Is it a case of OCD?

So, I'm a collector. I was an avid collector of comics years ago. I had it so bad that I was easily spending over two hundred bucks a month. And I would rationalize it by saying I wasn't as bad as some other collectors that I know. The fact still remains, I'm a collector.

I may not collect comic books any more, but other things now occupy my life. For the past year, it's been razors. I'm talking about old style safety razors. Or as they are known by those-in-the-know, DE's.

DE's as in Double-Edge razors. There are others I'm interested in such as Schick Injectors and some straight-edge razors (aka - cut-throats). I've got it bad, too. I've hit up antique shops, flea markets and I've even asked old folks if they may have razors in their possesion.

Family members know that I collect razors and they are always buying me razors. And so far they just happen to be the wrong, uninteresting ones. I tell them how cool it is so as not to discourage the practice, though. They may one day come across one that I 'need' and purchase it for me and I'll be one happy fool.

Trust me when I tell you, I do use a couple of the ones I've found. I've three in particular. A Merkur Slant, and old Gillette adjustable Fat-boy and a recently aquired Krect Spiral razor. The latter I just used this morning after cleaning and sterilizing in an autoclave. It's a little worse for wear, but it's all cosmetic. I can probably nickel-plate it myself later, but very likely not. I don't know what to think of it yet. A few more shaves with it and I should have a more solid opinion.

If your a guy (hell even a woman), you may be interested in the art of Wet Shaving. Now don't be dirty. Wet shaving is the whole process of shaving the 'right way'. Think back on those old movies where the guy would shave with a brush to lather up and use a straight razor to shave. Or if possible and more close to home, your dad or grandfather shaving with that type of set-up. It didn't necessarily have to involve a straight though. It most likely was a DE.

For the women out there, it could have been the same memory with the added one of maybe your mom or other female adult shaving their legs with a DE.

Today we have cartridge razors.
Plus: Easy, safe and convenient.
Negative: Irritation and razor burn (one and the same?), expensive cartridges!

Wet shaving:
Plus: Less irritation, meditative practice, lot's of information available if you know where to look, and (BIG plus) much cheaper in the long run!
Negative: Time consuming, slight learning curve.

Wet shaving is a whole involved process. It can be done fairly quickly, but you'll still be taking more time with it than you would with a cartridge razor.

If there is one thing that I would recommend before going all-in, I would say dump the canned goop. That stuff drys your skin and adds to the discomfort. If you have a Target nearby, they recently began selling Proraso shaving products as well as some others that I'm not to confident on. Go to Target and pick up a five or six dollar tube of Proraso shaving cream and also the twelve or thirteen dollar Boar hair brush. It's a good size brush and a lot of wetshavers like it.

Now I'm not a guru or anything. There is a lot more information out there that I'm just scratching the surface of. Below are a couple of links where if you do a bit of searching, you'll find a lot of answers. Feel free to ask a few questions there as well. 99% of the members there are real laid-back and freely give advice. If I change one persons life because of this, I've done well.

Shave My Face Forums - Great forums. Ask and you may be able to get a good deal on a razor and such!

The Wetshavers Group - This is another forum with a lot of info. They ask that if you sign up and you post, sign off your posting with your first name. Helps bring it into more of friendly environment. You'll feel more comfortable.

GD