TheShaveDen

Apr 25, 2012

Emergence of a Wet Shaver

Apr

25

by fishcrow at 5:18 PM (20,058 Views / 21 Likes)

Emergence of a Wet Shaver

Two years ago I began my traditional wet shaving journey. I bought a couple vintage Gillette Techs, some blades, and a cheap boar brush. My first puck of soap was Van Der Hagen. That was my humble beginnings.

I grew up in a home where personal things like grooming were not discussed. My father handed me an electric razor, told me that is how we shave. There was no more discussion or fatherly teaching. I used the electric razor up until I entered the Army. Using an electric razor was frowned upon in the Army. I quickly made the switch to a cartridge and "canned goo". I learned to shave with a cartridge and goo.

Over the years that followed I would switch back and forth using an electric for awhile and then a cartridge. I final gave up the electric and went to using a cartridge razor as my shave tool. Over the years as more blades were added I would hop on the bandwagon for the next new multi-blade. The more the blades the worse the shave became. Shaving became a chore, something that had to be done. Half way through the day I looked like I never shaved.

The ritual of shaving was a chore. I never used after shave or anything else in my grooming ritual. My dad would use a splash of Old Spice just on Sunday. I do not recall my dad doing anything but shave each morning.

I lost my job in '09 and our finances became very tight. I went on disability in 2010. I decided that there had to be a more cost effective way to shave. The cost of multi-blades was almost cost prohibitive. I joined the Shave Den and other forums. The Shave Den was the driving force behind my change.

Slowly I began re-learning how to shave again. I soon discovered that traditional wet shaving gave me the best shaves I experienced. The shaves were good even as I began to learn and unlearn bad habits of shaving.

My den began to grow and soon I added a Parker Badger and other vintage razor. I decided to go the vintage route for my razors. My tools begin to grow, adding open combs, a couple of adjustable razors, a Schick injector, several SS. I began trying out different blades. A variety of soaps and creams, balms and cologne were discovered, too.

August of last year I added my first quality boar brush, an Omega 48. Also a LuJin Badger was given to me. Using the boar brush was an eye opener, as it was broke in it became softer. It is a lathering monster. Recently I added the Semogue and Vulfix boars.

The past two years has been a journey and awakening of my personal grooming. Traditional wet shaving has helped evolve my grooming habits. I was always presentable, traditional wet shaving turns it up a notch. I stopped using liquid soap, discovering different soaps for my showers. After a great shave, I like putting the finishing touches such as a splash or balm.

Reflecting back on the last two years, I have learned how to shave properly and learned how to make lather using a brush. There has been a few nicks along the way, now they hardly happen. When they do, it was a mistake. I learned the proper angle, the proper amount of pressure to apply. I am learning and always improving my lathering. Experimenting with water needed, I think I have just about have it down pat. There has been humorous moments also, like the shave soap that lathered up black!

Looking ahead, part of the fun of wet shaving is the choices. I enjoy trying various blades and yes, some blades work better for me than others, but there are still blades I want to try. I have not decided if I like the soap creams or hard soaps, tallow or glycerin. The simple answer is I like them all. Do I have favs? Yes, the RazoRock soaps,TSD soaps, mmm just about any soaps. I have decided that my razors will be vintage, like using a razor with a history. I am still discovering the various scents of aftershave, cologne, and balms, simply because it is still new to me. Brushes, I think I am going to take the piggy route. The Semogue has opened the world of great boar brushes. I also know that I want to add a Vie Long horse hair brush too.

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Apr 21, 2012