I've also got a R41. I find it a bit much to use on a daily basis, but if I've missed a day it's what I always use - by far the closest shave and with the least effort.
A Merkur 34C or Muhle R89 are quite well regarded as a starting point. I get nearly all of my stuff from www.shavelounge.co.uk. www.executive-shaving.co.uk is pretty good too.
I never thought I would say this, but since I have gone old skool, I avtually look forward to shaving. Yes it takes longer but that just prolongs the experience. Never going back!
You must also have a gargantuan bathroom cabinet. Is one of your razors a slant bar and if so do you recommend it? I've just got a couple of Merkurs a long handle and a short handle for travel. Was expecting to develop a collection but these work so well I've just stuck with them. Pretty sure it's the Japanese feather blade and Taylor's of Old Bond Street oil, cream and balm which transform the experience. The shaving forum is truly impressive in terms of volume. Many OCD blokes out there. OK here's another gentleman's choice. Belt or braces with suits? I switched to braces a couple of years ago, originally because I found them much more comfortable with my increasing gut. The gut has now gone, to the extent that I have had to have all my suits adjusted at the tailors, and I took the opportunity to get braces buttons sewn in, the clips are a bit naff. Love them, suit trousers hang better, shirt doesn't crumple as much during the day. I should stress no novelty braces, these are not for display, just plain black and I usually keep my jacket on most of the time. Can't see myself going back to belts but I have kept the belt loops just in case. Decisions, decisions.
That's given me something to think about Stan! I used to wear braces all the time. Might need to dust them off now.
For some reason, I have some of my best thoughts when I'm shaving. Good ideas, light bulb moments etc. Perhaps it is the relaxation of a facial massage with a good bristle brush. Anyone else?
Never. If I let my concentration wander it's a blood bath. The zen of clearing my mind of everything but the act of shaving and being submerged in the ritual is the thing for me.
Having a 'proper' shave takes time and I guess the relaxing experience frees your mind allowing more creative thoughts to come to the fore.
had a proper cut throat shave in turkey once after the shave he burnt all the hair in my ears best shave ever
Good to see so many real shavers on this site! The Merkur 23C is a terrific razor. I like a long handle too, and the machined handle ensures it doesn't slip in soapy hands. I recommend too, the Merkur 38C Barber pole. Same length, but satisfyingly heavy and glides across the skin. If you want a beast, but don't want to commit harakiri with a cut throat, take a look at the Merkur 39C Slant Bar. The end of the head nearest the skin is an open blade! Incredibly close shave but easy to cut yourself if you lose concentration. A step too far for me. Muhle razors also give a great shave - the handle of the standard Muhle is too short for my preference, but I have a long handled closed comb Muhle, and the shave is hard to beat. If you haven't got one, I recommend an Osma Bloc. A natural substance that stems slight bleeding from any grazing (without acute stinging), soothes the skin and is a mild disinfectant. Costs about a fiver and will last for many years.
Just read your post, Stan. I've got a slant bar. As indicated in my note to Shefford, it is a beast. If you have any kind of impediment on your skin, the slant bar will find it and you'll be mopping up blood. I had a small almost imperceptible mole high on one cheek. Other DE razors could live with it, but the slant bar found it intolerable and sliced it each time. The mole no longer exists. If you're into DE razors, the slant is fun to try and will give you the closest shave outside a cut throat imo. But for daily use, the slight added closeness over a standard DE razor doesn't justify the risk of a nasty cut if the doorbell rings while you're on a downward stroke
Interesting topic and is opening my eyes to other options. The Merkur 23c is my first venture into DE razors for years and it appears that most of the posters on here have more than one razor. I will stick with what I have at the moment (apart from an investment in an Osma Bloc, cheers Goldie). There has been scant mention of Wilkinson Sword DE Blades, is that because they are considered not good? That would be a shame, 'cos I can get them for nish.
If you are happy with them they are good enough. I have a non aggressive razor, the Merkur 34c coupled with the sharpest blades I can find. Experimented with other blades but these were the ones which worked for me, close smooth shave, minimal cuts (none nine shaves out of ten, even when in a hurry). Experimenting is good. I wonder if any of the websites offer a mixed box of blades, that would be good for comparison, and not require buying 10 and leaving 9 unused. But they are still incredibly cheap compared to cartridges, even the top of the range ones.
I had a mooch around the shops this morning and found that neither Morrisons or Lloyds Pharmacy stock DE blades at all. Just as well I have reliable (and free!) source.
Yes, you can buy blade sampler packs. The two websites I mentioned previously do them, though I think they're in packs of 5 of each. I bought some from eBay, where plenty of sellers offer mixed packs with a single blade of each.
EBay and Amazon have plenty of sample blade packs. Many shavers swear by Feather blades and are viewed as the sharpest you can get. Derby blades are pretty smooth and relatively cheap. My favorites are Gillette 7 O'clock Blacks. I have a slant razor, the Razorock SS Stealth v3. I think that it is the most dangerous one I have. With the R41 you are always careful, with the Stealth it can bite if you do not give it enough respect. I get more nicks from it than any of my others. That said they both give incredibly close shaves, BBS in the language of the shaving fraternity (baby bottom smooth)
Bought a Cien razor from Lidl recently. Half the price of Gillette, really nice weight and sharp as any razor I've ever used. Definitely worth a trial if you wet shave.
