December 28, 2007
My Shaving Supplies and Routine
TraderEyal gave me a kick in the butt by encouraging me to get a badger brush and some old-style shaving cream — something I’ve been wanting to do for years but have inexplicably been putting off.
On Eyal’s recommendation I got Vulfix’s best badger brush #406 ($50).
I got Cyril Salter’s almond-flavored shaving cream, which smells wonderful. ($19) You only need a tiny dab of the stuff to make mountains of foam, and I’m afraid it’ll go bad (can it go bad?) before I use it up — the tub is 250 ml or 6.7 oz.
I also got Musgo Real after-shave balm. ($23) It smells kind of “common,” but it’s very soothing.
I still use my old Mach 5 (aka “Fusion”) from Gillette; I’m not ready to go super hardcore yet with a straight razor or Dad’s old double-edged safety razor. Plus I have stockpiled enough Mach 5 blades to last at least three years.
I have very sensitive skin and try to shave only two days a week (Wednesday and Sunday). Even though I work among “suits,” I can get away with this schedule because they know I don’t need to be in the office; I’m there as a favor.
Before I shave I sit in the steamroom at my club for about ten minutes (55 degrees centigrade) and I lather up using the badger brush in there for around two or three minutes. Then I go straight to the sink and shave. I usually do three latherings, in part because the cream smells so good. Then I shower. After showering, I put on the Musgo Real after-shave balsam without drying my face with a towel (I never dry my face with a towel). They say you can use this balsam as a pre-shave lotion too, but I haven’t tried that.
Last thing I do is go and blow-dry my Mach 5 to make sure that it’s perfectly dry before packing it away.
What is your shaving routine like?
December 28th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Chairman, you are so organised. You have a specific written shaving routine. Is that the key to success? Lol. Actually Im being slightly serious. I just heard a quote from Tiger Woods “Its all really about the routine anyway, not so much the results”.
December 28th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
I like to shave once a month or so whether I need it or not.
It probably takes forever to blow dry that razor with all those blades on it. ;-)
December 28th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Lather from plain old hand soap. The cheapest single-blade disposable that money can buy (10 for less than $2), rinsed in hot water, put away wet, and reused many times. Usually shaving in the morning on workdays. I probably spend $10 annually on shaving supplies.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
@Rod: I have a routine for everything — slightly obsessive compulsive.
@Dave: It’s actually the strip at the bottom of the Mach 5 that’s difficult to dry… the blades are easy. :-)
@Bill: You must have a very light beard and tough skin to boot! They stock those cheapie blades at the sinks in my club and they’re awful… no, worse than awful: dangerously bad.
December 28th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Routine: Shower, shave with Mach 3 and Gillete foam, daily.
I’ve always been disappointed by the lack of close shave I get using my Mach 3. My lower face has a wierd shape and I can’t seem to get a close shave around my chin area. I might consider going with a double edged safety razor, like Dad had, because the Mach 3 cartridges are expensive.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Congrats :-)
Here’s what I do.
Hot shower
Fill a third of the sink with hot water
Soak badger brush for 30 seconds
Re-wet face with hot water from sink
Decide which cream to use
Light shake to reduce excess water from brush
Load the brush with cream and lather on the face
Add water to brush if needed
I actually apply the lather to non-shaving areas as a skin treatment
First pass up to down
Re-lather
Second pass left to right (where skin allows, i.e. I avoid lower neck area)
Re-lather
Third pass right to left (same deal with where skin allows)
Touch ups
Wash face with cold water to close pores
Rinse brush thoroughly, squeeze and shake excess water and put to dry
Apply after-shave splash (balms make my skin sticky)
I use a DE safety razor.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
I hear blades go blunt if stored for a long time. Maybe under the right storage conditions they’ll be Ok.
December 28th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
@tom: Those two extra blades on the Mach 5 make a difference so I recommend an upgrade; the cartridges cost more than the Mach 3 — around $3 a pop (I use about one a month so the expense isn’t too great).
@eyal: I left out the details of the strokes and rinsing and shaking the brush out… you’re right, a stand is completely unnecessary. The balm makes my skin a little sticky too but none of the girls, er I mean the wife, has complained. There’s a Musgo Real after-shave splash too; maybe I’ll get it in my next order.
@hasto: Planned obsolescence, eh? I think if you store them airtight (ziploc bags) then they should last a good long time (like 50 years).
December 29th, 2007 at 12:52 am
My typical shaving scenario starts when I get in the car and happen to see myself in the mirror, with my hair sticking up and grizzled chin, before I leave the driveway. Several days might elapse between such occurrences. Then I go back in the house, debate momentarily whether to take off my shoes to please my wife (no, I’m in a hurry, dammit), then grab the Panasonic electric, which used to be quiet before I dropped it on the floor one day, and run it back and forth over my neck, chin, and cheeks as if I were vacuuming a carpet. After about 1 minute I am reasonably shaved and can resume my rush to the park’n'ride where I’ve probably missed the last cheap bus to the city.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:59 am
I lather with my fingers and ivory bar soap. Then I use a dollar store razor with a single pass against the grain. No after treatment.
If I am busy then it is a shower then electric shave with a pocket braun.
This is all after maybe 6 months of my previous routine. That involved a brush, Wilkinson shave soap, and a Dovo straight razor. That straight razor have the best shave, never gave a cut (unless I sliced instead of pushed), and seemed the exfoliate and make the skin smoother. But the time involved was too much for me.
Chairman, when you say you show up to work as a favor do you mean you could just as easily work from home doing the same job?
December 29th, 2007 at 1:52 am
I just use a Mache 5 and Gillete Foamy Sensitive Skin.
I tried to use a cheap single Bic blade but after using it more than 5 times, it cuts your face too much.
Maoxian, What is the difference you have found between applying cream via badger brush vs your hand?
I hate neckhair. Shaving around your adams apple is always more cautious.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:53 am
‘lectric razor.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:33 am
Mach 4 / Fusion, shave in the shower using just warm water and I’m good to go!! I swap blades about once every other month.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:35 am
Thanks all for sharing your routine. There’s no way I could ever go electric because my beard is way too heavy.
@Eric: No, I mean I don’t have to be there at all.
@KC: The brush is really nice because it stimulates your face, makes the hair stand up straighter I suppose, and it just feels really good. The Gillette gel I used to use had an overpowering perfume, I thought.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:47 am
“There’s no way I could ever go electric because my beard is way too heavy.”
You could if you didn’t care how you looked, with the added bonus of no more sensitive skin after two weeks of pain.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:07 am
your shaving routine commments here remind me of Christian Bale’s opening commentary in the movie American Psycho (2000), a great flick for those who haven’t seen it, adapted from Bret Easton Ellis’ novel…
December 29th, 2007 at 11:22 am
I use a Wahl electric with Afta pre-shave lotion, which has moisturizers in it so I don’t need aftershave.
A relative in the UK swears by using a badger brush with Geo. Trumper’s shaving cream. I’ve always used electric, but am thinking of going the blade route. But I’ll make the switch over a weekend or vacation — don’t need a new routine rushing around in the morning!
December 29th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
I think you may be a woman with this routine :)
quite prissy and sensitive old chairman
December 29th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
When he posts a Gratuitous Cute Chairman Pic (sans any trace of stubble) you will know he has gone off the deep end.
December 30th, 2007 at 1:36 am
I can’t believe there are 19 comments on this post.
December 30th, 2007 at 2:31 am
That “10 Reasons Why…” gal sounds like she’s up on blocks.
December 30th, 2007 at 3:07 am
shower, get out, don’t dry off ur face and shave w/ mach 5. no gel, shaving cream, or soap- water is enough of a lubricant. i too have sensitive skin. toughen up madam chairwoman.
December 30th, 2007 at 10:56 am
They say shower first, shave after.
I’d say, go with feels good. Feeling good is important.
Drying the razor after is good.
23 posts and counting.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
I don’t shave I wax.
:)
December 30th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
@v838: I have not seen the movie though many have recommended it.
@John: Afta!?! That’s a blast from the past (I think I’m a little younger than you). I haven’t tried Trumper’s but I plan to get some soon.
@howard & pete: I’m surprised you think there’s something feminine about this; I’m a very tough, ugly guy.
@James: Rest assured that there will never, or could ever, be a Gratuitous Cute Chairman Pic.
@Brad & pete: I definitely shave *after* I shower when I don’t have a steamroom at my disposal.
@Andy: You’re my kind of lunatic.
December 31st, 2007 at 7:03 am
Art of shaving products also worth the extra cost. The shave cream forms a paste which has to be shaved off. That’s the trick to super close shave.
Regular foam wont form sticky paste.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:44 am
manuel: I thought the trick to a super close shave, just like ironing a super sharp crease, was pressing down harder. :-)
December 31st, 2007 at 6:59 pm
What shaving routine? About once a month I go over the rough edges of old Grey Beard and Moustache with a scissors.Electric bugged me 35 years ago and used Bic throat slashers until 6 years ago.Now just ignore my wife’s less frequent gripes of looking old!!
ike
January 1st, 2008 at 2:00 am
I dry shave with a rusty 3 year old bic disposable.
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I used to shave with just water in the shower, with any blade around….then when I got older, and more metro-sexual, I decided cuts and razor burn were not too cool.
The key is that badger hair brush, specifically the way you use it. If you just use it to apply lather, you are missing the point. You need to “dab it”, making sure the ends of the bristles poke your skin. This will stimulate the dermis (like goose bumps) and cause your hairs to stand up straight, thus you get a closer shave. You have to make sure to do each area you are going to shave, right before you shave it, or the effect will have worn off.
I use the Neutrogena line for men. Nothing too fancy, but gets the job done. Some pre-shave wash, then close shave gel. I use what I think is called a Mach 3 Turbo. This is the three blade with aloe strip, but the handle of the shaver has a double A battery in it. You push a button and it caused the blade to virbrate, basically combining the best of a manual shave with an electric.
After shaving, I splash cold water on my fact to close the pores. Then an after shave lotion with an SPF 20.
Then I put my dress on and watch Queer Eye For The Straight Guy……….but I do get a good shave…….lol!
Formerly ADD Trader
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
ADD: Thanks for the “dabbing” advice (I’ve been swirling). The women in my life (and Toddler T for that matter) appreciate it when I have a close shave; I don’t think there’s a need to defend one’s masculinity after discussing the old shaving routine. :-)
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:39 am
Hardly anyone shaves right in the shower? Its so easy. I shampoo, squirt some Dove body soap on a nylon pouf (like the women use)and wash, then with my shower mirror cleaned off I do my $1.00 per can Clogate shaving cream and take it off with a Fusion. Right in the shower men, that’s the only way.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:30 am
Norman: I would shave in the shower assuming I didn’t have a world-class steam room at my disposal. I suggest dropping the $1 can of Colgate goo, but am still a fan of the Mach 5 (Fusion) until I lose my mind and go hardcore old-style.