Why did you start?

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As the title says, why did you start shaving properly?

My darling wife is currently on a bit of an anti-plastic drive, which has lead to me discovering that our lovely hobby of shaving properly, is also a (potentially) plastic free method!

I, personally, starting shaving with a DE to help my skin. And I must admit, it has done wonders. My neck which used to always be red and raw and uncomfortable, has calmed down significantly since using a DE. Interestingly, I've found that soaps either make it horrible (Arko, I'm looking at you) or everything is fine. The main difference is with the change from multi-blade cartridge to having a proper DE razor.

As I see it, there are four reasons for proper shaving:
- Help you skin
- Save money on blades
- Reduce plastic waste
- The pure unadulterated pleasure of it

What made you make the switch? One of these? Or something I've not thought of?
 
In 1969 when I was 19 I abandoned the Philishave electric razor my father had given me for a Gillette twist to open DE razor. The electric razor just wasn't doing the job for me.

Over the years I moved with Gillette marketing to various multi blade products.

In about 2000 I decided the latest Gillette offering was too expensive and not cutting my increasingly tough white beard. After reading around I returned to DE shaving. It is easy, quick, cheap and effective. I hope the products I like continue to be available until I need them no more. I'm nearly 70 now.
 
Well, it is more environmentaly friendly I guess, in that it must be almost impossible to economically recycle the blend of plastic and metal in throwaway razors or disposable heads. Whilst used blades are high quality metal which should be capable of recovery. I started wet shaving back around 1960 because there wasn't really any affordable alternative available. I've remained with it because I enjoy doing it, it gives me a satisfactory result and my skin gives less trouble than other methods.

JohnnyO. o/
 
I'd always used carts and foam but found it increasingly unsatisfactory as I moved into middle age - expensive gimmicky carts that delivered only a so so shave and lasted about a week's shaving for me at best. As blade numbers increased I found they clogged more easily - it wasn't unknown to get through 2 carts in one shave if i was shifting a week or so's growth. Original motivation for trying DE was cheaper shaving but quickly found I was getting much better shaves as well. Not being much of a collector and happy with the kit I have I shave for buttons these days.
 
I started after I got a job in an office on a piss poor wage.
I was using disposables due to not having enough cash to spend on cartridges, which were forever clogging up and thought I'd go down the same route as my dad.
One Timor twist to open, a cheap synthetic brush and a tub of Proraso. Jackpot!
I'll never go back to shaving with cartridges, zero ingrowing hairs and my skin is much,much better, plus I actually enjoy shaving now.
I am now a DE shaving missionary and try to convert as many people as I can.;)
 
Rockwell Kickstarter advert, promising no irritation shave. Something I never had with cartridges and canned gloop. In fact, it was hideous how bad my neck was with Gillette's offerings. Because of this, I had stubble/beard for many years. I decided that since beards were just becoming hipster cool, it had to go.

I now have 5 razors, with my faves being Gillette Black Tip and Schick M1.
If I stop buying stuff, I might just start saving money in a year or so. Certainly have the blades to last that long, and probably the soap.




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I have never actually tested modern multi blade cartridges, so in the name of science maybe I should have a go at last, could be a gamechanger!? (No canned stuff though because I like my brushes to much.)
 
I was one of them hippy types that started in attempt to reduce my carbon footprint from all those non-recyclable cartridges.

Of course, now I own many razors, and the carbon involved in their manufacturing and delivery (I seem to have developed a penchant for heavy razors) probably far outstrip what I would have created from my cartridge use!
 
Irritation from carts in the form of bumps, ingrown hairs and a red raw face and neck, along with the cost of said carts, and the clogging, made me want to change. I found this site and realised there is a better way! Thinking about it, I was getting some horrifically long ingrown hairs on my neck with Fusion 5-blade carts. When I got them out I couldn't believe how long they were! I wasn't even shaving ATG with them

A lot of DE shavers say you don't actually save money this way, in fact you may spend even more than you did on carts. But so what if you're getting a better shave and enjoying the experience more? You don't have to go down the rabbit hole unless you choose to. I've spent slightly more in 6 months or so of DE shaving than I would have done on the carts, canned goo & balm that I used to buy, but the shaves are better and I'm set up for a while with hardware & blades, so will probably only need to buy a tub of cream every few months for now
 
As the title says, why did you start shaving properly?

My darling wife is currently on a bit of an anti-plastic drive, which has lead to me discovering that our lovely hobby of shaving properly, is also a (potentially) plastic free method!

I, personally, starting shaving with a DE to help my skin. And I must admit, it has done wonders. My neck which used to always be red and raw and uncomfortable, has calmed down significantly since using a DE. Interestingly, I've found that soaps either make it horrible (Arko, I'm looking at you) or everything is fine. The main difference is with the change from multi-blade cartridge to having a proper DE razor.

As I see it, there are four reasons for proper shaving:
- Help you skin
- Save money on blades
- Reduce plastic waste
- The pure unadulterated pleasure of it

What made you make the switch? One of these? Or something I've not thought of?
What do you consider shaving properly?
 
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