I disagree about never reversing direction. You can run your fingers around on your stubble and quickly tell that your hair doesn’t all grow in the same direction. Therefore, to get that baby-smooth skin, you have to attack the hairs from all angles. I generally do 1 or 2 downward passes, always using clean, long strokes. The last lather I reverse everything and go up the neck and sides. I never get irritation from this and I know from experimenting when I’m short on time that I stay stubble free for longer when I include the final reverse shave. I’m working on my winter beard right now though so I guess I’ll bow out of this discussion.
Dang reverse- shaving- hippies! Gots no tolerance for them folk!
I’ve been interested in getting a straight razor for a while, but the cost of one is far too much for this broke college student. And I’ve not shave in almost two years, not even a trim, so it’s a bit late to start now. Of course, I wish my beard grew in evenly. I’ve got somewhere around 4-5" of hair around my chin and a full mustache, but for some reason the sideburns just don’t seem to grow at all.
Bearded for the last 20 years, shaving is just one hassle too much in the morning. I keep itto a neat goatee though usually. If anyone has ever privately thought this site is a wee bit eccentric have a look at all about beards.org.
@shikitohno: You can try honey and chicken droppings. You put some honey on the outside and chicken droppings on the inside. The honey pulls form the outside and the chicken droppings pushes from the inside. I’ve never tried this myself but I was made to believe it works like a song (don’t know the name of the song).
I’ve been using a cheap, store brand safety razor for a couple of years now mainly for cost reasons. I wasn’t even aware there was an online safety razor community until I read this thread and did some Googling. I guess there is no end to the things people can be enthusiastic about 
‘online safety razor community’. That must be one hell of a place to be. Mind you, its beaten into first place as the world’s dullest club by the M25 group. The M25 is London’s orbital road, a place of utter tedium and despair and there are people who spend their leisure time talking and, more mind boggling, driving round it. Better than going out and robbing people so God bless em for that, but still…
@Snuffster: Badger & Blade is a very vibrant forum, here are some stats: Members: 32,451 Threads: 158,663 Posts: 2,421,615
Clearly, who am I to argue? I have posted a seperate thread to explore these issues with the membership.
I used to have a straight razor but my hands were too shaky. I use my grandfather’s beaver-fur brush and williams soap, but for a razor I use that 5-blade thing Gilette makes. They’re expensive but last a really long time.
@Snuffster: On closer inspection the B&B members behaviour seems to be very similar to our own. Many of them collect razors and I’ve come across several “hoarders” of razor blades who’s collections seem to be worshipped with an awe and fervour that a snuffhouse noob might display in response to a photo of a substantial snuff collection. Far from being critical of them, I actually see them as our brothers and have become rather worried by the realisation that the male hunter-gatherer instinct has been whittled away and reduced to the hoarding of tobacco and shaving paraphernalia 
Haha! Well said! Bob posted a video a couple months back from the Onion on freak behavior and pondered how close snuff-gatherers were to the edge…I can’t recall what it was on now, though
I remember someone talking about a mustard forum and there were many similar “compulsive” behaviors.
I use King of Shaves and Aldi store brand cartridge blades and they work well, I don’t shave everyday though. Have a proper badger brush, no idea of make, a Chinese boar brush and a couple Wilkinson cheapos and they’re all grand, badger being most versatile. For lather I use Palmolive cream, Boots soap stick and Total Shaving Solution oil. I go to barbershop for hot towel shaves.
That was it, mark!
Google GARLICK CLUBS and see what you get!
I think it comes down to making something mundane into something interesting. I must say that before diving into shaving with a Double Edge, I hated shaving. Now my morning routine makes the event enjoyable. In turn, discussing other things shaving related is now enjoyable. Discussing everything from the multitude of blades, razors, soaps, creams, oils, after shaves, etc. makes the event enjoyable as well. It is also a conscious effort to return to a time when men were men and men were gentlemen.
@shikitohno Have you considered Rogaine
Im not critical of anyone, I think people with odd interests make the world more interesting. If I wasn’t on here so much (which is a statement in itself) doubtless I would be a member of the razor blade club. Dull is not neccessarily bad.
I’ve heard of people buying up every razor, brush, or cream they can get their hands on. I don’t get it. To each his own, I guess. I’m off to buy my 325th Zippo now. 
@cstokes4 Definitely try the feather razors. They are especially good for coarse hair.