A cheaper shave.

I got a good 2-3 weeks out of the first blade----been using the 2nd blade for less than a week now---I'm more than satisfied with my change in brands and the drop in price.

Reading through this thread--I'm almost convinced to go get a Merkur handle and take up the safety razor and keep around the Personna for barbering duties when I cut my own hair---been doing that myself for about 15 years and the savings in cutting my own hair have been huge also. Ya--you can say I'm a cheap bastard.

With the Merkur---would I be ok with like the $25-ish handle or be better off with the $60 adjustable one?
 
omaha-beenglockin said:
I got a good 2-3 weeks out of the first blade----been using the 2nd blade for less than a week now---I'm more than satisfied with my change in brands and the drop in price.

Reading through this thread--I'm almost convinced to go get a Merkur handle and take up the safety razor and keep around the Personna for barbering duties when I cut my own hair---been doing that myself for about 15 years and the savings in cutting my own hair have been huge also. Ya--you can say I'm a cheap bastard.

With the Merkur---would I be ok with like the $25-ish handle or be better off with the $60 adjustable one?
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i was reading about the merkur handles as well. this is really interesting stuff.. living on the east coast where can you get Peroraso shaving cream cheaper?

also why is the badger brush a big deal?

what are the "C" in the Merkur brands mean?
 
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I grew tired of shaving itself and also the costs involved. So now I have a beard. It's kept short with a powered trimmer and few swipes on the neck with a disposable razor. It's been 30+ years since I've used a DE razor. I imagine the blades are better but I remember having to take much shorter strokes with a DE razor. Consequently, it took longer to shave. Is this still the case?
 
Interesting. You folks are having very different experiences than I am, and I wonder what accounts for the difference. :confused:

I use Gillette Sensor Excel disposable cartridges. Where our experiences differ is that I use a single cartridge for – I'm not even sure how long. 6 months? Somewhere in that range. Maybe 4 months, or 9 months. A pack of a few cartridges lasts me for a few years. Granted, I don't shave every single day, but I'm still surprised to read comments like Chuck saying that he'd get 6 shaves with a cartridge. I get many dozens, or perhaps even a couple hundred, shaves from a cartridge.
 
hung-solo said:
i was reading about the merkur handles as well. this is really interesting stuff.. living on the east coast where can you get Peroraso shaving cream cheaper?

also why is the badger brush a big deal?

what are the "C" in the Merkur brands mean?
Click to expand...

Check out shavemyface(dot)com. Lots and lots of great info there.

-Tye
 
I push the cartridges of few shaves past their optimum---where its really scraping my face---mainly cause I'm cheap--lol. That usually gets me in the 2-3 week range--just like I was getting with the M3.

There was a M3 cartridge I used for months-it never seemed to dull--but that was years ago-----the ones I've bought in the last few years seem to dull quite a bit sooner than the old ones. Sometimes you get one thats just bad from the start--a huge loss of value.
 
I've been shaving my head for years, and use a Mach 3 religiously. It works great and I get a pretty good shave daily. Problem is, they are expensive.

I'm inclined to try DE Safety razor but am a bit afraid - I can do my face and head now in about 1-2 minutes without nicks as long as I have a mirror. Can I expect similar results with a safety razor system?

Is there a "standard" system that one starts with for noobs? I'll take a look at the websites mentioned...any help is appreciated.

And to think, I was just about to order more blades...
 
A friend got me started on wetshaving w/ DE razors after I became utterly disgusted with the price of those mach cartridges in stores. Best decision of my shaving life - for both my face (virtually no irritation if it's a good shave) and my wallet (I must have saved at least $150 in the past half a year alone).

You can buy sample packs of DE razors from various brands on amazon or the like. So far, it seems like Personnas and Derbys give me the better shave. I'm still on the first sample pack I ordered half a year ago (granted, I usually only shave once a week)...unbelievable money savings. I haven't tried Feather DE razors yet, but I hear they're scary sharp...when I run out of my current supply, I'll try some. As for the other stuff, I've been using a Merkur classic handle, cheap badger hair brush (tweezermans) and Taylor of Old Bond Street or Proraso cream. Planning on moving up to a better brush and trying different creams/soaps soon.

Go easy when you're first learning how to use the DE. Don't rush, use light pressure, don't try for the baby-butt smooth on your first pass, keep your wrist locked, shave after you get out of a hot shower, and study how your hair grows on your face and plan your shave accordingly. I usually do two passes with the grain to knock off most of it, then go perpendicular or against the grain with a last pass if I'm going for baby smooth. Usually, for appearances, two passes is fine for me: it looks fine for work, even if not baby-butt smooth.

Check out http://badgerandblade.com/ for more info, and there are a few blogs with good info as well (http://mantic59.blogspot.com/, http://shaveblog.com/)


Definitely check out DE safety razors, and invest in a brush and some cream/soap. I'd like to work up to a straight razor, and I'm glad my friend started me on DE razors first.
 
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omaha-beenglockin said:
Reading through this thread--I'm almost convinced to go get a Merkur handle and take up the safety razor and keep around the Personna for barbering duties when I cut my own hair---been doing that myself for about 15 years and the savings in cutting my own hair have been huge also. Ya--you can say I'm a cheap bastard.

With the Merkur---would I be ok with like the $25-ish handle or be better off with the $60 adjustable one?
Click to expand...

You don't need a premier handle when it comes to simple wetshaving with a DE razor. I have a Parker brand handle that I snagged off eBay for about 20 bucks. I mean if you want to spend the money go for the more expensive one, but frankly I always like keeping my angle consistent... every time I shave. I have never felt the need to change the angle of the blade.

And no, you are definitely not cheap... you are intelligent. I've been cutting my own hair (sure buzz cut is easier) for five years now and according to my calculations I've saved about $1500.


hung-solo said:
living on the east coast where can you get Peroraso shaving cream cheaper?

also why is the badger brush a big deal?

what are the "C" in the Merkur brands mean?
Click to expand...

I'm tellin ya, ditch the Proraso and get into wetshaving. At least try it before you resort to the creams. I used the Proraso with the DE before I started just doing wetshaving with DE razors. I personally found no need for the cream at all and my face felt better without it. Shaving creams frankly are chalked full of nasty shit I don't want seeping into my body. And I'm a minimalist, if I don't need to use the cream and brush then I surely won't.

**Everyone is different with different requirements**, but my advice is to try it the minimalist way and the absolute cheapest way!


smegs said:
I grew tired of shaving itself and also the costs involved. So now I have a beard. It's kept short with a powered trimmer and few swipes on the neck with a disposable razor. It's been 30+ years since I've used a DE razor. I imagine the blades are better but I remember having to take much shorter strokes with a DE razor. Consequently, it took longer to shave. Is this still the case?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I can't speak for 30 years ago as I haven't been shaving for that long. But, I have a very harsh beard to shave and basic cheap Derby DE blades work quite well for me. They are some of the cheapest out there, but I can take a full stroke from cheek bone to under jawline with no clogging. I found clogging to be an issue much more with the multi bladed Gillettes... probably just for that reason... multiple possible clogging points.


kinzli said:
I'm inclined to try DE Safety razor but am a bit afraid - I can do my face and head now in about 1-2 minutes without nicks as long as I have a mirror. Can I expect similar results with a safety razor system?

Is there a "standard" system that one starts with for noobs? I'll take a look at the websites mentioned...any help is appreciated.

And to think, I was just about to order more blades...
Click to expand...

Wow, face and head that quick seems almost dangerous, ha. I would say you probably won't be shaving that face with a DE, it isn't dangerous but going that quick probably isn't real smart with them. Once you get used to it I'm sure you could get it done fairly fast, but it just a process. Maybe start just using the DE on your face for a while to get a feel for holding the angle correctly. Then advance upward to your head.
 
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victorinox-sparschaeler-rex.jpg
 
Are you telling us that in England, they don't even allow you to own a razor blade anymore? ;)

This is going too far :P
 
Well---I went and did it. Sort of a B-day present to myself---since it falls on 7-27.

After studying on the net---I ordered an Edwin Jagger DE89L razor for $32.50 shipped. Should be here by the end of the week.

I'll continue to use the Gillette Foamy until its all gone----then I'll look into the badger brush and soap option.

So are the Feathers available anywhere but on the net?? Sure would be nice just to walk into Walmart or Walgreens and buy em there.

Anything else I should know? I started with an electric---then to Bics---then to Gillette cartridges---my dad used a DE razor when I was a kid---but I never have.

The net is amazing--its got me to take up things I never would have otherwise.
 
The Persona's are the only double edge blades at Wal-mart and they very soft and not worth the trouble IMHO. Cigar shops are the only local places I found that carry "good" double edge blades and they typically run about $10 per 10 pack. :(

I broke down and ordered 100 Feathers on Ebay out of Singapore. Should be here sometime this week or early next week.
 
omaha-beenglockin said:
Anything else I should know? I started with an electric---then to Bics---then to Gillette cartridges---my dad used a DE razor when I was a kid---but I never have.
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Just go easy and don't press too hard. It's not hard. I've been using my DE for almost a month, and after 3 shaves, no more nicks once I figured it out. I still haven't replaced the blade yet, and am loving it.
 
Don't apply any pressure at all. Let the razor do the work. Watch your angle and go slow at first. It comes faster to some guys than it does to others. Don't get frustrated and have fun.

-Tye
 
I must be the only person in the world who has cut himself (more than a couple of times with a DE). Lucky for me I can get away with a Mach3 turbo for approx four weeks so I'll live with that (I can afford 12 -13 blades a year).
 
HikingMano said:
[...]Go easy when you're first learning how to use the DE. Don't rush, use light pressure, don't try for the baby-butt smooth on your first pass, keep your wrist locked, [...]
Click to expand...

TyMathews said:
Don't apply any pressure at all. Let the razor do the work. Watch your angle and go slow at first.[...]
Click to expand...

Yeah, Tye's right: really, you shouldn't use any pressure. And keep your angle consistent, don't use your wrist to move the razor. Main thing is to just take your time and get the feel of it first.
 
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