This week, I've been thinking about dumping my Gillette Mach 3 razor that I've used for a couple decades now, and trying something different.
One option that I considered and then disconsidered equally fast was a straight razor (cut-throat.) I can sharpen knives, but razors I'm not so sure of. Plus they're a bit spendy.
The other one I'm thinking of is the "Safety Razor", the oldfashioned kind that take those disposable double-sided razor blades. I'm leaning towards this.
Also, how important is this lather brush business? With the Mach3 cartridge razor, all I do is slap foam on my face and shave.
Just grow a beard.
You wouldn't happen to be ditching Gillette over their new ad campaign against toxic masculinity, would you?
It's part of it. I don't like being preached at, especially by a company who is out there purely to make money selling me things.
But I've also been thinking about this for a few years, in a back-burner kind of way.
Quote from: Matmosphere on January 16, 2019, 04:46:33 AM
Just grow a beard.
Yup! Men should have beards. Women, not so much.
I saw that ad, too. I thought it was a mostly positive message but in a completey inappropriate format. Companies exploiting social engineeering in order to sell unrelated products is really distasteful, IMO.
I use a cheapo Wahl electric trimmer. Yeah I'm not "smooth" but screw it, my weak chin works better with some stubble anyway.
Really wish I could grow a decent beard, only dude in my family who can't far as I can tell. Goatee comes in fine but the rest just stays patchy and sparse with a real "I live in my parents basement eating pizza and pirating video games" neckbeard look to it.
I use a safety razor for my neck and to clean up the edges of my beard, it's nice. I like it a lot more solely for the reason that it's super easy to unclog. I always bog down disposables, and with the safety razor you can loosen the top to rinse hairs out from under the blade very easily.
The brush is very nice. You can get away with using foam still, but using the brush to lather up shaving soap in warm water and applying it is a nice experience. It's like nice little massage for your face. Also, they say it helps get a smoother shave.
When in doubt...there's a subreddit for everything Reddit | Wicked Edge (https://www.reddit.com/r/wicked_edge/)
Apparently it's a pretty sweet resource for shaving with single/double edged razors. It's been recommended to me by a few folks.
As far as lather goes, the verdict seems to be that shaving in the shower is the best way to go and you don't need lather that way. It's just nice. But if you're out of the shower then you want a little layer of something between your metal and flesh.
All of my knowledge is purely academic though. So YMMV.
DE safety razor, a good shaving brush and some good shaving soap. It's a bit spendy to get into but you can get a way more comfortable shave and cost over time is super cheap. I spend $9 for a box of 100 Astra SP blades. That will last me for around 2 years. I bought my razor and brush 5 or 6 years ago and they are like new. That was probably around $100 total. My favorite shave soap is $16 a tub and that lasts 3 or 4 months. I think you're old school with most stuff, Alan. You'd dig it.
I didn't know about the Gillette video but I just watched it. I think it's a good message. I don't know their motives but they are a business. At least they're brave enough to say "Look at how bad we used to suck with our misogynistic old ads. Let's move on." On the other hand, it's pretty distasteful when businesses jump on the "we're going green" or "we support all lifestyles" bandwagons just because of fiscal expedience. Don't know in this case.
If i recall correctly I think Leevibe was one of the people responsible for pushing me down the DE safety razor rabbit hole in the late summer of 2014, there is a thread.
People spend insane amounts on soaps and brushes, new razors, vintage razors, after shaves colognes and stuff and stuff and stuff for their shave dens, just crazy. Don't believe the hype.
Then there are those like Leevibe, i'd like to think i'm in that corner.
I've been using the same DE razor continuously since Christmas of 2014 -$50 cdn, i've a sampling of three brushes, that cost, $5, $23, & $15 for a synthetic, the one i use almost all the time. The blades i'm using at the moment, Polsilver, today was shave #35 for this particular blade, (you must keep track of these things) thats a three pass shave because i single pass ain't gonna do it. Can't stand the smelly stuff so at the moment have a three tubs of locally available, probably world wide, barely scented soaps and creams, (beware the internet).
Used the same Trac II for almost 40 years and the shaves always sucked, the DE does it better but for me takes far longer seeing as it takes three passes to get the results, a single pass with the DE sucks too.
I'll keep going with the DE until blades are no longer available, it's just such a way cooler tool then a piece of molded plastic, has some heft to it like a real tool.
dave
To view the insanity, and you've been warned - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/ - I do still cook there...
Big thread there mostly lambasting the Gillette ad, not surprised and haven't even seen the ad. Is the ad actually popping up on shows and things people are watching on TV haven't been able to ascertain that from the comments there.
pss. Just had a look at said thread ... the other side started to speak and the thread was locked, all very civil and gentlemanly.
I use a Philips One Blade to trim my neck. I have a full-time beard, but the One Blade will give me a relatively good neck shave and also will trim my beard. It's a heck of a design. Battery charge lasts me approximately 6-8 months on a once a week schedule.
Jacob
That Gillette garbage is just that. I use a single blade "safety" razor. I actually think it is the only with the guy from Pawn Stars on it. I use single blades that cost less than $4 for a pack of 5.
I was talking to a friend a while ago and asked what he uses to shave his neck and face. I always got razor burn and needed to change something. He asked what I used, it was a cheap Gillette razor. He then said to me "would you rather shave you face with a plastic toy or a real razor". That was the selling point. Total investment was $20 for the handle and $5 for blades that last quite some time if you clean them with baby oil.
I don't use fancy shave cream or brushes. Just regular shave foam and after shave. After using this for 2 years now I haven't had razor burn once! My razor handle is nothing special but I can't believe I used anything else.
So I ask you: are you going to continue to shave your face with a plastic toy, or get a real razor?! Jk, but seriously it's worth the switch.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Gillette does have bunch of very good blades made at various parts of the globe, some of my favorites along with the Polsilver.
dave
Quote from: davent on January 16, 2019, 11:11:51 PM
Gillette does have bunch of very good blades made at various parts of the globe, some of my favorites along with the Polsilver.
dave
I'm sure they do and their single blades are quite nice. I switched because my neck hair grows in swirls and is impossible. In the end use what works and is comfortable. I just applied my friends question because it seemed fitting. If a plastic or Gillette razor works for you, power to you!!!
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I don't grow enough facial hair to even really comment on this, but I always liked my Gillette Sensor 2 blade until it was more difficult to find blades off the rack, so I just bought the 3 blade version instead. I've thought about the safety razor route, but I don't really see a need for an investment where the blades will rust out before I get them too dull.
I also agree with shaving in the shower. I use a Neutrogena shaving cream that doesn't foam up and shave by feel. No messy sink!
When I used to use the 3 blade swiveling whatever, the blades were so expensive I went way too long before replacing them. With a safety razor I change out the blade once a week no matter what. It costs me about a dime. The blades are stainless so no rust.
So if you're not willing to just grow a beard I can give a bit of insight into the whole brush/soup vs foam. They both work fine but if you are maintaining some facial hair, goatee mustache or whatever, it's much easier to see what you're doing with a brush and soap. The foam gets to thick to see through, but lathering with a brush never gets so thick you can't see what's going on.
I bought a Harry's razor a few years ago and have used it twice. It seemed to work well and the blades are certainly less, but no where near as cheap as a safety razor
I don't want to grow a beard as my skin has always been pretty bad... not as bad as it was when I was a teen, praise be, but I still wouldn't trust it under a beard.
Think I'll have to pick up a safety razor :)
no help here, I don't care about a product's politics much and I'm rocking my KC Chiefs football season beard of good luck ... hoping to be sporting this into February
Well, had a couple shaves with this new safety razor... only problem so far is working out my angle.
Quote from: alanp on January 24, 2019, 03:13:36 PM
Well, had a couple shaves with this new safety razor... only problem so far is working out my angle.
Nah, it's that you don't have a beard :P
I use my late grandfather's old electric razor. It's not that good, and it leaves me with a kinda four o'clock shadow beard, but I reckon a certain nonchalance in that regard still does well. But most of all I'm just too lazy to do any wet shaving.
Quote from: alanp on January 24, 2019, 03:13:36 PM
Well, had a couple shaves with this new safety razor... only problem so far is working out my angle.
start with the handle perpendicular to your face and rock it in until you can feel that it's starting to cut. That's your angle. Generally speaking you're going to be using WAY less pressure than you're used to too. Kind of letting the weight of the tool do the work and not trying to get it all on the first pass. Getting good lather is also really key. It's fun though and once you get it you may be surprised how close a shave you can get and how little razor burn.
The safety razor mantra is no pressure, no pressure, no pressure.... Super light grip, it's more an act of balancing it your hand than holding on.
dave
I embraced this and ripped my face (and head) to shreds. I need to re-approach...
In this vein I pulled out my very crusty old German safety razor and found a 10+ year old unused blade. I'm sure I did it all wrong and the blade was crap, but it worked. Face was somewhat more irritated than normal. Blades are around $0.07US each so I will get some more.
I was never into the whole liturgical man-grooming thing where you use horsehair shaving brushes and special salves, tinctures and ointments. I just want a shave dammit.
Well, it's the first time I've ever used aftershave.
The biggest adjustment is allowing, to NOT get everything on one pass. Let yourself do a second or third pass to get the last little bits, with the lather from the brush.
Quote from: alanp on February 01, 2019, 09:46:59 AM
Well, it's the first time I've ever used aftershave.
The biggest adjustment is allowing, to NOT get everything on one pass. Let yourself do a second or third pass to get the last little bits, with the lather from the brush.
You've taken your first step into a larger world
Quote from: alanp on February 01, 2019, 09:46:59 AM
Well, it's the first time I've ever used aftershave.
...
I'm lucky there, the whole scent thing i can do without entirely, soaps, creams, after shaves, colognes, the gamit, zero appeal, repugnant. Department stores always seem to funnel customers through the scent section of the store, i'd hold my breath until i was clear through, horrible customer abuse.
dave
This stuff doesn't really have much of a scent.
Weirdly, it only became noticeable to me when I was stacking boxes in the chiller at work (roughly 1C to 2C).
Though I currently have a full beard I started down the DE safety razor path a few years back. I don't think I will ever shave with any other method again. It takes a little more skill but not much and the ride is much more pleasing. Like driving a sports car versus the family sedan. Basically learned how from mantic59 on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/user/mantic59 He was one of the first if not the very first guy to put a "how to shave" video on the internet.
Happy shaving!
Working my way through a box of Bolzano razor blades and, while they are most definitely not the sharpest blades I've shaved with, they hold their edge for a *VERY* long time, compared to those sharper blades! As a package, I quite like them :)
I also liked some Russian teflon coated ones... should have saved the box.
With my razor i've found the best blade to be Polsilvers out of Russia. Last one i used got 100 shaves out of the single blade and the one currently in my razor is closing in on thirty shaves. A few other brands of blades have stretched into 30 plus, the 100 i took to be a fluke, doubt i'll ever see that again.
Have some Bolzanos i'm working through as well, pretty good blade for me but with it's premium price, not warranted by it's performance compared to less expensive brands.
dave
Electric norelco is wonderful. Added bonus is being able to easily shave the back of my neck, being part gorilla
Astra SPs for me. A carton of 100 costs about $8 and lasts me 2 years. And they're the best blades for me too.
Real men get their beards waxed off.
Pain is for the weak.
When i last needed blades, was down to a handful at most, ordered some from this shop in Sweden, crazy big selection and very good prices.
https://www.razorbladesclub.com/
dave
Quote from: davent on February 01, 2019, 05:04:21 PM
Quote from: alanp on February 01, 2019, 09:46:59 AM
Well, it's the first time I've ever used aftershave.
...
I'm lucky there, the whole scent thing i can do without entirely, soaps, creams, after shaves, colognes, the gamit, zero appeal, repugnant. Department stores always seem to funnel customers through the scent section of the store, i'd hold my breath until i was clear through, horrible customer abuse.
dave
Agree totally, I always feel like I might as well be walking through a swamp. Plus that stuff almost always triggers my asthma.
Fascinating thread. I didn't even know guys still shaved with those old razor blades haha. :o ;D
I just use the 3-blade disposable razors from the supermarket, mine's a 'Bic' brand. Obviously I'm missing out
Haven't shaved in too many years to count. Never cared for it, once I became a dad gave up competely and became "that dad". Yunno, overalls, too many kids in a public place, giant red beard, praying before meals at the Cookout. That dad. But yes fascinating thread. Shave on ye clesn shorn shavers....
Quote from: timbo_93631 on January 02, 2020, 05:40:20 PM
Haven't shaved in too many years to count. Never cared for it, once I became a dad gave up competely and became "that dad". Yunno, overalls, too many kids in a public place, giant red beard, praying before meals at the Cookout. That dad. But yes fascinating thread. Shave on ye clesn shorn shavers....
Shaving on but haven't cut my hair since the summer of 2016...
Quote from: alanp on December 30, 2019, 03:23:16 PM
Working my way through a box of Bolzano razor blades and, while they are most definitely not the sharpest blades I've shaved with, they hold their edge for a *VERY* long time, compared to those sharper blades! As a package, I quite like them :)
I also liked some Russian teflon coated ones... should have saved the box.
Might the Teflons have been Voskhod? My favourite labelling.
Ditched the Polsilver today that i'd used for 31 days and went with a Bolzano today.
dave
Sputnik blades... everyone loves the first satellite around the world, right? :) I've got a 5x pack of Voskhod, haven't opened it yet.
I have the blessing/curse of not having much facial hair. I don't have to shave everyday, but I still have to shave to avoid looking like a creeper.
I got a Harry's razor for Christmas. I have to say, I much prefer my old three-blade Gilette. The blades didn't feel that sharp, and as a guy with very little facial hair, I don't need many blades. I can even shave against the grain rather easily with old blades. I do like to use a Neutrogena post-shave moisturizer. It does the trick of soothing the skin after a razor scrapes off the outer layers of skin and doesn't feel heavy or greasy.
Working my way through a box of Egyptian 'Shark' razor blades and, so far, they're crap.
Blunter than the Bolzano, with a shorter life than the Chinese blades I got with the handle.
Don't buy Shark blades (yellow box.)
I've yet to shed the beard I grew for the Chiefs football season ... I'm figuring this week might be the week though, any longer and it is going to be too hot for this level of facial bush
Picked up a straight razor -- Razor Emporium's "Try" kit. (You can't go too far wrong for $70USD, I reckon, and while it's a cheap-ass Chinese Gold Dollar razor, their in-house technician-sharpener gives it the treatment and a new handle.)
There was blood. I did the part under my nose, and cleaning up the edges, with my normal safety razor.
But that has to be the smoooooothest I've felt my cheeks since before puberty. Real smooth. And, to be fair, there was some amount of blood on a daily basis when I was learning how to use my safety razor. Might have to continue with this.
Good luck Alan, how much extra time do you need to get the job done? Do you have the gear to maintain, resharpen the blade edge?
dave
Quote from: davent on January 18, 2021, 04:34:27 PM
Good luck Alan, how much extra time do you need to get the job done? Do you have the gear to maintain, resharpen the blade edge?
dave
Yeah. I think you just acquired a new hobby. Sharpening, honing, polishing. Still, pretty dang cool.
I'm still at the point where I'm working on hand-eye coordination, but it seems to be coming together.
The plan at the moment is to find someone who sharpens these semi-professionally and pay them to do it. I can strop mine okay... so far... I think...
Quote from: alanp on January 19, 2021, 04:13:13 AM
I'm still at the point where I'm working on hand-eye coordination, but it seems to be coming together.
The plan at the moment is to find someone who sharpens these semi-professionally and pay them to do it. I can strop mine okay... so far... I think...
Almost a month in now Alan, how are skills developing confidence building on this adventure? Had to resharpen yet?
dave
I've gotten to the point where I can shave my whole face with it (as opposed to doing the tricky bits with my old safety razor), but not to the point where I never get any blood.
Picked up a nice Thiers-Issard Coiffeur 37 razor!