First, a little bit about me… I am of almost 75% English descent and 25% other northern European. I am almost 50 years old and have had the luxury of having very soft and fine facial hair (back when I wore facial hair). It was very soft and easy to shave. I think I only really needed to shave about every 2 or 3 days back then. Recently, I decided to grow out my facial hair again. After a few months of growing it out and trimming it, I discovered that my facial hair is now akin to a wire brush (this is even after trying every moisturizer / butter / softener that I could possibly find on it). And this makes my stubble about tough as trying to shave sandpaper (I honestly think that I could light a match on it). It’s gotten to the point where I’ve taken to using an electric rotary style razor. It’s good and quick. However, I really don’t get a great shave with it. By noon my chin gets scratchy and long before 5 O’clock, I should really shave again. I don’t really get razor burn with it but the shave “hurts”. I really can’t describe it better than that. I change the heads once a year and keep it pretty clean otherwise. I cannot seem to get a good comfortable shave with it.​

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So, I’d been reading more and more about using a double edge safety razor. Folks swear by them. I don’t know why I’d never looked into them before, but then again, I was younger and internet resources weren’t as readily available. I did, however know about shaving soaps from an article in Playboy of all places. It was really an article about shaving with a straight razor, but I really wasn’t interested in that. They really went in depth about how to treat your face prior to shaving with good shaving soap, heat and time. No fancy preshave oils or creams or anything like that. Just a good washing, soap, heat, and time. I did try out all the tips and tricks for wet shaving with soap and found that using those tricks with a twin blade cartridge or disposable didn’t help much. I even investigated getting a proper shave from a barber on the day of my wedding. No good. Finding a barber that will actually shave you are few and far in-between now-a-days as new laws and fears concerning blood-borne illnesses have all but eliminated it. So, I am going to give it the old college effort with a few different safety razors and a bunch of different blades and see how things progress. As I googled my questions, I found more and more that I was being directed to these forums. So, I thought I may as well sign up.​

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My gear list is below. Most of this is incomplete and will most likely change as I have time to update it.​

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I'm going to include the complete list of everything I've tried, whether or not I still have said item. Items that I either have sold, given away, or used up will be colored Red and struck through.​

Dual Edge

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Merkur Futur Adjustable Selling​

Merkur 23c Barberpole Selling​

Karve (D plate)​

Gillette "Fat Boy" Adjustable (E2)​

Gillette Slim Adjustable (L3) Selling​

Gillette Slim Adjustable (J4)​

Gillette Blue Tip (D1) Selling​

Gillette Black Handle (V4) Selling​

Gillette Flare Tip (L4) Selling​

Gillette Red Tip (D2) Selling​

Rockwell 6S​

Single Edge

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Injector

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Schick Eversharp (i1)​

Artist Club

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Mongoose head w/Maggard M15 Handle​

Dual Edge

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Astra Superior Platinum​

Astra Superior Stainless​

Dorco Stainless​

Dorco Platinum ST300​

Gillette 7 O'clock Super Stainless (green)​

Gillette 7 O'clock Super Platinum​

Gillette 7 O'clock EJTEK Super Platinum​

Gillette Nacet​

Gillette Silver Blue​

Gillette Platinum​

Gillette Platinum Plus (Brazil)​

Gillette Goal Super Platinum​

Polsilver Extra Stainless​

Personna Platinum Super Stainless (red)​

Rapira Super Stainless​

Rapira Swedish Supersteel​

Derby Extra​

Ming Shi Super White​

Lord Super Stainless​

Laser Stainless​

MEM Super Silver Platinum​

Voskhod Teflon Coated​

Honglong Daopian​

Shark Super Stainless​

Ladas Super Stainless​

Crystal Super Platinum​

Treet Dura Sharp​

Feather Hi-Stainless​

Parker Premium Platinum​

Rapira Platinum Lux​

Dorco Platinum ST301​

Wilkinson Sword​

Personna Platinum Super Stainless (blue)​

Personna Medical Prep​

KAI Stainless Steel​

Polsilver Super Iridium​

Single Edge

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Injector

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Schick (Chick)​

Artist Club

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Feather Professional​

Feather Pro Guard​

Natural

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Art of Shaving - Badger Selling​

Burma-Shave - Boar​

Synthetic

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Maggard Razors 30mm Black Handle Black and White​

Razorock Plissoft 24mm Italian Flag​

Razorock Plissoft 24mm Rubberset 400 (metal)​

Omega S10065 24mm Blue S-Brush​

Rudy Vey AS3M style with 26mm APShave Tuxedo knot​

Proraso White (tube)​

Proraso Red (tube)​

Proraso Single Blade - Cypress & Vetiver​

Proraso Single Blade - Azur Lime​

Palmolive Classic​

Proraso White​

Proraso Green​

Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill​

Stirling Margaritas in the Arctic​

Stirling Glacial Eskimo Tuxedo Selling​

Stirling Frozen Tundra​

Stirling Gin and Tonic on the Rocks​

Barrister and Mann Fern​

Barrister and Mann Hallows​

Dr. Jon's Krampus​

Soap Smooth Brain Freeze​

Pre de Provence #63​

Captain's Choice Lime​

LA Shaving Bespoke #1​

Goat Boy Shave Soap​

Williams Puck​

Arko Stick​

Palmolive Stick​

Preshave

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Maggard Eucalyptus Oil​

Proraso White​

Post Shave

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Alcohol Splashes

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Proraso Green​

Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill​

Stirling Margaritas in the Arctic​

Stirling Frozen Tundra​

Stirling Gin and Tonic on the Rocks​

Barrister and Mann Fern​

Barrister and Mann Hallows​

Stirling Executive Gentleman Selling​

Dr. Jon's Krampus​

Local Gent No Mercy​

Soap Smooth Brain Freeze​

Clubman Pinaud​

Alcohol Free Balms

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Proraso Single Blade - Cypress & Vetiver​

Proraso Single Blade - Azur Lime​

Pre de Provence #63​

Proraso White​

Hardware Wish list

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Since I'm currently in the 2020 sabbatical, I cannot technically purchase my own stuff except for where rules apply (B&B branded items, The St. Sue Charity Auction, etc...).​

That being said, here are a few things that I want for the future (but not necessarily this year).​

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Maybe someone will read this and offer a trade...​

Software Wish List

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