What is your biggest SURPRISE since switching to traditional shaving?

I'd agree with the variety of stuff available. when I first got into it about 10 years ago, there wasn't anywhere near as much variety as there is in 2019, but it was still WAY more than what you see in the big box stores.

How much money I spend on this "cheaper" alternative. The other is the swing back by to a preference for milder razor designs.

Some of the things that surprised me are ...

• Learning how little I knew about technique, or even about what a good shave really is.
  
• Learning that the shave itself can be as important in its own way as the end result.  The requirement for consistent concentration, and the ensuing immersion, is somehow good for the soul.
  
• Finding how enjoyable the camaraderie of other shavers is.  
  
• Learning that gear can be viewed as art.
  
• Learning that viewing gear as art can be a foolish and expensive rabbit hole if you let it.
  

I thought amber was just a name for a girl.

This one made me laugh! (Especially coming from someone who now so clearly has a keen knowledge and sense of scent.)

My biggest surprise since switching to this type of shaving is how something that I used to never really think about has become something that I think about so much. Sometimes I wonder if it’s even healthy to be invested so much in such a thing. But then I see other people invested in a number of other hobbies, and figure that that’s just what we do.

I'll share another one. My son has average whiskers but an ultra sensitive neck. He has battled razor burn for years. I set him up with a Gillette slim adjustable and showed him some prep tricks and he has found that he can get a close two pass shave ( with grain, against grain) without having to pay the piper. I'm surprised that his most comfortable combo is the Slim wide open at 9 loaded with a feather blade. Perhaps that gap reminds him to have a gentle hand.

Like a lot of you, my biggest surprise has been enjoying shaving now.  I used to shave once a week(if that,) because I hated shaving with carts and canned foam/gel so much.  It was torture shaving with carts I used for a month or more each!  Now, I look forward to my shave after my shower right before bed.  From picking out the soap, brush, razor, and blade to finally splashing on the aftershave followed by a good moisturizer, then all is right and calm in my world as I fall asleep.  Of course then I wake up and the reality of the world slaps me in the face!  Now, what am I going to use for my next shave?

Another big surprise for me was multiple shaving brushes.  When I first started traditional wet shaving I thought, "Why does anybody need more than one shaving brush?"  Then I thought, "OK, one badger, one boar, and one synthetic brush."  NOW, I must have a couple dozen shaving brushes!  All kinds, all sizes, and all different handles.  Well, at least I've never spent much money on any one shaving brush.  Right?  Well....

It appears there is not much more to say after reading all of the replies. However, shaving with a cartridge razor and a can of chemicals to me was a necessary evil. I actually hated doing it. But with wet shaving I look forward to doing it. In stead of removing whiskers I am now doing something enjoyable to my self.

My bank balance is not what is used to be before switching to TWS...


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great topic Lipripper660

I have wet shaved my whole adult life.  Used Williams which was the ONLY soap I could find in the grocery story.
My wetshaving was done with a Trac II. I switched to DE about 10 years ago.  

I have enjoyed the DE journey of vintage Gillettes, modern razors and expensive SS razors.

But the biggest surprise was OLD SPICE. I found out I love the scent. Vintage Shulton is the best but I love the PG version when they purchased Shulton and even the newer PG version.

2018 was the 80th anniversary of OS. PG released antiperspirant, deodorant and bodywash with the original scent. I broke my rule against bodywash and purchased the 80th anniversary stuff cause it smelled so good.

Yep. Learned a lot, met a bunch of nice on-line friends and found Old Spice.

I'm happy.

My biggest surprise has been how the various Acquisition Disorders totally take hold and won't let go, even when you have almost every razor, soap, brush, bowl, cream and aftershave known to mankind.