I suggest you include the option of "I don't shave anything cos I'm a hippy"...

we don't wanna be unfriendly to our hippy forum members do we

You're right. She left.

Off topic, how does one change a running poll? You tell me and ill do so

My point exactly, dirt cheap and very sharp.. here is the question many " face " haha (sorry)

A: does one go up against the hair
B: does one go down with the hair
C: Short or long strokes

A knife like this is different to the safer Mach 3 ofcourse, but does shave that much closer..

Most shaving sites would advocate B followed by relathering, followed by A. If my beard is light (eg, one-day growth) I cheat and go straight to A, but if it's been growing over the weekend, then it's B+A.

C is easy to answer: unlike modern razors, which work best with long, swift strokes, traditional safety razors work best with many short strokes.

Nice knife, must get me one of those, can they be purchased any any store or do you have to ask your barber? never tried them but they look mighty good.

Care to elaborate ?

There are still several makers of good straight razors, and all the bits that go with them. I got mine (actually around 6 or so) all at flea markets, the Neuchatel one was NOS and is a real gem. If you aren't a knife junkie and want to really use one go new. For around 60 bucks (CHF) you can get a perfectly good Dovo razor, add another 40-60 for a good strop, and between 20-100 for a stone depending on your tastes (I use a Japanese water stone 8000 grit, 80 bucks 10 years ago). A bit of an outlay but cheaper in the long run than blades.

If you watch an old time barber on Youtube or better yet go to one if you can find one they have their whole process of wrapping hot towels on your face and the lathering ritual. The end effect is you want the hair wet, really wet, and the lathering process should lift the hair up and keep it there standing in the lather. I used to get all fancy about it but for the last couple of years just lather up with my fingers and a can of Edge gel.

Google 'straight razor' and 'shaving forum' and you'll see just how lunatic some folks get about shaving . But lots of good info too.

I love my straight razor and will never go back. Best fun is taking off a full beard- whooooOP, one cheek done, one stroke of the razor .

Where did you get those classic razors from ie the Merkur and the Wilkinson classic? been looking around for one for a while now.

Dude, I tip my hat. Anyone who shaves themselves with one of those has balls like church bells.

I bought mine and refils in Germany..

http://www.dm-drogeriemarkt.de/

Live close to the border so easy going, checked out stores in Switzerland but couldn't find.

I paid 4 Euro for the Classic with 5 blades, and 3.50 for an extra pack of 10 blades on the side.

Thanks- but it's really not that dangerous. I spent a lot of time wielding knives in fish markets and pro kitchens as well as being the official 'sous-chef' at home, and I can honestly say there's far more risk of a cut requiring medical attention in preparing food than in shaving with a straight razor. I read somewhere once that a straight razor of one of the most perfectly designed tools man has ever made. For some reason you have to really make an effort to draw blood with one- unless you start slicing with it, which one wouldn't do with a safety razor either. I suddenly want to see Reservoir Dogs again.

I'd like to understand why I think that GEL is better then FOAM for shaving...

Thesis 1: GEL does work better for proven scientifical reasons and I feel it.
Thesis 2: The advertising industry did a better job with the Gel than with the foam and it's all in my head.

I am ready to accept either thesis - I just can't decide.

However, add water to shaving gell and you get.. foam

I see your point, Gell is moist and gets the knife moving smoother over your skin.

The point that i go out in a rash is the alcohol in it.

I use this now, shaving creme from the body shop combined with the brush.




I believe Weleda do a shaving cream also but didn't try it yet.

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I used the Weleda for several years and really liked it. Takes a bit of work to get a lather, but it performs very well.

If you are having trouble with rash, give a try shaving with cold water. I've read (yes, I look at those forums every now and then)that it makes all the difference for some people.

You do want the blade to glide on the skin- thus the lube strips on many commercial blades (wrong side of the blades though, aren't they?), and the soapiness of good lather. Don't be afraid to try other things in lieu of proper shaving cream too- hand cream for example. I've used hair conditioner mixed with a little soap a few times and it worked really well. Try not to go over the same spots again and again with the razor. You strip off the lubricating lather on the first pass, as well as the top bit of dead epidermis; a second swipe is almost inevitable but try to keep re-shaving to a minimum.

The usual thing i do is prepare by putting a small towel in hot water and make the skin moist and warm, then soap it in and shave away.

The classic shaver won't allow that many second time/same spot action as the chance is big you will cut's.

I must say since i use cream, i don't have a rash anymore or razor burn, what i use to have with the modern ones combined with gell.

I will try the Weleda one, always walked by it as i still have enough of the old one but you made me curious

hehe done that too , once in my "younger " ( about 9 years ago) i had an unexpected stop over with a girl, so found myself invited to drinks with her parents in the morning.

Not wanting to look scruffy, i had to do with what i was given.. Conditioner,shower gell and a lady shave razor blade..

Conditioner and shower gell were a good move, very smooth, the lady shave however made many awies.

Let this be a lesson to you all, always have a one time shaver in your pocket when going away

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I cut it. With hair cutter

http://www.celebrityhaircutstyles.co...ut-Machine.jpg

Can't shave with any type of razor... get all red spoted and itchy...

Likewize my friend, hence me trying out all diferent kind of razors, blades, machines, foam,cream and gells.

Some brought up a valid point here, try with cold water ,not hot or try different blades, would you considder it?

Great to see the responses, didn't expect to see that

My advice is don't use cheap brushes. I changed my cheap brush for a Vulfix brush about a year ago and wouldn't go back. Vulfix are a small company in the Isle of Man and they do mail order. Their brushes are hand made to order and the quality is very good, especially seeing the moderate price. You won't find anything comparable in Switzerland as the good brushes here are really expensive, ie mid three digits prices and often of German or Italian make. Vulfix brushes start at about 20 quid and go to low three digit prices but even a 20 to 40 quid brush is a huge improvement. The expensive ones are often not actually better as brushes but the price is justified by such details as silver handles or fancy matching stands.

The right brush is very important in massaging and depilating the skin which greatly prevents the risk of it getting cut.

So you prefer natural above synthetic brushes then?

For now i am happy with the body shop one, it does the trick, not to soft and not to hard also.

But thanks for the tip, ill look up the Vulfix brushes and check them out.

I wet shave using any razor with multiple blades. I tried the single blade disposables but my skin is super sensitive and it was agony. The Gillette I have at the moment has, I think, 5 blades... but what I find helps more is using a shaving oil rather than a foam/gel.

I really like the "Total" shaving concoction, an Irish brand. Though the REN oil is also great. It takes just a few drops to shave, smells great, and a tiny bottle lasts months. It's available here at Müller drugstores