Where are you in your shaving journey...?

We want details.

 

#Zen

 

My journey started when 8th grade class pictures were scheduled for the next day. I told my parents and they immediately broke out my father’s unused electric razor. It was a horrible introduction, but did the job. I was gifted a brand new electric razor for Christmas later that year. That was my setup for the next few years.

When I was 18, I was brainwashed by the Gillette ads on TV that a Trac II was the way to go. As my father already abandoned his Super Speed and Fatboy for the new fangled Trac II, I went the same route. I considered buying that Super Speed black handle hanging on the rack in the supermarket. “Hmmm... what’s this one like?” I thought. “Ah, newer is always better”, right? I took the Trac II and didn’t look back. For the better part of 37 years I chased for the ultimate shave with every new Gillette offering until....

2014! I had enough of the rising cartridge prices. Hey, my family bills came first. I had enough of trying to stretch a few more shaves out of cartridges. I had enough and began to think about the old days. I tried an electric again, but found it to be a torture device. Nothing but razor burn. Disposables cut up my face. One day I stumbled upon the VDH at Target and I grabbed that in a heartbeat. Got home, tried it out and loved it! Checked Amazon next and felt like I discovered a new world!

Shortly afterwards, I discovered The Shave Den and was off to the races. Next purchase was an EJ and a Merkur. It took a couple of months before I fell down the rabbit hole, but I fell down fast and deep. I had around 100+ razors at one point (mostly vintage, but a fair amount of new razors). I still have around 30 in the den that I use in rotation. Straights, injectors, SEs, and DEs. 12 brushes and 14 soaps keep them company.

Today I still get a kick out of the den, but will now only pick up consumables as needed. Right now I have too many aftershaves and blades, so I’m good for many years.

If I could go back to 2014, I would tell myself stop with the razors after the EJ and Merkur. On the other hand, I sure did have fun!

 

Made this today. It is where I am.

 

Yeah, I've had my share of the slants, and I agree, not all are face eaters. I've had the Hoffritz, Merkur, and Maggard's and prefer the Merkur over the 3 of them. I figure that most others are similar in learning curve and shave. The Hoffritz ate quite a bit of face figuring it out though. What I really want is a Darwin and one of the high end all stainless razors in medium aggression. I doubt they'd surprise me though but I want them still. Those are really the only things left, aside from all the straights ever made (like, all of them ), that I want. And luckily, most straights are expensive enough to keep my enthusiasm curbed/den thinned.

 

Where ever I run is where I find myself.

Be the bevel.

 

That clears it up...

 

Id say that Im probably a t thee advanced stage, where I know what I like, I know how to use it and I dont feel the need to try new stuff of experiement like I once did.
I like kamisori style razors, vintage Gillettes, sharp blades, I like the value of boar brushes and I like soaps and aftershaves that have fresh clean scents, sandalwood or asian-inspired scents.

 

Open blades clear up many things.