Shaving; Schick Krona

[Moses Yoder]

I have slowly become interested in vintage shaving. I clearly remember the first time I shaved. I had never seen my dad shave, and my whiskers were getting long enough that people commented on them. One Saturday afternoon I figured I would shave so went in the bathroom, closed and locked the door. I picked up a razor laying on the sink and went to town on my whiskers. I had no idea shaving cream existed or what it was for. My face burned for hours. Gradually I learned how to shave just by trying different things. I have always used disposable razors, mostly the Gillette Mach 3 which is a good razor. Last time I switched systems and bought a 5 blade razor and lived to regret it. I am about out of razors right now and was looking at different systems when I stopped by my mom's house today. I saw one of my dad's old razors on the tables we are getting ready for garage sale and picked it up; I owe her a dollar for it. I could not figure out how to get it open so googled for directions and found some. Needless to say I am pumped; all I have to do yet is get some good double edge razor blades.

Schick Krona razor.jpgSchick Krona.jpg

[John Coloccia]

I've been using a safety razor for a while now. Much better shave than the fancy 2 - 18 blade razors they have now, IMHO, but it does take some technique. I stopped using a straight razor just because it's a pain in the butt to maintain the blade. I may get one of those straight razors that use a disposable blade, but the safety on is great.

Next, get yourself some good shaving cream and shave oil. Not Gillette Foamy garbage. Honest to goodness shaving cream. Better yet, get good shaving soap too, and lather up by putting a drop of cream on the brush, and THEN lather up the soap. Easily the best combination I've tried.

I happen to use this:
http://www.theartofshaving.com/Shavi...-shaving-cream

with this:
http://www.crabtree-evelyn.com/80203...-soaps#start=1
(refills are only $12.50).

For oil, I use this:
http://www.theartofshaving.com/Pre-S...-pre-shave-oil

or my latest one, this:
http://www.target.com/p/king-of-shav...FQMaOgodwWwASQ

I've also been experimenting with this:
http://www.cvs.com/shop/product-deta...m?skuId=687713

instead of the other cream. Not sure how I like it yet.

And of course, you absolutely need to splash cold water and follow up with this:
http://www.theartofshaving.com/After...ts-after-shave

but that's wicked expensive, so I've started using this:
http://www.drugstore.com/neutrogena-...balm/qxp239925

I also have all of the "Art Of Shaving" stuff above in lavender when I'm in a girly, foo foo mood.

Of course, you'll also need a decent badger hair brush. Your wallet will be your guide on this one.

But think of all the money you'll save on cartridges! ...ha ha ha

Yes, my wife poked some fun at me in the beginning, but a quick tour of the OTHER 75% of the bathroom she takes up, plus her massive makeup storage and application workbench, quickly put an end to that.

Honestly, though, the good stuff can be used VERY sparingly and lasts a LONG time. You'll overuse it at first, but you'll soon find that just a tiny drop of oil and cream is all you need.

[Jim Matthews]

Yes, my wife poked some fun at me in the beginning, but a quick tour of the OTHER 75% of the bathroom she takes up, plus her massive makeup storage and application workbench, quickly put an end to that.

I predict this was the last argument you will ever win, in your own house.

It's just a matter of time until there's stickers, Cheerios and hair - everywhere.

[Gary Muto]

It's just a matter of time until there's stickers, Cheerios and hair - everywhere.

Jim,
You described my home to a Tee.


I recently switched to a safety razor. It took a while to get used to the extra mass but I've adjusted. The blades stay sharper if you strop them on your palm. I've also read that it helps to dry the blade off right after use so I do that too. I've had blades stay sharp for a month easily.

[David Helm]

What's a razor???!!

[Brett Luna]

I've been dedicated to the straight razor for a few years but I've had a hankering to try a safety razor. I've heard very good things about Feather blades.

[Mark Bolton]

I shaved with my dad's for years. Still have it and use it occasionally. +1 on the bit of technique.

I just received a free shick 5 blade razor in the mail for what reason I don't know. Then I priced the refills and almost pooped myself. No wonder they sent me a free razor.

[David G Baker]

I get a good shave by using a Norelco shaver prior to using one of the 5 blade razors, this makes the 5 blade last for quite a bit longer than if I use the the blade razor alone. I keep one of the double edge razors on hand along with a couple of containers with a full load of blades just in case I get in the mood to go back to the old way. I went looking for a replacement razor along with packets of blades several years ago but I didn't have any luck finding any for sale so I dug through some boxes that I had shipped here when I moved to Michigan from California and found my old razor along with the blade containers.

[David Weaver]

Is that razor adjustable? It looks like a gillette slim or a gilette superspeed (depending on whether or not it's adjustable).

if you decide to keep using it, astra blades from amazon are about $12 for 100 shipped, and they are good.

I rarely use a DE, but I do use one when I travel. Otherwise only straight razors.

John - feather artist club or whatever they call their kamisori style razor, much better than a shavette.

[Pat Barry]

Rechargeable electric for me thank you. I love it.

[Raymond Fries]

I bought a vintage Gillette over a year ago and love it. I purchased 100 feather blades from amazon and still have not used all of them. They are awesome.

[David Weaver]

Feather's hi stainless blades are the sharpest thing I have ever seen of any type. The are sharper than you can get a straight razor, and I don't know why that is, but even in microscopic pictures they are incredibly smooth at the edges.

Astra blades are like a feather blade that's been shaved a few times, but still very sharp (and of course, very cheap).

[Leigh Betsch]

I wonder if Saw Stop makes a razor.......

[Andrew Pitonyak]

I wonder if Saw Stop makes a razor.......

They do indeed make a razor, and, it will keep you from cutting yourself. My biggest complaint, however, is that when when the break engages and retracts the blade, there is a large bang that typically startles the user into a "soiling" event.

[Brett Luna]

I am shaving every day now with the safety razor, using gel shave cream. I am waiting for my shave bowl to get here, ordered Monday night, along with some Arco shave sticks. I have some shave soap to try but no way to soak my brush until I get the bowl.

Soak brush? After I fill the sink with hot water, I usually put the tiniest drop of shaving cream (not canned shaving cream...real cream) on the tip of the brush, dip it very lightly into the hot water, and lather up. I couldn't imagine soaking my brush. Is that something you're supposed to do? It seems crazy to me.

Brush soaking is a very, very common practice but it's one of those things that is largely a matter of preference, rather than a rule. Many folks believe it helps the brush build and hold a lather better. It could also be entrenched in shaving lore from the days when gramps might have been more likely to have a boar brush, rather than badger and soaking was a way to soften the scratchiness. I think it also makes some sense if you're after a hot lather. If you use a cold, dry (or just wetted) brush, thermodynamics suggests that some of that lathery heat will be wasted on heating the brush, rather than your face.

I find that soaking the brush is the most help in lathering a cake. I do think I can build a better lather more quickly with it. The difference isn't so pronounced when I'm using a cream but I do it anyway since it's a ritual for me now. I use a shaving scuttle (from Dirty Bird Pottery) so I soak my brush while the scuttle is filled with hot water to preheat it while I'm showering.