Razor Revolution or rather de-evolution

PhilNH5 · Jan 25, 2009

Well the price of razor cartridges for my two blade Sensor keep going up. They now cost $1.50 a piece.

A while back I did a little research on the double edge safety razors. This is the type my father used. You unscrewed the handle and the wings opened up like a butterfly. Then you put the little flat razor blade in and away you go.

I was amazed that there are forums dedicated to these razor. But they proved very helpful.

I have always used a mug and a brush for lather so the switch to an old fashioned DE safety razor was not to hard. I ordered one online. The good ones seem to come from Germany. I ordered a Merkur HD classic.

I have been shaving for two weeks now with it. It does take some adjustment. You have to be awake and pay attention. You can cut yourself. I have made it so far nick free but have bled a little simply from shaving to close. It takes 6 minutes to do my whole face with the DE razor. I never timed my self with the cartridge but I think it is twice as long.

The resultant shave is much better than with my old cartridge. Both my wife and daughter agree my face is much smoother.
And the best part. Ten razor blades cost $1.76 at Walmart. That is 18 cents for a week of great shaves.

I recommend the DE safety razors to anyone who wants a great shave, wants to save a little money and thinks that 5 blade cartridges are overkill.

Phil

Scooby074 · Jan 25, 2009

THanks for the recommendation. I too hate buying blades. They're ridiculously overpriced.Funny thing is after my grandfather died, we ended up throwing several of these style razors out. I never gave them much thought. Guess i was cought up in the marketing.

Im going to have a look for them next time im buying blades and might give it a try.

jdbower · Jan 25, 2009

Wait, they make SAFETY razors now? Why bother replacing any blades at all when you can get the real thing

riptides · Jan 26, 2009

I stopped shaving for about two years now. Use to wear a beard during the cold season only. Got to a point where during the warm weather a straight razor was used. That my freinds takes skill.

Now I use trac-II's and the cost is crazy. But I only shave my cheeks so I can get about a months worth of time out of them.

Not sure what I'll do in the summer, so your post is informative. Thanks.

ToadHill · Jan 26, 2009

I like to go to yard sales and buy old straight razors. You can make excellent wood carving knifes out of them, very good quality steel.

Knotbored · Jan 26, 2009

I have very light/thin whiskers and just hate the newer disposable razors but have little choice. I tried 3 different electric and they left peach fuzz, and the cheap throwaways skip over any hair over 2 days old. I have a tremor so a straight rasor is out of the question unless I want to invest the money saved into bandaids.
Give me back the old Gillett blue blades-a hint-you can resharpen flat blades by spinning them back and forth inside a regular waterglass-about 5 swipes on each side-get another freee week out of one.

czechsonofagun · Jan 26, 2009

riptides said:
I stopped shaving for about two years now. Use to wear a beard during the cold season only. Got to a point where during the warm weather a straight razor was used. That my freinds takes skill.

No kidding! That's one thing in my life I gave up on. I tried for a long time to learn to shave with straight razor with no significant results. Always ended up bleeding.

Bird · Jan 26, 2009

Since I don't like shaving, I wish I could adapt to wearing a beard, but about 3 days is as long as I can stand going without shaving.

But I haven't scraped my whiskers off since I was a teenager. Fifty years ago, I had a Schick electric that I liked, but after 20 years or so, I bought a new Remington electric (yeah, fell for the phony TV commercials, I guess). Anyway, I tried 3 different Remingtons and considered them all to be junk. So I finally bought a Norelco that I'm still using. It's been so long since I scraped my face that I'd really be afraid of cutting myself now.

JB4310 · Jan 26, 2009

Those straight razors make me nervous, never tried one though, I think some barbers still use them, never tried the DE razors either, interesting (or not) storey, when I was working on my 70 year old bathroom remodel, I found a bunch of those blades in the wall under the med cabinet, there was a little slot in the cabinet that the old timers use to drop the used blades in, maybe to protect against someone getting injured by them. Don't know if that slot in the cabinet was there on purpose or what, but my plumber told me he had seen that before and is careful when reaching in wall cavities.

Phil, you should look into getting the blades from Germany, since they are known for their premium cutlery, it would probably make the whole experience even better.

I use the triple blade cartridges and they are ridiculously expensive but I don't shave every day, not that I have a light beard, but my lifestyle allows me to look like a Geico caveman half the week. You do get a beautiful shave after going a 3-4 days without though.

JB.

kthompson · Jan 26, 2009

My wife normally picks up my blades and bless her heart about each time it is different blades so I have about four multi blade razor handles. But the last time she bought the four (?) blade Shick and they have done a great job for me. No idea their price but they last and last and much less likely to nick myself.

I still have my Dad's (bought in the 60's my guess due when he died) and every great once in a while will use it. His allows for you to change the angle the blade is at, right neat. BTW, Gillette is very honest the reason they went to more then two blades was to increase price and profit.

Bird · Jan 26, 2009

Don't know if that slot in the cabinet was there on purpose

Yep, it was, and was in most of the older homes I've seen.

CurlyDave · Jan 26, 2009

The little slot in one of my old medicine cabinets even said "blade disposal" or some such.

Chuck52 · Jan 27, 2009

I've had a full beard since I was about 25 or so, and I only shave my neck. Whatever razor my dear wife supplies gets used, including hers if she doesn't catch me. Some of those ladies razors can be a real challenge to use....the big-headed ones make it really hard to shave close to the beard line. I always try to rinse the white hairs out so she doesn't know I've used hers because she swears I wear them out....explaining that loss of edge is more from corrosion than from use doesn't cut it. I do have one of the old safety razors around somewhere. My dad brought on of these back from the war:

Rolls Safety Razor Page

It has a cracked whet stone, and the only time I tried to use it I almost killed myself!

Chuck

Scooby074 · Jan 27, 2009

When i helped clean my grandfathers stuff up, there was one of those "Rolls Razor" things. It was still in the green box. I hope it wasnt to valuable

That thing was pretty scary, probably a step up from a straight razor, but not much. It did have a pretty unique sharpener built into the case if i remember.

Chuck52 · Jan 27, 2009

Scooby074 said:
When i helped clean my grandfathers stuff up, there was one of those "Rolls Razor" things. It was still in the green box. I hope it wasnt to valuable That thing was pretty scary, probably a step up from a straight razor, but not much. It did have a pretty unique sharpener built into the case if i remember.

If you read that site you'll find they aren't worth big bucks. Ours has some sentimental value as one of a small number of artifacts from my dad.

Chuck

EddieWalker · Jan 27, 2009

In High School, my parents gave me an electric razor, so that's what I used until I went to boot camp. The Marine Corps only allowed us to use disposable razors and one type of lotion. That was just one of many things that had to learn in the Marine Corps. After that, I went back to the electric razor, but eventualy started to get a rash from it. I tried new blades and a differen style of electric razor with the same results. I heard of shaving gels from commercials, so I thought I'd give it a try with a better razor. For years, this is what I did. Then one day, I was out of shaving lotion and really needed to shave.

I never tried this before, but I thought that I would try soap. While I was at it, i also tried shaving in the shower without a mirror. The results were amazing. It was the smoothest shave of my life!!! The only difference was the use of Ivory bar soap instead of shaving loation. I don't remember what lotion I used,but I had tried quite a few of them.

Shaving in the shower might have something to do with it too. The heat and steam migh soften my wiskers some, or my face. I don't know for sure, just that I've never gone back or done it any other way since then.

I also shave my head in the shower at the same time I shave my face. I don't use any lotion or soap on my head. I just shave it withe the water from the shower head. Head hair is totally diffrerent then face hair, and it cuts differently.

For years, I used twin blade disposable razors. Then the tripple blades were even better. I tried teh 4 blade models, but don't notice any advantage over tripple head models. One disposable blade will last me a week. I'm not brand loyal and will buy whatever is on sale. Of course, Steph does most of the shopping and I just use whatever she buys for herself. We don't share blades, but keep them in our own spot in the shower. LOL

Eddie

czechsonofagun · Jan 28, 2009

Eddie,

I am not sure if you ever had the chance to get shaved in a shop, but my experience (from overseas) was about hot towels on face for significant time. It heats up and softens your facial hair and I have to say I was never able to replicate the shaving I got that day

Anyway, for shaving my face and my head I use gilette 3 blade razor and it works like a charm, but you have to give it few days rest. I mean it is not natural to shave everyday, and short fuzz is sexy, isn't it?

Bird · Jan 28, 2009

czechsonofagun said:
Eddie,

I am not sure if you ever had the chance to get shaved in a shop, but my experience (from overseas) was about hot towels on face for significant time. It heats up and softens your facial hair and I have to say I was never able to replicate the shaving I got that day

Anyway, for shaving my face and my head I use gilette 3 blade razor and it works like a charm, but you have to give it few days rest. I mean it is not natural to shave everyday, and short fuzz is sexy, isn't it?

I never got shaved in a barbershop, but way back when I used a manual, instead of electric, razor, I've applied the shaving cream, then held a hot wash cloth on my face a few minutes before shaving, and like you said, it really makes a difference.

Chuck52 · Jan 28, 2009

When I lived in Puerto Rico, the barbers would always give me what I think of as the Don Quixote trim on my beard. I don't shave anything but my neck, but they would always shave my cheeks and leave me with almost a goatee-type look. Since my Spanish consisted of being able to order coffee or beer and know when I was being cussed, it was easier to let them have their way with my beard. They always used the hot towels and a straight razor...and I always sat real still and hoped they weren't closet Macheteros! They gave amazingly close shaves and laser sharp beard outlines.

Chuck