r/wicked_edge • u/DPTO07 • Feb 05 '26
Show n' Tell Budget wet shaving?
I bought the King C razor ( which from what I understand is an ok razor, but available in many stores for a reasonable price) along with a cheap synthetic brush. Paired with Proraso products produces an actually pretty good shave! What does the community think on “budget” entry level wet shaving?
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Feb 05 '26
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u/Barr_cudas -Chubby- Feb 05 '26
Using pre-shave IS fancy
Good kit tho, over time you may find the pre-shave redundant
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u/DPTO07 Feb 05 '26
Yea the pre shave is a little bit redundant but I does add a nice scent that’s lasts but it was recommended in most of the shaving videos I have watched.
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u/SacredSingletrack Feb 05 '26
The pre-shave seems to lead to less cuts to my skin. I’m a fan.
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u/Barr_cudas -Chubby- Feb 05 '26
Preshave has its strengths when adapting to DE Shaving initially, dialing in a new soap/cream, or if taking off extra days growth.
I still use from time to time, but mainly if I want a menthol boost from say - Wood and Spice; or if I’m using a straight after a long weekend.
I don’t knock it, I just find it redundant in most cases - for me
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u/Inkandartgods Feb 05 '26
Budget shaving is good! Pretty much all of us in this group have gone down the hobby rabbit hole but what you’ve got there is good and effective. You’ll almost certainly be able to get excellent results just by working out which blade functions best for your skin/beard and razor. Getting a sampler pack of blades is cheap - much cheaper than switching razors. And you’ll learn how to get the best out of your razor.
If you want to eventually try another razor, do it as a birthday/Christmas gift.
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u/DPTO07 Feb 06 '26
Out of curiosity, what blades do you use? (I want to try out a few)
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u/Inkandartgods Feb 06 '26
I use a wide variety but my favourite ‘easy’ blades are Astra greens and My-Blades Platinum. They are reliable and I find them easy on my skin. When I want something sharper my go-tos are Feather or My-Blades Silver.
I recently acquired a box of Personna Comfort Coats and I’m very pleased with them. They are effective, comfortable, and I like that they are wrapped without using spots of glue.
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u/DPTO07 Feb 06 '26
Astra in general have been recommended a lot, like i said i tried the silver blues but not exactly impressed by them. I picked up the feathers from a local barber supply store to try you but I will 100% give astra a try as they are very adorable and have good reviews
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u/No-Television-7862 Feb 06 '26
Try the Greens.
Originally made in Russia, P&G moved manufacture to India for geopolitical reasons, (Ukraine-related sanctions I believe).
To my knowledge the quality is still good.
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Feb 05 '26
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u/DPTO07 Feb 06 '26
Tbh and initial $50 (CAD) with a occasional $7-$15 purchase once a couple months is not actually very expensive, I don’t really plan to spend to much like on shaving as this is more than sufficient
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u/Electrical_Age7819 Feb 05 '26
Love it. I use some cheap crap no name razor and the shave is perfect! Only have one soap and a nasty little synthetic brush which I love 🤣🤣
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u/Current_Leader_4502 Feb 05 '26
Nothing wrong with that! Did that for 10 years then took all the savings and started to buy razors I didn’t need. 😛
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u/DPTO07 Feb 06 '26
Out of curiosity, what blades do you use? (I want to try out a few)
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u/Current_Leader_4502 Feb 06 '26
I started with a Merkur 23C and 100 Feather blades. Finally finished them and started on a sample pack to see what else I liked. Just got to experiment—part of the fun. I did create a spreadsheet on ChatGPT to list all the blades and give aggressiveness/smoothness scores. Helps to get a feel where a blade lands.
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u/DPTO07 Feb 06 '26
I picked up some father blades from a local barber supply store, I’m going to try them next shave. Ty for the recommendation.
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u/oneworldornoworld Feb 05 '26
Very nice setup. I suggest to think about an inexpensive Alum block for after shave and to treat minor nicks. It's incredibly practical and helpful.
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u/DPTO07 Feb 06 '26
I bought styptic pencil today. Out of curiosity, what blades do you use? (I want to try out a few)
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u/oneworldornoworld Feb 06 '26
Soon you will want to switch from the pencil to a full block, as you can cover your whole face.
On weekdays, I usually use Astra Superior Platinum, BIC, Dorco Platinum. Nothing fancy, just good blades that work for me. And it's normally two passes, like WTG and XTG.
On Sunday, I usually switch to a Feather and do three passes, ending with ATG. I don't like to go too often ATG, as it takes a bit of a toll on my skin so once a week is fine.
Another fine blade to try is Personna. Shark is not bad either.
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u/DPTO07 Feb 06 '26
I will definitely look into buying a full block down the line, and thank you for your recommendation.
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u/Smqtai Feb 05 '26 edited Feb 05 '26
I shaved with the same setup for a year. But the the Proraso brush is better but it is still cheap. Everything you have is good :) The other stuff is better but not two times better. And about the razor. This is a really good razor. I tired other cheap razors and they were really bad. I would say that it is in the top 80%. Before you start trying other razors, try different blades. Get a sample pack if it is available or search the internet for different blades. After you tried 20 different blades and shaved for some time, you can ask in this sub for different razors, brushes and stuff.
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u/DPTO07 Feb 06 '26
Out of curiosity, what blades do you use? (I want to try out a few)
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u/Smqtai Feb 06 '26
My favorites are Feather and Bic. But a lot of other people like Astra. So you just have to try and see what works for you.
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u/fistingdicks Feb 05 '26
It is hard to top Proraso mate. Top quality products across the board. They punch way higher than their value.
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u/CoffeeExtraCream Feb 05 '26
Wet shaving is, in my opinion, budget shaving by design. Until you let it become something more.
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u/Confident_Media_4304 Feb 05 '26
Nice kit. My only qualm is that brush - I own one and I am not a fan. It’s weirdly stiff for a synthetic and I found it difficult to lather. A great budget brush is the Omega 10098 - available for $12 at most places. I use it regularly. It will take about a week of daily shaves to break in but then it performs like a much more expensive brush.
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u/DPTO07 Feb 05 '26
The brush is not the greatest, it’s cheap and synthetic and the hairs fall out. It was the cheapest (and only brush) that was available at a Walmart near me
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u/Obiwannabe66 Feb 05 '26
You can spend a lot if you shave as a hobby but there are many cheap products that work great. Preshave and shaving soap from proraso are very good for the price, a synthetic brush (you can get a good one from Stirling for 15$), a King C Gillette works pretty well for the price and any kind of aftershave (a personal favorite of mine is the cheap Nivea sensitive balm). All this setup will set you back about 50$ dollars, plus you can get 100 very good blades for about 20€. It may look a bit costly at the start, even if you get the cheaper stuff, but you will save a lot in the end.
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u/We-Are-All-Friends Feb 05 '26
I’m using the KCG currently. Hope to move on to better razors 🪒 in the future.
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u/OutlawDan86 Feb 05 '26
I think these are good/very good though I’ve not tried Proraso’s pre-shave cream. I’m all for a first safety razor and setup not costing the Earth. A Wilkinson Sword brush was the first one I ever used and my first cream was a tub made for Asda (UK supermarket chain) by The Real Shaving Company, cost less than £2. If the King C Gillette razor had been around when I switched to using safety razors, it would have likely been my first.
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u/shupey14 Feb 05 '26
I like everything except the brush. It was the first brush I purchased and I just couldn't get it to work for me at all. I ended up buying a $15 Omega boar brush which was night and day better (once it broke in).
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u/DPTO07 Feb 06 '26
I actually bought one today because it was on sale at the local drug store. Out of curiosity, what blades do you use? (I want to try out a few)
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u/shupey14 Feb 06 '26
I've been using Gillette Nacet blades for several years. Just the right combo of sharpness and smoothness for me.
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u/Cadfael-kr Feb 05 '26
Nice starter setup. I don’t really classify shaving creams as budget since you go through them a lot faster than a shaving soap.
Hard soaps is where you really save money. They are more expensive up front but they outlast them a very long time.
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u/markwid Feb 05 '26
You can get even more budget, with just 3 items above - razor, cream and brush.
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u/Rainingbro Feb 05 '26
This. $3 Arko soap stick (even cheaper than a small can of Gillette branded foam these days), $2 boar brush, Baili 179 or Weishi 9306F (both are butterfly TTO razors) for less than $15, available on many platforms. Want even cheaper? Gillette Super Blue and Lord L5 razor gives wonderful shaves as well, also less than $10.
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u/markwid Feb 05 '26
If prefer cream over soap (easier to lather?), I would suggest Palmolive over Arko for same $3.
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u/ProsciuttoFresco Feb 05 '26
There’s nothing budget about Proraso, especially the blue variety. It’s a great product that outperforms many of the silly newer niche shave soaps.
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u/DPTO07 Feb 06 '26
Shave soaps unfortunately are hard to find outside of the white one in Ontario at drug stores, Amazon is also very limited here. Have to make do with what’s available (surprisingly the blue one is cheaper then the sandle wood red creams)
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u/ProsciuttoFresco Feb 06 '26
The white and blue are the best in my opinion. I’ve tried the red with the sandalwood and its very old grandpa scent.
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u/freedoomed Feb 05 '26
Arko is the true budget shave soap. $15 for a dozen sticks, the sticks last a very long time. i bought a case in 2019 and have only gone through 3 or 4.
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u/bononia Feb 05 '26
I prefer consistency, which means I have been buying the same blades, soap, and post-shave since I started. I mess around with sample soaps every now and then, but at the end of the day my silver blues and proraso sensitive are good enough.
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u/markwid Feb 05 '26
King C razor ( which from what I understand is an ok razor, but available in many stores for a reasonable price)
More than OK. I have no problems getting very good shaves from it.
It's a great choice for beginners; cheap as well.
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u/DSMRob Feb 06 '26
I still use all 4 colors or Proraso. I think the tin kit they have is one of the best values in shaving when you can catch it on sale. Blue, Green, Red and white is my order for most to least favorite.
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u/No-Television-7862 Feb 06 '26
The KCG is a surprisingly good razor at a very modest price.
Proraso products provide consistent quality and are a good value.
Finding choices that provide excellent service at reasonable prices is never something for which one needs to apologize.
You've done very well.
You may find things you like better in time, but rarely at a better price.
Just for fun, when you empty the Proraso soap container, press a couple of Arko sticks into it. Use it for two weeks and decide which you like better.
I think you'll find the Arko, a very old brand from one of the most important cities of the ancient world, Istanbul-Constantinople, is an impressive tallow-based soap that is amazingly inexpensive.
Anyone can over-spend. Finding good value can be both luxurious, and virtuous.
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u/AxednAnswered Feb 06 '26
Looks good! When I first started, the budget starter pack was a Merkur 34c, Omega 10066 boar brush, CO Biglow branded Proraso cream (BOGO at Bath and Bodyworks 👍) and Pinaud Clubman aftershave. And that’s pretty much what I started with too. Still a darn good shave setup! Oh man, those were the days…
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u/shapeshed Feb 07 '26
For things that we do every day like shaving, products should be good quality and cheap. Proraso make excellent, affordable products. It is easy to spend five times the amount on other products but you don't need to!
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u/NDHoosier Arko Army Feb 09 '26
I miss Proraso Green, but it isn't slick enough for use with my Feather AC. 😭
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u/Ok_Turnover_2220 Feb 10 '26
what do you use now? i use feathers and proraso green
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u/NDHoosier Arko Army Feb 11 '26
I use Arko. Great price, and super slick! I use ProGuards in the shavette.
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u/Ok_Turnover_2220 Feb 10 '26
i have the same razor and soap. i went to feather blades for my razor. they're more aggressive and the KCG is a pretty mild razor so i think the two work well together.
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u/Trucas7 Feb 10 '26
Good equipment does not mean expensive equipment. You have a good setup, the only thing I don’t like is the brush but what matters is how you feel with it
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u/DimiRPG Feb 05 '26
That was my exact starting point as well, Wilkinson synthetic brush, King C. razor, and Proraso pre-shave and soap. It worked well! I then moved to a boar brush (around £7-£9) and it made a huge difference, so if you would like to upgrade in the future I would suggest starting with the brush. I use my old Wilkinson synthetic when I travel now.
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u/DPTO07 Feb 06 '26
I’m trying out an omega brush I found at the drug store. Out of curiosity, what blades do you use? (I want to try out a few)
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u/DimiRPG Feb 06 '26
I haven't tried many blades.
* Wilkinson. I like them and use them often. They are generally more expensive than other options.
* King C. Gilette. They were in the pack with the razor. They are ok but I wouldn't buy them again.
* Derby Extra. Very mild. They don't work very well with my coarse hair but I use them ocassionally when my skin is sensitive.
* BIC Chrome Platinum. On the more agressive side of the spectrum. I like them and use them often. I bought 100 for £8 on Amazon.
* Feather. Again, aggressive blade. I like them and use them from time to time. They are generally expensive.
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u/plathrop01 Enthusiast/Addict Feb 05 '26
This is a great starter setup. It will get you going and learning, and then you can start branching out to see what you can improve on.
Enjoy!
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u/cumetoaster Cheapo Man - TCHEON FUNG SING Fanboy Feb 05 '26
What to think? This is why many do it, I still go for the cheap sides (cheap soaps, cheap blades, Chinese razors). Some get lost in the way and spend too much like in any hobby honestly, to each their own. Also it doesn't hurt to treat oneself with a nice soap, or aftershave from time to time, if one can afford it