I’ve got myself a little stand for my razor and brush now. I’ve shaved once so far with my new shave soap and I like it. I’m still a little clueless of doing it right - not sure if I got enough lather up. My legs have felt a lot less razor-burny and dry. However, I also started applying lotion afterward, so that probably helps too. I like the shave soap quite a bit.
Also, someone upthread was worried about shaving underarms. This surprises me, but I get a much better underarm shave with the safety razor.
I am deeply disappointed in the dope. We have lost a step, it would seem. Ahem:
I’m afraid we’ll need to see pics of the pubic areas in question to determine the best shaving method.
Back on topic:
I am tempted to try to talk my wife into this. I myself have taken to using a straight periodically, but am curious about the safety razor shaving thing. It looks very cool.
My wife is prone to ingrown hairs in the bikini area. Notice any difference in this front with the safety razor vs. your cartridges?
I like it because it’s a warm lather rather than a cold lather, and I get to scrub it into my skin with the brush rather than rubbing with my fingers. I also frequently go back to the brush to get a bit more lather if I want to hit one area a second time. I find that inconvenient with a can. I also feel that the soap lasts a whole lot longer than a can of shaving cream.
What interests me is why did we go away from the brush/soap combo in the first place?
Tristan, I haven’t shaved my junk in ages, but I’ll give it a go again and send you a picture, if you’re really that interested in comparison shots.
Well this thread (after the inspiration of the older ones) finally got me off my ass and I am now the proud owner of a marvel of modern technology . . . this gold tone Ever-Ready single edge safety razor circa 1912 (looks ever prettier in person).
CMC fnord!
One question, I’ve got a full beard and have been using a Schick / International Silver Company “Paul Revere” M18 Injector Blade Razor (scroll up to “Type L5”) to shave that little sparse patch on my cheek, dry :eek:, when it really needs it for decades. Do I need to buy the high quality SERBs I’ve seen online or am I risking permanent mutilation if I just pick up a 10 pack of boxcutter SERBs at the local hardware store? (I’m figuring since I’m not shaving my entire face I can get away with it. Right now a 10 blade injector things lasts me at least a year. I’m cheap . . . and my face is tough!)
I have received a request for an update so I just want to let ya’ll know how things have been going.
At this point I’ve probably shaved between 5-10 times with the safety razor. I’ve been using Proraso Shave Soap and Astra Superior Platinum Blades. Once down the leg (with the grain), soap up again, and once up the leg (against the grain.)
I have found it is easier to do this standing up. I am getting into a smoother rhythm now, though I still nick myself - nicked myself today, but it really doesn’t hurt at all, the cuts are so tiny. I have got the blade angle down, and today I tried shaving in shorter strokes and seemed to get a better shave this way. As long as I moisturize immediately afterward, no issue with razor burn.
I am wanting a little closer shave though. I think I’m ready to increase the quality and sharpness of my blade. I’m going to try 7 o Clock and see how that goes.
This thread has inspired yet another woman to get on the safety razor bandwagon. I bought a Parker Unisex butterfly style razor. It has a longer handle, which is supposed to make it easier to handle for legs. It came with Shark blades, but I bought a combo pack too. So far, I’ve only tried the Shark blades. From another recommendation in this thread, I’m using Kiss My Face Lavender shave cream.
I love the new razor. It gives a very close shave, much better than I’ve ever gotten with a disposable or cartridge. It does take more time because I have to be more careful. Like olives, I’ve nicked myself, but they are minor. I haven’t been brave enough to try shaving my armpits yet.
The yellows and the two types of greens were good but nothing exceptional.
The blue were great. They were sharp, smooth and lasted a long time.
The black ones pulled a little but perhaps that was due to improper lathering up. They feel different from other blades. I had a distinct “don’t mess with these blades or you’ll get a nasty gash” sensation although I was left uninjured. If anypony else has tried them, I’d like to know if you thought their sharpness was different from other blades. I’d say they’re about as good as blue 7 O’clock but with a different feel.
Been using a Merkur safety razor for a little while now and really like it. Much better than any other razor I’ve tried. I haven’t used it to shave my head yet because the first time I used it on my face, it got scraped up pretty good. Perhaps I’ll give it a try tomorrow.
I’ve been using the yellow 7 o’ clock blades, and I love them. They are without a doubt superior to everything else I’ve sampled. They are really sharp though. The other day I tried to do a quick in-the-shower shave with them, got sloppy, and cut myself about 8 times. I still have to take it slow.
I am really happy though, because I finally found that perfect angle. For me it’s a lot closer to 45 degrees than 35. The shave I had yesterday is the best one I’ve gotten since I started this whole thing. No cuts, no razor burn, very smooth. It’s the first time I can honestly say I got a superior shave to cartridge razors.
I am definitely sticking with yellow 7 o’clocks for now.
Thought I’d bump this old (less than a year anyway) instead of starting a new one.
I shave with a hand-me-down from my uncle. It’s a butterfly opening and it’s got to be sixty years old.
The key to shaving with a safety razor (and this is absolutely essential) is to get the angle right. If you’re going to err, err on the side of the edge being too flat against the skin as opposed to too oblique and scraping the whiskers. In other words the handle should be pointing more away from the skin as opposed to closer to parallel.
I can’t believe I ever flirted with those multi-blade cartridge systems. A safety razor—in the right hands—provides a superior shave, is better for the environment and easier on ye old pocketbook. You can buy blades for less than twenty-five cents apiece.
And another thing, stop buying shaving cream in the damned aerosol cans that litter the landfills. Get a brush and buy the shaving soap as a puck. Not only is it also a little easier on the environment, it’s also far less expensive and applying shaving soap with a brush just feels freaking great.
Remember when the multi-blade (triple-trac) razor was a joke on SNL? Now we’re up to six for crying out loud! (Or has that number been eclipsed?) End the madness! One good edge held at the right angle is all you need.
I have been using a Feather Stainless razor for three years now. So far I have used only a few different brands of blades, with Feather being my favorite. Those blades are scary sharp, which I prefer. A 100 pack from amazon has me set up for a very long time. I highly recommend Shave Secret oil (cheap, Walmart has it) to use alone or under shaving cream.
Prior to switching to the safety razor, I used an Atra Plus razor I have had for 15 years. For a cartridge razor it is a good choice. It is a double blade, pivoting design, but most importantly the patent expired. Aftermarket blades are available for far less than the Gilette brand.
There is no need to spend so much money for a good shave. A good safety razor, good blades, and proper technique out performs the modern cartridge systems. It is a better experience, too. I like shaving with a solid metal, machined instrument instead of a plastic, cheap feeling razor. My stainless steel razor could easily last many generations.
That looks like a fine razor and I will give Feather a look when it’s time to replace mine but that might be a while as this one seems to be of fairly sturdy construction. I tracked the model down on mr-razor and it appears to be a Gillette Aristocrat Adjustable circa 1956. I will look for this Shave Secret oil next time I’m at Wallyworld and give it a go. Though I’m satisfied with the shaves I get from good ol’ Williams shaving soap I’m always looking for improvements.
Exactly. Emphasis on technique. Too steep of an angle and you’re scraping, not shaving. I expect to pass mine down to my nephew as my uncle passed it to me. (My father used an electric.)
we were remodeling his 100 yr ldl house, and made an interesting discovery. While removing the walls on a lower level bedroom, this massive cascade of safety razor blades came down like an avalanche on us.
I was puzzled. Then dad said, the vanity mirror in his upstairs master bathroom, had a cut-out in the sheet metal that formed the inner box with the shelves for toiletries (accessed by opening the hinged mirror door). This cut-out was in the shape of a traced razor blade, so as to act as an instruction manual. Dad said he had always discarded the used blades in the slot, which let to the vacant area bounded by the 2 x 4 spacing in the lower rooms walls.
apparently, this was very common 100 yrs ago. Reckon it was considered safer than placing the blades in the trash, then dumping the trash bag into a larger bag, then that bag into the 55 gallon drum that everyone burned (remember those days).
so my point is, apparently there is known historical risk with handling used blades…unless you’re the unfortunate soul remodeling the house 100 yrs later, facing tetanus shots after having 36,500 rusty blades fall on you.
discarding them into a black plastic Hefty bag, could cut & infect someone, including the trash truck guys
I have a half-dozen or so old safety razors that were my great grandfather’s, grandfather’s and father’s, as well as a Merkur 33C of my own, and I can safely say that technique is where it’s at- there’s not really that much difference between the razors themselves.
There is, at least in my experience, a correspondence between certain blade brands and more or less aggressive razors (as determined by the blade angle). Something to do with edge grind angles, I think. Anyway, there will be a certain amount of testing with any given razor to find out which blade brands work best.
For example, Feather blades work beautifully in my 1940 Superspeed, but thrash my face something awful in my Merkur, and Astras work well with my Fatboy adjustable, but seem dull in the non-adjustable razors.
Lots of folks will tell you that a badger brush and some absurdly expensive soap or cream is the only way to go and anything else is an invitation to irritation, frustration and blood.
This isn’t so; stuff like Barbasol works fine if your technique is decent. The soap/cream with a brush stuff can be terrific, but don’t do like I did and learn how to shave with a DE razor at the same time you’re learning how to make a proper lather with a brush. You’ll just scrape yourself up unnecessarily.
My vote would be this stuff. It’s about as close as you can get to the lather/brush method, but more consistent and forgiving while you’re learning.
While I’m sure that the badger brushes and expensive soaps are lovely, you really can do a fine job with bar soap just scrubbed across your face. Stubble will pick up the soap pretty quickly, so a few passes with a bar and then just rub in in for a moment. I like to lather up my face, then my body, then rinse my body, so that the soap has a long time to soak in before shaving.
I have my father’s old safety razor, but it hasn’t occurred to me to actually buy blades and use it. I have not-so-fond memories of that tidy row of divots on the outsides of my ankles I used to get as a teenager.
I tried an old-fashioned safety razor, prompted in part by this very thread, but was disappointed. I tried a few different blades, but they seemed to go blunt very quickly, and didn’t work as well as my fancy-pants triple-bladed razor.
I totally get that it should not be necessary to have stupid multiple lubricated blades and what-have-you, but the fact remains that I can get a better shave, with less chance of cuts, in less time, from the modern, expensively-bladed razor. Worth the minor expense, to me.
