knife related OT: razors

[Yvsa]

Thanks Cliff and Ben! I checked on the Norelco Website and the make three dry razors in different configurations I suppose as the price varies within each one.
There is the Reflex, Spectra and Quad, think I got 'em right.
My old man used a Norelco for years but I didn't need to shave until after I moved away from home and it was quite a while after that, guess I was about 18 when I started having to shave every other day to appear clean shaven.
I wish Norelco had a return policy like I think it was Remington that had. If you didn't like it after 30 days you could return it for full purchase price.

How long does it take too get used to the Norelco? And can you get as clean a shave as you do with a blade?
The Braun comes close but I have to shave every day when I use it and it takes me about as long as it does every other day when shaving with my blade razor.:grumpy:

 

[Ben Arown-Awile]

...How long does it take too get used to the Norelco? And can you get as clean a shave as you do with a blade?

I don't remember having to get used to it.
I don't think you can get as close a shave as you can with a razor, but if you stretched the skin out and paid attention to what you were doing, you could probably get a pretty close shave.

I like it because it's quick and easy. I grab my shaver, spend about 10 seconds running it over my neck, splash some water on my face, some alcohol on my neck and I'm ready for my first cup of coffee.

 

[lcs37]

I have to have my coffee first!

 

[Yvsa]

I don't remember having to get used to it.
I like it because it's quick and easy.

Thanks Ben. The next time I'm in Wally World I'll check 'em out. then compare Target's prices. The quick and easy sounds good to me. I wouldn't mind shaving every day if it was quick and easy.

 

[Jebadiah_Smith]

I just use the disposable 2 bladed Bics. I stopped using the 3 bladed ones because I heard they cause ingrown hairs. I have big sideburns and the cheap bics work good enough for trimming them.

I looked at the straight razors but figured they'd be a major PITA. All of those strops, soaps, brushes and mugs. Ill leave the straight razors to the 1000 year old barbers and Harlem pimps.

 

[yoippari]

I think my brother is using that gillette that has a AAA battery in it that makes the head vibrate. They advertise it as micro pulses, but its just the same vibrator thats in my cell phone. Ok maybe it is a little more controlled than my cell phone but give me a break.

I have seen a pretty nasty cut from a two blade safety razor. It was about an inch wide (along the length of the blade) and each blade probably took about 1/16" of skin off. (that is 2(1" x 1/16")). My brother was talking to some one with a rotary shaver (probably norelco) and some how he cut him self. "Bled like a motha" I believe were his exact words.

I'll go check out those links and keep on posting. Its good to see some various opinions.

 

[cliff355]

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[Ben Arown-Awile]

... If one issue is what ladies will think as they are stroking your chin, you might want to keep a set of blades on hand...

The last time a lady stroked my chin, it was the anesthesiologist and she was shoving the breathing tube down my throat.

 

[Yvsa]

The last time a lady stroked my chin, it was the anesthesiologist and she was shoving the breathing tube down my throat.

Hehehe, that's about the same as my experience as well. The thing is that when I shave I like to have it clean, but I might be able to get used to government work.

 

[TomFetter]

I've used a straight razor since the early 90s. Much prefer it to other options.

My barber recommended a straight razor, as a way to deal with very sensitive skin. Shaving with a VERY sharp blade (and a simple unscented shaving soap/brush) has for me translated into a lot less redness and irritation. It's easier to hack through the stubble if I've not shaved for a couple of days - nothing to clog up. And it's easier to get a straight, crisp line at the edge of a goatee.

My razor(s) were mostly cheap. I bought the first one new ($pendy!), but later picked up 3 others at flea markets or EBay for $5-10 each. $5 for an antique razor hone, and $10 for an antique strop ... and I'm good 'till the next millenium.

Downsides? It takes more time - you don't want to rush. I keep a cheap disposable around for when I've only got 1 minute 'till I need to be presentable. There's a learning curve before you get your technique down ... with occasionally spectacular (though superficial) catfight-like results. Still, I haven't cut myself that way since about 1996. For me, I found I had to hold the razor at a much flatter angle to my face than the internet directions suggested. I now hold it at about 15 degrees or so to my cheek.

BTW, the learning curve extends not just to shaving, but to how to strop - your razor won't be as sharp in the first while as once you've discovered how to proceed. The razor edge is very thin, and can get dulled by sloppy stropping.

Final downside? Razors are very attractive to kids. My boys like blades too, and have been fascinated to see me apparently cut my throat and survive. I've become worried at times that they might try a razor out on the sly, even though the razors live up on a very high shelf. When he was 3, we got my youngest a plastic straight razor ... but three years later, he wants to graduate up.

Tom.

 

[tsf]

I only use straight razors to carry in my boot. Don't put anything that sharp against my own throat.

 

[Ben Arown-Awile]

...My barber recommended a straight razor, as a way to deal with very sensitive skin...

An even better way would be not to shave at all.

What is shaving all about anyway? Why do men go to all that trouble to make their faces look like baby butts? I'm sure there must be some deep ritualistic meaning to it - like circumcision.

 

[newdovo2]

What is shaving all about anyway? Why do men go to all that trouble to make their faces look like baby butts? I'm sure there must be some deep ritualistic meaning to it - like circumcision.

In older civilizations, like the Roman empire, soldiers would shave their beards so that opponents would have one less place to grab hold of them in hand-to-hand combat.
I'm sure other societies had reasons, as well.
Parry

 

[Yvsa]

In older civilizations, like the Roman empire, soldiers would shave their beards so that opponents would have one less place to grab hold of them in hand-to-hand combat.
I'm sure other societies had reasons, as well.
Parry

In the old time the Cherokee plucked almost all of their hair, leaving eyebrows and lashes and a scalplock that was grown long on the men. The women plucked all as well except the same but also left the hair on their heads alone.

I don't know which thought is worse, trying to shave with a bronze or iron razor or plucking out hair with mussel shells used as a tweezer.
Fortuantely we Cherokee don't have a lot of hair. If I had a little more blood quantum I may not have to had shaved maybe once a week if that often.

 

[Yvsa]

We were in WalMart last Thursday and I picked up a Norelco Quadra 7865 XL on sale for $99.00 and change. Charged it up Thursday evening and shaved with it Friday, Saturday, and this morning.
The first shave Friday morning was okay but it really got too my neck! But it was my own fault because I went lower than I normally shave into a tender area. Not a bad shave although not as close as a blade.
Saturday I bit the bullet and didn't shave as far down and my neck was a bit better anyway, got pretty much the same results.
I was lazy yesterday and let it go.
This morning my neck was much better and since I was just a bit wooly I went ahead and shaved.
Much better results, actually as close as a blade in some areas, I'm impressed!
The instructions with the Norelco say to shave with the razor for 3 weeks to give your face and beard a chance to get used to a new shaving system.
I can see that they are right and hopefully at the end of three weeks I'll be getting as close a feeling shave as I did with a blade all over. I'm thinking a large part of it is learning how to shave with a new system.
For some odd reason I feel better when I'm clean shaven and that was the objective in getting an electric razor so I would shave every day or at least every other day.
Looks like it's gonna work out and right now I would recommend a Norelco to anyone wanting an electric razor.
I'll see if I feel the same in three weeks.

As the saying goes, "Stay tuned."

 

[BruiseLeee]

Someone mentioned somewhere earlier in the thread about ingrown hairs. How does one generally deal with those?

Leave em' or minor self surgury?

 

[lcs37]

The instructions with the Norelco say to shave with the razor for 3 weeks to give your face and beard a chance to get used to a new shaving system.
As the saying goes, "Stay tuned."

Now I know. One day I will shave with a throw away razor, another day, the electric razor. Depends on my mood or what time I want to devote to the task.

 

[Daniel Koster]

Extra long nose hairs...shave or pluck?

Snip.

Someone mentioned somewhere earlier in the thread about ingrown hairs. How does one generally deal with those? Leave em' or minor self surgury?

I get these more often than I'd like. The beard hair is tough and coarse, but my skin is soft....

So, after I shave, there's a tendency for the hair to grow under the skin. I can tell immediately when it happens - usually does in the same place too. Drives an OCD-type person like me crazy. So I'll end up just trying to pull the hair out. It's always right next to the skin, and sometimes breaks with just a stumpy, thick hair. Not too hard for me to get at, and no minor surgery required. Easy to feel, hard to find in the mirror, though....

 

[Yvsa]

Someone mentioned somewhere earlier in the thread about ingrown hairs. How does one generally deal with those?

Leave em' or minor self surgury?

Bruise I have a feeling there will be less ingrown hairs with the electric razor because it doesn't shave quite as close as a blade even though it might feel as close right afterwards.
The few days I've shaved with the Norelco I've noticed what little beard I have is longer the next morning than when I've shaved with a blade.
When I shave with a blade one morning there are many areas still without whiskers the next morning, by the evening it feels like the morning after with the electric.

As to any ingrowns though, Self surgery of course, that is unless you have a sweetheart that will pull them for you.

 

[yoippari]

I mentioned straight razors to my grandma and she said they have a couple of antiques in a box somewhere. It would be interesting to see one of the old ones.

After looking around online I have decided that I should buy a new blade for my electric remington and start saving up for a decent devo (only brand that I know off hand) str8. $45 for the bottom of the line devo and a couple hundred for a really nice one.

Just as an after thought. Does anyone have experiance with the braun self cleaning electrics?