Discussion
I've been debating moving from the god damn expensive 5 blades of fury offerings from Gilette to a classic safety razor. Everything I read seems to agree that the quality of shave from a safety razor is far far superior to an expensive gillette/wilkinson sword razor.
Any recomendations on handles, brushes and blades?
Anyone disagree with the above statement? Maybe a strop and cutthroat is the way forward?
Does it take longer to shave with a safety razor than a modern equivalent?
Any recomendations on handles, brushes and blades?
Anyone disagree with the above statement? Maybe a strop and cutthroat is the way forward?
Does it take longer to shave with a safety razor than a modern equivalent?
What is a safety razor? I speak as a man who has tried wet shaving once and realised that dragging a razor sharp piece of metal across my face was a bad idea, since that day (over 10 years ago) I've used dry shavers and find them great, they don't cut that close, but it is a big bonus to be able to keep one in a car glovebox for that first date/interview/business meeting.
I use a straight razor at weekends (too time consuming in the week) and achieve a VERY good shave. I dont have to shave for the next 2 or so days.
In the week I use a standard Mach 3, what shaving gel/ foam are you using as this is the biggest factor, NOT the blades your using.
If your using a "out of the can" stuff stop, get a decent shaving soap and badgers bristle brush and be prepared to be amazed at the difference..... no shaving burn, no rash and a much closer shave
Enjoy
In the week I use a standard Mach 3, what shaving gel/ foam are you using as this is the biggest factor, NOT the blades your using.
If your using a "out of the can" stuff stop, get a decent shaving soap and badgers bristle brush and be prepared to be amazed at the difference..... no shaving burn, no rash and a much closer shave
Enjoy
Don't, for example, do what a mate did. and use a cutthroat razor for the very first time on the day of your graduation. Your friends WILL take the piss out of you as you hold the toilet paper to your face trying to stop the blood staining your crisp white collar and bands before the photos.
A safety razor is identical in use to the modern Gillette jobbies.
Except that they are s
t and cut you a lot. When I first shaved I had one - because my Dad had one. I was delighted to discover the modern changeable-head systems when I moved out.
Don't do it.
"Cutthroat" razors are humoungous IMO. Never used one and never would consider it.
Except that they are s
t and cut you a lot. When I first shaved I had one - because my Dad had one. I was delighted to discover the modern changeable-head systems when I moved out.Don't do it.
"Cutthroat" razors are humoungous IMO. Never used one and never would consider it.
I was always under the impression that anything like a Bic or a Gilette WAS a safety razor. (As in you could safely drag it across your face without slashing yourself to bits)
A blade as such I would class as a 'cut throat' or just a 'razor'
I use my Fusion and a decent gel. No complaints...
A blade as such I would class as a 'cut throat' or just a 'razor'
I use my Fusion and a decent gel. No complaints...
Edited by Badgerboy on Friday 17th October 11:45
speed_monkey said:
I use a straight razor at weekends (too time consuming in the week) and achieve a VERY good shave. I dont have to shave for the next 2 or so days.
In the week I use a standard Mach 3, what shaving gel/ foam are you using as this is the biggest factor, NOT the blades your using.
If your using a "out of the can" stuff stop, get a decent shaving soap and badgers bristle brush and be prepared to be amazed at the difference..... no shaving burn, no rash and a much closer shave
Enjoy
Agreed, although the hot water is the key determining factor, as it expands and softens each hair, making it easier to cut. This also explains why using a Philishave etc can be an irritating experience In the week I use a standard Mach 3, what shaving gel/ foam are you using as this is the biggest factor, NOT the blades your using.
If your using a "out of the can" stuff stop, get a decent shaving soap and badgers bristle brush and be prepared to be amazed at the difference..... no shaving burn, no rash and a much closer shave
Enjoy
I bought a proper safety razor, cream, brush etc
You get a finer shave than a Mach3, but the Mach3 is a lot less likely to slice your face open at an inopportune moment (just before you put a shirt on is usually a good one). Works out a lot cheaper than a Mach3 too.
I can't be arsed with wet shaving at all, just electric shave and accept I'll have 5 o'clock eclipse.
You get a finer shave than a Mach3, but the Mach3 is a lot less likely to slice your face open at an inopportune moment (just before you put a shirt on is usually a good one). Works out a lot cheaper than a Mach3 too.
I can't be arsed with wet shaving at all, just electric shave and accept I'll have 5 o'clock eclipse.
Kuroblack350 said:
speed_monkey said:
I use a straight razor at weekends (too time consuming in the week) and achieve a VERY good shave. I dont have to shave for the next 2 or so days.
In the week I use a standard Mach 3, what shaving gel/ foam are you using as this is the biggest factor, NOT the blades your using.
If your using a "out of the can" stuff stop, get a decent shaving soap and badgers bristle brush and be prepared to be amazed at the difference..... no shaving burn, no rash and a much closer shave
Enjoy
Agreed, although the hot water is the key determining factor, as it expands and softens each hair, making it easier to cut. This also explains why using a Philishave etc can be an irritating experience In the week I use a standard Mach 3, what shaving gel/ foam are you using as this is the biggest factor, NOT the blades your using.
If your using a "out of the can" stuff stop, get a decent shaving soap and badgers bristle brush and be prepared to be amazed at the difference..... no shaving burn, no rash and a much closer shave
Enjoy
speed_monkey said:
I use a straight razor at weekends (too time consuming in the week) and achieve a VERY good shave. I dont have to shave for the next 2 or so days.
In the week I use a standard Mach 3, what shaving gel/ foam are you using as this is the biggest factor, NOT the blades your using.
If your using a "out of the can" stuff stop, get a decent shaving soap and badgers bristle brush and be prepared to be amazed at the difference..... no shaving burn, no rash and a much closer shave
Enjoy
Interesting point.In the week I use a standard Mach 3, what shaving gel/ foam are you using as this is the biggest factor, NOT the blades your using.
If your using a "out of the can" stuff stop, get a decent shaving soap and badgers bristle brush and be prepared to be amazed at the difference..... no shaving burn, no rash and a much closer shave
Enjoy
I use the 'out of a can' stuff and am always chopping my face up. May give the decent soap and brush a run then!
Also, does anybody else have trouble with in-growing hairs and the little lumps they make? Usually have to call the tweezers in as backup a few days after a shave to de-spot my neck etc.
For a good shave:
1) Try not to shave every day. Let your beard grow out a bit.
2) Rub your face thoroughly with a shaving oil
3) Wet your face
4) Rub your face with "King of Shaves" gel
5) Shave with the grain using a modern system razor
6) Shave against the grain
7) Massage your face until you find where the barsteward stuff hasn't come off
8) Shave those bits again and again until your face feels like it's on fire
9) Staunch the cuts with bog roll
10) Wash your face. Get in the shower.
11) Remember to wash the shower out. Otherwise the wife will complain it looks like the aftermath of Hitchcock's "shower scene" in psycho
12) Check face again. Consider cautering the wounds to seal 'em up. Do so with gas lighter
13) Get back in shower quickly to put out the fire on the top of your head
14) Dry off. Put towel in wash as it now smells of smoke
15) Reseal inch long gashes in face with bog roll. Attach band-aids to hold it on.
16) Put clothes on.
17) Take bloodstained shirt back off - put in washing.
18) Put fresh shirt on more carefully.
19) Go to work.
20) Receieve piss-taking from colleagues. All day. A lot.
1) Try not to shave every day. Let your beard grow out a bit.
2) Rub your face thoroughly with a shaving oil
3) Wet your face
4) Rub your face with "King of Shaves" gel
5) Shave with the grain using a modern system razor
6) Shave against the grain
7) Massage your face until you find where the barsteward stuff hasn't come off
8) Shave those bits again and again until your face feels like it's on fire
9) Staunch the cuts with bog roll
10) Wash your face. Get in the shower.
11) Remember to wash the shower out. Otherwise the wife will complain it looks like the aftermath of Hitchcock's "shower scene" in psycho
12) Check face again. Consider cautering the wounds to seal 'em up. Do so with gas lighter
13) Get back in shower quickly to put out the fire on the top of your head
14) Dry off. Put towel in wash as it now smells of smoke
15) Reseal inch long gashes in face with bog roll. Attach band-aids to hold it on.
16) Put clothes on.
17) Take bloodstained shirt back off - put in washing.
18) Put fresh shirt on more carefully.
19) Go to work.
20) Receieve piss-taking from colleagues. All day. A lot.
funkyrobot said:
speed_monkey said:
I use a straight razor at weekends (too time consuming in the week) and achieve a VERY good shave. I dont have to shave for the next 2 or so days.
In the week I use a standard Mach 3, what shaving gel/ foam are you using as this is the biggest factor, NOT the blades your using.
If your using a "out of the can" stuff stop, get a decent shaving soap and badgers bristle brush and be prepared to be amazed at the difference..... no shaving burn, no rash and a much closer shave
Enjoy
Interesting point.In the week I use a standard Mach 3, what shaving gel/ foam are you using as this is the biggest factor, NOT the blades your using.
If your using a "out of the can" stuff stop, get a decent shaving soap and badgers bristle brush and be prepared to be amazed at the difference..... no shaving burn, no rash and a much closer shave
Enjoy
I use the 'out of a can' stuff and am always chopping my face up. May give the decent soap and brush a run then!
Also, does anybody else have trouble with in-growing hairs and the little lumps they make? Usually have to call the tweezers in as backup a few days after a shave to de-spot my neck etc.
yes I used to get ingrowing hairs either side of my wind pipe (a particularly sensitive area) but I use one of those scrubby exfoliant poofer thingys on my face each morning and that does the trick
IM NOT GAY!!!!
And as for the decent soap: it lasts longer than the can stuff too! Mines still going strong after two months
Yugguy said:
Aye, in-growing hairs suck.
best shave ever is a proper one from the barbers, where they use oils and hot flannels to soften the skin, then a proper cut-throat blade, and talc afterwards.
If done right it's a fantastically relaxing, pampering experience.
Agreed, this is always good.best shave ever is a proper one from the barbers, where they use oils and hot flannels to soften the skin, then a proper cut-throat blade, and talc afterwards.
If done right it's a fantastically relaxing, pampering experience.
I was in Egypt once and had an "Egyptian" shave, basically bits of string wound tightly together and he 'scrubs' your face with it, essentially ripping the hairs out. Ouch I hear you say.... yes this is what i said plus LOTS of expletives.
BUT, I didnt have to shave for a week!!!
Yes, don't do what I did and use a Mach 3 all week then at the weekend, decide to use the safety razor to give yourself an "extra close" shave (because you have hours to prepare for going out, obviously) then spend the remaining getting ready time stopping blood pouring from your face and neck, 5 minutes before leaving still holding a bloodstained tissue, AND have people laughing at you at the event because of the scar on your cheek.
Don't do it.
Don't do it.
john_p said:
Yes, don't do what I did and use a Mach 3 all week then at the weekend, decide to use the safety razor to give yourself an "extra close" shave (because you have hours to prepare for going out, obviously) then spend the remaining getting ready time stopping blood pouring from your face and neck, 5 minutes before leaving still holding a bloodstained tissue, AND have people laughing at you at the event because of the scar on your cheek.
Don't do it.
I bet you look lake Sgt. Barnes from Platoon now dont you Don't do it.
Badgerboy said:
I was always under the impression that anything like a Bic or a Gilette WAS a safety razor. (As in you could safely drag it across your face without slashing yourself to bits)
Just to confirm. I am talking about the following:http://www.executive-shaving.co.uk/shaving/safety-...
which take classic razor blades like these:
Interesting video for the non-believers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufG1dPmVo8Q
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