Shaving

[Timberridge]

Your face. Having just plunked down $20 for a 5 pack of blades and seeing all these ads on TV for Dollar Shave Club and Harry's had me thinking to try a safety razor. Besides the cost, the heads on these multiblade setups are so fat now that I can barely shave under my nose without leaving some whiskers.
I've been using a brush and shave soap now for years and will never go back to canned foams or gels, but I've never tried the safety razor. Anybody use one?

[iceman]

The soap and brush is the way to go. Agreed about the cost of the multi-blade packs at the store and the problem of shaving under your nose but I don't think a safety razor is the way to go. When was the last time you cut yourself shaving? You have to screw up pretty good to cut yourself with one of the multi-blade setups but it's easy as shit to slice yourself with an old-fashioned razor. And you always do it when you need to go somewhere important or if you're in a big hurry. Not worth it imo.

[stfu&gbtw]

I did once many years ago... Seemed like a good idea, right up until I tried it. Didn't get nearly as smooth a shave and waaaaay easier to cut myself, especially anywhere with curves like under my nose or on my chin. There's no good solution for under the nose... Just have to push it out of the way to get the hairs under there... Life's tough sometimes.

I tried one of those Harry's razors and it was really good. My dad had sent it to me, and then in got stolen with a piece of luggage on a business trip. Haven't replaced it because the mach 3 blades work fine for me... But next time I need a razor it'll be one from Harry's.

[Meadow Skipper]

Trac II blades are usually <$1.80 ea. Off brands are even less. I never saw the need for more than that. Soap and brush FTW.

[knumbskull]

I'm a big fan of my safety razor. I made the switch a couple years ago and I'm sticking with it.

Yes you can nick yourself pretty good if you are rushing but they got the name safety razor for a reason. I rarely nick myself anymore. You can get a close shave and the blades are so cheap you can use a fresh one everyday for far cheaper than using a cartridge.

[LightRanger]

Buying Gillette blades at Costco in the big multi-packs helps at least a little. Feel you on the under-nose. The single blade on the other side of the Gillette Fusions helps with that, but still a pain. And, no, I don't think the Fusions are much if any better than say, Mach 3. But they're the ones that Costco carries.

[riser4]

Shaving is for gurls. Let it grow.

[bean]

My suggestion is to just jump in. Find a handle that you like (I've got a stubby Merkur, the wife has something with a long handle) and a bazillion-pack of Derby blades and just shave like you would with a cartridge razor. I shave to get the hair off rather than for an "experience" so IMO the fancy soap/brush/miscBS is a waste of time and money. I shave in the shower with a bar of dove soap and won't be going back to cartridge razors ever. Yes, you'll cut yourself a few times when you get in to it. No, it's not that big of a deal.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Your face. Having just plunked down $20 for a 5 pack of blades and seeing all these ads on TV for Dollar Shave Club and Harry's had me thinking to try a safety razor. Besides the cost, the heads on these multiblade setups are so fat now that I can barely shave under my nose without leaving some whiskers.
I've been using a brush and shave soap now for years and will never go back to canned foams or gels, but I've never tried the safety razor. Anybody use one?

What do you use, a straight razor? Are you Col Kurtz?

[Cruiser]

My experience may be different cuz I'm blond and don't have very coarse facial hair, but I've been using electrics for more than a decade now and I have no idea why folks with similar facial hair would even consider using a blade anymore. That shit is full on neanderthal tech. We've evolved folks. Invest in a high quality electric razor and be done with it. That is, unless you're a full on Rontele Sasquatch type dood...

[Pegleg]

I use Gillette Fusion right now and would love to find a cheaper solution. But I tried the Kroger store-brand version of the Fusion and it sucked - blades were duller out of the box, cut myself way more than usual. (I do cut myself now and again, even with the Fusions - I guess I have bumpy skin or something.) Are Harry's or Dollar Shave Club equal quality to the Gillettes? I'd switch if they were, but my Kroger experience kind of burned me on trying off-brand versions.

For under the nose, the Gilletes have a little single blade on the opposite side of the razor head that's much easier to maneuver in tight quarters. Works great for under the nose, at least for me.

I have an electric razor but it takes about 4X as long to shave with it - you have to go super slow to get a decently close shave, and if my beard's been growing for longer than a couple of days it's useless for the longer hairs. What's a good brand/model to try if I wanted to go that route?

[Flyoverland Captive]

Just run an electric trimmer across your cheeks once a week and call it good.

Leave the shaving to the Filipino brazilian providers.

[mcclintock]

just follow the god damn grain people.

[johnnyg82]

I got a Merker 34T (I think, or C) a douple years ago for Christmas, and I've been using it since. I won't go back. Blades are cheap, soap isn't as full of chemicals, and it's just a better experience. I've found that one pass down't get everything as smooth as I'd like, so my first pass is down my face, and then I re-lather, and the second pass I bring the blade across my face, from my ear to nose. The second pass is the one that makes it very smooth. It does take a bit longer, but my face likes it better.

Also, for cuts and nicks, get a styptic pencil, it's a little white pencil shaped thing that stops the bleeding almost instantly.

[nickwm21]

The dollar shave club $1 blades are absolutely terrible. I haven't tried their higher end stuff.

I prefer the disposable 3 blade razors. Cartridge razors have the blades too close together and clog with my thick hair.

Burt's Bees makes an awesome shaving cream.

[BCMtnHound]

Found an old Gillette safety razor in an 'antique' store (one of those off highway places that is really just someone's extended garage sale). It's a great old razor that has a dial on the handle that allows adjustment of the angle of the blade. Never seen that adjustment on any other safety razor unfortunately. No problem ever getting the blade to trim under the nose (or at least the remaining hairs should be considered nose hairs and treated accordingly).
Shaving is much more infrequent these days, so I just use my straight razor to trim the edges now.

[babybear]

The only thing I would like to contribute is that for the love of god please don't leave the pile of hairs in the sink once you are done using which ever razor you choose.

[The AD]

I think some people are too picky and replace their blades more than necessary. I typically buy something like Bic Flex 3's and find I can get at least a couple weeks out of each razor. My skin might not be silky smooth toward the end, but who cares?

Guys (present company included) are so cheap when it comes to personal care products. We bitch about spending a few bucks on razors. Meanwhile women spend God knows how much on makeup, haircare products, etc.!

[Timberridge]

What do you use, a straight razor? Are you Col Kurtz?

My barber uses one, he's skilled, 9.8/10. I'd slash an artery. I currently use like whatever brand that guy who owns that team that deflates balls and has three blades is called.

Have you seen the price of high quality straight razors? Like $200+, and some go for $800.

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, I've heard the Merkur is good, I may try one.

And I always clean the sink.

[Timberridge]

Shaving is for gurls. Let it grow.

Trimming a beard is more work than shaving, unless you are going for the Duck Dynasty look.

[assman]

I have been wearing a steady 3 day stubble for about 10 years. I have been using the same disposal razor to shave a neat line under my neck for about 1 year. Every 3 days I run a beard trimmer over my face and am good to go

[hutash]

Soap, brush and safety razor for me. I haven't gone to a straight razor yet, but may someday for the ultimate shave. Blades are cheap and I just put in a fresh one frequently. Preshave oil, good soap with a quality brush, shave with hot water, rinse with cold, after shave moisturizer, +/- after shave or cologne.

Lots of options on how to shave, seems more of a personal preference. I shave with the grain, the across the grain, rinse and re-lather for an against the grain finish. Electric shavers are worthless except when I just want a quick reduction of stubble.

The advantage of a safety razor, aside from cheap blades which means you swap frequently, and are therefore always sharp, is you can get dozens of different types of blades that suit your particular style of shave, hair and face. Buy a variety pack and try each type out until you find which works best.

[liv2ski]

I think some people are too picky and replace their blades more than necessary. I typically buy something like Bic Flex 3's and find I can get at least a couple weeks out of each razor. My skin might not be silky smooth toward the end, but who cares?

Guys (present company included) are so cheap when it comes to personal care products. We bitch about spending a few bucks on razors. Meanwhile women spend God knows how much on makeup, haircare products, etc.!

+1 for the BIC razors. I can always find them for really cheap and if you rinse them well and then rub the blades on a towel, a cartridge lasts me a long time. Last time they made the Titanium blades, those went forever. I wish they still made those, as the per shave cost was great.

Baby Bear, when interviewing guys who will be sharing a bathroom with you, a key question is "was your mother a Nazi about keeping the house clean"? Mine was, I am very type A about keeping the house, our bathrooms and my car clean as are my kids. My wife was raised with maids, so she is pretty messy, but I love her and cleaning up after her is no big deal. Edit: Damn, she did the dishes this morning.

[johnnyg82]

Get this: pricing is CAD, so cheap for you guys: http://www.fendrihan.ca/products/4-5...lue-shave-pack

[AK47bp]

Got dollar shave club. The cheap option is junk with the twin razor, the mid level is good enough for me. $6 a month for the razor and 5 fresh razor blades a month. They are the 3 blade ones like Mach3. Will work for now that I'm shaving everyday.