Razors, how many blades?

Yvsa

Yvsa

Joined
May 18, 1999
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I know there are some guys here that use and swear by the old straight razors but this is for us guys that either don't have the skill and don't care to learn or just prefer a safety razor for whatever reason.
If I were young again and with today's options I might opt to try a straight razor as I think there has to be some satisfaction of shaving with a bare blade that you take care of and sharpen yourself but I'm too old and unsteady to even think about it now.
With all that said I have used a Trac II pretty much since they came out years ago.
I've seen all these new four and five bladed razors and wonder if they're just hype or if there's something to them? :confused:
 
2 is enough for me...haven't got the time for one.
 
l have a 1890's sheffield straight razor which belonged to my great grandfather. I use it once in a while but I don't want to overuse it. I have a couple newer straight razors I'll use instead or if I'm in a hurry I use a modern 3-blade Sensor™.

Someone in here probably tried shaving with a khukri I reckon. :eek:
 
I stick with two-bladed fixed head razors... not even the swivelling springy head type, since that just flicks into you with the lead blade then nicks out triangular chunks with the second.
Five? No way... must be like feeding one's head into a shredder. :eek:
 
I used to use one and two bladed razors years ago. But for 4+ years was using an electric shavor. Then recently I went back to safety razors and had to use 3 bladed ones or my face would get nicked to much. Then again I have been shaving every other day mostly do to time and I have soft skin. LOL

Heber
 
I use double-blade disposables.

A few years ago I tried the Gilette "Mach 3." Honestly it wasn't much different from shaving with a regular two-blade. Maybe a little smoother, but if you want to get a closer shave you just give it another pass or two at right angles to the first, right?

I figure the law of diminishing returns kicks in pretty soon on these things. Two blades are somewhat better than one, three blades just slightly better than two, if that. Four blades and higher you'd probably need a jeweler's loupe to see any difference. :D

IMO an example of brilliant marketing by Gilette et al.
 
I use the Gillette that vibrates(not sure if it's 3 or 4 blades) and it's pretty slick. I've used them all since the trac II, as well as several electrics, and the mach III is the best shave so far. I could always get a good shave with some effort with the others, but the mach III provides alot less irritation. I think the vibrations lessen the drag or something.

Did I forget to mention that I have a beard?
 
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:D
 
I used a Mach... whatever, for awhile in college. If I wasn't careful I would have tiny chunks missing from my face. Then I went to my Norelco I got for Christmas one year, it has been a few years and is on its last leg. I have tried straight razors, but unless you keep up with 3-4 of them on rotation so let it rest a few days it can get difficult.
Right now I use the disposable 2 blade ones and buy them in bags of 30.
 
Some years back, when three-bladed razors first started appearing, I stated on several occasions that the trend seemed to be increasing numbers of blades (as that was better for some reason) and with suitable financial backing, I could introduce a ten-bladed razor thus leapfrogging the eventual by a decade or two, dominating the market, and eventually ruling the world.

Despite promising my would-be financiers that I'd appoint them as heads of state in my new global government in return for their loyalty I never got my financing. One day a ten-bladed razor will appear and I will cry. That was my idea, and I should have been your stubble-free god-emperor by now.

FWIW, multiple blades simply make for multiple passes on each sweep of the hand. I've found that one blade making one pass is more than sufficient; making a cartridge with more blades is another way of saying, "We are either unable or unwilling to sharpen these properly so we're going to stick more on, and you're going to pay accordingly."

I hear the newer (and spendier) ones work quite well, but what I have works well enough.
 
I would love to use a straight razor. I could get by with one if I had to, but I just wasn't that good with one. They are definitely cool.

My wife bought me a Gilette M3 power for some occasion, and it sat in a drawer for the longest time. My old 2 blade actually broke one day so I pulled out the new one. It's absolutely the finest shaving instrument I have ever used. It's got an AAA battery in the handle that I haven't had to replace yet. The blade vibrates when you use it. It shaves closer and with fewer cuts than anything I've ever used. Sarge and Howard turned me on to shaving oil and it works great. When I ran out, I started using a few drops of camellia oil on a wet beard after showering. Works almost as well, and it's good for the skin.

Steve
 
When I was a young man and Dinosauers roamed the earth I had the OLD Gillette Razor that unscrewed from the bottom and it would open the top of the razor much like vintage Mercedes Benz doors or a missle silo roof. Then you would drop in a flat bar of 1095 cutlery steel (At least it seemed that heavy) and you could adjust the comfort level from 1-9...With 9 you could slice cheese and with 1 it would still leave stubble. I shaved with a straight razor in my 20s but went to cheap ol BIC when they came out.

If you steam your beard good and use good shaving cream with a straight razor and go at cross angles you will not have to shave for 2 or 3 days...it's that good. And I have a very heavy beard.
 
i use the Braun Activator, an electric razor and i haven't gone back ever since. That thing works great for me.

i also use the oral b triumph electric toothbrush and i again will never go back to anything manual.
 
I use the two and three blade razors with good success, and my beard is moderately heavy. However, each whisker is pretty thick, like .015" and up. If I don't shave for two days, I switch to a single blade razor. The multi blades pull to much and they also get clogged too easily. Never used a straight razor, I'm afraid I'd slit my throat.:(
 
This is interesting. But does anyone have the kind of miserable hair that causes mega shaving bumps?? What is the best razor for that kind? Yeah, I know there is a slight difference in legs than faces, but the pain is still the same:grumpy: I've been considering the 3-4 blades but don't want to make a bad problem any worse with too close.........is that a possibility?? :eek:
 
I have 3 blades on mine, but I got it for free as a promo a few years ago.

I bought a lot of blades for it when the local Zellers closed too.

But most of the time I use an electric razor, simply because I don't care about my skin grit and I have no girlfriend. I shave only once or twice a week anyway, I'm so lazy.

I plan to get a straight razor someday, but I heard it's efficiency depends of the skin type and the hair type. So I have to find a barber shop where they still use old style straight razor.
 
Mach 3 with shaving soap and brush. The soap has aloe and lanolin in it and is great for the skin.. Cheap too.
Terry
 
mamav said:
This is interesting. But does anyone have the kind of miserable hair that causes mega shaving bumps?? What is the best razor for that kind? Yeah, I know there is a slight difference in legs than faces, but the pain is still the same:grumpy: I've been considering the 3-4 blades but don't want to make a bad problem any worse with too close.........is that a possibility?? :eek:
Click to expand...

It might be Gin and maybe someone can answer your questions better but perhaps a good lotion/moisturizer after shaving might help? Have you ever tried an electric? I've heard tell that the Norelco is a good electric for the ladies but I don't know.
 
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