I started shaving "Old School"

[Izzydog]

Hi Guys!
Recently my father introduced me to the double edged safety razor. I've been shaving with it for two weeks now. I use the brush and soap cup, or Barbisol can foam if I'm in a hurry. I am compleatly impressed by what a great shave I get, I cut myself far less than with my old cartrige razors. The best part is how much cheaper the blades are. I recently bought 15 blades from Dollar General for $3.65 including tax!
As cool as they are, and what a creat shave they give, I wonder why they ever went out of fashion.

 

[zzzippper]

Try shaving with a straight razor, that's when you know you're a man. The right side of my face looked like I fought a pissed off cat, the left side like I hadn't touched it.

 

[Salty RI]

I still have an old gold plated Gillette, that I've had for over fifty years, I think why most people stopped using them was they were sick and tired of going to work every morning with pieces of toilet paper stuck all over their face. I use a Gillette Fusion now and you can't buy one blade for 3.65

 

[Krell1]

My son tried to get me to try this as well. I've been a long time electric razor guy. I tried the blade and made one pass and decided it was too barbaric for me. You may get a marginally better shave but I still like the electric. My son insists it also saves money but I've used mine long enough that the daily cost over the time is very low.

 

[Salty RI]

Try shaving with a straight razor, that's when you know you're a man. The right side of my face looked like I fought a pissed off cat, the left side like I hadn't touched it.

I still have my fathers old straight razor, I used it a few times when I first started shaving, it did a good job of staining the sink red, I don't know what happened to the strap, I used to have it hanging on the back of the bathroom door, my wife must have tossed it out at some point.

 

[chief38]

I laugh my butt off when I see the websites, adverting on TV and in catalogs about re-discovering Double Edge razors, shaving soap, mugs and Badger brushes. I'm 60 and have been shaving with those items for over 43 years now. And yes I still use Mennon Skin Bracer too!

There are a few websites that sell double edge blades for about $16.00 per hundred (and they are great quality) mug soap for $3.50 per cake, and don't get sucked into buying $200.00 Badger brushes with fancy names because you can get the exact same quality or even better for under $50.00 if you look. Almost all you seasoned guys have a mug laying around somewhere..... I know we are not suppose to post other websites here , so I won't but they are not hard to find. PM me if interested.

 

[Mickey D]

I switched to a DE many years ago, after deciding that the multiblade razors were just too expensive.

There is a difference in DE blade quality which affects shave experience. I have found the 'Feather' brand made in Japan work very well. I buy them on-line for a great price.

Feather "Hi Stainless Platinum" Double-Edge Blades 10-Pack

 

[timn8er]

I started using a safety razor again a few months ago. I had a whole box(250) of blades a friend had given me so I figured I'd give it a shot. The jury is still out, as far as I'm concerned. I feel like I got a closer, smoother shave from my Trac III, but those blades are really getting expensive. I'll finish out the box & decide then.

 

[NYlakesider]

Try shaving with a straight razor, that's when you know you're a man. The right side of my face looked like I fought a pissed off cat, the left side like I hadn't touched it.

My father who died in 1998 at age 92 used a straight razor all his life. He was very good with it even in his last years. Only occasionally would he cut himself and he had a unique way of taking care of nicks and leaking blood. He kept a small bottle of embalming fluid in the cabinet and if cut a couple dabs of that would solve his problem fast (Dad was an undertaker)

When I first started shaving he started me out with a straight razor but I quickly and rather bloodedly decided to go to an electric which I used for many years. Now I basically only used clippers as I have been full bearded year around for over 25 years now. I keep it closer in the warm weather and let it grow out much more in the winters. It does make a big difference working outside in NYS rather cold winters!

 

[Mickey D]

I might add, shaving with a DE is a little different than using the MB. Do not press hard, use short strokes with the grain. Follow up with very light pressure against the grain, using your shaving soap to lubricate.

Have fun and enjoy the savings!

 

[Qball]

Got a few of them to.
And to make things easyer, i have some device to sharpen the blades to
And it actually works
Saves tons of money to buy ammo for instead

 

[blujax01]

I buy my blades in bulk from a dealer on Amazon. 100 Red Label Persona Platinum for $20 delivered. Been using the same brush and mug since 1980. About due for a new brush but can't find one I want. there's a terrific shaving forum I visit but I can't remember the name right now. These dudes with their 5 blade rigs at $4 a throw crack me up. Learning to use a safety razor is a bit painful but you learn pretty damn quick!

 

[blujax01]

Oh, a chap stick works to stop the blood flow if the wound ain't too deep.

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

Derby double edge blades are available off Amazon.com for $15/200.

Amazon.com: Derby Extra Double Razor Blades, 200 Count: Health & Personal Care@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31NQqa8R0jL.@@AMEPARAM@@31NQqa8R0jL

Derbys are considered to be on the "mild" side but I've found them to be consistent and very useable. I typically only use them 2 or 3 times, but at $.08 each I can afford to.

I've been using a double edge for about 8 months now, and prefer it to any of the alternatives I've used. One suggestion I would make is to buy a "sampler pack" of blades-you will likely find something that works very well for you(or at least better than others), and then you can commit to a bulk purchase which gets the cost very low.

 

[ejeli]

I quit shaving 32 years ago but I've already spent the savings on ammo.
e.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Started using a brush and shaving mug 45 years ago. Still using the same mug and brush, although my wife has complained about their condition and bought new ones that I continue to ignore.

A little hot water, whip up your soap, and shaving is much less unpleasant than it might otherwise be.

 

[J. W.]

My dad bought me a nice Merkur DE razor for my birthday this year. I use it along with the mug and brush about 70% of the time. I've had good success with C. W. Bigelow shaving cream from Bath and Body Works. If I'm in a hurry I'll just use my Mach 3 and the canned stuff.


Sent from my iPhone 4s using Tapatalk

 

[deadin]

Qball,
I don't see a S&W Blade Saver in your collection..

 

[federali]

Straight Razor for Men?

Of late, I've been shaving with a WWII vintage bayonet although my preferred method is with a broken beer bottle!

I started shaving with a double edge razor, (anybody remember Gillette Super-blues?) when my face was young, tender, a fair amount of acne, and inexperienced, often times leaving me a bloody mess. Today I'm content to use those two and three blade disposable cartridges.

 

[PlaytheAces]

I started out with a double edge safety razor way back when. Then when all the disposable and multi blades came out, I switched over to them. To this day I don't know why, other than it must have been a combination of the marketing and the initial low cost when those blades first came out.

A number of years back I suddenly realized how stupid high the prices of the "new" blades had become. Talk about a rip.

I returned to double edge blades, shaving brushes and Taylor of Bond Street shaving creams and never looked back.

Here's a tip. I bought an inexpensive single cup hot water heater. I dump a cup of water in it, bring it to a quick boil, and have nice and hot water for lathering up. Works great and makes for an enjoyable experience!