I have been battling with disposable razors for years. I can't stand to spend the money on replacement blades for my Gillette Fusion or the Mach 3. I see it as a massive waste.
I am looking into getting a Merkur safety razor. I don't know much about the safety razors so any advice would be appreciated. I think my grandfather has an old safety razor that hasn't been used in 20 years so if I can find that I will try it first.
I am wondering about what blades are good for a good price. I was looking at the sharks and feathers on amazon. I don't have sensitive skin so I would think just a decent blade would be fine. I do want a close shave.
Also, I am looking for advice on a good lather brush and good soap. I found Taylor of Old Bond on amazon and Escali pure badger brush. Is all of that a good setup?
I had never heard of the dollar shave club. That is a good video. The one wipe charlies are interesting. I didn't know they made things like that.
But I am wanting to get away from the disposable plastic razors. Also, I don't shave too regularly. Once or twice a week usually and I grow a beard every now and then. I really don't like shaving all that much. I definitely like the idea of buying a double edged razor and 100 blades and not spending another dime for a couple of years. If I found a good setup I might buy several hundred replacement blades and try to be done with it altogether.
I am also interested in getting away from canned shaving cream.
Advice from a lady who shaves her legs and underarms with a double edged razor-- I buy blades at Dollar General, they are 5 for $1.00, made in either Israel or South Korea, and are just as good quality as expensive blades. At least for my legs and armpits, which are sensitive because, well, they're legs and armpits. I use an old Gilette or Shick razor that was my husband's, has the little thing you turn to adjust the angle of the blade. I just take the blade out when I'm done using it, wash it and the razor, squirt some isopropanol on them both and let them dry. I can use a blade for at least a few months. I think the key is washing the blade and putting alcohol on it. And no, my leg and armpit hair isn't dainty like the fuzz on a baby bunny's butt. Think middle aged woman with too little of some hormones and too much of others.
I don't like disposables either. Even the double and triple blades last two, maybe three uses and then start shredding my legs and armpits, and they're not cheap.
I find the Dollar General generic blades to be very affordable and they work just fine. In fact, one of my brothers got sick of disposables and bought a safety razor a year or so back, and was buying Gilette or maybe Shick blades at Walgreens, and they were over $6.00 for five blades!! I tried to tell him about the Dollar store blades but he didn't believe me so I took him a pack and he did try them and found them to be just as good. Now he buys them too.
Just a suggestion.
ETA about canned shaving cream-- Barbasol at Dollar General is $1.25 and their store brand equivalent is a dollar. But you can buy mug soap, trying to remember the name of the brand.... this stuff
and it lasts a long time. I don't use it, but my husband did and my brother does now. It's a little over a dollar a cake.
But you can also find recipes for home made shaving soap that will make a large batch you can cut up or mold however you want for probably less than five dollars in ingredients.
I would love it if the safety razor would work for my wife. I think she only gets one or two shaves out of a disposable razor. I can't stand to spend the money, so I use every razor for months. So I will see if I can get her to try it once I get used to it myself.
She does all of her shaving in the shower. I had seen a video where a guy puts his razor in baby oil. Any suggestions for keeping the blade from rusting if my wife decides to use them?
I just started using a double edged safety razor myself. I just bought one of the cheaper ones at Sally Beauty Supply, it was about $12.99 and I bought the Derby Extra razors for it, which was $2.69 for a box of 10. Works great.
It takes a little bit of adjustment from a standard Gillette Fusion Pro-Glide which is what I have used for years. The pivoting head on a disposable simplifies shaving the curves of your face (or whatever else; I just shave my face though). The DE razor has to be held in a little bit more careful manner as the blade is fixed. Too low of an angle and you may not get the shave close enough, but too high and you can get nicked. The only other thing I have noticed is that the DE razor leaves a bit worse razor burn on me than the disposable, but it goes away within 10 minutes or so and for the money I am saving, I will deal with it until my face toughens up some.
My one regret is that I didn’t discover one of these while I was still in the service. I would have saved a small fortune….
Well, I'm a card carrying member of the "Cheapskates Club".
I went to the local Junktique store and found a 1970 model of the Gillette Super Speed Safety razor for only $4.00.
Blades can still be purchased at Walmart or you can go online to a beauty supply store and but double edge blades in bulk. I bought 100 blades and only gave $6.00 and that included shipping.
I use the cheapest shaving cream I can find, but I have been know to use regular ole bath soap from time to time.
Well I wouldn't really consider myself a cheapskate but I am definitely seeing the need for saving money and have for some time. It is amazing to me how someone can go through life being a consumer and never really gain anything.
My dad took a job in a town outside of Atlanta recently and was talking up the town and saying how many stores there were. He said you could eat out every day of the week and you would never get tired of it and how they had every store he could think of and so much more. To him it was heaven but hearing him describe it just made me sick. A lot of the people in that area are not from that area and are just working to save up money. I saw it as a town set up to pull every possible dollar from you that they can. He was losing money the entire time and now he is back home.
I want any money I make or have to build up. To work towards a goal. Whether it is property, retirement, or whatever. I know I could spend everything I make on little perceived luxuries and then one day the money would run out and I would have nothing.
I use a safety razor, it's actually the one I got in the military. I think it's the only way to shave. These guy's sell everything for shaving and grooming. https://www.menessentials.com/
Been shaving with the same safety razor since 1974. I can't stand multi-blade razors.
The best blades I have found are the AAFES store brand at the PX.
I use the Merkur 180/23C. Bought it off Ebay for $35 or so. For blades, I use Astra Superior Platinum, made in Russia. I buy them off bestshave.net, $1.07 for 10. bestshave.net is operated from Turkey, and the blades are Russian, which some people might have issues with. Disposable and other cartridge razors are AWFUL for shaving thick beards, but I think the OP already knows that. Most blades you will find in places like dollar stores are stainless steel and don't rust. The Astra is also stainless.
I haven't seen it, but my brother tells me there's a YouTube video of how to sharpen (or maybe keep sharp between uses?? can't remember what he told me) the double edged razor blades. I haven't tried to find the video, but the way he explained it was that you used something like a marble cutting board or counter top and you put oil on it and moved the blade in a figure 8 pattern. I can't remember what exactly he said, and I haven't bothered looking for it, but I thought I'd pass the information along in case one of y'all want to check it out.
For ladies learning to use a safety razor--the danger spots are on the outside of the ankle, where it's bony, the knee, and the 'side' of the knee where it starts to go around the back side of the leg. At least, those are the areas I have skinned down before. Also, remember the edges of the blades are bare and can make a long gouge that will hurt and bleed an insane amount, so never use the blade diagonally.
Ive been using my Lord for over 5 years now... LOVE IT.
Oddly, of all the blades I get, the Family Dollar brand are the best! And I get 5 blades for like $3... Each blade last me at least a week.
I dont get caught up in the mood like a romance movie and use the mug soap and all the "old school" stuff, still use a can of cream like always.
Not only is shaving a damn sight cheaper, but once you learn to properly use the razor & blade, its the best shave you will ever get with minimum irritation.
Actually I've found your posts in this thread to be informative. I've been using a safety razor and shaving soap, badger hair brush, and buffalo horn bowl for about a year and I brought up the idea with my wife for her to start using a safety razor. I would be grossed out if you informed us that you DON'T shave your legs and armpits LOL.
Just be sure to get an adjustable one... every face is different. Be prepared to use lotion after shaving for a while. There is an adjustment period for your face. Since you get a closer shave, you'll get razor burn and/or dry skin. In the long run though, you will wish you changed over years ago.
Ebay has double edged shavers made in China for $10 including free shipping. I've bought a couple for possible trade in case, you know shtf. I'm using one of them and they work fine and you can get blades at Walmart or in bulk (100) via Ebay which are made in Russia. Again, no problem with them either. Bought a Old Spice shaving kit (Walmart) that had a cup, brush and shaving soap. After the soap was used, started saving those slivers of body soap. Walmart is (or was?) selling a double edge razor with Rick of Pawn Stars fame on the box for $20?
I use a Merkur adjustable razor and Feather blades. For soap I use Van der Hagen soap from Wal-Mart. I've been doing it this way for a year and a half.
I have used a Merkur safety razor and 100pack of 7am blades since 2011 and I still have tons. Such a better shave than any Mach razor.
Recently I started using a straight razor and must say its like cutting through butter when the hair has grown out. It uses the same 7am razors cut in half.
The safety razor works on other body parts without issue, the straight razor.... not so much.
Been shaving with a double edge for awhile. Have picked up some old Gilette razors from eBay.Currently using a Gilette fatboy and a 40's Airsocraft. DE blades can be found on eBay or Amazon reasonable.
Started using a merkur 34c about two months ago and have loved it. Now granted when you first start there is a learning curve. As was said earlier about proper angle is true, also have to consider the proper pressure.
I went with west coast shaving and I must admit they were very helpful in helping me make my choice. I went with the giant sample bag of blades and have since been finding what works best for me.
Feather is by far the best for me, followed by astra. Some of the others just pull and grab to much for me.
I also alternate between using cream and soap. It seems to help.
This investment has been the best choice for me and I wish I did it long ago. My shave is extra smooth and my wife has commented a couple of times now that even at dinner my face is still somewhat smooth, as compared to when I used to shave with disposables.
Another for a Merkur and Feathers. I started with a variety pack of blades and quickly found that the Feathers were the ones for me. I used to do the whole soap and lather thing, but for the past year and a half, I just blind shave in the shower and touch up at the sink afterwards. I find it to be quicker and just as good a shave.
I no longer have to get a quick shave before going to work so about 4 months ago I went to a safety razor. Got a Merkur Futur and really enjoy the process now. I've used shaving soap for 20 years so no change there.
Start with a forgiving blade until you get the technique that works for you down pat. It's not going to happen in a week so take your time and enjoy the process. I prefer the Wilkinson blades to the Derby for a comfortable shave while learning. The Feathers are the sharpest I have tried so far but I got a combo pack with about 30 more brands to try. Probably going to take some time.
If my face gets a little sensitive after an agressive blade I have found the Mexican Lavender aftershave that is mineral oil based works wonders.
http://www.westcoastshaving.com/ you will find everything you need there at good prices. :thumb:
I have been using a Gillette fat boy from 1959 for around 6 years now and I wouldn't go back to a mach 3 for no mans money
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