[safety_razor] My first shave with a safety razor.

[darxus]

I'm really bummed that I've gotten tired of my straight razor. I couldn't get it sharp enough for my happiness in comparison to the much easier modern plastic cartridge razor. I got the recommended hone, had a good strop, watched the videos, spent a lot of time on it. Don't know if it's my technique or the technology.

But the modern razors still clog ridiculously. Last time I shaved with a modern Gillette disposable one of the two blades got clogged so bad I gave up trying to unclog it. Not to mention the price scam.

So I tried a safety razor, which is what those double sided really thin flat razor blades are actually made for. What people mostly used between straight razors and cartridge razors. Just one blade, I figured not so much clogging (obviously the straight razor doesn't clog at all).

I used a Gillette (otherwise unmarked) blade (probably not the "Swedish" type) and a Gillette Knack / Slim-Twist / G2000 razor that beowabbit had around and was willing to let me play with. I also used regular shaving cream. I have yet to try the brush / soap dish method.

I'm entirely happy with the results, particularly given the fact that this is a blade no-one would recommend. Relatively no clogging problems. One time I took the blade out of the razor and rinsed each individually which you obviously can't do with a cartridge razor. Oh, and I hadn't shaved in two weeks.

Tomorrow at lunch I'll probably play with the razors they have at the tobacco shop in Harvard Square (their hours suck), maybe buy a razor, and either buy decent blades or order a sample pack.

I actually even recommend that reasonable people use safety razors instead of modern cartridge razors. Modern razor cartridges cost about 2.84 times as much as good (Merkur) double edged blades.

Comments

[zzbottom.livejournal.com]

The clogging is one thing I had grown to loathe about disposables. Head hair is especially fine to jam into them. One of the things I really enjoy about the Mach III/Fusion design is the flow-through cartridge which allows the whiskers to completely pass through the blades and out the other side.

[milktree.livejournal.com]

Heh...

I got fed up with all the bladed razors and just got an electric one. It works remarkably well, well enough that I can't really see going back to a disposable or any other kind. You know, when I bother to shave at all.

HairBgone

[ka9sqb.livejournal.com]

Highly recommend the Badger brush an soap
for a marvelously ritual feeling ... and working well.
If you can find a Rolls razor, they worked well too.
Hone-able, Strop-able, but with rounded corners
on the single edge blade for safety and no nicks.

Merkur razors

[fendrihan.livejournal.com]

Wet-shaving also means less waste. Just think about all the non-recyclable plastic that goes into multi-blade cartridges and handles, and the aerosol cans that release harmful by-products into the environment. Switching to old-style shaving props won’t gain you entry into Green Peace by itself, but it is a good start.
I am a Merkur razor (http://www.fendrihan.com/merkur-razors-c-8.html) user and it works like magic.