What is the difference between soaps and creams, and which should I start with?
Both do the same job but some harder soaps can be more difficult to lather for beginners.
A good soft soap or cream may be the best bet when you are starting out, and there are lots around. Some well loved and widely available soaps/creams include:
- Proraso – the menthol and eucalyptus is a classic but all in their range are solid and reliable
- Cella – the archetypal ‘Italian soft soap’ – a strong marzipan/almond scent
- Taylors of Old Bond Street – traditional UK manufacturer, easy to lather
- Geo F Trumper/ Truefitt & Hill – more UK manufacturers, slightly higher price point
If you are going with the Taylors of Old Bond Street/Geo F Trumper/ Truefitt & Hill get creams rather than soaps. Many of their soaps have been reformulated and are less effective.
A good soft soap or cream may be the best bet when starting out.
When you get further down the track there is a seemingly endless array of shaving soaps and creams from both artisan suppliers and producers with centuries of tradition. Browse the selections at the suppliers in our links.
Current Collection
My Vintage Razor Collection
I’ve been hounded for a while, so here are some rough and ready videos of the current state of my collection.
Subscribe to my channelThe videos below show some more details of the razors in the collection.
What type of brush should I buy?
What football team do you support?
OK, maybe there IS a little more science to choosing a brush – but each has their fans –
Boar – many people suggest that it takes around 30 shaves or so for a boar brush to ‘break-in’ and reach its final softness and effectiveness – this can vary by brand. Until then it can be a little scratchy. Once broken in they can provide a good a lather as any other brush at a generally lower price point.
Synthetic – at a low to mid price point, with no break in period and generally providing a great lather easily a decent synthetic brush is often a good choice when starting out, and may still be your favourite for life!
Earlier synthetics, and cheap and nasty Chinese eBay specials, can be horrible, and price is not necessarily an indicator of quality – so ask around on forums like Paste & Cut for some reputable brands to choose from.
… a decent synthetic brush is often a good choice when starting out, and may still be your favourite for life!
Badger – traditionally the most popular and higher quality choice. All the luxury or traditional brands of brush makers have badger brushes. A decent one does cost a little more, the lower end ones are generally rubbish. Particularly when starting out the different ‘grades’ of hair, styles of brushes and density of the knot can be confusing – and you can get lather just as good from the others. A great second brush.
Horse/Combination – there are some other options including some exotic ones, but ignore them when starting out.
Will I cut myself?
Yes.
But safety razors are called safety razors for a reason – you will not inflict life threatening damage.
You will not look like Norman Gunston (try Google if you are too young) and you will not be bleeding all day.
… it will be just a nick and it will stop within a couple of minutes …
When you are starting out with a safety razor you are likely to nick yourself – but it will be just a nick and it will stop within a couple of minutes if you use a styptic pencil and a bit of pressure.
Important job interview or wedding day? Don’t decide to start shaving with a safety razor that morning.
Start on a day when you will not be worried about the result and you can enjoy the process.
How long will it take to learn and will I enjoy shaving?
Some would say a lifetime – but most people are not THAT obsessed.
In all seriousness you can probably expect to have a decent technique going within a month of starting to shave with a safety razor, straight razors may take longer I’m told.
… expect to have a decent technique going within a month of starting to shave with a safety razor …
After about a year it should be pretty automatic if you just want to stick with a tried and true method. Of course part of the joy of this process is experimentation and learning and developing your technique with different combinations.
Whether you will actually enjoy shaving is hard to say, but here are LOTS of forums full of guys who now say they do – is that sufficient proof?
Should I buy a starter kit?
Starter kits can be a good option when you are making the switch to DE shaving. There are a few options though, each with various pros and cons.
Starter kits: offered by most suppliers usually have a razor, brush, shaving soap/cream and a sampler of blades. These are a convenient way to start but not always the best of everything, and may be a compromise in quality being put together at a price, although you do tend to get savings off the combined price, and it is convenient.
Many people starting out DO enjoy the convenience of a ‘starter kit’. Check out the offerings at Beard & Blade, Mensbiz, or VSHOD to see some of what is available.
Many people starting out DO enjoy the convenience of a ‘starter kit’.
If you want to do it yourself you have some options –
Budget combination: You can put together a relatively low price, $50 – $100 starting combination picking entry level products, possibly from a variety of sources. You will invariably want to upgrade later. A budget kit might contain items like:
- Feather or Parker DE razor
- Entry level synthetic or boar brush
- Common shaving soap like Proraso
- Blade sampler or pack of 100 Astra SP or similar
Bang for buck combinations: While lacking the convenience of a starter kit after a little research, and feedback from here, you should be able to put together a quality kit where the main items, razor and brush, could last you almost a lifetime without you needing to purchase any alternatives.
Expect to spend $100 – $200 but you can probably get at least half of this back by selling the razor and brush if you decide it is all not for you (but you won’t)
The full kit: Right, let me guess. It is your birthday and your significant other wants to spend a lot of money on buying you the best shaving bling money can buy.
The ornate stand/bowl/brush/razor all look VERY nice on the vanity – but you may realise after a little while you don’t use it all and you really would prefer a different brush or razor. Apart from the dollars involved your significant other will be offended if you don’t use that expensive present.
Do yourself a favour – get this important person in your life to buy you your SECOND brush and or razor – when you know what you want (no extra charge for this relationship advice).
Don't throw that old razor away!
Shaving is, for many people, a chore. It doesn’t have to be that way, check out our FAQs.
A growing number of men are turning away from expensive multi-blade cartridge razors to ‘double-edge’ (DE) razors from modern manufacturers or using classic vintage razors from well known brands like Gillette.
Unfortunately in many cases these classic vintage razors, used for many years by our father or grandfathers are merely thrown out when no longer used.
Don’t throw that old razor away! Put it to good use and do yourself a favour.
Cleaned, polished and carefully sanitised vintage razors often have decades more use left in them, satisfying the shaving needs of another generation in an environmental friendly, sustainable way.
In some cases, if it is a collectible, your razor could be worth a surprising amount.
So if you have an old razor that is not being used –
REDUCE – give up those expensive multi-blade systems and disposables that end up in landfill
RECYCLE – don’t throw out grandpa’s old razor – put it to good use
REUSE – take up wet shaving with a vintage razor, for a better shave and a better world!
What is changing to safety razors like?
If you have been using an electric razor, wet shaving with a safety razor is very different.
Preparation is the key to a good shave and allowing the time to do it properly – you will not need to rush as you will begin to enjoy the process. There will be an initial learning curve but after a little while you can expect to receive a far closer shave with far less irritation.
Preparation is the key to a good shave, and allowing the time to do it properly is essential.
If you have been using a multi-blade cartridge system you will probably need to unlearn some bad habits, such as dragging the pivoting head roughly around your face, but if you are already building a decent lather with a good shaving soap you may already have some good habits too.
Once again the techniques are a little different but after a little while you can also expect to receive a much closer shave with far less irritation.