Traditional Shaving Enthusiasts

[zhounan]

Where do you guys buy your wet shaving products?

Here in Thailand, there doesn’t seem to be a wide variety available locally, and imported products tend to be crazy expensive due to absurd import taxes.

How do you approach this hobby while living in Thailand?

[VocalNeal]

Not a hobby. I simply apply British colonial troop doctrine. Sunday and Wednesday whether I need it or not.

 

Bic 3 blade plastic razor from 7-Eleven and a bar of White round soap also from  7-Eleven. Bic is the best disposable I have found and the white soap lathers up very well especially with a shaving brush. 

[HappyExpat57]

Also not a hobby. As a teacher, I have to maintain some level of decorum. Mon, Wed, Fri works well. Gillette foamy menthol is my go to, and I can only find it regularly on Lazada. Harry's razors have a nice heft to them, but blades have to be imported, so the Gillette Mach 3 is a decent substitute, then the Bic yellow disposables for under the nose.

[JAG]

Almost any soap, (Imperial Leather is my usual brand) and a 7/11 two or three blade disposable razor. Once the soap is worn down to about half size, into the mug. Key is a shaving brush to produce and apply a lather. They are readily available on Lazada. Oh yes, and warm water.

 

I wouldn't say it was a hobby (!) but I shave most days. Razor lasts a week.

[JBChiangRai]

25 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Also not a hobby. As a teacher, I have to maintain some level of decorum. Mon, Wed, Fri works well. Gillette foamy menthol is my go to, and I can only find it regularly on Lazada. Harry's razors have a nice heft to them, but blades have to be imported, so the Gillette Mach 3 is a decent substitute, then the Bic yellow disposables for under the nose.

I think you’ll find blades in both tops and BigC that fit Harry’s.  

[alien365]

I bought my Dovo straight razors and strop while in the UK and brought them over. For the soap I use Maniculus, found on Lazada, which is adequate. I have a contact through Line who I send my razors to for sharpening.

[connda]

What do you need other than a bar of soap and a razor?  That's all I need.  If you need something different you're just making a big deal out of nothing.

[scubascuba3]

I buy from Mr DIY, yes Mr DIY, I tried different blades until I found the best ones, shave 2 or 3 times a week, use shower gel as lube

[ChipButty]

I shave every other day I cant stand not having a shave, I use Gillette MACH 3 TURBO, I buy at the big Top's they sell a jumbo pack, not sure if has 8 or 10, but if you calculate the cost per blade it works out the cheapest, as for shaving crème I use my wife's conditioner at the moment, I get a really smooth shave, I do have good skin, all the ladies say that,  

[ukrules]

I just order a few hundred dollars worth of these very few years - from amazon.com - I don't care about the cost :

 

Each cartridge last me many weeks, I don't shave that often, once, sometimes twice a week.

Buying a few years worth in a single hit (price wise) does the job for me. I keep a bunch of them in Thailand and Cambodia where I maintain residences.

[Yagoda]

1973 Gillette Black Beauty, Feather DEs, any British or Italian soap, you can buy in the malls in BKK

[Furioso]

Razor blades?: I upgraded from regular Gillette Mach 3 to Gillette Mach 3 Sensitive as they are the best blades I've ever used. Not cheap, I usually buy through Lazada. 

Shaving cream?: Usually Gillette Foamy or Gel Sensitive. 

 

 

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

I have enough DE razors, both modern and vintage, that I won't need to buy another. Also have enough brushes. These were all acquired outside Thailand.

 

A box of 100 Feather DE blades can be had for less than 500 baht on Lazada. That's cheaper than in the US.

 

Some years ago I ordered a box of Arko shaving soap from Turkey on eBay. It was sent by post and did not attract customs duty. Postage was not that much. Inexpensive soaps and aftershave balms are available on Lazada.

 

If I were to want something that would attract high import duties if shipped to Thailand, I'd buy it during a visit to the US or I'd have one of my children bring it in when they come to visit. But basically I tend to make do with what I can get here at a reasonable price.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

36 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

1973 Gillette Black Beauty, Feather DEs, any British or Italian soap, you can buy in the malls in BKK

 

Feather AS-D2, Feather DEs, Mitchell's Wool Fat.

[Yagoda]

14 minutes ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

Mitchell's Wool Fat.

very nice. I just finished Castle Forbes Lime.

[a3tsw]

Shaving gear past & present.

When I first arrived in Thailand I brought over with me this MERKUR safety razor which I purchased in Jermyn St. London early eighties , but getting blades for it became a PITA and I changed to these 5 blade disposable 3-packs from Aeon in Japan about 5 years ago. I usually bring over 4 packs which last at least 1 year..

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

1973 Gillette Black Beauty

 

I occasionally use some of my vintage Gillettes. Fatboy, Slim and a Super Speed from my birth year and quarter.

[unblocktheplanet]

2 hours ago, alien365 said:

I have a contact through Line who I send my razors to for sharpening.

Might you share that contact, please?

[VocalNeal]

From Mock the Week:

 "For that closest ever shave. In fact, this one's too close. It'll cut off your face like a potato peeler. Buy the previous Gillette razor, we couldn't get it any closer than that."

[alien365]

7 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Might you share that contact, please?

His ID is SiamWetShave. He'll ask for a picture to know what he's dealing with and then give you his ibox to post it to with the price and expected time. 

[zhounan]

3 hours ago, connda said:

What do you need other than a bar of soap and a razor?  That's all I need.  If you need something different you're just making a big deal out of nothing. But I can understand your point of view perfectly.

 

One may drive the same road in a Suzuki Swift or in a Caterham Super Seven. While it is indeed driving in both cases, the experience is entirely different. 

 

[zhounan]

3 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

I buy from Mr DIY, yes Mr DIY, I tried different blades until I found the best ones, shave 2 or 3 times a week, use shower gel as lube

I've tried Mr. DIY's blades myself and found that they pull the hair. I believe those blades are not of good quality, not sharp enough.

[bkk6060]

Use the 3 blade Gillette for my face and head.  Just use mild soap before.

Use electric for the hair around my johnson and testicles.

[zhounan]

1 hour ago, alien365 said:

His ID is SiamWetShave. He'll ask for a picture to know what he's dealing with and then give you his ibox to post it to with the price and expected time. 

Great guy, I recently bought two made in Japan safety razors from him.

They've also a website, just tap Siam Wet Shave on search bar.

[KhaoHom]

5 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

Not a hobby. I simply apply British colonial troop doctrine. Sunday and Wednesday whether I need it or not.

 

Bic 3 blade plastic razor from 7-Eleven and a bar of White round soap also from  7-Eleven. Bic is the best disposable I have found and the white soap lathers up very well especially with a shaving brush. 

 

I'm no longer using bics as the cartridges are now b145 / 4.

 

In the past I would have agreed best value cartridge in Thailand

[KhaoHom]

I'm now shaving with Feather safety razor and Feather single blade razors. Shaving 2x with Feather. Final pass is with triple blade cartridge Bic knockoff MrFixit. I use Indian cream I found on Lazada I recall regularly seen in Barber shops throughout subcontinent. Cheap and amazingly close shave.

 

Two passes Feather, cleanup with the triple blade.

 

Est cost one shave:

Razor: b1.5

Blade: B1

Cart: b.5

Cream: .25

Total estimate: b3.25 per shave

 

* Japanese razor, Japanese blade (industry sharpest)

 

[KhaoHom]

22 minutes ago, zhounan said:

I've tried Mr. DIY's blades myself and found that they pull the hair. I believe those blades are not of good quality, not sharp enough.

 

Everything from that place is junk. I just tossed about b200 worth of stuff.

 

I had luck with Bic knockoff but seems they are now out 🙄🙄

[KhaoHom]

3 hours ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

I tend to make do with what I can get here at a reasonable price.

 

The creed of the wisened expat 👍👍

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

5 minutes ago, KhaoHom said:

 

The creed of the wisened expat 👍👍

 

Not sure whether you meant "wisened" or "wizened". I'm now the latter, not sure about the former, but I was born an expat.

[zhounan]

1 hour ago, KhaoHom said:

 

Everything from that place is junk. I just tossed about b200 worth of stuff.

 

I had luck with Bic knockoff but seems they are now out 🙄🙄

From what I understand, Mr.DIY is a superstore of cheap Chinese products that they can't even manage to sell in China. They just repack in an acceptable way and push these products all over the world to rake in money from people who think they're buying useful, affordable items.