This is an interesting point.
I don’t go through razors like water, and wouldn’t want to spend money when I don’t have to. Although I guess the flip side of that is I am using a fresh blade more often than not…
Like Tranquilis I now use a safety razor with either Feather or Personna blades that I will typically get about 7 shaves with before I swap it out. The biggest difference for me was actually finding out I’ve been applying the shaving cream in a sub-optimal manner all these years. I’ve used a brush to apply it but allowing it to soak makes a big difference in the lather I get. I also use a good moisturizing aftershave, and that helps immensely.
I followed the instructions in this link and my incidence of razor burn is waaay down. Cost wise, after buying the handle, replacement blades work out to 50 cents a month.
Add me to the old fashioned double edge blade crowd – switched several years ago after being caught up in the more more more blades baloney and get better shaves than any multi-bladed gimmick at far less cost – and have not had a single razor cut since I switched – maybe that’s why they are called safety razors.
Amazon sells sampler packs of blades; easy to try out several and decide what works best for you. I have settled on Feather – they don’t last quite as long as others but they are very sharp.
Beard oil. It’s wonderful. I use Badger products, but there are others just as good.
Daily shaver with sensitive skin here. Tried both. Too rough/angle wrong.
IME both clubs allow you to order a la carte.
Love DSC hair products.
Dorco makes Dollar Shave Club razors. DSC distributes them but they don’t do any manufacturing. You can buy them in bulk personally from Dorco as well.
That said, I am going to have to do a 360 degree reverse slam dunk hipster move on all of you. Aficionado shaving is pointless. That means fusion anything, specialty blades and especially old-school safety razors. Shaving technology has barely budged in the last 50 years except for this oddly predictive Onion article.
I have thick facial hair and I don’t dick around with it. It simply needs to be cut frequently. I can do it with any disposable Bic razor (even the pink ones) and a can of Barbasol as well as I can with the fanciest razor on the market. How retro is that?
I splurged recently and spent a grand total of $3 at Dollar Tree on three different bags of disposable razors. I am still on the first razor of the 1st bag (a very nice multi-blade model). Those will probably last me at least 3 months. I generally spend less than $15 dollars a year TOTAL on shaving products including shaving cream.
It is literally one of the least expensive and completely uncomplicated concepts that I know of. You are just cutting hair by dragging a sharp blade across it just like people have been doing since the stone age. It is only slightly more complicated than wiping your ass. I have no idea why some people make a big deal out it. I can and do shave my entire face and neck in 45 seconds routinely.
The only tip I have is put your razor in a small pool of baby oil in between uses. It prevents microscopic corrosion that is the enemy of all razors and provides lubrication when you use it.
If you want to spend the least money on shaving possible, use the cheaper electric razors. The lower end philips razors are on sale for $30, and you only need a $15-$18 blade replacement once a year. That’s what I do.
Also, there is no risk of cutting yourself. (well, it’s probably possible, but I haven’t gotten cut in 5 years) They don’t give as smooth of a shave, however.
I shaved this past weekend and followed the instructions listed on the link you gave, and, holy shit, that’s the easiest shave I’ve had in ages.
It kinda sounds dumb to say, but I don’t think I was ever really taught how to shave properly. It’s also funny you posted this because there’s a part of me that’s assumed I haven’t been shaving correctly for a while now, and almost started a thread about it.
What I was really doing wrong was putting too much pressure on my face, which was removing all of the shaving cream and making everything worse. I don’t necessarily know if this solved my problem…but it certainly helped…
I have tried the monthly shave plans offered by Gillette, Harry’s, Dollar Shave Club, Wet Shave Club, and Supply.
In my estimation, Gillette’s deal is not as good as Harry’s or Dollar Shave, but otherwise the quality of the products are pretty much equivalent.
I somewhat prefer Harry’s, just because it looks a little nicer than Dollar Shave.
I’d suggest you sign up for the introductory month for both of them and try them out. Usually you can get a good deal for the first month.