OT: Shaving Talk
In the spirit of "Offseason LOL," I thought I would see how the people of this board generally shave the various hairs on their bodies.
I have been hoping to find something cheaper than the Gillete line of products, as I only have to shave 2-3 times per week. I have tried Harry's, Dollar Shave Club, and Shick. I have to say: NONE of these options are any good. Harry's was the worst, followed closely by Dollar Shave club. I had to sharpen the blades in both cases, and even then I had to stop and clean out the bladed about every other swipe. They also cut my face up like I was shaving with a cheese grater. The Gillete stuff is expensive, but a 1.5 month old blade still was better than these other options.
I think I may try a saftey razor next; is it worth the trouble?
April 20th, 2016 at 10:43 AM ^
is "nope"
April 20th, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^
As an aside, I've often wondered if there was now enough information floating around in various places on the blog to build the conpendium of editorial stances so that people could easily reference it for guidance in thread creation. What I did not realize is that it would potentially be a project that extended to tasks like shaving, although I wouldn't be totally shocked if this was in fact the entire position on the subject.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:43 AM ^
I don't find Harry's to be that bad, it's way better than DSC.
But, I switched to safety razors this year. There's an upfront initial investment of roughly $50-60. But, I got 100 blades for about $11. I change the blade every week. So, 11 cents per week.
Shaving with a safety razor takes a bit of time to learn. It's not as fast. I cut myself a bit more often with it. When I travel, or if I am going to shave at the gym, though, I use Harry's. Safety razor is hard to transport. You also have to be careful about disposing the old blade. Putting the blade in the trash is dangerous; I got a blade receptacle for $5, in which there's no chance of a person getting cut.
I'm not going to tell you that a safety razor gives a better shave than, say a Gillette. It might be my imagination, but I find my beard grows back a bit faster since I've shaved with the safety razor. But, the shave quality itself is good, and for 11 cents per week, it's unbeatable.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:52 AM ^
you have for you blades, but mine have a slot in the back where you can put the discarded blades.
Safety razor is a nice ritual for me....feels nice to do it properly.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^
I will go ahead and say I get a better shave from my DE safety razor than I ever got from a Mach 3. I used to suffer ingrown hairs and bumps pretty badly, and also the pain of shelling out $30+ for 20 cartridges at Sams Club every few months. Haven't had either problem since I switched.
There's a lot of flexibility in razor, blade and soap options that doesn't exist in electric or cartel/cartridge razors so you can find what works best for you with some experimenting, and it does become a "treat yourself" kind of experience after a while when you look forward to the smell of a good shave soap and aftershave. My new fav. is "Cognac and Cuban Cigars" - you just can't find something like that in a can near the cartridges.
There is a great shop not far from Ann Arbor (Maggard Razors in Adrian) where you can handle over a hundred different razors, sample soaps/aftershaves, etc. Way better and cheaper than AOS in the mall. http://www.maggardrazors.com
Also check out www.reddit.com/r/wicked_edge for more info on how-to, opinions on various razors, blades, soaps, etc.
April 20th, 2016 at 12:21 PM ^
I bought my first DE (MR5) from Maggard last year. It was cheaper than other name brands and has nice weight on the head and some heft to the handle.
I'm thinking of upgrading just the head. I love the handle of the MR5, but I might look into getting a different head.
The MR5 handle is my favorite look, but I don't have one. I tried the Maggard V3A head (it'll work on any Maggard or Edwin Jagger handle) a few months ago, and have switched to that full time from my '59 Gillette Fatboy (which had been my favorite).
Only caveat to what's posted above is that feather blades are not very forgiving. I shaved for the first time with a de safety razor using a feather blade and cut up my face. I've used them since and they're nice but start with derby.
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Are ridiculously sharp- I have never found anything sharper. Definitely not the first blade to choose if you are just starting out with DE shaving.
Word of caution: DE shaving has a learning curve, and there are blogs, websites, Youtube Videos (check out Mantic59) for learning how to shave properly. BUT, once you do, it is THE BEST!
April 20th, 2016 at 10:44 AM ^
to Kroger and buy whatever I can find for $5 or less. Good talk.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:44 AM ^
I have switched out the shaver head once for $30 off amazon. So $210 has lasted me for 7 years, the cost of razor blades is ridiculous.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:45 AM ^
I really like using a DE safety razor. It is way cheaper ($35-65 initial investment, then probably $5/year on blades). It can kind of slow down the process so I don't know if I'd suggest it to someone who was perpetually in a rush while shaving.
I took the route of making it a somewhat cathartic ritual (I shave 3x weekly) where I prep a hot towel and use a badger brush to whip up a good lather on my shave soap (Proraso w/ Eucalyptus & Menthol is my favorite). So on and so forth.
Another consideration with this though, is that it can take some time to find your preferred brand/style of blade. I like the Feather blades, but that was only the 10th or 12th type I tried.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:11 AM ^
April 20th, 2016 at 11:24 AM ^
Feathers are one of my fav's, but I seem to get more nicks with them than others. I also like Bolzano's - they seem every bit as good as the Feathers, and I get less nicks. Rockwell blades are also pretty good.
[Edit: misspelled bolzano]
April 20th, 2016 at 12:14 PM ^
I know I'm being cheap, but a 100 pack of Feathers is $30, while a 100 pack of Astras or Sharks is less than $10. When it comes down to it, it's a difference of about four or five cents per shave. Maybe I'll give them a shot when I run out of blades in a few years.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:11 AM ^
April 20th, 2016 at 11:19 AM ^
The DE safety razor is definitely the way to go if you have time in the morning to shave. I've used a DE razor for about seven years or so, and love it.
But I now have three kids, and my wife is traveling a lot for work, and it's incredibly difficult to take the time to shower and get a good wet shave when you have two toddlers and a screaming baby and you're by yourself in the morning. So about two months ago, I broke down and bought a Braun electric razor. On mornings that are crazy, I use the Braun so I can do it quickly and be done. When I have more time, I use the DE razor.
I get a MUCH better shave with the DE razor. With my 1964 Gillette Super Speed safety razor, a 15-cent Feather blade and a little Proraso shaving cream I can get away with shaving 2-3 times a week. With the Braun, I have to shave every day. A fresh shave with the Braun gets about as close cut as the day after a shave with the DE razor.
I used Mach 3 blades before switching to DE, and I'm amazed i ever used them. I'll never go back to those - they were bad blades that probably gave about as good of a shave as the Braun, and cost an arm and a leg.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:47 AM ^
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April 20th, 2016 at 10:50 AM ^
I used a shaver. I've had it for years and love it.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^
I'm guessing since WD hasn't reached puberty yet, he won't weigh in on this topic.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:06 AM ^
Shots fired.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^
One day I'll read a thread on this board where no one takes irrelevant shots at WD or Magnus. One day...
Anyway, I use an electric razor. I don't have thick facial hair. One thing that helps is while I'm still wet after I turn off the water, I rub some baby oil on my stubble. It only takes 5 seconds.Then dry off like normal. Somehow it doesn't make my towel oily and nasty and it definitely irritates my skin less when I shave.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:51 AM ^
I like Harry's. I used to use a Mach III or a Turbo, but now with Harry's I can still afford to send my kids to college and still get a great shave.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:52 AM ^
April 20th, 2016 at 12:33 PM ^
I like Harry's blades and holder, although I would really like them if there was a trimming blade. I'd also recommend the use of a good pre-shave oil for those with the time. And definitely use a post-shave balm.
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April 20th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^
April 20th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^
I'm guessing MeanJoe won't weigh in on this topic either since a shaved koala is not a pretty sight.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:54 AM ^
And there we have the main character in my nightmares tonight
April 20th, 2016 at 10:55 AM ^
Wellp, not eating chicken today.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:19 AM ^
or does is appear that Space Ghost is trying to escape from that hideous beast?
April 20th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^
I have a Phillips Norelco vacuum trimmer and then use the Gilette Fusion trimmer with matching blades. Got a Costco pack of Fusion blades for Christmas two years ago and started keeping the beard right after. Pretty sure I'm set on blades for the rest of the decade.
Also use Every Man Jack products for pretty much everything and am very happy with them too.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:03 AM ^
I tried Harry's but the blades are garbage and got clogged up after every swipe. Mach 3 has always been my go-to, but I've always been intrigued with the safety razor idea but just haven't pulled the trigger yet
April 20th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^
April 20th, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^
I clicked expecting a story on 'points' shaving, which would be more appropriate for this blog.
Probably happens more than one would expect, at all but the highest levels where the players make so much $ that they can't be bought.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^
I buy my razors used off of Craigslist. Not only do I score some killer deals on used razor cartridges, but I've met some really interesting people.
When not doing that, I use Harry's. I think their product is meh, but the razors last about three weeks (every day shaver) and the price point is such that I don't mind tossing a cartridge away off schedule.
In college, I tried to use a straight razor. Found a leather strap and everything, but never could get it sharp enough. (If I'm remembering correctly, I got my kit at Harry's Army Surplus, which was a field trip in and of itself.)
April 20th, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^
April 20th, 2016 at 11:57 PM ^
I still use a Gillette Trac II. The handle is hard to find, but they still sell the blades. I guess you can have 3, 4, 5, 6 blades, but I just think it is overkill. Two blades is more than enough, and the 10 packs of blades are inexpensive. Note: not all blades are created equal. Some of the cheaper aftermarket blades are crummy.
Back when I was a new student at UofM in the late 70's, I occasionally had a barber shave me with an old fashioned straight razor. They have to know what they're doing, but that's a clean shave. My barber was a cool dude: had been working as a barber some 60 years, and could tell stories of some of his criminal clientele back from the 1920's.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:20 AM ^
April 20th, 2016 at 11:25 AM ^
April 20th, 2016 at 11:25 AM ^
April 20th, 2016 at 11:58 AM ^
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April 20th, 2016 at 11:27 AM ^
April 20th, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^
That I almost never use. It gives a great shave, but I don't have 45 mins to spend shaving my face most days. Seriously, if you try to do it quickly at all you'll be bleeding all over the place.
Day to day is a Mach-3, which I pretty much just use out of habit now. Shaving cream is whatever is on sale.
Also, if you don't have a styptic pencil I highly recommend you get one. Stops the bleeding immediately.
45 minutes? I shave everyday with a straight razor and it probably takes me five to eight minutes.
Now when I first switched to a straight razor from a Mach, yes, it was a 15 minute process with four or five nicks. But after a week you get the hang of it, and I haven't cut myself in months. I haven't tried a straight razor, but the safety razor is leaps and bounds a better shave and easier on the face than those horrible cartridges.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^
A good scrubbing with goat's milk soap, followed by Nivea for Men Sensitive Skin formula and a Schick Hydro 3. (I've tried five-blade razors but quickly gave them up. They always feel as though I'm taking off a couple layers of skin along with the bristles.)
And yes, the cost of razor blades is absurd.
April 20th, 2016 at 11:49 AM ^
Braun 9 series. Fast and good