Does anyone else still use a badger bristle shaving brush for shaving? I just can’t find anything else that helps my facial hair stand up well enough to get a perfect, comfortable shave every time.

I wish. I really want a safety razor too

I use a silvertip badger brush that my wife bought for me in Italy a couple of years ago. It’s in a set with a stainless steel bowl and a razor - the brush and razor have bone handles. You’re right - there is nothing to beat it when combined with a first-class soap (I use Crabtree & Evelyn Sandalwood). I don’t use a cut-throat or safety razor though - a Mach 3 does the job for me.

I don’t use a brush. I use this Total Shave Solution Oil from Ireland. The closest most comfortable shave I ever had. And it has a great scent as well. Its great if you have a goatee or other facial hair design because you can see exactly where your shaving.

I don’t get on all that well with the oil, although I keep a little phial for travel purposes because it saves having to pack brushes, soap, etc. My travel toilet bag contains oil, a couple of disposable razors, shower gel and tooth brush/paste. That’s it! The point though of the brush is whether you see shaving as a chore, or as a ritual. If you see it as the latter (which I do) then the whole ritual of warming the face, lathering, etc is part of the appeal.

Best shave I ever had was in Nepal … just like you, it was a cut-throat job. The whole thing was finished off with a head massage. All in all, the guy took about half an hour on the job, and all for next to nothing by our standards.

Badger brush and a straight razor when I have time. Normal morning is a badger and my grandfathers saftey razor.

I use an old antique gillete razor I got at an antique store - the old safety razor with the double blade. I use regular shaving cream, though. I got sick of paying out the ass for B.S. razors where the original package razors last a long time, but the refills only last a couple shaves. It’s a scam, so I finally bought a MAN’s razor earlier this year, and haven’t looked back.

Free Schick Quattro Titanium Razor or Trimmer

Straight Razor here and nothing better than a good badger brush. Here’s the most reasonable quality brushes I’ve found http://www.vintagescent.com/shaving-brushes.html

And we Vikings never shave at all… hee hee

As coincidence would have it , i just shaved. badger brush and safety razor here. As for traveling … i don’t shave. I can stay away from home indefinitely on a school backpack , provided i can wash my clothes somewhere once a week and winter doesn’t suddenly occur :). Safety razors are a hell of a lot cheaper than the overly marketed cartridge systems. I payed something along the lines 7$ for the handle + 5 double edge razors. and razors cost about 1$ for a 5 pack of Wilkinson - Double sword or less depending on the brand.

Yeah I’ve received 3. Got them around Thanksgiving time.

What’s a “straight”? Is that what is known as a “cut throat”?

Can anyone recommend a nice sturdy straight razor i can order online that won’t break the bank? A friend of mine just got a pair of really old puma razors from his grandpa but as far as i know they’re not being made anymore.

When I was a boy, I clearly remember my Father telling we the sharpest double edged razorblade came from England, Wilkinson Sword. I believe they still make them, (not around here anymore) and I’m not even sure if they are high quality these days or not. I would think firstfloorfront would know, though. That’s a mighty nice collection above!!!

Though not a hobby, I do shave with a straight razor from time to time. So, yeah, I tend to use a badger brush on occasion.

I still see Wilkinson’s from time to time, but they’re made in Germany these days. Checked out the shaving requisites on Cigarconnoiseur.uk sometime back out of sheer boredom and suddenly felt part of my life was sorely lacking. I had an attack of Mrs Bucket syndrome, noting that their shave creams had Royal warrants on them. Not sure the Oxford would be the best choice for me, though. My beard has been post-graduate for decades.

If you are looking for the sharpest safety razor blades get feather blades(http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/906451.htm) they are the sharpest hands down, they are a bit aggressive though so just be careful. I have been using safety razors since my second shave. My great grandfathers old gillette double Edge. I have used a straight razor but keeping it sharp was difficult with the old razor I bought and more possibly my honing skills. I would suggest to buy a merkur razor, any are good they are all quality depends what you want to do. As for their blades they are very good quality but not as aggressive as a feather. IMHO you cannot beat a feather blade. A double edge is a pretty good daily shaver, you can go at a reasonable pace andstill get a great shave. I straight it seems to take a lot longer and if you think about rushing it will become a butcher shop over your sink or at best a poor shave, if you want to straight shave get a double edge for weekday use and straight for weekends and you’ll be shaving like a pro in no time.

I have both a badger and a boar brush that I use on a regular basis, to go with my DE and the straight I use occasionally. I got hooked on the badger and DE over at http:\\www.badgerandblade.com

I’m just getting into old-skool shaving with my grandfather’s WWII-era Gilette Tech Razor and a brush/soap, but unfortunately my brush is a newer Burma Shave (“100% natural bristles.” What kind of bristles? Who knows). Maybe I’ll put a badger on my Xmas list!!!

Most likely boar bristles, rather coarse and doesnt create a lather as easy as badger but I *think* they are a little more resilient

Probably…the brush was sitting for some time and it’s since softened up a bit with regular use, but I’d still like a badger one day…

I’m about to retire my Burma. I’ll probably just pick up another Boar Bristle, they treat me pretty well.

I’d like to try a badger, but I don’t want to fall into what the fellows at Badger and Blade call “AD”; Acquisition Disorder. There’s a pretty reasonable badger made by Tweezerman, I think it’s about $20. Xmas list!

i’ve been using my '61 gillette G3 for about 10 years now and I really have to say the shaves are a lot better than the disposable blades but in the same breath the safety razor blades are different too. Some are better than others. My mother recently gave me a couple of packages of blades that from the boxes look very vintage (each blade individually wrapped in wax paper)- they are thinner then the usual ones and they don’t really do a great job i recently purchased a brush and soap kit. can anyone tell me what the bowl is for?

Well, some folks use a shaving mug. You put the soap in the bowl, wet your brush, and then dip the brush into the bowl and whip up a good thick lather. Then use the brush to apply it to your scruffy face and shaggy armpits.

LOL thanks Xander. now i know, and knowing is half the battle.

Well, I didn’t pay much attention to this thread when I first read it, but eventually my curiosity had me looking around on some of these different sites and even watching some dude shave on youtube. Today I actually placed an order for a Merkur Heavy duty safety razor, an assortment of blades, a brush, stand and some soap. These items probably won’t be here for a few days, but I’m excited about the purchase and look forward to “re-learning” how to properly shave. See, this site can teach you more about life than snuff

Just got a Tweezerman badger brush for X-mas! I’ll retire my cheapo Burma-Shave to emergency-use-only…

I use a Burma Shave brush I bought in 1996 and it still works fine for me. Don’t know if it’s boar or badger but I love lathering up with an antique shave mug and some good soap. My razor is a gilette safety razor I bought last year in Maryland at a beauty supply shop. Works great and I can get replacement blades here in the Philippines for 5 pesos each (about 10 cents).

Well I won’t lie, my Burma-Shave sat neglected for years, so for all I know the bristles have stiffened from improper care. On the other hand, I love my '40s Gillette Tech Razor (which was my grandfather’s, handed down) and I use cheapo blades from whatever drugstore is handy. Oh, I wouldn’t mind trying some of the nicer soaps like Truefitt & Hill or Trumper’s, but in the meantime $1.40 Williams works just fine, and that black Dovo straight razor can just wait until I’ve mastered DE shaving…

A barber using a straight edge razor cut me up a little. He said I had the Softest Skin toughest beard he’d seen. Straight razors just aren’t for me. So I use a badger brush. A “Art of shaving” razor with etched grip that holds a Fusion blade. Bigelow shaving cream available at Bath and body shop. The steel razor handle weight provides a stability to the shaver. The etched handle provides non slip. The Fusion blades are the sharpest in existence and the Bigelow Shave Cream lubricates great. The Badger brush gets the cream through the beard. I rarely cut myself and the blade lasts at least 3 weeks.