Don't forget about the other benefit of straight razors...you can recreate the scene from Resevoir Dogs with a friend.
I shave in the shower, but I'm techno not retro. Panasonic Arc-IV rechargeable wet/dry razor, and a el-cheapo disposable Gillette twinblade that I picked up a 200 pack of several years ago at Sams Club, I think. Or CostCo.
I just lather my head and face with a bar of soap, use the disposable if I need a really clean shave on my face and neck, and run the rechargeable over my head. Takes about 6 to 8 minutes, and I normally can get by with shaving my head every other day or so. Daily for face and neck, it just grows too fast where I shaved the beard off (kept the chin whiskers and mustache). Gel? Aftershave? Skin conditioner? Pass, never used them, even back when I was in the Marine Corps.
Even with all that, I might look into a straight razor for the final pass right over my ears. Its a pain getting the hairs right where the ears meet the skull, the electric just won't hit that area, and the angles are all odd for the disposable.
It took some time for my skin to adjust but I've been using an electric shaver for a few years now and will probably never go back. It takes about 5 minutes to shave around and trim up my beard every few days. So much less work than doing a wet shave every morning like I used to.
Um, well, I wouldn't call myself highly experienced, just a couple steps further along than you are. I just bought a sampler pack and tried a lot of different blades. I thought most of them weren't that great, but I liked Feather and Crystal, and that was coming from a total noob perspective. I personally preferred the Crystals (which I thought were Personnas) to the Feathers; I felt I got the closest shave in the first pass from them by a noticeable margin. All the blades WORK, but I have fairly sensitive skin from spending way too much time indoors, and minimizing the number of passes is a great help.
I haven't tried the expensive Merkur blades, so I can't comment on them.
It took some time for my skin to adjust but I've been using an electric shaver for a few years now and will probably never go back. It takes about 5 minutes to shave around and trim up my beard every few days. So much less work than doing a wet shave every morning like I used to.
I still don't have to shave that much, but electric shavers tear me up.
I always wet shave. I have tried shavers, but they just don't, for me at least, give the closeness that I like.
Here are the tricks (from 6 years in the military, shaving nearly every day) that I have that results in me hardly ever bleeding.
1 - You need to prepare your skin. The best way that I have found is in the shower, just before you rinse off and get out. The steam gets everything ready and it is easy to shave.
I do the same, though I find that shaving a few minutes in is ideal. If you wait too long, prolonged exposure to the hot water can make it difficult to get a good close shave. I also use shaving soap, shaving brush, etc, but mostly because my skin hates everything else. Pre-shave oil is a great addition as well, but I'm cheap so I don't use it every day.
2 - State of your razor blade. There is a trick to this. You don't want to use a new blade the day you have to give a big presentation. The super sharpness, combined with Murphy's Law, almost guarantees that you will cut yourself. At the same time, you don't want an old blade. That results in less cutting of the stubble and more pulling of the skin, resulting in more nicks/razor burn as you shave the skin and not the stubble.
3 - Rinse often. The less gunk you have in your blades, the better.
4 - Thin layer of shaving cream or whatever you use. I use lather from whatever bar of soap my wife uses.
5 - Good quality razors - Here, you get what you pay for.
I still use a Mach-3 and it works just fine. But as you say, the trick is to change the blade often. I've heard it suggested that a blade should only be used 3-4 times, but I probably use one for a week or two. Straight razor doesn't seem terribly safe in the shower, but one of these days maybe I'll pick up a safety razor and try that out.
We have The Art of Shaving here.
That place is ridiculously expensive, but they do have good stuff. Comparable, and more affordable products can be found online for less.
Read the title as Dedicated White Slavers - is that wrong... moving along now.
SpyNavy wrote:Read the title as Dedicated White Slavers - is that wrong... moving along now.
I find your views intriguing and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
The first laugh I have had all day - well played sir.
It looks like the Merkur HD is the shaver of choice for the rank beginner. Would you recommend anything else?
I have the Merkur #34C, and it's fine, but if I were buying now, I'd try to get a razor with an adjustable attack angle. The 34C is extremely safe, and very well-built, but I wish it was just a little more aggressive.
After getting sick of the Norelco shavers pulling hairs, I started with the Merkur Progress and eventually ended up with the silver Merkur Slant Bar. The Progress allowed an easy entry because you can dial the blade to the point that it is near impossible to cut yourself. Though I still use the progress occasionally, I primarily switched to the Slant Bar because it curves the blade, which seems to allow the razor to slice the hair easier/smoother without as much manual play needed. The forums say that the Slant Bar is the closest to a straight edge feel.
I also recommend getting a blade sampler pack and find the blades that work best in your chosen razor. I personally disliked Feather brand in the Progress, but they work great in the Slant for instance. The Derby blades seemed to be all around good.
One thing you'll note about these Merkurs is that they're actually fairly small, with a fairly short handle. Yes, you did get the whole razor in the box, and no, the handle does not telescope. But they're extremely well-balanced, almost impossible to drop because of the texturing on the handle, and do an excellent job.
I don't think you need to overdo it, btw, on the badger brush. Badger is nicer than boar -- my father had a boar bristle brush -- but you don't need to panic about the white tip or anything. Even a basic badger brush is fine. I think I overbought on mine a little.
Apparently the new synthetics are getting pretty good too. If you end up liking wet shaving, and plan to travel much, you might want to pick up one of those to take with you. R&B had what looked like pretty good ones for like $12. You can pack those away wet and they won't mold, which is not true of badger brushes. Those need to be shaken out and left where they can air dry.
merkur safety razor $35 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NL0T1G
badger hair brush $31 http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Stripey-Badger-Shaving-63171/dp/B000KJSVSE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1257477152&sr=1-1
Colonel Conks shave cream $4 http://www.amazon.com/Conk-Worlds-Famous-Shaving-Weight/dp/B000MXGMHU/ref=pd_bxgy_hpc_img_b
feather razor blades $20 http://www.amazon.com/Feather-Double-Blades-30-Ct/dp/B002OCANQI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1257477232&sr=1-1
shave soap bowl $12 http://www.amazon.com/Kingsley-Men-Wood-Shave-Soap/dp/B000068U49/ref=pd_sim_hpc_1
Geo F. Trumper's extract of lime skin food $27 http://www.amazon.com/Geo-Trumpers-Extract-Limes-100ml/dp/B0007M3ZKI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1257477359&sr=8-2
smoothest shave you'll ever have.
I could be wrong, but I think all of us are using safety razors. Even after a year or so with the Merkur, I still don't think I'd use a straightedge on my own face without more practice.
You guys are crazy with the shaving products! I spent less than $30 on one of these two years ago, haven't spent a dime on shaving since!
I got on the safety razor bandwagon a couple of years ago.
The best advice is to find the blade that works best for you. For me, Feathers are worth any price. Less passes, closer shave, less irritation.
I thought the shaving cream was more important, but I found that is definitely not the case. Any drag or irritation is most likely caused by the blade. Merkur blades rip me up, Derby's work and Feathers are heaven when using the same razor and cream.
I use Gillette foamy menthol now for $3 a can. $50 of feathers last me a year. cheap and effective.
I have 3 Merkurs and long for an adjustable just for fun.
This may be an absurdly simple question but have you ever tried just shaving in the shower? It works great. Just get yourself one of those stick on mirrors, lather up and have at it. I LOVE the new Fusions.
I was wondering this as well. I shave in the shower. Every day. Although I don't use a mirror.
Bear wrote:This may be an absurdly simple question but have you ever tried just shaving in the shower? It works great. Just get yourself one of those stick on mirrors, lather up and have at it. I LOVE the new Fusions.
Mirrors? I just do it by feel. Even with these mutton chops my wife has somehow talked me into growing, it works pretty well.
I just shave by feel as well. If there is no blood, and the skin is relatively smooth, I consider that a success.
Bear wrote:This may be an absurdly simple question but have you ever tried just shaving in the shower? It works great. Just get yourself one of those stick on mirrors, lather up and have at it. I LOVE the new Fusions.
Mirrors? I just do it by feel. Even with these mutton chops my wife has somehow talked me into growing, it works pretty well.
Likewise, and I use no shaving cream. I let my face soften in the shower and then towards the end just shave by feel.
So I made the jump after reading the "Shave like your great grandpa" article I posted on the last page. I went to my local Sally Beauty Supply and got a straight razor that uses double edge blades (broken in half) for $10.
First couple shaves were pretty dicey. But I think I have a feel for it now. The nice thing is that the cuts are so clean they heal in no time. I still use my Merkur on my chin, I'm not that brave.
I think the difference between the el cheapo plastic stylist's straight razor I bought and an actual one would be enough to put it over the top. Even with the increased maintenance.
Guess it's time to hit the antique stores and my local knife sharpener...
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