Gillette (the all things Shaving Thread)

[BroSlinger]

Seaforth lime is so awesome. The oak moss really came through yesterday. Awesome.

[ajaxlepinski]

I never thought I'd find a soap and aftershave better than Catie's Bubbles Midnight Dreary...
Seaforth Sea Spice Lime is now my desert island fav!!!

[ajaxlepinski]

Broke out the Darwin clone after a few years. It medium-high agro and needs a very light touch.
Tcheon Fung Sing - Moonlight Serenade is a classic scent with mostly lemon... nice!!! It was on sale so WTF?
Sterling Lemon Chill soap - "chill" is an understatement!!!
The Rooney badger is a bit floppy but it does the job.
The blade dispenser was purchased on Etsy at the recommendation of Andvari 7 and I dig it!!!
It's loaded with a variety of my favorite blades in random order for a weekly surprise.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/275334118/ ... le-edge-or

10/10

[Steinmetzify]

I remember you sending me that razor to try; always dug it.

[ajaxlepinski]

...and it's still got that "second shave curse"! LOL!!!
I used it again, two days later and I hacked my face to bits!!!

The original Darwin's look so cool.
https://darwinshaving.com/en/the-collec ... win-razor/

[andvari7]

I pre-ordered B&M Hallows soap and splash, and they arrived yesterday. Since I was working, I took possession of the Hallows, and the Atomic Holiday aftershave I bought for $5, this morning. I had to have a shave, and, as is my wont, I played an appropriate song, as background music. The Boy Who Destroyed The World, by AFI, the first song on their All Hallows EP, seemed right.

The shave was smooth, and the scent is almost like a Yankee Candle for your face. I dig it.

[RyanDistortion]

I have joined your ranks. I own a Hensen something. The entry level one. I see the ad on IG and the guy talking about their facility and their take on the safety razor. After hearing it a few times I got more and more interested. Plus, I knew this thread existed.

So, I have a razor. I used regular shaving gel because I haven't figured out what I want to use, yet. I used some random skin toner as after shave as I don't have any picked outs either.

Lay it on me boys. What should I get? I'm not going crazy but a good scent and short money sounds good to me.

[andvari7]

I really like, for weekday shaving, Cremo creams, which you can buy at Walmart, Walgreens, and probably some other stores. Very slick, if you follow the directions.

As for aftershave, I use a ton of them, but I can’t really travel with them. I found a cooling balm, which I got at Target, that works, but it’s not an especially great scent. Not offensive, just boring.

Remember, though, that I am on the road 4-5 days a week, sometimes more, so I need something I can find quickly.

[ajaxlepinski]

Hey Ryan!!!!
Welcome to the manliest manly thread on GAB!!!

Just remember to gently skim the surface of your face when shaving with a DE razor... use as little pressure as possible.

Feather Yellow Blades are one of the best...
https://www.westcoastshaving.com/produc ... e99c&_ss=r


Astra Platinum is a generally accepted fav
https://www.westcoastshaving.com/produc ... e99c&_ss=r


Aftershave - You can't go wrong with Seaforth Sea Spice Lime
https://www.westcoastshaving.com/produc ... 89ce&_ss=r

Seaforth Sea Spice Lime soap
https://www.westcoastshaving.com/produc ... bb00&_ss=r


Speick aftershave rocks - it's old school 50's scent...
https://www.westcoastshaving.com/produc ... 82be&_ss=r

[Murdoch]

I just use the Harry’s after shave balm you can get at pretty much any store for about $8. It’s got aloe in it so it’s very soothing, just doesn’t smell like anything.

[RyanDistortion]

I bought 100 RK blades that were an option to add with the Hensen. Hope they're ok. Got the Seaforth lime spice soap, a boar brush, and a lather bowl from West Coast. Bought an after shave lotion from Amazon that had the right smell, I want. We'll see!

[ajaxlepinski]

right on! Right On!! RIGHT ON!!!

Blades can vary from batch to batch. It depends on how well the factory maintains their grinders.
The Japanese blades are consistently good, as are Wilkinson Sword, Israeli Personas, and a few others.
I had a great batch of 100, Sputnik blades, but the second batch that I bought recently, were awful.

[BroSlinger]

I bought 100 RK blades that were an option to add with the Hensen. Hope they're ok. Got the Seaforth lime spice soap, a boar brush, and a lather bowl from West Coast. Bought an after shave lotion from Amazon that had the right smell, I want. We'll see!

You'll be fine. This is a good start. Initial thoughts:
1. The Henson is a fine razor, but it will be very mild. It's okay if your face doesn't end up baby smooth. You will have satisfying shaves. Eventually, you will buy a more efficient razor. (Blackbird, Rocca, Lupo .95, etc.) (FWIW, I have a Henson Medium, and it works great)
2. The Seaforth lime is as good as shaving soap gets. If it doesn't lather right, the problem isn't the soap. If it doesn't shave right, the problem isn't the soap. The scent was developed by known perfumer Shawn Maher. All of the Seaforth stuff rules. The Fleur de France is my favorite. Smells like Brut.
3. RK blades aren't the sharpest ever, but they are smooth, and of good quality. They only last 2 shaves, but that's ok. Buy some Personna Lab Blue or Gillette Blue Platinum.
4. Which boar brush did you get? Omega? It will be good, but give it a day or two to break in. At first, it may cause lather issues. Watch some videos about how to lather a soap. Boar brushes are my favorite BTW. I am in the minority, but they've worked for Italian barbers for hundreds of years.

The rabbit hole is DEEP on soft goods (soap, splash, balms, pre shaves, etc.) You don't need to buy everything. I have thrown away a LOT of stuff. It becomes so overwhelming.

A few more things:
pre shave oil sucks.

Most scents are duplicates or homages to well-known scents. If you think you like something, chances are, it's just another fake Creed Aventus, Terre D'Hermes, Acqua Di Parma, Acqua Di Gio, etc. I wish I would have known about this website ten years ago. https://www.thirstybadger.ca/shaving-fragrance-homage/

Proraso Green pre shave cream rules.
Proraso Green splash rules.
Saponificio Varesino soap RULES. It's worth the money. Consult with me on scents. I've used them all.
Anything from Razorock is usually a safe bet, quality and value wise.
Anything from Barrister and Mann is of high quality.

[RyanDistortion]

Yessss. Overwhelm me with options. It's delicious.

WBC Beacon boar brush. I was wondering how long these blades were supposed to last. I keep a beard so I don't do a ton of shaving. But, I like the accuracy of a safety razor.

[Steinmetzify]

Yessss. Overwhelm me with options. It's delicious.

WBC Beacon boar brush. I was wondering how long these blades were supposed to last. I keep a beard so I don't do a ton of shaving. But, I like the accuracy of a safety razor.

Oh holy Christ bro. It’s a RABBIT HOLE.

Ain’t promising anything but PM me your address and I’ve got a ton of shit to send you.

Geno and Brian hooked me up years ago when I started and I went batshit crazy the next two years and have a ton of stuff I don’t use. Brushes, razors, soaps and creams etc.

I’m an OTR truck driver and am really only home and awake about 12 hours a week but I’ll try and get you some stuff out.

Super fun hobby and you always smell great!

Welcome to the crazy!

[greatmutah]

Ryan you're in for a good time and a good ride. It's a lot of fun and definitely a rabbit hole. To Geno's point about blades - Blue Platinum Gilettes and Personna Labs are great. I have some Personna med preps I freakin love.

Monday's shave brought back the Southern Witchcrafts. It's close enough to fall. Fucking love that stuff.

I still need to get on that Seaforth Lime.

Been back on the SLOC after a few weeks with the Enoch. Looking at something a little more aggressive than the SLOC but not as aggressive as the Enoch in a DE razor. Suggestions, anyone?

[BroSlinger]

Headsup.

Razorock has a 1.05 gap game changer now. You can jiat get the base plate if you already have a game changer.

Also,

Blackland osprey adjustable comes out friday. $350. Of course I’m going to buy one.

[ajaxlepinski]

GreatMutah.... sounds like you may be ready to try an adjustable.... try a vintage Gillette Slim... I like it better than the Fat Boy.
Here's a really nice one on eBay for $45. If I didn't already have one, I'd jump on this!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/115919961644?h ... R6zmm9bWYg


This gold Slim is really nice for $160
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266403558584?h ... Swyjtk-e~L

[Steinmetzify]

Headsup.

Razorock has a 1.05 gap game changer now. You can jiat get the base plate if you already have a game changer.

Also,

Blackland osprey adjustable comes out friday. $350. Of course I’m going to buy one.

Dude that Osprey looks sick as hell. Zero need for an adjustable but if I did that’d be the one. Report back if you can, can’t imagine it being anything but stellar.

[RyanDistortion]

Just did my first wet shave with all my stuff. Seaforth shave soap, WCS badger brush, Mistral after shave balm (vanilla, bourbon), Hensen safety razor and RK blades.

Took me a while to figure out how to get a good lather. The brush felt a little too soft and my lather bowl is wider at the bottom than top. So, my lather gets cornered away and doesn't get worked. I dropped a bit of water in to the soap itself, rewisked, and added that to the bowl with a smidge of water and got what I was after. Definitely a learning curve and some physical discipline needed to keep that angle and not move the blade around. I'm not baby smooth, like Broslinger said due to the mild manner of the razor, but I'm also not irritated. At all. Hell, I didn't even know I got irritated until I wasn't

It's a bit difficult to shave this way considering my beard and extra length in my chin. You know, trying not to hack up my lines. Though, the smells in the air and the lack of irritation are new pluses.

I like the Seaforth scent. It's not too musky and has interesting notes and balance. I'll keep it as a soap but it's not an after shave smell I'm after. I have a beard balm that smells GREAT that I'd like to have as after shave. It's vanilla and bourbon. So, I took a chance on an Amazon after shave balm that has vanilla and bourbon. Smells good but not AS good as my beard balm. So, I'm not settled there but we're experimenting, right?!

https://imgur.com/a/WmvtX6F

[BroSlinger]

Ospreys are up for sale. Got her done.

[ajaxlepinski]

Fat Boy with case, for $45. Man, prices have dropped! I paid about $150 for my Fat Boy! I had a new, rhodium coating but no case.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/325809694694?_ ... %3A4429486

[RyanDistortion]

I changed my mind on Seaforth Spiced Lime scent. I caught a whiff of myself today from shaving yesterday and I really liked it. Bought the after shave

[ajaxlepinski]

Ryan - you now have an excellent razor and what most will say, just about the best soap and aftershave you can get: Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime.

When I first started DE shaving, I spent a lot on different razors, soaps, blades, brushes and aftershaves, hoping to find something better.
You don't have to go through that process because, you have the good stuff.
Congratulations!!! :

Nevertheless, moar is ALWAYS better!!!!

If your brush is too soft, get an Omega 20102. It's not only my favorite boar brush, it's my favorite desert island brush of all time.
https://maggardrazors.com/products/omeg ... brush-28mm

[RyanDistortion]

Ryan - you now have an excellent razor and what most will say, just about the best soap and aftershave you can get: Seaforth! Sea Spice Lime.

When I first started DE shaving, I spent a lot on different razors, soaps, blades, brushes and aftershaves, hoping to find something better.
You don't have to go through that process because, you have the good stuff.
Congratulations!!! :

Nevertheless, moar is ALWAYS better!!!!

If your brush is too soft, get an Omega 20102. It's not only my favorite boar brush, it's my favorite desert island brush of all time.
https://maggardrazors.com/products/omeg ... brush-28mm

This is the moment, Brian. You know what's the best. I've did zero experimentation and suffered no product regret. I really love this smell and today was my best shave, yet. I'm sticking with it!

Honestly, I figured out the angle and stroke length. It was very satisfying to cut through about 2+ days of growth with minimal passes. Skin feels great.