when did you start 'wet shaving' and what did you use?

[culcreuch]

I started way back in the 70s. I can vaguely remember using Injectors and the Gillette Techmatic. Went onto carts for a little while and then the Wilkinson Sword Classic. I always used a Wilkinson boar brush and either Palmolive or Erasmic sticks. I thought I had hit the big time when I bought a Merkur Futur and some Proraso Green with a Proraso Boar.....little did I know!

 

[Sami]

In my teen years in the 80s I tried my dad's Gillette slim twist and another razor he had without any safety bar nor open comb i ended up using the slim twist and basically taught myself and ended up with some decent technique i taught myself including shaving under an angle like a slant at the time i wasn't aware of the existence of slant razors and also i taught myself how to increase efficiency by some what loosening the razor and carefully shaving as that came with a risk but it was an economical way of utilizing the slim twist as an adjustable razor after few years i switched to Gillette mach 3 and the goo for some reason unlike my dad who always used the palmolive shaving sticks wich i loved the scent to this day i regret ever to have switched to carts and the chemical can of goo.

I always kept the slim twist tho and still have it and glad i did.

Cheers gentz,

 

[MPF9]

started in mid 50s, and most likely used a Gilette slim twist.I do remember using Wilkinson blades, and moved on from Erasmic to Yardleys Black Label soap. My sister used to send me Wiilko blades when I was in HMF on overseas postings.

 

[SirPeter]

I started in 1974 with a Schick Krona, Shulton Old Spice soap and a non-branded badger brush. My second razor, Gillette Slim Adjustable, was acquired shortly after my first one. I still have both razors in my rotation and when comparing them with 'modern' razors of today's production my opinion is that Gillette and Schick produced very good razors back then. Common blades i used at that time were Personna 74 and Gillette Spoilers.

 

[winters]

I attempted wet shaving 5 years ago when I was going through some of my grandfather items and found his super speed and a few blades. Not knowing anything I tried to shave. It was not a good experience. Nicks cuts razor burn and pain. So I put it down. I had been using mach3 and bar of soap since I started shaving in the 90's. The cans of goo irritate my skin. So I went back to the mach3. 6 months ago I desided to give it another try. I watch some videos, read some info on forums, got a box of feathers. and found my way here. I am currently enjoying the experience and the help here.

 

[TheChrisC]

Started around September 2017. Absolutely loathed shaving, constant irritation and ingrowns. I happened to see an advert on Facebook for something called a safety razor, in this case a Muhle Bog Oak. The standout selling point was saving money on blades! (I later discovered that saving money in this hobby was actually a huge myth).

So I bought that razor and paired it with a cheap synthetic from Executive Shaving (I believe it was a Vulfix). The razor came with a pack of Muhle blades and a small tube of shaving cream, plus I bought a small bowl from ES too. And that was it! Started shaving, immediately loved the process of this ‘new’ (to me) kind of shaving. Of course, I wasn’t very good to begin with. It took many months of refining and buying new gear, plus abandoning the idea of saving money along the way…

… but it resulted in great shaves. I finally got why shaving can be a great thing. It stopped being a thing I NEEDED to do and started being something I actually enjoyed doing. So I have to thank Muhle for advertising the razor and getting me there.

 

[Twelvefret]

Started around September 2017. Absolutely loathed shaving, constant irritation and ingrowns. I happened to see an advert on Facebook for something called a safety razor, in this case a Muhle Bog Oak. The standout selling point was saving money on blades! (I later discovered that saving money in this hobby was actually a huge myth).

So I bought that razor and paired it with a cheap synthetic from Executive Shaving (I believe it was a Vulfix). The razor came with a pack of Muhle blades and a small tube of shaving cream, plus I bought a small bowl from ES too. And that was it! Started shaving, immediately loved the process of this ‘new’ (to me) kind of shaving. Of course, I wasn’t very good to begin with. It took many months of refining and buying new gear, plus abandoning the idea of saving money along the way…

… but it resulted in great shaves. I finally got why shaving can be a great thing. It stopped being a thing I NEEDED to do and started being something I actually enjoyed doing. So I have to thank Muhle for advertising the razor and getting me there.

I gave my SIL, mid 40's, a Red Tip Gillette and several sleeves of Astra SP blades. He hasn't made a shaving purchase in three years except for the soap he prefers. Not sure he uses after shave. My point, shaving can cost little or nothing after an initial purchase. Forums are what cause the expense.

Just checked, my last 100 Astra SP's occurred in April 2021 and that is two people using them.

 

[Cheekee]

My father died when I was 16. I never got the chance for him to teach me how to shave. I didn't really need to at that point. I remember playing with his DE razor as a child. I cant remember what it was. About a year later I got my first cartridge style razor and some foam. I used to cut myself all the time. I went ATG, 1 pass and used a shower afterwards to stop the bleeding.

Its funny now but I didn't realise until I was in my 30's that I could do a pass WTG and then ATG. I am an only child and had no male influence. My shaves were transformed however was still using a cartridge style razor. But at least I was getting BBS shaves with no bleeding.

Just over 2 years ago I got fed up of the cost of Gillette fusion blades and did some research online about an alternative. I found some online shops and bought a merkur 34C DE razor and some bluebeards revenge cream. I had no idea about how many different blades/soaps/brushes that were out there. I got some free blades with the razor that turned out to be awful.

That first shave with the merkur was horrendous. so much irritation and bleeding. I was using pressure like before. So much to learn. I became a member of facebook shaving societies and learned about the huge varieties of products out there. Watched some shaving videos on youtube.

I then found myself down the rabbit hole. I now have over 45 DE razors including the Raw RS10 and quite a few rocnel. I have a special love for adjustable razors. I got a taiga, Tatara muramasa and a few others. I have more soaps/sets than I will ever need and my blade count in increasing.

Im just at the point where my shaves are getting there. Still nick myself regularly especially my trouble area on my chin below my lip but my technique is so much better.

Just as well found some blades that suit me. It seems triple coated blades work on my stubble the best.

 

[Rufusdog]

I think I started shaving regularly in 1967 during my first year at uni. But, I don’t think it was until about 1976 that I started taking it seriously and bought a shaving brush and other wet shaving paraphernalia. I remember buying a bowl of The Body Shop shaving cream to start with. The Body Shop at that time was a start up so I thought I’d give their shaving cream a try. I’ve used it consistently to this day and never been disappointed with its performance or price. In fact, I used it this morning.

 

[Tyke121]

Started in the 70s .Dad gave me an old Rolls razor and I knew I had to master it from then I bought a Gillette Tech and used that fir a while .Fatboy came next and the obsession started

 

[Zorro]

I started shaving around 1980 and used Gillette Carts. Not sure which one back then, but i certainly used Gillette Sensor for a while when they came out and moved onto Mach 3 later.

Also acquired a TTO of some sort , which was black handled and in my head similar looking to my more recently purchased Feather Popular. I think it may have been a cheap Gillette TTO, but i am really not sure. I seem to remember Wilkinson Sword DE blades.

Canned foam and some sort of cream in a red and white tube (?)

Its all very vague - back then shaving was just a necessity to be gotten out of the way as quickly as possible.

 

[Twelvefret]

I can see how more modern blade holders would be safer. When I consider the early 1900's holders, which some consider less mild, I have always thought that perhaps when those men began, they were using straight razors and knew how to handle a blade.

 

[R181]

I can see how more modern blade holders would be safer. When I consider the early 1900's holders, which some consider less mild, I have always thought that perhaps when those men began, they were using straight razors and knew how to handle a blade.

I think you have a point there.

I learned more about shaving from learning to use a straight razor well than from all the previous years of shaving. The straight razor is an unforgiving teacher to the novice. Thanks to learning how to use them, modern aggressive DEs don't seem so bad at all.

Bob

 

[Rufusdog]

I think you have a point there.

I learned more about shaving from learning to use a straight razor well than from all the previous years of shaving. The straight razor is an unforgiving teacher to the novice. Thanks to learning how to use them, modern aggressive DEs don't seem so bad at all.

Bob

The thought of using a straight razor terrifies me; something to them also being referred to as a cutthroat razor. I started shaving with a DE, can’t remember which, but then Sensor came out which I quite liked. After that I moved on to Mach3 and used them for years. One day many years ago, I switch back to a DE, but after awhile I became disenchanted with it even though I tried several different models. I started using a Mach3 and to a lesser extent a Sensor again and haven’t stopped. Since the mid-seventies I’ve used a shaving brush and either shaving cream or shaving soap, but today I prefer shaving creams and soft tallow-based soaps over triple milled soaps. I now own 32 shaving brushes of which 28 are badger and 4 are boar. I have 4 synthetics, but they’re stored in the deep, dark recesses of I don’t know where, except a SynBad which I use occasionally when I travel. As a result of my experimentation with many different razors I remain the not so proud owner of 7 DE razors and 3 SE razors. These razors along with a motley collection of DE and SE blades and the synthetic brushes should be sold, but the cost of postage gives me pause. On the other hand, my badger and boar brushes are rotated daily. I also have a Moss Scuttle, which I enjoy using very much, and a good collection of aftershave lotions.

 

[ischiapp]

Started in 1986, with this setup. Family heritage, as my father and granpa before.
Proraso Verde Pre / Cream / After • Omega 10048 • Gillette Rocket 1958 Flare Tip • Gillette Silver Blue

And I sticked with it for a decade ... until the internet rose up.