I just finished shaving with my trusty Norelco rotary 725RL, and it occurred to me to wonder which is more popular, electric shavers or blades – and why. I prefer the convenience of the electric: no blades to run out of, no need for shaving cream, etc. Plus I think it gives me just as close a shave. So what do the SDMB guys prefer?
(You straigh-razor people are crazy, but go ahead and join in anyway 
)
Gilette safeties. So I guess I’m a ‘blade’ man.
Electrics have never really done it for me. I get burn.
Heat vision reflected off a piece of my space ship.
Blades - the hideously expensive Mach IIIs (so expensive that some supermarkets have started putting them behind the counter instead of on the shelf.)
But the key - shaving IN the shower. Yes, no mirror but you can get used to that. Lots of heat and steam = soft whiskers, no irritation, and no water/shaving cream on my shirt/neck/sink/countertop.
Yeah, pilot speak the truth. That’s an enormous help.
A 50-some year old ivory-handled safety razor. Thanks, gramps! The Mach 3’s and whatnot are too damn close a shave for my liking.
Electric…
Fast
Easy
No fuss
No mess
No cuts
Do it in the car or in the office
Clean up the back of my neck between haircuts
Easy to pack for travel
Twin blade Gillette Sensor. I don’t think the Mach 3 gives a noticably better shave for 2x the price. I’m also into using a shaving brush and shaving soap instead of the stuff in a can. Nice hot lather, and it’s fun too!
Both. Electric when I’m in a hurry, blade when I want to look nice.
Also twin blade Gillette Sensor. Much closer shave than my previous electric razor, burns are just as annoying, and it takes less time although it’s a bit more hassle.
I’d like a straight razor though, if I could find one at a non-ridiculous price. Would make it easier to shave after holidays or hiking/caving/mountaineering trips where I don’t/can’t shave for months.
Schick Xtreme 3 with Edge shave gel.
Electric: 2
Blades: 6
Both: 1
Some sort of thermal technique: 1
I use a Mach III, primarily because I just got one in the mail for some reason. But even before that, I was a blade guy, myself.
Gillette Sensor Excel, with plenty of their sensitive gel. I’ve tried rotary and foil shavers in the past, and have never been able to find one which doesn’t give me a terrible shaving rash - unfortunate, considering how convenient they are.
A shaving brush makes all the difference, even though I use gel from a can. Really helps the work the lather into my stubble, much better than I could do with my bare hands.
I use an electric razor (think it’s a phillishave) and then go over everything with a Mach III.
blade. the skin below my jawline (neck/throat) is too sensitive to razor burn when using an electric.
Electric shavers are fine if you shave everyday, but the ones I’ve had have been useless if you miss a couple of days.
On the other hand, I never seemed to master the knack of shaving without cutting myself until the triple-blade cartridges came out. I shudder to think what I’d do to myself with a straight razor.
Gillette Sensor here. I’d like to try a wet/dry shaver, but they’re too expensive at the moment.
While I don’t shave in the shower, I shave directly after my shower, without drying my face. The soap, hot water, and steam soften the whiskers nicely. And my mirror isn’t fogged because of my bathroom’s exhaust fan.
College student checking in.
I use some sort of Remington electric razor. I find it very convenient next to the toilet, as I can then shave while going #2.
Somehow, a blade just wouldn’t be the same.
Jonathan Chance and pilot141 both know what’s up. Shaving cream is for suckers, or people without reliable hot water supplies. OTOH, I wouldn’t want to shave myself with a straight razor - it’s a wonder of modern technology that persons such as us can even dream of dispensing with the lubricant.