Do any of you still use shaving soap and a brush?

[johngalt]

After many years of electric shavers, I finally got fed up and switched to a double edge safety razor, brush, and soap. Mitchel's Wool Fat is pretty good. Stirling is another good soap.

 

[Jon651]

Do any of you still use shaving soap and a brush?

I remember my grandfather using shaving soap and a brush.
That has been over sixty years ago.


That memory came to mind this morning while shaving.
Just got me curious.

I absolutely use shaving soap and a brush - it is absolutely the best way to get an excellent foam and apply it evenly. The only time I use canned shaving foam is when I'm travelling, but even then I use a brush to apply it evenly. I have so many different shaving soaps I doubt I'll ever run out!

For convenience I usually use an electric razor because I only shave a few times per week, but for the times I do use a blade I have a collection of safety razors and always use one of those. I can't recall the last time I used a disposable plastic razor of any type.

Unfortunately, now that I'm on a blood thinner I no longer (try to) use a straight razor...

A note to anyone who uses an electric razor - I have found over the years that a few drops of pre-shave oil (or even baby oil) spread on your face before you shave will give you a much better shave with an electric than dry skin. This trick is also good for anyone who enjoys using a single-edge or safety razor as well.

 

[GypsmJim]

Do any of you still use shaving soap and a brush?

I remember my grandfather using shaving soap and a brush.
That has been over sixty years ago.


That memory came to mind this morning while shaving.
Just got me curious.

Did that eons ago. I'm not a morning person. Get up 10 minutes before I have to leave to go to work. If I had to soap and cut I would be late.

Switched to a Norelco when I was about 17. Never looked back. Clean and neat, what more could you ask for. Have shaved every day since.

On the few days that the airline lost my luggage and I had to use the hotel's complementary stuff, it was a nightmare.

Why would anyone deliberately accept a hassle.

 

[GB]

From 35 ish to mid 50ish that's all I used. Still have the stuff. Haven't used it much since late 2014 ( when I retired) Can't grow hair on the top of my head so now grow it on my chin(s). Last time I shaved was on my birthday in 2020. Equipment is nothing fancy. Usually Williams soap And a boars bristle brush and an old mug my mom gave me which I have since retired because it dates to the late 1800s. Bought a reproduction so that Capt. Klutz (me) won't feel so bad when he breaks it. Good clean shave. Will probably start shaving again now that I have new eyes and do not have to worry about taking off an ear.

 

[oldbrownhat]

...Ten seconds with a Braun and I have completed the third "S" in my morning constitutional.

LOL. Hadn't heard the "three S's" morning constitutional for a long time!

I started shaving with a traditional Gillette double-edged rzor in my teens. Then used an Atra II or similar for years, but when that finally broke I went to get another and all I could find were gaudy contraptions with at least three blades. I remember calling them "confectionery" at the time. Yuk!

So I went online (a new-ish endeavor back then) and ended up getting a solid German Merkur double-edge razor and Feather brand blades. (Made in Japan by a company that makes scalpel blades.) Also got a badger hair brush. For shaving soap I used to buy Kiss My Face, which came in a pump bottle. Used it for years as I could buy it locally for about $8.00. Then it disappeared, eventually to re-emerge under new ownership and a much higher price tag, available only online. I now use Proraso, which has been made in NY (?) since before WWII. Never looked back. Gives me just as good a shave as those "landfill specials" with a whack of blades.

Some years ago Gillette re-introduced the classic double-edge razor, which they had discontinuedin the 80's but of course they "improved" it for the modern metrosexual dude who wants to go "new-trad." Meh. I see old Gillette razors in 2nd hand stores and they're probably just as good now as when they were new. Old "King" Gillette knew a good business move when he saw one.

About 20 years ago I re-discovered my granfather's Böker open razor and managed to hone it and learned to shave with it. But it was a lot of work. Not so much on the "straightaways" but the bumpy bits required considerable care

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Required equipment when I was in Army basic training, shaving mug and brush. I had no idea what they were for or how to use them, but they were kept spotless on the top rack of my foot locker for inspections.

By the time I was 20 I actually needed to shave on a regular basis. Never satisfied with canned shaving cream. Dug out the old mug and brush, learned how to whip up nice hot moist shaving soap in a matter of seconds. Makes all the difference in comfort and ease of shaving.

Couple years ago I ran out of shaving soap, found absolutely none in any of the local stores. Had to go on-line shopping to find a supply. Half-dozen cakes delivered to my house for a few bucks, so I'm good to go for several years.

Still using the same boar bristle brush from 1968. Replaced the old mug with a new one about 25 years ago. Not really picky about razors; when the old double-edge Gillette gave up it was replaced with a Schick injector single-edge, then that was replaced with one of the fancy multi-blade cartridge models. When I can't find replacement cartridges I just pick out a new version and a supply of blade cartridges.

Every change of razor involves a new learning curve to get the job done without bleeding too much.

Received an electric razor as a gift years ago, tried it for a few months. Nothing else can cause skin irritation quite as well for me, so it had to go.

 

[oldbrownhat]

...r. I clearly remember that he used two leather strops, one was black and the other was brown. I am not quite sure why two were used. Maybe one was for “finishing”.

I think that's correct and may be the result of using different compounds on each. When I rediscovered my grandfather's open razor I used a short piece of leather belt (but no compound) mounted on a piece of Plexiglass to strop it. Many years ago I was into calligraphy and had learned to cut and cure turkey quills, which were cut with a very sharp, short whittling knife and I used the belt to strop it.

Open-razor shaving has a lot of adherents and there are websites for the hard-core traditionalists which delve into the intense minutiae of the art form. You can still buy very fine open razors from makers in Germany and Japan, as well as cheaper Chinese knock-offs. But a true devotee will only buy the best!

 

[Buford57]

Until not too long ago, I also used shaving creme from a tube, foamed up with a traditional brush in the face. This method was very popular in Europe, and moving to the US in the early 80s, I was surprised to find that hardly anyone used it here. Palmolive was the dominant brand, and even though it’s an American manufacturer, I had to have folks ship me the tubes from the old country for decades. Couldn’t find it here (pre-web).

That's how I was taught to shave, and did for years before going to brush and soap. My frugal dad would split the seam on the tube and scrape out the last of the soap, then put the remains in the scrap barrel.

 

[CScott]

I always use a brush and mug as did my Dad but I think the last time I shaved was in 1973 when I got out of college and had to get a job. But I still have my kit just in case!

 

[bummer]

Yes I do. I use Cremo, a badger brush and alternate between a GEM single edge and a Gilette double edge

 

[jcs266]

Yep. Been using a 1955 Gillette SuperSpeed DE razor with brush and a 1948 Old Spice porcelain mug for nearly 10 yrs now. It's a great shave and I really enjoy the old school shaving tools. No more ingrown hairs and a relaxing experience. Blades cost 9 cents and the soap is cheap unless you prefer the boutique soaps that can be more expensive.

 

[meaneyedcatz]

I shave on Saturday’s for my wife and Monday’s for the work week. Yes, it’s a hayfield by Friday but I don’t give a rip.
With that, I use hot water only. If I’m in the right mood I might use some hand soap. It does the job.

 

[riverrat38]

When beards come in handy.

The "Mother of all combovers"!

73,
Rick

 

[DWalt]

When I was attending Ohio State, there was a barber college in downtown Columbus. The OSU guys could go there for free haircuts as the student barbers needed people to learn on. I had a permanent pass card. When you went in, you had to get both a haircut and a shave. The student barbers used straight razors for shaving, and they did work well. After one of those straight razor shaves, my face felt as smooth as the proverbial baby’s bottom.

 

[Rudi]

Yep, old mug, soap and a brush. Whip it up!

 

[STCM(SW)]

I have the cup, soap and brush.
Don't use the straight razor much any more.
Multi blade razor's now. Hands not as good as some time ago....

 

[wood714]

These were my grand dads. I have them now.

 

[CajunBass]

I've got a beard, but I do shave a couple of small patches on each cheek, and a place around my neck, about once or twice a week. I use the leftover scraps of Ivory soap, in a mug and a brush for that. I guess I've worn out three or four brushes over my lifetime.

I just use the cheap disposable razors. Single or double doesn't matter. They last a long time.

My Dad didn't have a beard, but he did the same thing. Bath soap, and a brush, but he used a double edge razor. I used to think that was the neatest thing when I was a kid.

 

[Bugkiller99]

Ha. Recently converted to soap, mug and brush. Plus a double edge safety razor. Still on the uphill side of the learning curve, but getting a better shave.
Face has gotten more irritated over the years when I shave, so this is a welcome change.

 

[glenwolde]

Yes, but it's hard today. Proper soap or cream is hard to find and truly quality brushes are expensive. The good thing is brushes last forever if you care for them.

I like the Caswell-Massey Almond shave cream. But since I grew a retirement beard it's kind of not worth the bother for just a little trim work.