Random truths you've learned about shaving

Someone's favorite [blade, razor, brush, soap, shave cream] is the worst thing you've ever used.

Think about that for a minute.

 

I posted this on Facebook a while ago. Don't think I ever posted it on the forums though...

10 things I wish I'd known about wet shaving 15 years ago, and 1 thing I wished I'd known about people. Edit: and 1 more weird thing. Edit 2: thought of one more. Edit 3: one last one.

1. Thick 'barbasol' style shave lather is mostly for "pretty" SOTD pictures and videos. Thin and slick is far more effective, and won't clog your razor as easily.
Edit: I was mostly talking about the thickness of lather on the face. It just needs to cover the stubble, not make you look like Santa Claus.

2. Not all brushes are created equal. I missed out on five years of using badger brushes because I assumed all badger brushes were floppy after trying one. (A deep set two-band badger is just as scrubby as a good boar brush).

3. Leave the cover off the soap for a day. It will help the soap dry out (especially if you rotate soaps) and it makes the bathroom smell nice.

4. If a razor is too "aggressive," when you are just starting out, don't immediately sell it. Chances are, you will grow into the razor as you develop technique. It might take a few years, but you won't regret it later.

5. Always keep one aftershave that you really like and your significant other doesn't. If you get mad at each other, you can wear it to show her you're still upset and keep hurtful words unspoken.

6. When you figure out what kind of brush you like, have a custom brush made. Yes, it can be expensive, but if you don't abuse it, it will last at least 20 years. The joy you get from owning and using that brush will far outweigh just about anything else you could have spent that money on.

7. Own or at least try a Gillette adjustable. Even if you don't like the razor, it will give you a good idea of the different levels of aggression of other razors, since most people, when talking about other razors, and especially other Gillette razors, can say "it shaves like an adjustable set at ...."

8. Try Feather blades early in your wet shaving journey. They aren't the 'cut your head off if you look at them wrong' blades they are made out to be, and like the Gillette adjustables do for other razors, make a pretty good baseline to compare other blades to.

9. There is no universal razor that everyone will like.

10. Ditto for blades.

10.5. There is no perfect blade that will work in every razor. (Astra SP comes close...) Experiment. Most people like sharp blades in mild razors and smooth blades in aggressive razors. Sharp and smooth is a sliding scale.

11. Be kind in your posts. If people have the capacity to hate people they have never met or know, the opposite is also true. You can love people you've never met. We all bleed red when we nick ourselves.

12. When you first get in the shower, you cup your hands against your chest like a bowl, fill them with water and then let it drop. I just want you to know, most guys do that. You're not alone.

13. It's called 'wet shaving' for a reason. Splash water on your face before applying lather, and do so for each pass. The layer of water helps cushion your skin from the blade and adds a bit of slickness.

14. In this day and age, when everyone is considered equal, it's important to remember that blades don't care about that. If your skin color is on the darker spectrum of the Crayola crayon box, your curly beard hair is prone to ingrown hairs. Don't chase the baby butt, use a mild razor and settle for good enough. A man shouldn't have to suffer scarring from ingrown hairs just to have a clean shaven face.

15. The nose is flexible, people. Don't be afraid to move it around if it's in the way.

Peace out! ✌