Just an update from me on the old shaving thread. Still find the Schick Hydo 5 blades to be by far the best I have used. Bought a old school german Merkur double edged razor with some Feather blades from Japan. Works well but really difficult to keep from cutting yourself to ribbons. Not great if you have a face with lots of tricky spots.
The Razor pit I bought was a really good investment and has paid for itself already in that I can make a Hydro 5 blade last a month. I believe their speil that blades feel dull because they are coated with crap after a few shaves and are really not dull at all. The edge is still there but it is coated with skin cells, soap residue and the like. The Razor pit serves to clean the still sharp edge. So many of you may not be able to get a Razor pit but what I have found to be really effective at cleaning your blade is "Vim Bathroom", spray it on the blade and rinse off all the crap. The difference it makes is stunning as it serves to disolve all the residue off the edge which actually takes a long time to get physically dull.
My dabbling in the double edge razor brought me into the world of brushes and English shave cream. A badger hair brush, (my dad agrees with me big time on this) is the best and combined with "Taylor of Bond Street" English shave creme in the jar. Unbelievably good stuff. I have had this 150gm container for 8 months! and there is still half left. It is the smoothest stuff I have ever used. Just a little dab on the brush and you are good to go for both face and below.
http://www.fendrihan.ca/products/ta...ermyn-street-shaving-cream-for-sensitive-skin
The above is the stuff I have been using and I bought it retail for twice as much.
Anyway that is my update on this old tread.
Vim Bathroom for the blades
and
Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving creme with a Badger hair brush which should last you a lifetime if you take care of it and keep the bristles from getting matted.
Regards
pb