The Shaving bug and pitfalls along the way.

[MPF9]

Somewhere around late 2013 I found that shaving with Cart Razors was not pleasant as I was developing rashes.I had kept hold of a Gillette slim twist that I used to use with a Wilkinson Blade for many years, shaving again started to be nicer. After a while I came across some Shaving forums, and once I became more proficient, got an EJ 89, a Progress and Futur

I got a bit interested in Shaving History and thought to try Gem bladed Razors, after getting a 1912, I got a “Streamline”, which is the one that I really learnt how to Shave. Over a period I acquired most types of Gem Razor, despite passing on a few early ones,still have too many,including most types of “Streamline”.

Conversations with another Forum member led to me borrowing an Injector, which I enjoyed. As a result I have ended up with a range of Injectors from a B type to an O Clone.

I managed to fall into another trap, as I got a “cheap” AC Razor from another Forum member,Since then I have amassed a small collection of AC Razors, though none of the really top end ones.

All was going well as I used most types in rotation and shaved Daily. However,, when I broke my leg I reduced the Shave frequency to every 3 days, as a result I am not using some good Razors for months on end. Not sure what to do with some of Vintage types as tending to use AC/SE ones.

With ancillaries I have not gone too overboard as though I really have too many brushes, soaps and smellies, none have been too expensive.

My experience shows how easy it is end up with too much Shaving equipment, and I envy those who manage to have just a couple of Razors. Perhaps should have stuck to DE Razors, though using other types has been a good experience.

PS Forgot to mention have discovered Vintage Carts, and acquired a few !

 

[hdb3326]

I have a sort of similar situation, although I have now stopped any and all new purchases of hardware and software for the foreseeable. Yes, i have been sorely tempted by some BST posts. But I’m trying to be good!

 

[Twelvefret]

I think forums encourage acquisitions.

Recently I got interested in modern sling shots. I've got one and may add another down the road, but there are people who have collections in the dozens.

Two years ago I got into vintage rail road lantern and then regular house and barn type lanterns. I got the two RR lanterns I liked and stopped. Some collectors have dozens.

One thing I have noticed is remorse among collectors after a while, maybe 7-10 years.

 

[purerockfury]

Maybe turn this into a journal @MPF9

Me getting into traditional shaving was kind of the start of shaving becoming a hobby. But most of the hobby was/is blades and wet-gear. Things that go bye-bye and need to be replaced. Chat-rooms and eventually forums i learned about artisan shaving gear makers... most were local to me and it became a want thing of wet-gear from around or flat (if your that type of dude) the Earth...

And yes forums are for addicts to spread the addiction around the world... hahaha

 

[HookUp]

10 pack of Van Der Hagen blades

 

[bartje-p]

Had the same, but only with DE, injector and AC razors. I did manage to downsize and now only have 3 DE razors (with SB and OC plates) and two techs for use when on holiday. And for me that is more than enough.

 

[MntnMan62]

I have a similar classic wet shaving trajectory. Spent most of my life shaving with carts. My father used an electric razor. As a result he always looked like he had a five o'clock shadow, even immediately after shaving. I found the act of wetting my face, spreading canned shave goo over my face, scraping it off and splashing cold water on my face after to be invigorating. Jump to about 2010 or so (not sure when it all really started for me) and I was searching for "more authentic" ways of doing things. Found out about this and other forums, read up on the subject and a very nice generous forum member gifted me my first double edge which was a EJ DE89. Bought some TOBS Sandalwood cream and was hooked. I've spent well over a thousand dollars on all the gear I have. 35+ razors. Tons of soaps and creams. Stock pile of blades. A bunch of aftershaves. And other accoutrements of the hobby. Then I around 2021 or 2022 I had some health issues. And my almost 30 year marriage was cratering. I was miserable, even long before the marriage cratered. I eventually realized that I had probably been depressed for years, if not most of my life. But around this time I hit what I would call rock bottom. As a result I didn't have the energy to shave like I did. And having stopped working I no longer had to shave if I didn't want to. So I stopped and merely trimmed my beard with an electric just to keep it at a length that didn't itch.

I've since begun to make strides in coming out of my funk and now occasionally break out a razor and shave. But I'm far from shaving daily as I was before. And frankly, I'm lucky if I shave once a week. So I have all this stuff sitting there not being used. I'm lucky that I'm not in need financially so I don't have a financial motivation to sell stuff. But I have begun to think about paring down the collection somewhat and have mentally determined that I should sell some things that I absolutely know I will never use. That would be mostly duplicates of razors. But when I ask myself if I should divest more, I keep thinking that as I progress in my mental state, I may very well come back to this hobby again. What makes me feel this way is that when I do decide to wet shave, I truly love the entire process and how it makes me feel when done. To the OP's point, it is definitely a deep hole and I know that I am not in the extreme in my collection. Others have so much more than I do. I'm keeping most of what I have and will likely put it to good use eventually.