of interest, participation and thrill of the needed thing called shaving and all of it's features, options and fun. (not to mention the feeling of a successful score or cost involved)

What do you think lures "us" to all of this. I dare say there's something "sexy" about it. I had heard of a man's den, but never a shave den......What are your thoughts?

 

[Jay21]

It’s a ritual. We like routines. And having a moment of quiet all to ourselves tops off the experience.

 

[Goblin]

For me it's the challenge of getting a good shave. I am sure that if I could just whizz around with whatever the cartridge du jour happens to be and get a decent result, I wouldn't be here.

I don't claim to be an expert, but I have tried a fair few razors and blade systems and I have made pretty much every mistake in the book, which many would say equates to being experienced!

Even though I now have a pretty good idea what works best for me, and could probably benefit from sticking to it, that doesn't stop me wanting to try new things and chasing the satisfaction of a job well done.

Every shave is an adventure!

 

[bbobbdd]

It’s a ritual. We like routines. And having a moment of quiet all to ourselves tops off the experience.

Well said!

 

[Eric_75]

It’s a ritual. We like routines. And having a moment of quiet all to ourselves tops off the experience.

 

[sternej]

For me, I love the challenge and rituals, but it's more about an older guy's facial skin care that's part of a full routine. You guys taking this up in your 20's and 30's, you 60 year old self will thank you

 

[luvmysuper]

For me, it was purely a way to transform a hated, tedious daily tribulation into a pleasurable experience.
Reshaping a banal chore into a pleasant routine.

 

[psfred]

Much nicer than cartridges. I only quit wet shaving in the first place because I could not find blades for my injector razors (my Grandpa's Schick and a Gillette adjustable I bought in the 80's). Glad to be back, it's nice to be clean shaven without discomfort and I like the process.

 

[demaro]

For me , it’s the satisfaction of getting a great shave for minimal cost , using a razor that has been around a long time , sometimes you know who used it , like in my case , by my Godfather for my main razor . Many of my razors are older than I am , I often wonder who used them and wonder if the previous owner is still around .. using a pleasant scented soap is also very enjoyable.

 

[Coler]

It's a necessary task that can be elevated to a pleasurable ritual giving great tactile, olefactory and nasal sensory experience by use of physical skill, dedication of mental energy and application of superb materials and tools.

Or simply put, if done right it is very nice.

 

[AshleyC]

Many facets to this, I think. And more to it than the shave itself. Such as when I make the rounds to antique malls and such to see what might turn up.

That particular part of it is a bit close to what enables things like gambling addiction. Operant conditioning, I think they call it. Ordering something online, and the anticipation of waiting for it to arrive. Unboxing. It's all good.

 

[Ravenonrock]

Good question. Aside from the daily ritual of straight razor shaving (which I thoroughly enjoy) is the hobbyist aspect, which I have come to adopt and take great satisfaction in.

 

[Lockback]

It’s a ritual. We like routines. And having a moment of quiet all to ourselves tops off the experience.

I was going to compose some long, lofty response. But you took the wind out of my sails with this absolutely brilliant focused answer.

 

[Saloogie]

All of my working life, I shaved because I had to. There was no ritual and no joy. It was pure drudgery. Grab the can, squeeze the trigger, spread the foam and scrape a a cartridge across my face and then try and cool the irritation.

Then I retired, and saw these guys doing wet shaving on YouTube. Mixing their own lather, spreading it with a brush and then they gloriously took a very pretty looking razor and watched it glide across their face. Wow! I knew I had to try it...and now I'm completely hooked.

It's now a relaxing ritual. A little music, soak the brush, pick the razor and blade, spread a beautiful soft lather, maybe have a glass of Scotch and let that beautiful razor glide across my beautiful face and just chill.

What a beautiful thing I've been missing out on!

 

[mjacobs2036]

I got a Mach 3 in the mail when I was 18...I used that thing for almost 20 years on a ten day shave most of the time because I hated doing it. Life got busy and it was just a menial task that I had to do whenever I had the time to do it. I didn't enjoy it and I just did it eventually because I started to look like a drunkard. At some point, I started to simplify and realized that maybe less was more. Not too long ago, I started to take the advice of people on here and just do it. Not a lot of things impress me anymore, but I was blown away by the effectiveness of a single blade shave. I don't have ANY irritation anymore...unless I use a Shark blade. My skin looks and feels better than it has in years. It costs literally pennies. I like trying different blades. It is incredibly calming and meditative in a sense and the ten minutes by myself is cathartic. I nick myself once in a while but that is just paying the piper as far as I am concerned. I can't remember when I have gotten so much out of something so simplistic. Sorry for the rant.

 

[Lockback]

As others have stated, I shaved for decades because I had to. And I didn't have much time because I was an early riser and early to work guy. But once I retired and had the time to relax a little and not feel a constant time crunch, traditional shaving opened up a whole new world to me.
Of course, as many here can relate to, I also switched away from cartridge razors for a better shave and ... and here's the funny part ... TO SAVE MONEY.
Oh, the best laid plans of men ... something or other ...

 

[htownmmm]

One of the other aspects is that many of us like/enjoy having a skill that others have not mastered. While on a forum, we are amongst "our people". However, back in the real world, many look at us as if we've grown a third head when we start pontificating about the benefits of a proper wet shave.

marty

 

[shave/brush]

There is so much to this hobby. We read about it in this forum, we look into new gear all of the time. And it is very relaxing as some have said. It's a great hobby and compared to many other hobby's, it does not cost much.
And best of all, we end up with a great shave.

 

[BigJ]

For me, ‘traditional’ wet shaving provides markedly better results and enjoyment of my morning routine!!



So much better than the drudgery of my cart days!!

 

[Saloogie]

One of the other aspects is that many of us like/enjoy having a skill that others have not mastered. While on a forum, we are amongst "our people". However, back in the real world, many look at us as if we've grown a third head when we start pontificating about the benefits of a proper wet shave.

marty

I can relate.

I have a terrible conversion record among the cartridge crowd. I can't seem to convince them of the sheer pleasure of wet shaving with a proper razor and real shaving soap. Even the money saving angle has little effect.

It's good to be on a forum like this where us outcasts can share our stories.