I don’t know what it’s called in English, but it’s amazing. I shave with this everywhere except downstairs. I need apply NO pressure whatsoever thanks to its own weight and thanks to the sharpness of these Japanese blades. I love it. :3 ⚔️🎌
Edit: you obviously don’t have to present your equipment on your hands like a psychopath. 🤣
Double edge safety razor.
I have a bunch of these, mostly vintage. My favorite is a 1951 Gillette Tech. Super comfortable shave. There are different styles, the early ones going back to about about 1910 have an “open comb” design, but changed over to safety bars around 1935. Closer to 1960 the twist butterfly design became more popular.
Razors vary according to how agressive they are, which usually relates to how much blade is exposed to the skin. My experience has been that the least aggressive blades from Gillette came out of the 1950’s. I don’t really know about super modern razors.
Blades vary based on sharpness, smoothness and lifespan. There is no universal “better”. Thick whiskers need a sharper blade, and sensitive skin needs a smoother blade. Teflon coated blades can even get sharper after a use or two when the Teflon wears off a bit.
I’ve bought quite a few razors at flea markets for less than $10 and they can be excellent. That favorite 51 Gillette Tech was about $20 on eBay. I have fine whiskers and sensitive skin, and my favorite blade is a Big Ben by Lord. Cheap-ass blades that cost about $8.00 for 100. They are medium sharp and smooth, and last 4-6 shaves for me.
The other part is the “wet” stuff. Soap and paraphernalia. Skip the drug store crap and get hold of some good soaps or creams. It makes a difference. George Trumper is a good expensive brand that will at least tell you how much better a good cream can be. Personally I like RazoRock soaps.
Brushes can be super expensive. I have a few very expensive badger brushes, but honestly, my go to daily brush is a $15 Omega boar brush. It’s huge, and when brand new smelled like a disgusting blend of moth balls and wet pig as well as being way too stiff. If you break them in, then the bristles get spit ends, with the result being a brush that’s soft at the tip but stiff overall.
Lastly, a shaving scuttle. Basically, it looks like the love child of a teapot and a big mug. It’s ceramic and double walled, with a spout to put hot water inside the gap between the walls. It has ribs on the inside of the bowl to improve foaming. Get it hot, smear some soap on the bottom and whisk it up with the brush to get hot foam.
Note that these are not the same as the delicate porcelain things you find in antique stores. Best to source them from Etsy.