Men: Have you considered going back to double-edged safety razors?

eyeopener2

I use a brush with Taylor's shaving cream, lasts ages. I've used soap a few times but seem to return to cream for some reason. I will have another go when my current one runs out and see if I can be turned. :-)

Funny you know I was talking about luxuries on the DFW board and didn't think of shaving cream cos to me it's a necessity, even though it's more expensive than most, it does the job.

* goes hunting for shaving soap...

Montmorencymon

eyeopener2 wrote: »

Ahhh, a thread I can really relate to. I use a 1959 Gillette double edged razor, the delightfully named fat boy, and I will never go back to using the cartridge type. The fat boy teamed with Japanese 'feather' blades is perfect and really cheap.

I use a good quality shaving cream that lasts ages and the blades are fantastic, but very, very sharp so beware..

Everybody should use double edge, better shave, better for your skin (once you gone past the learner stage where you 're learn how to shave properly), and saves a fortune compared to the latest money making design from Gillette and Wilkinson sword.


* I would love to use a single blade cut throat but I have a small child in the house.....
E2

Yes, I have read that the Feathers can be pretty lethal. People seem to rate the Feather and Astra blades, with Wilkinson as "OK", but for some reason, Merkur blades not so good (although their razors are top notch).


I eventually found the Wilkinson DE razor for £4.59 (from a smaller local Chemist, Boots being out of stock), and am enjoying the experience so far. I did buy a new brush and cream on a special offer from Boots, which I think has also helped.


I think I remember seeing one of my Grandads with a cutthroat, but I never saw my Dad with one, I don't think.


The "hand strop" sounds interesting, but also potentially lethal!


I wonder if that Razor Sharp thingy would work for DE blades?
Although I think the virtue of DE blades is that they are so cheap - even the good ones - and also will fit any DE razor - that one can afford to throw them away, and I don't think they are too much of a load on the environment.

The trick that the cardtridge razor people have pulled on us all is to get way from the standardisation and interchangeability that DE razors and blades brought us, although of course, they too were an innovation in their time.

Montmorencymon

eyeopener2 wrote: »

I use a brush with Taylor's shaving cream, lasts ages. I've used soap a few times but seem to return to cream for some reason. I will have another go when my current one runs out and see if I can be turned. :-)

Funny you know I was talking about luxuries on the DFW board and didn't think of shaving cream cos to me it's a necessity, even though it's more expensive than most, it does the job.

* goes hunting for shaving soap...

I was reading on one of the shaving sites or one of the razor reviews that face soap is all wrong for shaving because it's acid and it should be alkali.

To be honest, this sounded wrong to me, because I thought ordinary soap was alklali.


I had been using unscented vegetable soap, and more recently some Neem soap which I got because of a skin (not face) issue, and Neem is supposed to be good for skin. Don't know about the acid / alkali thing though. But I couldn't get much of a lather with it, and the purists seem very keen on their lather!

EDIT: re-reading some of those articles, I think the 2 worries about "normal" soap are that 1. It may not produce enough lather, which is needed to protect the skin and provide good lubrication, and 2. It may leave the skin a little too dry.

Some people rate "Dove" soap highly, although not necessarily for daily shaving use.

I quite fancy some of the Mitchell's Wool Fat shaving soap, but it's not cheap. A "shaving soap & cream !!!!!!" article:

http://www.bruceonshaving.com/2010/07/08/my-shaving-soaps-and-creams

Montmorencymon

Found a thread (and a video) on hand-stropping:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/81867-Hand-Stropping-Really-WORKS!

Haven't read the whole thread yet.

EDIT: Lots of interesting articles on shaving (shaving !!!!!!?) here, including this one on the possible "extinction" of double-edged safety-razor blades:

http://www.bruceonshaving.com/2010/09/16/double-edged-blade-extinction

and one about palm-stropping:

http://www.bruceonshaving.com/2010/11/17/palm-stropping-razor-blades/

(I think the blogger is agnostic on the issue, but there seems to be a general consensus that it "works", but some question whether it's worth the effort and the possible risk).

By the way, there are quite a few videos on Youtube showing people stropping their multi-bladed cartridge razors, using for example some old pieces of denim, or even their own forearm. Some people say that this doesn't really sharpen or hone the blade, but just cleans off the detritus.

It probably doesn't need saying, but just for the record, do be careful when handling razor blades, and dispose of them safely when finished with them. (Reminder to myself as much as anything...).

martinthebandit

I have just bought these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251288815470?var=550251384060&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 , almost two years worth of blades delivered to my door for less than a fiver :beer:

Montmorencymon

OK, now I think this is a very suitable article for MSE aficionados, who are also wet-shaving aficionados:

http://www.bruceonshaving.com/2011/01/24/some-traditional-shaving-bargains/

As far as I can see, those Palmolive 50p sticks are available from Tesco and Asda, but not some of the others. Worth checking out pound shops and the like though.


EDIT: Here is a British chap using the Palmolive stick:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjM8zUvNuPU

(EDIT: Well, I think Bruce is also British, but most of the Youtube shaving videos otherwise seem to be Americans. )

catlady

Just found a bargain for all you Gillette Mach 3 users. There's an Amazon seller who has packs of 4 @ £2.19. Postage is £2.99 but discounted if more than 1 pack ordered.
I've just ordered 5 (20 blades) with postage @ £4.99, total cost, £14.95. Just hope it's not another of Amazons' non existent sellers!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B0000WU07Q/sr=1-4/qid=1372325268/ref=olp_tab_all?ie=UTF8&colid=&coliid=&me=&qid=1372325268&seller=&sr=1-4

Meadows

catlady wrote: »

Just found a bargain for all you Gillette Mach 3 users. There's an Amazon seller who has packs of 4 @ £2.19. Postage is £2.99 but discounted if more than 1 pack ordered.
I've just ordered 5 (20 blades) with postage @ £4.99, total cost, £14.95. Just hope it's not another of Amazons' non existent sellers!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B0000WU07Q/sr=1-4/qid=1372325268/ref=olp_tab_all?ie=UTF8&colid=&coliid=&me=&qid=1372325268&seller=&sr=1-4

Cheapest blades under this link are £6.20 now!

JNord

I used the same Gillette Trak II razor as my father for about 20 years. I continued to use variations of razors which had more blades than their predecessor. Most of the time trying to get them for birthday, father's day or Christmas gifts. Whenever I had to add them to my own grocery bill, I did it reluctantly and tried to get every last shave possible. I joined a couple clubs to get their introductory offer, to find that they were much the same blade, albeit a different handle. They wouldn't be much cheaper and the idea of being in a club didn't make them that special. One day I read about using safety razors and did think this would be one of those one off experiences that would lave me bleeding and switching to the same old razors I used before. However, the Edwin Jagger razor that came with Feather blades was far much easier than I thought. I sometimes used the self lathering soap bars, but also used it with canned shaving foam. You know what, it was far easier than I thought and produced an incredibly clean shave. I don't have any chaffing and the cost of the blades are absolutely stupidly cheap. I think this should be broadcasted loud and clear and sound the alarm that many of men who shave can get a really cheap deal on blades. I think my blades run about 27p and at that price only use them four times before switching them out. Some people have been able to get 6-8 shaves from them.

Spendless

Meadows wrote: »

Try a Razor Sharp (or whatever name/brand you can find at the best price!). Around £11 upwards, really does work and you don't need to throw your blade away anywhere near as much with this so it pays for itself really quickly, you use a small amount of you shaving cream on the rubber and push the blade forward over it a few times and then rinse and leave to dry.


Cleans and maintains the blade and bring back that 'new blade feel'
Removes residue of hair, skin and dry soap that makes the blade dull.
Extends the life of all razor blades and will provide up to 150 shaves with one razor blade.

I know this is an old thread that has been bumped by the previous poster, but I just wanted to say I bought my DH one of the above as a present due to the above post and it works! In the past 3 years, I can count on one hand how many times he's needed to buy some new blades. Previously he was getting through blades every few weeks. I've recommended this before on the Christmas board for those who have hard to buy for adult male relatives.