if you haven't seen this--

[scurvy]

I tried submerging razors in mineral oil between shaves to see if it affected the blade's longevity. All I got were gooped up blades that didn't shave worth a dang. And at 5¢ each, I didn't lose any sleep over pitching the blade and putting the razor through the dishwasher to clean it off.

I guess that's another benefit to going this route - there's a huge variety of razors & blades out there so you can easily customize the aggression of the implements to your liking.

 

[Shannow]

I ripped the slimy strips off my current quattro blade.

Made a difference for the positive in my "exit the shower, and shave before face is dry technique".

Wish I could find my old safety razor, it did the best job of the lot.

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: uc50ic4more
Another "trick" is to use a straight razor - That ought to last you your whole life! (Caution: Your "whole life" may be shortened dramatically if you use the straight razor improperly...)


There's one of those in the shed that I inherited from a former owner...way too scary, although I have had some great shaves at proper barbers with them.

Bit of Oz classic poetry by one of the masters.

http://www.wallisandmatilda.com.au/man-from-ironbark.shtml

 

[Summerwind]

I just tried one of those "5-bladed" units with the strip, granted, I was shaving my head, but even with very little hair, the blades clogged horribly, and no amount of water could get them totally clear.. Fortunatly, face-wise, my GF likes the "5-day rough-look" Does anyone still make th old style safety razor any more??

 

[John_Corey]

Hi scurvy,

My favorite razor is also the Gillette Slim, and, as I have already mentioned in this thread, my favorite are Feather Blades. I use Taylor of Old Bond Street Avocado shaving cream and a silver tip badger brush. After shaving, I run a moistened alum block over my face, because it's antibacterial and an astringent. Then I apply Nivea Shave Balm for sensitive skin, which is an excellent but inexpensive product. Sometimes I use Bay Rum or Pecksniff's aftershave. In the summer I spray a bit Monsieur Balmain on my wrists and rub my wrists against my neck. Then I'm good to go!

Cheers,
-J

Originally Posted By: scurvy
I know a great way to save money on shaving: use a double-edged razor.

I wet shave with a brush, a bowl, either shaving cream in a tube or hard shaving soap, a double edged razor and my choice of blades. My favorite blades (Red IPs, if you're into this stuff) are dirt cheap - maybe 5¢ each, and I get an easy 3 shaves off each one. I've got about 7 razors, which are still being produced by Merkur among others, but my favorite is the 1965 Gilette Adjustable Slim my Dad handed down to me.

And it forces you from using the HURRY UP SHAVE FAST NOW NOW NOW mentality that multi-blade razors have embraced - so you'll get an OK shave with zero thought or effort - and into a mindset where you can take your time and actually enjoy the process.

 

[John_Corey]

Hi Summerwind,

Merkur makes a whole line of double edge safety razors. One is an adjustable model. Mühle is another good brand. There are many other brands, but many of them use the same Mühle head. Jagger, Vulfix, Parker, and Omega are other excellent brands.

You can't go wrong buying an old safety razor off Ebay. Look for a Gillette Slim or Fat Boy, or a Merkur, or any other quality razor. If you buy one with a chrome finish it will dry spotless. Nickel-plated razors must be dried or they will show water spots. Just make sure you clean and sterilize a used razor before shaving.

Getting a good badger, boar, or synthetic brush and good shave soap or cream is also important. A badger brush is very soft and hold lots of water, while a coarser boar brush is rougher and will exfoliate your skin when you apply the lather. Canned shave cream or gel is junk.

Cheers,
-J

Originally Posted By: Summerwind
I just tried one of those "5-bladed" units with the strip, granted, I was shaving my head, but even with very little hair, the blades clogged horribly, and no amount of water could get them totally clear.. Fortunatly, face-wise, my GF likes the "5-day rough-look" Does anyone still make th old style safety razor any more??

 

[Summerwind]

Originally Posted By: John_Corey
Hi Summerwind,

Merkur makes a whole line of double edge safety razors. One is an adjustable model. There are many other brands, but many of them use the same Mühle head. You can't go wrong buying an old safety razor off Ebay. Look for a Gillette Slim or Fat Boy, or a Merkur, or any other quality razor. If you buy one with a chrome finish it will dry spotless. Nickel-plated razors must be dried or they will show water spots. Just make sure you clean and sterilize a used razor before shaving.

Getting a good brush, badger, boar, or synthetic and good shave soap or cream is also important. A badger brush is very soft and hold lots of water, while a coarser boar brush is rougher and will exfoliate your skin when you apply the lather. Canned shave cream or gel is junk.

Cheers,
-J

Originally Posted By: Summerwind
I just tried one of those "5-bladed" units with the strip, granted, I was shaving my head, but even with very little hair, the blades clogged horribly, and no amount of water could get them totally clear.. Fortunatly, face-wise, my GF likes the "5-day rough-look" Does anyone still make th old style safety razor any more??



Thank You!!

 

[addyguy]

Like someone mentioned, you can get a 10-pack or so of disposable twin-blades at a dollar store for $1-$2. Even if you shave every day with a new one, you're looking at less than $10 total for a month.

That said, I DO think the 3+ bladed razors give a better shave. I use a Mach 5 razor, and only shave once every 3-4 days. A razor head lasts me 2-3 weeks, a month if I push it.