Wet shaving costs

eneville

A while back I pretty much stopped shaving by limiting it to once a week. The cost of Mach3 blades has risen, the last resort I thought was learn to shave with a cut throat, or was it.

Recently I've found a cheap (but not as cost effective as the cut throat method), it's called a double-edge razor. The blades can be bought off the shelf from as little as 40p/5 pack. Don't forget, you have the two edges of the blade to use.

Handles can be bought from boots for about a fiver, which of course come with 5 blades too.

It's been about a month now and I've nicked myself here and there when I've tried to make a blade last longer than I should have, but all in all I can use about 2 or three blades a week and I feel much better for the experience and I'd advise everyone give double edge shaving a go, especially before you go and get the latest all signing and dancing offering from the leading brands.

When you add up the annual cost of leading brand blades, it's probably the best and most economical thing I've done all year.

Middy

Have you seen the cost of the new Gillette razor blades? £10.49 for THREE blades. This is taking the p1ss.

eneville

Middy wrote: »

Have you seen the cost of the new Gillette razor blades? £10.49 for THREE blades. This is taking the p1ss.

That's really too much. At the moment, I can change blades every two days, having a fresh edge every day, without worry about pain in the pocket.

Have you ever tried a double edge razor?

ClaireLR

Maybe a stupid question, but whats different about them? I've just had a quick look online.

bribrian

I've also dabbled with using cheap blades but at the end of the day that's all they are, cheap blades..... They tear your face off & aren't worth the slight saving you make. A good Gillette Fusion blade (yes they're expensive) will give you countless shaves & actually works out not much dearer than butchering the flesh off your face with cheapo blades.... :money:

eneville

bribrian wrote: »

I've also dabbled with using cheap blades but at the end of the day that's all they are, cheap blades..... They tear your face off & aren't worth the slight saving you make. A good Gillette Fusion blade (yes they're expensive) will give you countless shaves & actually works out not much dearer than butchering the flesh off your face with cheapo blades.... :money:

I'm not on about cheap blades, I'm on about double edge safety blades. They don't tear your face, they've been around for donkeys. I've tried cheap razors too, such as bic or just any old cartridge.

Of course there's cheap and expensive varieties of these blades, but if you change the blade every two or three shaves then you're not going to hack your face apart.

Generally I've found the expensive cartridge razors tend to give nasty razor burn if you don't change them regularly. If you do things right with the double edge varieties then you'll be clean as a whistle.

eneville

ClaireLR wrote: »

Maybe a stupid question, but whats different about them? I've just had a quick look online.

Between cut throat and double edge or double edge and cartridge blades? The difference between double edge and cut throat is that the double edge blade is fixed within a handle that only exposes a mm or two of cutting edge.

The difference between this and cartridge based is that you can cheaply and easily replace the blades. As the blades are cheaper it allows you a brand new blade more frequently.

bribrian

eneville wrote: »

I'm not on about cheap blades, I'm on about double edge safety blades. They don't tear your face, they've been around for donkeys. I've tried cheap razors too, such as bic or just any old cartridge.

Of course there's cheap and expensive varieties of these blades, but if you change the blade every two or three shaves then you're not going to hack your face apart.

Yes i know what these are, my grandfather used them but like everything, times & technology change & leave things behind. These do tend to tear your face off, i have tried them & have ended up with about 3 squares of tissue stuck to my face to stem the blood flow. :eek::eek: And at £4.95 for 200 blades on ebay i'd say that they were cheap blades.
I think i'll stick to my Gillette Fusion blades which usually last me well over a month (and i shave more than my face!) & at £2 each are well worth it.....

danthemanjohnston

grow a beard - it's nature's way...

Storck

I can not actually remember the last time I bought a new pack of Gillette blades cos they seem to last so long. I shave twice a day normally and my blades last over a week each.

Just buy the packs when they are offer. this week I got one of the new Gillette things as my handle is getting a bit grotty otherwise I wouldn't have bothered.

Toastrack

To make expensive blades last longer, between shaves keep your razor in a beaker with the blades immersed in olive oil. Blades last 2 or 3 times longer.

This stops the very gradual rusting process that sets in once a blade is wetted, left even slightly damp and exposed to the air.