As if I didn't already have enough addictions in my life, I'm now suffering yet another. Where does it end?
All my life (well since the late-teen years anyway), I've used the latest and greatest 'trick of the week' razors and aerosol shaving cremes to shave with. And I've hated every minutes of it. I tried one of the rotary head shavers a few years back, but that burned me up even more than the razors did. From one-blade cartridge razors, to two-blades, three blades and who knows how many blades this latest whiz-bang razor has, I've suffered them all.
The bottom line is that I simply hate scraping my face to pieces, through the process known as shaving. Well, at least I hated it a few weeks back.
I cannot recall how I stumbled across it, but I discovered a series of YouTube videos by mantic59, that dealt with all aspects of the process known as wet-shaving (i.e. using a shaving soap or creme and a blade razor to shave). Mantic has an entire Wet Shaving Channel that addresses everything from selecting the type of razors, brushes and shaving cremes commonly available, to the various methods used to actually attack the facial hair itself.
One of the biggest points I picked up from the videos was the time needed to properly prepare the beard for the actual shaving process. So, I began to set aside a bit more time for shaving and started paying attention to using hot water, facial scrubs and soaps to help soften the beard. And I immediately started noticing the difference in the results. And as soon as the results began to improve, the process of shaving started to become enjoyable, rather than an ugly chore to simply be endured.
All this would have been well and good, but I noticed mantic was also using a double-edge safety razor, which I hadn't used in well over 35 years and could only remember as an element of torture. <SHUDDER> Yet mantic kept saying how great a shave he could get with the safety razor. So, I figured if I was in for a penny, I may as well stay in for the pound. I found an excellent Web site, selling all manner of shaving and personal grooming supplies - Lee's Safety Razors - and placed an order for a Merkur 23C safety razor. My old boar bristle brush and Williams shaving soap left a bit to be desired, so I decided to step all the way up and ordered some Col. Conk Bay Rum shaving soap, an inexpensive Vulfix badger bristle brush and a bottle of Col. Conk Bay Rum after shave.
On the day the order arrived, I came home from work and proceeded to shave with a double-edge razor for the first time in a long time. And I ended up with the best shave I could ever remember. And the next evening, I even managed to improve on that result. Suddenly, shaving had become even more enjoyable.
But, once again, all would have been well and good, had I not noticed mantic's mention of a couple of online forums, dedicated to the art of wet-shaving. So, out of curiosity, I visited the forums and started reading. And I was amazed at how many men are using and discovering not only double-edge safety razors, but also the old straight-edge razors. Methods of shaving that I thought had died out decades ago are thriving!
Unfortunately, these forums have had a negative side-effect, at least from a financial standpoint. Just when I thought I was enjoying the best shave possible, I would read a forum post stating how much better this shaving soap is, or how much better this shaving creme is, or explaining the benefits of this razor over that razor, or this blade being better than these blades over here.
Suddenly, the single Merkur 23C (which was doing a fantastic job) was joined by an older model Shick Krona razor. And Merkur blades were being replaced with Derby blades. And if that Prorasso shaving creme is so good, I will need to try a tube of it, as well. About that time, my father mentioned how he always enjoyed Palmolive shaving creme, but couldn't find it anywhere. The story is that it has been discontinued here in the States, but I found a fellow that had a small supply of it left, so there are a couple of tubes headed this way. And then, I learned the Palmolive creme is still available in Italy, so we had to get a couple tubes of the Italian creme to try.
But wait, everyone says the absolute best safety razor to use is a Gillette Super Speed, particularly the models made from 1948-1954. So, off to eBay I go. Oh dear, some of the pre-55 Super Speeds are selling for over $70 each. <GULP> Oh, but look, there is a 1949 that is in good condition and I managed to snag it up for only $20.50. Hold on, hold on, there is another 1949 model that is in excellent condition and it was only $51.00. But there is a 1956 maroon-tip Super Speed, also known as a Super Speed Heavy and it only cost me $19.90 (which was a bargain, as another one I was bidding on went for $87). And look at this one - a third quarter 1954 model that is in pristine condition. And since I am a third quarter 1954 model myself, I had to have that one, as well. What's another $50?
Oh, and look at this wonderful lathering bowl, with the puck of Sandalwood soap. Oh, and this company is having a sale on Tabac shaving soap.
And before long, there's no more room, so it was time to hang a medicine cabinet in the bathroom.
And look, people are talking about the great results they are getting with cold-processed soaps, so I may as well get a few bars of that coming.
On one hand, I want to run away, screaming. On the other hand, I'm finding just how much better I can feel, using all of these newly-found products. And maybe there is a way I can train some luffa vines to grow on the deck railing this summer, so I can produce my own luffa sponges.
Addicted? No, not at all...
Related posts:
- Razor Acquisition Disorder
- Let’s be careful out there
- The Great Shave Experiment continues
- So many products, so little time
- Sputnik lives on and on and …
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Mwahahaha…resistance is futile!