the art of shaving (your face)

[Chad]

I really like Dollar Shave Club's Dr. Carver's Shave Butter. https://www.dollarshaveclub.com/our-...e/shave-butter

[11.4]

For those of you interested in such things, Lee's Razors has just gotten into stock a few Mergress safety razors. These are basically Mercur razors with a custom threaded insert and end knob. They take a good razor and give it a precision adjustment and much better weight. My preference is the XL, but that's definitely a personal matter. The Mergress razors rarely come available -- they're a short batch run done by a machinist who makes a hundred or so at a time and then doesn't bother for a couple years. If you read the shaving forums, these are legendary. Lee's Safety Razors | Merkur Razors, Shaving Brushes, Shave Creams, Soap, Jagger, Taylor. It's a great site anyway with interesting shaving supplies you don't find elsewhere.

[gkk]

Thanks for the tip, Lane! Looking forward to trying one out.

/gkk

[ericpmoss]

For the guy who has, maybe literally, everything: SHOP — Discommon

[jmeloy]

Wrote Lee today and he called me an hour later and set me up with a starter kit for a wet shave. Thanks for the guidance in this thread!

[corko]

Mongoose razor......single edge blades

[ericpmoss]

Just because *someone* here will get as excited about this as the guy presenting... The fun stuff starts around 6:30.

Dr. Matt's Straight Razor Products

[spopepro]

For those of you interested in such things, Lee's Razors has just gotten into stock a few Mergress safety razors. These are basically Mercur razors with a custom threaded insert and end knob. They take a good razor and give it a precision adjustment and much better weight. My preference is the XL, but that's definitely a personal matter. The Mergress razors rarely come available -- they're a short batch run done by a machinist who makes a hundred or so at a time and then doesn't bother for a couple years. If you read the shaving forums, these are legendary. Lee's Safety Razors | Merkur Razors, Shaving Brushes, Shave Creams, Soap, Jagger, Taylor. It's a great site anyway with interesting shaving supplies you don't find elsewhere.

A long time later, I finally broke down and got a Mergress XL (which is totally the right choice). It appears that Bullgoose Shaving is now handling the distribution for Mer (and they are good people--great about putting together blade sample packs). Totally worth it--should have pulled the trigger a long time ago.

Something I didn't fully appreciate was the ability to adjust for different parts of my face. I used to use an old super speed, and was always happy with the shave I got on my upper lip, but not totally happy everywhere else. Dialed in the Mergress at 3.5 which is perfect for my face... but hacks up my upper lip like something fierce. So now I just dial it back to 2.5 for my upper lip at the end and I get something 98% of the way to a straight razor with little irritation and no nicks. Nearly perfect.

Thanks for the tip.

[Blue Jays]

"...A long time later, I finally broke down and got a Mergress XL (which is totally the right choice). It appears that Bullgoose Shaving is now handling the distribution for Mer (and they are good people--great about putting together blade sample packs)..."

Spoke with their excellent customer service today.
They guided me to a Mergress with standard stainless adjustment knob plus wide variety of blades.
They explained the advantages and disadvantages of each double-edged blade and soaps available, too.
Eager to see how shiny my legs look after the shipment arrives next week.

[BShow]

A long time later, I finally broke down and got a Mergress XL (which is totally the right choice). It appears that Bullgoose Shaving is now handling the distribution for Mer (and they are good people--great about putting together blade sample packs). Totally worth it--should have pulled the trigger a long time ago.

Something I didn't fully appreciate was the ability to adjust for different parts of my face. I used to use an old super speed, and was always happy with the shave I got on my upper lip, but not totally happy everywhere else. Dialed in the Mergress at 3.5 which is perfect for my face... but hacks up my upper lip like something fierce. So now I just dial it back to 2.5 for my upper lip at the end and I get something 98% of the way to a straight razor with little irritation and no nicks. Nearly perfect.

Thanks for the tip.

I've been half tempted to try a new DE razor lately and have been considering a Merkur adjustable and then stumbled upon the Mergress - which looks awesome. Not sure I can justify $125 though, to try something new. The couple I have aren't great, but for the three times a week that I shave my neck and clean up my short beard, they do work.

[11.4]

I've been half tempted to try a new DE razor lately and have been considering a Merkur adjustable and then stumbled upon the Mergress - which looks awesome. Not sure I can justify $125 though, to try something new. The couple I have aren't great, but for the three times a week that I shave my neck and clean up my short beard, they do work.

One can make one's way through life with a bad razor. It isn't the end of the world. Rambo shaved with his oversized combat knife. Getting a razor like the Mergress makes you get better at shaving. It's not about the razor as much as your own skill. (Not unlike cycling.) You shouldn't feel shamed to get a Mergress over a disposable Bic. But the Mergress lets you adjust for different hair textures and patterns and different skin under the hair, so you're able to progress more easily. You can also get a couple straight razors and a strop and do even better, but again, it's the personal skill that's really the limitation at this point.

[HorsCat]

Cremo is the bees knees. You won't find better at this price point. A tube lasts me around 6 months. Variety is the spice of life so I picked up a few Kiehl's samples recently. They're nice, but at 3x the cost of Cremo, there is no justifying it.

[Too Tall]

Cremo is the bees knees. You won't find better at this price point. A tube lasts me around 6 months. Variety is the spice of life so I picked up a few Kiehl's samples recently. They're nice, but at 3x the cost of Cremo, there is no justifying it.

Ahh I did not see Cremo in unscented at first. I'll give that a shot. Thanks :)