# Need a new razor. Suggestions? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 10, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-razor-suggestions/724801 "2015-07-10T20:55:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-razor-suggestions/724801/1 "2015-07-10T20:55:19Z")
I’ve been using electric the past few years. My latest one is one of those with a triangular, tilting head, which apparently broke in my suitcase during my last trip (a piece of plastic that held the head down on the springs under the razor heads apparently broke, so now I have to press down on it to get it to cut right). I’m sure the opinions will be as varied as my options, but I thought I’d ask what you all would suggest I do to replace. I CAN do manual shaving, but I just kinda find it more of a hassle (though cleaning the razor heads was a production I didn’t particularly like either, so getting one I could rinse under running water was a plus). Don’t want to spend TOO much, either now or ongoing for blades. Dependability is a plus. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-razor-suggestions/724801/2 "2015-07-10T21:03:29Z")
Gillette Slim. Or any butterfly-opening, adjustable, double edge safety razor you can find on Ebay. Buy a sampler pack for the blades. Make sure to try Astra, Feather, black/blue 7 o’clock, Personna, Merkur blades. Ebay and Amazon are good places to buy blades. You may wish to use a badger hair brush and some shaving soap. If you let your beard grow a quarter inch or more, you can do the bulk of the work by using a small clipper on your face first and finish up with the razor. ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-razor-suggestions/724801/3 "2015-07-10T23:15:11Z")
Electric razors cost $18 for a new set of blades, and they last for a year. “dollar shave club” wants $36 a year for their cheapest razors. Walmart razors are several bucks for pack of limited use disposables. So just get another electric. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-razor-suggestions/724801/4 "2015-07-11T00:10:49Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Gillette Slim. Or any butterfly-opening, adjustable, double edge safety razor you can find on Ebay. I’d go with this. If you don’t want to buy second-hand, you can get new double-edged safety razors from Amazon or from fancy shops like Art of Shaving or still sometimes from the pharmacy, supermarket, or local beauty and shaving supplier. The blades are far cheaper than cartridges and much stronger. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-razor-suggestions/724801/5 "2015-07-11T00:21:03Z")
I’ve used everything from cutthroat straight razors to electrics and they’ve all been fine. Harry’s [https://www.harrys.com](https://www.harrys.com) is fine, too, if you like the multi-blade attack and want a reasonable price. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-razor-suggestions/724801/6 "2015-07-12T03:41:05Z")
I’ve used a Remington electric for well over ten years with much success. Use a can of canned air (computer dust-off) to clean it out each time. In terms of disposables I order them from [www.dorcousa.com](http://www.dorcousa.com) and they are also just fine (and very inexpensive). ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-razor-suggestions/724801/7 "2015-07-12T08:00:54Z")
I became a convert to double-edge safety razors last year. The blades are so inexpensive, you can change them frequently and still come out ahead of the cartridge-style razors. I don’t always do the whole production with the badger brush and shaving mug, though I do have them. Most often I shave in the shower with some Edge gel and my safety razor. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-razor-suggestions/724801/8 "2015-07-12T16:05:00Z")
I’m for the double edge safety razor and a sampler package of blades. It’s a much better shave than any electric. The razor can be a once in a lifetime purchase and the blades are surprisingly cheap. If you don’t want to mess with a brush there are lots of brushless shaving creams available that are far superior to the foam in a can stuff. High-end shave cream may seem expensive but the fact that a tube or jar will last longer than several spray cans evens out the cost. For a pretty darn good cheap shave cream try Kiss My Face Moisture Shave, widely available online, in health food stores, and in the health food section of grocery stores. If you want to splurge a bit and try a higher end shave cream, I’m liking Musgo Real these days – it seems expensive but you only use a pea sized dab on the brush. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-razor-suggestions/724801/10 "2015-07-23T21:52:22Z")
I went the safety razor route a few months ago but spent a bit more on a Merkur adjustable through [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Merkur-Futur-Safety-Razor-Finish/dp/B00T7GC1BY/ref=sr_1_12?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1437688314&sr=1-12&keywords=merkur+safety+razorhttp://). I’m still working through the sample pack but I really like the Merkur and Feather blades so far. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2015, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-razor-suggestions/724801/11 "2015-07-25T21:24:25Z")
Anyway, a week+ ago I was at the grocery store and noticed a sale on store brand razor blades. That plus this thread and my safety razor is now out of retirement. Yeah. So much smoother than disposables, and of course a much better shave than my electric (Norelco). Sometimes, not always, the old stuff is pretty good.