Safety razor
#76
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Someone could read that and conclude they need a LOT of stuff to use a razor with replaceable blades (non-cartridge). From that article you need:
For travel, I also use a Bic razor like BobG does, TSA does not confiscate it.
- A razor handle that comes with a head
- The right blades
- A high-fat shaving cream
- An aftershave or an aftershave balm, because they help to soothe your skin
- A styptic pencil, in case you cut yourself because it stops the bleeding
- One of those blade holders is the one I use at home, one is from my gym bag (35mm plastic film cartridge case as my protective case for it), the other is just another one I have. They are all vintage Gillette 1-9 adjustable razor blade holders. The ones with black handles appear to have a dissimilar metal corrosion issue inside the handle, if you are buying a used one and have a choice, I would lean away from the black ones. That said, the longer handle black one is the one I like to use, the longer handle feels better in my XL glove size hand. I have no idea what these sell for on the used market, I have had these since the 1980s. I did buy them used back then, before I bought these I used Schick brand injector razors.
- When I started to have trouble buying double edge blades in stores, I switched to buying Dorco blades in bulk on-line. They are cheap and just as good as the ones I used to buy before that. I have several more years worth in storage, do not remember what they cost.
- Shaving creams must have something I am allergic to, every one I have tried gives me a rash. I use soap. At home, use liquid hand soap, at the gym I use a bar of glycerin based soap, for travel I use whatever bar of soap I have for the shower, usually Ivory.
- I do not use.
- Have never owned one.
For travel, I also use a Bic razor like BobG does, TSA does not confiscate it.
When I decided to get into "old-school" shaving about ten years ago, I looked at a few blogs and YouTubes. Some people get really serious about this stuff, and spend a lot of time checking out different tools and a lot of money in the process doing it. There are men who think nothing of spending $200 on a shaving brush, a tool whose sole purpose is to lather shaving cream. Sure, that $200 brush can lather up a dollop of cream in milliseconds, but I'm okay spending a few extra seconds using my old brush I got off of Etsy for $10. And "high-fat" shaving cream doesn't need to be expensive--I tend to stick with Prorasso, easily available and usually $10. With that $10 brush I'm able to make a tube last for months, more life than I'd get out of a can of Edge Gel.
And yes, some people make more of a process out of shaving than others. If you're used to "I put some Barbasol on my face and used a disposable", then the advice of pre- and post-shave stuff seems like a lot. But some people like it, and for some people it's their way of getting a good shave. You don't necessarily need all those extras. As for the styptic pen, I've had one for "emergencies". But it burns like a hot pepper, so I rarely use the thing.
And shaving cream/soaps is a personal thing. What works for some may not work for others. It's all a matter of trial and error.
#77
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Or maybe I'm just mired in ignorance*. Let's say we're at a Forest Service campsite with a pit toilet and a water spigot. Can someone guide me through their process with accoutrements of wet shaving on a camping cycletour? (For reference, I know about wet blade shaving at home; I alternate between a 1957 Schick Injector Hydro-magic and a 1915 GEM Damaskeene.)
BTW, wet shaving and camping cycletourists, the secret word for today is biodegradable:
*Would not be the first time.
Last edited by tcs; 04-21-22 at 11:48 AM.
#78
Senior Member
I'm guessing that tube of shave cream is 'lather on the face' (or do you use your dangle mug to work the lather?). That being your cycletour shaving kit, as I suggested in post no. 26, it would seem you are repurposing your oatmeal pot for a shaving basin, heating water over the camp stove (reasonable), and using yesterday's t-shirt for a towel (NTTAWWT).
Or maybe I'm just mired in ignorance*. Let's say we're at a Forest Service campsite with a pit toilet and a water spigot. Can someone guide me through their process with accoutrements of wet shaving on a camping cycletour? (For reference, I know about wet blade shaving at home; I alternate between a 1957 Schick Injector Hydro-magic and a 1915 GEM Damaskeene.)
What I put in my shaving kit depends on what kind of tour I'll be doing, and how long.
- Quick overnight or two nighter: I'd leave the kit at home.
- If I was going to do a tour where I'd be guaranteed a "real bathroom" at least every third day or so, I'd bring some level of my wet shave travel kit: travel razor, shaving cream, brush. Maybe I'd bring some aftershave in a small bottle, maybe I'd just use some Aloe Vera Gel (that's always in my travel kit). I don't usually do the wet shave with a spigot and hot water from the stove, though I have done it in the past.
- If I was doing a more bikepacking tour, a tour where Forest Service pit toilets would be the norm, or wanted to keep the kit minimal, I'd skip the kit above and bring a razor and either that stuff you depicted above, or possibly some shave oil, like the type Pacific sells: https://www.pacificshaving.com/natur...ing-oil-1-2oz/
#79
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I usually shave about once a week when traveling. I have a partial beard, so am only shaving part of my face. When you have a partial beard, it is less obvious when the part you shave has not been shaved for several days.
I try really hard to find campgrounds that have showers, and when they have showers they always have sinks. Since I also do sink laundry, I bring my own flat silicone drain stopper because campground sinks usually have no stoppers for me to do laundry.
Equipment: Bic razor, bar of soap (and storage box for soap), and drain stopper.
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#80
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first couple days may be itchy, but on a 6-month tour............you (well....I do) get used to it.
i might buy me a 25-cent "bric" knock off at the end of the tour to clean up before the flight home,
or before dealing with corrupt border officials at remote crossings.
depends on the budget at the end............heck, could also splurge for a $1 live barber shave.
#81
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Someone asked about shaving cream. I use Arko soap in stick form, and put it in a twist up tube, similar to what deodorant sticks use. . I paid $11 for 12 sticks of Arko back in 2016, and I still have plenty left. It now costs $17 for 12, but it is still a bargain, and it is great shaving soap. I carry an Omega travel brush. It works really well and packs nicely in its own plastic cover/guard. I bought the boar bristle version from Amazon, but they don't have it anymore. Amazon does list the badger version now though, but it is naturally much more expensive. You can also get boxes for disposing razor blades on Amazon. I have one I have been using for four years that is not yet quite full.
I much prefer a double edged safety razor. The shave is better and more comfortable after you learn to use it. I have been using one since I began shaving, so I have that part down. I have tried others, but they require more pressure to work well, and that causes discomfort. With a safety razor you let the razor do the work without added pressure. More comfortable, and no razor rash. No cuts either if you if you use it correctly, i.e. don't add pressure. I haven't cut myself in over seven years. The last time I cut myself was when I was using a cartridge razor again before going back to a safety razor. The safety razor is much more economical too. 100 good blades will cost between $15-$20. I just bough 100 Astra Stainless blades for around $7.20. I have used the Astra Super Platinum blades and liked them. I decided to try the stainless version since many like them better. So far they are okay.
I much prefer a double edged safety razor. The shave is better and more comfortable after you learn to use it. I have been using one since I began shaving, so I have that part down. I have tried others, but they require more pressure to work well, and that causes discomfort. With a safety razor you let the razor do the work without added pressure. More comfortable, and no razor rash. No cuts either if you if you use it correctly, i.e. don't add pressure. I haven't cut myself in over seven years. The last time I cut myself was when I was using a cartridge razor again before going back to a safety razor. The safety razor is much more economical too. 100 good blades will cost between $15-$20. I just bough 100 Astra Stainless blades for around $7.20. I have used the Astra Super Platinum blades and liked them. I decided to try the stainless version since many like them better. So far they are okay.
#82
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Second those recommendations. I have been using a DE razor for over a decade but my facial hair is more of a nuisance rather than a manly feature. I don't tour with this but I travel a bit. Arko sticks are excellent to fly with since they're neither pressurized nor liquid, and they're compact (you can even cut one in half). Astra blades have been really good to me, but my pack says they're in Russia so they might be hard to get soon. A 100 pack (500 blades) lasts a veeeery long time (possibly a decade). For home use Proraso shaving cream is awesome; it used to be more difficult to find in the US but now it's much easier (Amazon, even seen it at TJMaxx).
#83
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A lovely breakfast at camp and its time to get a move on. Break camp, just before taking down the drying cord strung between the trees that goes into an outer pannier pocket, I pull out the Panasonic shaver from the same pocket, do a shave whilst roaming the site looking for any debris, and then off we go. More time enjoying coffee at camp, less time shaving.
#84
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Gillette brand is owned by P&G. My understanding is that most Gillette razor blades (Astra, Nacet, Gillette Blue, etc.) are currently made in St. Petersburg (RU). BIC (French brand, manufactured in Turkey), Feather (Japanese) or Derby (Turkey) usually receive good reviews,
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#85
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Gillette brand is owned by P&G. My understanding is that most Gillette razor blades (Astra, Nacet, Gillette Blue, etc.) are currently made in St. Petersburg (RU). BIC (French brand, manufactured in Turkey), Feather (Japanese) or Derby (Turkey) usually receive good reviews,