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Wetshaving and safety razors
Visti
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, I just recently noticed that I had started shaving less and less, not because I wanted a beard, but because my blades were stupid expensive and it was painful to go down to the store to pick up a five-pack for what could buy me great food for three days. Then I checked around and saw the prizes of single blades and was sold immediately. I just got my Merkur safety razor in today, along with 10 blades for around 2 dollars and some shaving soap (I already had a badger hair brush) and just.. wow.
Besides feeling super manly shaving with this pure steel contraption, it was about the closest shave I've ever had. I cannot believe I've been throwing money out of the window like this. The pure steel razor itself looks like it's built to last a lifetime (not to mention you can still buy and use vintage ones from the 50s) and even THAT cost about what I paid for a five-pack of multi-bladed fusion bullshit. If you use these, I strongly urge you to at least look into these, because this is just great.
Anyway, enough ranting. Do you use a safety razor or even a straight razor? Are there any particular brands you like better in razors or blades or whatever. In short, discuss!
Here's the one I bought. It looks very classy, but I should probably get some sort of container for it or something:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sjsFyYElvE
Besides feeling super manly shaving with this pure steel contraption, it was about the closest shave I've ever had. I cannot believe I've been throwing money out of the window like this. The pure steel razor itself looks like it's built to last a lifetime (not to mention you can still buy and use vintage ones from the 50s) and even THAT cost about what I paid for a five-pack of multi-bladed fusion bullshit. If you use these, I strongly urge you to at least look into these, because this is just great.
Anyway, enough ranting. Do you use a safety razor or even a straight razor? Are there any particular brands you like better in razors or blades or whatever. In short, discuss!
Here's the one I bought. It looks very classy, but I should probably get some sort of container for it or something:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sjsFyYElvE
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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Modern razors are the biggest marketing success ever. They are so so bad compared to safety razors, and cost so much more.
"...while the 26th blade lovingly caresses the jawbone."
So where can one find these safety razors? I haven't seen these at local big name drug/food stores. Do I need to go some place smaller or a vintage (goodwill/thrift) store?
amazon.com
I use a Parker razor. Shark blades, they came with the razor, are super cheap, and work totally fine.
[edit] The fact that it only seemed to work at a very specific angle didn't help. 2 minutes after I wake up I don't have the focus to perform feats of precision on the surface of my face.
I usually shave like 3 times a week. Sometimes only 2 or 1 times. So they work fine sporadically, but when first starting out I would probably do it every day for a couple weeks to get your skin used to it and, more importantly, to get yourself alot of practice. It's not idiot proof, it takes some skill to do it right.
and yes, you need to do it at about a 45 degree angle. If you can't do this after waking up and taking a shower then you're pretty hopeless.
This guy on Youtube has a ton of videos to cover this topic, for anyone interested in learning more.
How To Shave With A Single-Blade Razor
NintendoID: Nailbunny 3DS: 3909-8796-4685
I was kind of nervous. As I mentioned, I just received mine today, but really, the angle wasn't that bad at all. I had looked up some stuff on youtube (in particular a guy named mantic59 with a ton of videos about this subject), so I was pretty well prepared. Then I realized that with the razor I have, a wrong angle doesn't do anything and the right angle is pretty lenient. The only mistake I made was going over the same spot too much in one particular rough patch, but I got more razorburn using my multibladed one, for sure and with nowhere near the same result.
Also, there's a ton of vintage (50s, 60s) safety razors on ebay that you can buy, boil and they will be just as fine (some say better) than a new one. They cost from around 5 pounds to 20 pounds and you'd have a damn vintage piece of metal. I mean, that's just cool.
As for blades, the one that came with my razor was a Merkur and it is damn sharp. I tried it completely and store it in a closed box in the bathroom and I'll be very surprised if it goes off in the next couple of shaves. And of course, then I bought a 10 pack of Derby Extras for literally pocket change.
Philips electric: Decent for a thirteen year old but was knackered after a couple of years due to my thick facial fair.
Remington electric: Similar problem - unless it was completely charged the blades just pulled my hair around rather than cutting it.
Fusion 5-blade: It was a present from my girlfriend and it worked really well, apart from the prohibitive cost. I ended up shaving once a week to stretch out the blades for as long as possible. Luckily I was in university where looking like a slob isn't an issue.
Generic twin-blades: Once I couldn't take the Fusion's price tag any more, I just bought a big bag of razors at the supermarket. They're fine in a pinch - I used one this morning as I was in a hurry - but I can feel the stubble just eight hours later.
Merkur safety razor: Finally. It's cheaper, looks snazzy and if I take my time and shave in the evening before work, I can get away with not shaving for two days. I still get a bit of razor burn when shaving against the grain, but I've bought some aftershave balm which helps with it, and as I can shave before bed I don't have to worry about bleeding on my work clothes.
I've been using this 1960's Gillette safety razor for a couple of years now. Hell, I still have like 80 blades from the initial 100 blades I've gotten from two years ago. Though, I don't shave as much as I should so my blades last a long time.
I've been using a Mach 3 for years, and maybe only bother shaving once a week, if not less. I dislike the sensation of having all my hair ripped out, and razor burn seems unavoidable. Would one surmise that this may be an option to investigate?
That works for the most part for me, put my neckbeard will no even get close to smooth, unless I go across and against. I do it very lightly and with lots of lather and it seems to be alright. I'm going to integrate the buffing action the next time I shave as that would totally solve some of my problems.
This is one of the things I noticed was very different from my multiblade. Your account is a lot like my experience with my multi. It seemed to rip a lot, instead of cut - increasingly moreso as the blade got used. Using the right motion with the safety seemed to cut very cleanly to the point that I wasn't sure it was doing anything at first, even though it made a very pleasing cutting sound. This was something I was really annoyed by and the safety seemed to have fixed this right up.
I used to shave at the sink and would get horrible razor burn. I got a nice mirror mounted in the shower now and never have that problem anymore.
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
I'd love to do that, but I need to wear glasses to see what I'm doing
I do this, but with the disposables. I need to shave every single day or else I look like Wolverine so it's just become the thing I do while I let my hair conditioner set.
Dang, I can't even imagine shaving with disposable and having an actual, thick beard. Even with the sort of admittedly minimal fuzziness I have, they tear my face up something fierce more often than not and my skin looks terrible for days after.
My skin is rather smooth, so razors just glide over it.
Since I had to pay upfront (the initial cost) for the straight razor, this will take a while to balance; however, the fact that I'm not throwing out each blade definitely makes me feel better. Such a waste.
This right here! I have a multigrain beard. On my jawline the grain of my beard is angled towards my chin on both sides. My cheeks and neck though are angled down. Makes for an interesting shave when I'm trying to get it super smooth for when I'm going out with my girlfriend or trying to look extra nice.
I can shave my entire face with just a downward stroke but there is definitely stubble left if I don't go back and go down my jawline.
Origin ID: Discgolfer27
Untappd ID: Discgolfer1981
This was also a concern for me. Multiblades come in a stupid concoction of metal and plastic, so it can't be easily sorted, which means that it won't be, it'll just be thrown out. Single steel blades produce a single piece of metal which can be recycled and used again. Straight razors, of course, completely sidestep this issue, but I am still sort of terrified of them.
Besides, I still need to shave my junk and no cut-throat is getting anywhere near that.
Just, don't do it if anyone's going to come into the bathroom and bump into you or anything. Like an asshole dog.
I feel it is a legimate concern that must be shared with the public.
My balls would hide straight under my lungs if I even try getting a razor to them.
Ahem.
So, what kind of cream/soap/brush/alum/accessories have you been using along with your new razer? Also, how's the 38C working out for you? Everything I'm reading really recommends the 34C (Merkur HD) for beginners.
I have been using it for 3 or 4 years now and I'm only a little way through my box of 100 blades
also it made me realize that my dad never taught me to shave
teaching me how to put shaving cream on my face and pull a mach 3 down my cheek doesn't take any practice
shaving with a safety razor does
I think this is true of anyone
also the cardinal rule of shaving is, never let the blade touch your face without a barrier between your skin and the razor
so if you want to go back over an area after your first pass, be sure to lather up again
http://www.nancyboy.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_14&products_id=2
tested on boyfriends, not on animals!
I pretty much only need to use shaving cream when I haven't shaved for a week. Aside from that, lack of a lather has no discernable affect on me