Reddit reviews Leisureguy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving the Double-Edge Way
We found 11 Reddit comments about Leisureguy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving the Double-Edge Way. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Yeah, no. I'm sorry, but this is a bad guide. I'm AMAB and live my life as male. I shave almost daily, and I have to say, this is not the way to shave, because there is no one way to shave.
Shaving is an extremely individual experience. It is different for everyone.
Everyone's beard hair grows differently. The best way to figure out the grain of your beard is to draw a little diagram of your face (it doesn't need to be accurate) or take a straight-on photo of your face.
Then, take some time to let your beard grow out, and feel your face. Move your fingers in all directions. The direction that has the most resistance is against the grain. Take your diagram or photo and draw markers/arrows indicating which direction your hair grows with the grain in each spot on your face.
Now that you have a little diagram of your face, you can use that as a reference for the future (though you should compare it against your actual face now and then in case you initially got something wrong, or missed a feature) until you've memorized the grain yourself.
Okay, next dealio is to throw away (or preferrably recycle) your cartridge and canned foam and get into wetshaving (you can get started here, here, and here).
After that, I would suggest as a good way to start out shaving your face, do a with-the-grain pass, then an across-the-grain pass (meaning at a 90-degree angle to the direction of your grain), then an against-the-grain pass. Don't be too worried about getting a baby's-butt-smooth result at first, because you'll just end up giving yourself razor burn and nicking yourself.
Be patient, be careful, practice often, and rock on dudes! You've got this!
I used to have the same problem until I stopped using cartridges and switched over to using a DE razor. Head over to /r/wicked_edge and read the FAQ and some of the getting started posts.
If you don't want to switch to DE then you should look at your pre and post shave routine. This is what I do:
Pre-shave
Post-shave
The best thing you could do though, is invest in Leisureguy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving the Double-Edge Way
by /u/leisureguy
I wouldn't go for a Merkur or Mühle, and especially not for a Pils (I'm German and tried one, but sold it again). Sets are nice to look at, but they usually contain completely superfluous stuff like stands and bowls that just inflate the price.
If you are willing to go as high as 100 - 150€, you seriously should consider the Rockwell 6S :
Stainless steel (as opposed to the more fragile Zamak of both Merkur and Mühle), adjustable (3 baseplates with 6 different blade gaps, which means 6 razors in one) and generally very well liked and reviewed.
He will need a brush and soap, which you'll get at Maggard razors too, both can be had for 10 to 15$:
A good synthetic brush
There are a myriad of soaps to chose from, the Latha line from Barrister&Mann combines excellent performance with not too complex scents (which are difficult to gift) at a bargain. In Europe you have other very good options at good prices, depending on where you are.
Maggard razors has competitively priced shipping to Europe (assuming you're a fellow European, as you mention your price point in €).
Don't forget a blade sampler pack.
If you have money left, get your guy this book.
With some variation for brush and soap, that's what I give as a starter kit to good friends and family - it's literally the last razor he'll ever need.
Here's a solid kit if you're in the US or Canada:
Razor: this $20 razor has an Edwin Jagger head and a heavy stainless handle that can be used with other heads (such as this Maggard open comb, but of course that's a different vendor).
Brush: one of these synthetics, which are excellent.
Soap: one of these soaps: just pick one that sounds good.
Alum block: A good styptic if used correctly, and also a good skin treatment for those who suffer from acne
Read this post on why a blade sampler pack is needed, and get one with 4-7 brands.
When he starts, he should take care to avoid the four most common mistakes cartridge shavers make when switching to a DE razor.
You can take a look at the reader revies of my introductory guide and decide from those whether you think it would be helpful to him.
Hope this helps.
edit: typo re: link
Welcome mate. Enjoy your stay. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend u/leisureguy 's book.
My not-very-educated guess is that you could get two months or more out of one 4 oz. tub of shaving soap. Probably three months or more, really. That is, if you shave 5-6 days a week.
Right, I can't imagine anyone here would every recommend shaving with just water. I wouldn't think shaving that way could be enjoyable at all.
I believe that Maggard Razors has some longer-handled razors specifically for women and their different shaving needs. Check them out.
Blade sharpeners? One word: no. It's not worth your time or effort since a fresh blade is anywhere from 7 to 20 cents.
I believe the proprietor of Los Angeles Shaving Soap Company publicly released his soap formula. But I don't know where you'd find the formula or if I'm exactly right on that.
Check the sidebar for a link to the Double Edge Kit suggestions. Everything you need to get started is there.
In the mean time, check out this PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3Vscw_XOQpZNVppYmw4dWJfUVE/edit?pli=1
And if you want to know the ins and outs of shaving comfortably and actually making shaving enjoyable, there's no better resource than our very own /u/Leisureguy's book: http://www.amazon.com/Leisureguys-Guide-Gourmet-Shaving-Double-Edge/dp/151151583X/ref=sr_1_3
Welcome to the club!
Great, safety razor is the best way to go IMO. However if you’re not used to using one it will take some time and practice.
I strongly recommend you read this (it may be avail for free if you search):
Leisureguy’s guide to shaving
Good luck!
boa noite, I pretty much had the same routine (electric shaver most the time with a fusion razor when I wanted to be cleaner) and I hated shaving, usually I would have a scruffy beard my wife hated.
I gave DE a shot and love it, the ritual, the feeling of clean skin, the nice smells from the soaps and after-shaves.
You just got to be patient while learning and no go overboard on soaps (oops failing there) and supplies.
Hopefully someone international (i'm in US) can chip in with things to get from amazon or places to buy where you are at, I picked up Leisureguy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving and enjoy reading it.
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You can try learning to use a Double-Edge safety razor for a few weeks (starter kits here). There's a learning curve (PSA: possibly more irritation until you get the hang of it), but many prefer them for reducing ingrown hairs, and even if you go back to cartridge razors eventually, you'll find that you've learned to shave with better technique and a lighter touch.
There's plenty on shaving technique at /r/wicked_edge (also /r/ladyshavers for the interested). There's also this well-received book written by a senior member on there: Leisureguy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving the Double-Edge Way.
I put together the following kit for my groomsmen when I got married, which I felt got me exactly what I wanted.
The total comes out to $70.54. You could sub the Maggard basic starter kit or the Stirling budget starter kit for the first 4 items, you just get a few less blades and a little less soap. (If you go the Stirling route, you can order a humongous styptic pencil from them and shave on shipping)
Same, but with MORE!
Before I discovered straight razor and double edge shaving I spent close to ten years shaving with just a few drops of olive oil. Pre-soak your face hair (you do that anyways, right?) which for me almost always happens in what we call a shower. Then, with your hairs wet, place a few drops of olive oil in your hands with a little hot water. Rub you hands together and slap that shit on yer face! It won't completely end your razor gunk, but it will lessesn it AND allow you to see what your doing when you shave AND leave your face skin wonderfully soft. Now, about that four-blade...
Warning: Shameless plug for wet (traditional) shaving:
I know you have a certain familiarity with your current shaving set-up, but now is the time to open you mind to other possibilities. You're spending too much money, time, stress and aggravation when you shave. Go out and get yourself an inexpensive but competent single edge razor and shaving brush and some blades and shaving soap (Williams soap is low entry level but can work). The razor should run you maybe $30, brush the same. The soap will last you quite a while, and your blade costs going forward will be a fraction of what four-blade cartridges cost. Learn how to use and care for your brush Book:Leisureguy's guide to gourmet shaving. For advice, tutorials and community
r/shaving and r/wetshaving is good, Badger&Blade is great, and Straightrazorplace if you turn to the dark side.
If you do nothing else ditch the Barbasol--that shite dries out your skin and is actually the single best change you can make to your routine.
Try WestCoastShaving, ClassicShaving or RazorEmporium all seem to offer good choices... look for deals.
Most blades are pretty good. Feather Blades from Japan are superior. Seriously.
Mike's Shaving Soaps are a personal favorite, runners up Cella and Proraso (Italy)
Rinse your brush well under running water and working it against you palm as you would when face-lathering.
Boar, Horse and Badger and some synthetics can all work well, but badger is much more popular; Stick with a name brand you'll do fine.
I should probably subscribe to this and the wetshaving sub...