EASY SHAVING WITH A RAZOR BLADE | TESTING A SUBSCRIPTION SHAVING SERVICE | THE PERSONAL BARBER 

I think the whole clean shaving thing also depends on one’s hair. When I had a lot of hair I was clean shaven much more. Now I’ve little left and clipper my remaining hair down to a 0, having a clean shave as well as a near bald head makes me look like an adult baby. So the facial hair - permanent 5 o’clock shadow helps balance it and makes you look less stupid. But when I have to, then yes I’ve been using Merkur 2 piece DE razors for the last 15 years. Pack of 50 Merkur blades has lasted me 8 years so far haha

A DE shave is a treat to look forward to. No ingrowing hairs and it conditions your skin. Leaving you with a finish of shave no one can compare to. Travelling to the States I was forced to pack a 6 bladed cartridge razor. I still used Proraso pre shave balm and cream. But alas it was not the same. Cartridge razors are blunt, clumsy, pull your stubble and clog readily. Plus are s.l.o.w. They cost a fortune and are a disposable plastic. I was so happy to come back to Old Blighty and have a decent shave again. DE shaving is a cathartic experience keeping a gent looking his best! I relish these Chaps Guide productions and indeed they make a great accompaniment to a gentleman's shave. Quietly playing in the background as one goes about ones ablutions👍

No cuts are more impressive in that cold! Well done.

Very good point.... "get used to minor cuts/weepers". So many gents are worried about minor cuts or weepers when changing to a safety razor. Really not worth the concern. The benefits are well worth these negligible concerns. Cheers!

Beards were definitely not fashionable when I stopped shaving in 1970, but I did not stop because I wanted a beard. I had tried every type of razor available, and I hated every one of them because shaving was so uncomfortable. It was such a relief to know that I would not have to put myself through that discomfort every day for the rest of my life, regardless of what people thought. There was some added pleasure to be derived from the fact that my boss, a retired Lt Col, hated beards more than I hated him. It was fortunate that I only saw him about once a month, and in between I could get on with job without his interference, and I did enjoy my job, as long as he left me alone. Incidentally, my maternal grandfather started working for his father who was a barber, and they only ever used cut-throat razors. That would have been in the 1880s, and my father only started using a safety razor in the 1950s. I still had two of his razors until quite recently when I passed them on to younger members of the family as heirlooms; another feature of history that is gone and mostly forgotten. To compensate for my beard, I always tended to dress up, and by the time I retired, I was one of the few men who still wore suit and tie and polished shoes to the office every day. And I deplored the habit of colleagues who changed into casual clothes before dinner when we were away at conferences or training events.

BTW the Rapira's are russian blades made of swedish steel. These and the Voskhod blades are my standard blades, they work perfectly for me with my Mühle razor.

I agree Ash 👍🏼 And it’s pure meditation 👌🏼

Ash. I'm sporting a beard for a couple of decades now. Did shave alot years ago. My grandfather thought me to us a straight razor and it gave me a very close shave. My Father always shaved and used a safety razor and a historical note our medisin cabinet had a slot in the back to dispose of old blades. I would think there must be hundreds of them behind the wall. As for military the Pioneer regiments also sported a beards. Great video. Cheers Ron

Ive used an electric beard trimmer for years until recently. Reason being, shaving with cartridge razors used to give me terrible razor burn and ingrown hairs. It's only recently through the power of social media that I have discovered the double edge safety razor. Now I look forward to shaving and discovering new shaving products. I also hadn't heard of a styptic pencil until today when I struggled to stop a nick. Everyday is a school day.

Shaving is one of those pastimes I look forward to I truly enjoy using a double edge razor and also a straight razor as well thanks for sharing the video!

I'm one those chaps that shaves against the grain on my second pass. It does give me an exceptional close shave without any irritation. But I will say I have been shaving like that my entire adult life so I guess I'm just used to it. Cheers.

Nice shave!

Also its good for environment. Less material to recycle. All are winning🏆

For some bizarre reason I'm imagining you wearing that Fez from the hats episode. Just like that.

They provided, in my opinion, top notch blades too!

Seeing that shiny safety razor just reminds me I need to do a little cleaning maintenance on mine! Great video

Nice outdoors shave Ash, it would be very cold shaving outside in the morning around here as it's about -3C in the morning. I started shaving in 1978 at age 14 and my dad got me a Schick DE razor to start off with and still doing it today. I'm a three pass, seven days a week guy that can't stand any facial hair and love a BBS feeling. When in the army I'd still shave each morning if possible use the standard kit issued. It's should take more than 15 minutes to do a three pass shave and if time is a issue in the morning, shave in the evening before heading to bed, something is very relaxing and helps with the sleep. Have a great day and weekend Ash

Enjoyable video. Though I have wore a beard most of my adult life, I still do some shaving to keep the beard looking sharp and neat. When you mentioned getting cut by the blade, it brought back a memory of some 55 years ago when I was a small boy and decided to try shaving with my father’s double edge razor. I cut my young face up, and it was a sharp pain. I really did not do any damage, but it was another six or seven years before I tried shaving again in my early teens when my beard started to come in.

I have two straight razors and 2 safety razors. I also got around 50 or so blades for the double edge. All together I think I've got around $50 USD all together because the straight razors and 1 of the safety razors were bought at an antiques store. The 3 set me back a mere $15. Add in a new strop, cream, and blades, plus another safety razor, I got a good deal. All told, I will shave, off and on, all year. Currently I'm wearing a short beard and it gets the right hair care treatment needed. I may shave for a special occasion here soon and look forward to it.

The ideal aftershave after a shave of this nature is of course Tabaq. But that´s just my opinion. Good work mate.

Great video Ash. I’ve been using a DE razor for the last 20+ years. Mrs Mallory bought me a Merkur Future razor last year for our wedding anniversary. It’s a little pricey but highly recommended. Keep up the terrific content and thank you for sharing.

Thanks for the video. I’m currently sporting a goatee , with handlebar mustache. I shave my neck and cheeks, and the space between my mustache and goatee. I do this because my wife likes the beard, but my daughter doesn’t like kissing my scratchy cheek, so my compromise is to keep my cheeks baby smooth for my baby girl, and chin and upper lip burley for the wife.

Nice one Ash, love the early morning and hate beards. That is a trend which will pass. I use a Rockwell, Feather and a Merkur Futur de razors and Feather, Merkur or Gillette blades. Castle Forbes lime and lavender cream and a Plisson brush. All good stuff. Thanks for the vid and green Spring! Still cold and snow -16C in the Prairies. Have a great weekend! Starlight

Brilliant video. Have you used shaving cream instead of soap and if so, how would you compare the two? I also love the simplicity of the mug of hot water. I'm used to using the hot water tap at home, but with the current gas prices, using an electric kettle to boil water for just a big mug might save a lot of money in the longer term.

Been shaving with a De razor now 2 years my god it's 🙏 changed my shaving experience trouble is I'm far down the rabbit hole with over 60 soaps creams aftershave lotions balms etc 13 razors 🪒 it's become my hobbie which I love not a chore which I used to dread 👍💈🧴🧼🪒

I wouldn't mind the current trend of sporting facial hair if more men took more time to trim and groom their beard. I sport a goatee, so I get the best of facial hair and double edged shaving.

Been using a double edge razor for about 10 years. Got into it in my 20s . Best decision ever...astra blades are like £10 per 100... and I bought a nice German razor by Merkur. It was worth the price.. the only thing I don't use is the soap. Just use pre shave oil and lather up some Proraso gel in a bowl with a Kent brush... one new blade per shave to avoid irritating the skin... love it.. oh and a little after shave but not alcohol based

I agree that DE razors provide a superior experience and end result over cartridges or electric razors. There is a whole community of wet shavers on youtube and in online forums where tips, tricks, reviews, and demonstrations are shared. You can learn about hardware (razors, blades, bowls, brushes, and etc.), software (pre-shaves, after-shaves, balms, astringents, alum blocks, soaps, and creams). There is a renaissance occurring in DE wet shaving in the Western world since the banking crash of 2008. It never really went out of fashion in the rest of the world. Many with sensitive skin, or rough shod technique (such as myself), prefer to shave with a warm brush, but tepid water and a tepid razor. This tends to be easier on the skin as the pores are not dilated by a fully hot shave. The preparation is very important. A hot shower is the ideal prep, in my experience. With experience shortcuts can be taken, if you choose to pursue a DFS (Damn Fine Shave) rather than a BBS (Baby Butt Smooth) shave. Beware, this can be a rabbit hole. Everyone has different experiences with particular hardware and software. Thankfully, it is free to watch the videos and read the forums. I wish that I had learned about DE shaving a couple of decades ago. I never achieved a close shave with an electric razor. I never achieved an irritation free shave with a cartridge razor, even the expensive Mach 3 cartridges. Once I found a few blades that work for my beard and my skin it was a short learning curve to predictably fine and efficient shaves.

I have a goatee and separate mustache. It actually takes me longer to shave than when I was clean shaven. I have to carefully shave around the tash and chin whiskers as well as trimming the wild hairs a couple of times a week. So, I don't have facial hair to save time, quite the opposite. BTW, the last time I shaved outdoors was when I was in the army. Cold water in a canteen cup and bar soap. No joy!

Ash - Gald to see proper attire for the woods, today I tried the beard, but just cant get past the 4 day itch Although beard maintenance appear to be an art form, supported by a range of man beard produce I moved to a double edged safety razor 8 years ago and never looked back and saved a fortune, but never liked any subscription services, as its just not VFM for me But looks like a good starter idea and anything that gets us away from throw away plastic is good

Why don't you give us a link how to order the shaving kit web site.

i do like your bag (in the intro) - where did you get it from, please? - as I'm after a messenger type bag... i initially was after a leather type of satchel, but changed my mind... but i do like the brown / green combos and have saw a few on etsy i also like.. :)

I bought a similar one a couple of years ago, unfortunately I kept cutting my self , chin and moustache areas, gone back to the usual method. Lovely 😊 video. Do you ever broadcast from inside?

The razor seems to be a Baili BR191...

added advantage DE blades are recyclable, cartridge blades aren't

Hi Ash What size Kelly kettle is this please?

I would argue a good beard is more work than a regular shave. I still shave, but just the neck, I have to trim and shape the beard, and I have to be even more careful with the skin or else my skin under my beard dries and flakes. Though as I get in my 40s, I would like to see fewer grey hairs. I don't think that will go as I like.

I'm 67 and to tell the truth the best shave I've ever had is from Aldi 5 blade disposable ones and there shave gel. My skin is left as smooth as silk and I've never knicked my face using them. over the years I've tried badger brushes, shave soap and "old school" blades but they don't compare to the modern day blades. Even my local Turkish barber can't give as close as shave with a cut throat blade.

Sorry, but Rapira is a Russian blade made of a specific grade of steel called the Sweedish supersteel. That steel does not have to come from Sweden. The blade is made by a Russian company in Moscow whose name even I cannot pronounce, despite being a Slav. Perma-Sharp was originally Scottish from Glasgow, but Gillette bought the company and moved production to St. Petersburg. Also, that razor you are using is Rasorock Teck II, a clone of the original Gillete Tech razor that many men brought home from WWII and that was more or less the end of straight razors. I personally do not like the handle because it is slippery, but this is easily solved. The brush was made by a Chinese company Yaqi, one of the best. That brush costs more than everything else in that package combined.

Smaching video, Ash! Even for a guy who shaves his face AND head for almost 35 years (already). I'm curious about the beards in the RAF though. I don't see a lot of pilots supporting facial hair. Does the constant wearing of a breathing mask cause irritations with a beard? I do not dispute that supporting personnel and other units stopped shaving in greater numbers, but maybe that has to do whith the theaters of operations of the last decade? Where clean shaven chaps are found to be to foreign? I'm going to shave in a little while. Hope I don't nick a vein and cause a scene from the movie "Carrie" or "The Chainsaw Massacre"!? :-) :-) :-)

When I was using an electric razor, shaving was the worst part of my daily life (even though it was a high-quality and rather expensive razor). I got skin irritations for at least the next 16 hours. Now that I am using a traditionnal DE, it has become my favorite part of the day and even without aftershave I don't fell any irritations 10 minutes after the deed. If you are hesitant towards traditionnal shaving give it a try ! After a few weeks of pratice, your daily life will drasticly improve.

A groomed beard or mustache looks good on some Gents on others not. It depends on ones facial features. Asking a third person for advice would be good. Clean shaven on the other hand looks good on most. I prefer clean shaven it gives like it says cleanliness. Thick bushy beards could also become unhygienic. But today's casual trend of not shaving for 3:4 days is often laziness and trying hard to fit in with the rest of the people. Therefore gent takes time and dedication to shave and/or groom facial hair. I tried a mustache doesn't fit me. Clean shaven is my way.