If your dad doesn't have a beard, you've got two moms.

oew thanks for that one, another must try on my list , local Muller store will wonder what i'm up too

Do you have the normal 5 blades or the vibrating one.. i can't see any difference between that and a 5 blade one, personaly my classic shaver or the mach 3 get the smoothest result, but depends from skin to skin.

It's all a question of taste and prefernce rather than right or wrong and what is good for one person may not be as good for another.

But yes, I do think natural brushes are worth the extra money. The cheaper bristles you sometimes see for example in Coop are taken from boars and other animals but the more up-market ones (that Vulfix use) are exclusively from badgers. Badger hair presents an almost ideal trade off in terms of softness versus stiffness and also in terms of water retention.

Of course within badger hair there are also different grades (pure badger, best badger and super badger) but I haven't experimented with the latter two yet so can't say whether they're worth the extra money.

I have been told that one important function of a good brush combined with warm water and a good later is the massaging of the skin. This causes the skin to relax a lit bit more and the pores to open. A lot of cuts during shaving are caused by the skin not being relaxed and so resisting the blade. At least this is what I was told in a shaving shop I visited in London once.

If you also use shaving soap (as I do) rather than gel or foam, the brush is also important in creating the right lather. When I first switched to soap I found it difficult to get the lather right but now I find I get a good lather with a few swings of the brush. I use Trumper's soap and am very happy with it. I have in the past brought it back from London but now found there are also shops in Switzerland that stock it, for example Ritschards (off Münsterhof in Zürich).

Do you use aftershave with anti hair growth in it?

I've seen that indeed badger hair is the most wanted one.
The one i have is not the cheapest but also not mad expensive.

My brother got a set for his birthday from someone, silver etc..but the brush when in contact with water, just soaks up to much water ,making the brush collapse.

In that way the brush i use is ok, it holds the brush firm , yet enough moist to create a good mix in order to have a smooth shave.

Thanks for your input

You mean wax?

Yes, the OP is related to shaving off a long beard, not just daily shaving. Long beards trash razors, and (safety) razors don't work on long beards. When my beard is long, I cut it as short as possible with hair clippers, then shave the stubble off with a razor.

Those cut throat razors look pretty good, though...

My hairdresser uses an electric trimmer to remove the long bits and then tidies up with a razor. In the hands of a skilled and experienced man man like him it loks so effortless amd takes no time at all though I guess I'd need far far longer for the operation, not to mention trashing a razor or two in the process and maybe cutting myelf as well.

I notice from the Total website that P&P is free worldwide. A 5 mL bottle at my local Müller is about 15 CHF while the 10 mL works out online at 13 CHF. Something to bear in mind if you feel like testing it.

I have the vibrating one. I didn't seek it out as such; I bought it out of curiosity, combined with a good Coop special offer and am pleased with it. I don't really see the advantage of the vibration - maybe it's purely psychological.

Damn right you are, ever tried to get a 3 week old beard of with a plain razor blade ? the pain ! that is pure torture !

Have clippers in the house also, for when i get a longer beard, or just shaving the head, like to keep it short

I will stop by Muller tomorrow and buy a bottle, even just to try.. do you just put it directly on your face? or dilute it in water first? what does it smell like?

Is it the humming sound that makes you calm? or what? does anyone know the advantage of it.

And don't give me the commercial answer " it raises up the hair ".. looking outside of my window seeing the chubby fella accros the road,running half naked around in his place with the blinds wide open has the same effect ..brrr.

Regarding cutting yourself, Toilet paper helps but can be slow, i use something called " Aluin Stone ", not sure what the name is in English but it looks like this and stings like hell.



Tastes bad too ! , its known to get rid of mouth ulcers ,just take a small piece/chip of it, flush your mouth with it twice a day..after 2 days its gone.

Best stuff ever:

Happy days, someone found the beard thread back

Is the Nivea one "alcohol " based or does it do well with sensitive skin?

Regarding this post ( look above ) - does anyone know what it is called in German or English? and where to get it?

Actually, I don't shave my beard, I trim it!

Tom

P.S. Twice a year or so.

P.P.S. About as often as I cut my hair.

P.P.P.S. Actually, I cut my hair a few times a year know, as my daughter can write it off as homework!

Very Posh, will put you down for the " electric shaver " then?

You never shaved before?

Actually, I put myself down as electric, as I do have an electric beard trimmer.

Blades are for the more 'sensitive' regions

Tom

I shaved until I moved here (24 years ago)

Tom

TMI ah well,sharing is caring