Anyone shave with a safety razor?

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
29,307
106
106
Im straight tired of spending money on cheap razors that make my face look like a used football field. I was at walmart and noticed they had double edged razor blades for 50¢

soooo does anyone shave with one?

I was looking at these:

Link1
Link2
Link3

Anything I should look for when buying a handle? what about blades? How is the shave? How much more difficult is saving with one?

~Alfa147x
 

chorb

Golden Member
Oct 7, 2005
1,272
0
0
I use the 2 blade disposable ones from Gillette, they work pretty well especially if you only use them once or twice. I would think the safety razor would be about the same.

Try shaving only with the grain rather than against it if you dont already, less irritation. Also try shaving more often, as longer hairs have a tendency to get pulled out rather than cut.

I'd be interested to see if the safety razor works well though.
 

NesuD

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,999
106
106
My experiences many years ago with safety razors is that they aren't really all that safe. Safety only in the context of you won't die of a severed jugular using one you will however still bleed like a stuck pig. There are so many better otions that are simply worth the money in my opinion.
 

Quiksilver

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2005
4,725
0
71
I start using safety razors last December and haven't really had any issues with it. It really comes down to how you shave and if your blades are decent. Most 50 cent blades I've seen suck badly and generally nick your more than a slightly more expensive blade. I personally think the blades last a bit longer too, I bought a sampler pack last year and I still have a bunch of them left.

My Safety Razor
 

LinuxIdiot

Golden Member
May 20, 2002
1,209
0
0
I use a Merkur Barber Pole (38C) and do the whole wet-shaving thing. Like one of the other posters earlier in this thread, I started in January and haven't gone back since. I now have the above razor along with a Gillette Slim (is not a pic of my specific razor)

I feel like I get better shaves along with the blades being cheaper, I have also got two other friends to move over to safety razors.

I go to www.badgerandblade.com
 
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Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
81
I have the Merkur. Love it. Oh, and remember a DE blade is only good for 5 shaves or so, they don't last as long as some of the other blades like a Mach 3 or such. But they give better shaves, and cost less even if you replace them 5 times as often.

The only problem I have is that i have trouble getting the mustache part right under my nose.

I have used about 10 different brands of blades. I prefer either Feather or Derby Extra. the Feather tends to be less forgiving if I hold the razor slightly wrong, and I end up with a nick, but it seems to cut closer. i can't remember ever nicking myself with the Derby Extras.
 
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lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,008
10,503
126
Straight razor's where it's at. I bought mine with a strop for $36 at an antique shop about 20 years ago, and it's still going strong. The blade never clogs, and the shave doesn't get any closer :^)
 

DestinyKnight

Senior member
Jul 1, 2003
269
0
0
I use an old 1930's Gillette tech safety razor with the cheap persona blades from walmart. Lather up with a badger hair brush and make 3 passes: with the grain, across the grain, and finish with against the grain. use very light pressure and short strokes, rinsing the razor frequently. Finish with a cold rinse and a splash of witch hazel. Results in the best shaves I've ever had. A Gillette mach 3 with a fresh blade is a close runner up.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Forget this. It's the 21st century, just get something from the drug store. I get at least 50 shaves out of a 5-blade Gilette.

I think you people replacing blades like crack heads would be like getting brand new tires every 3k just because I think I can feel they're only 99% as good as when they were new.
 

Demo24

Diamond Member
Aug 5, 2004
8,356
9
81
I have one, but haven't used it in quite awhile as I don't know where to get quality blades. The ones from walmart are terrible! Cut my face like crazy, so I haven't bothered to use it again.

Overall I think it gives an ok shave. However I can get just as close with disposable ones, and they are safer to use.
 

quikah

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2003
4,198
743
126
Forget this. It's the 21st century, just get something from the drug store. I get at least 50 shaves out of a 5-blade Gilette.

I think you people replacing blades like crack heads would be like getting brand new tires every 3k just because I think I can feel they're only 99% as good as when they were new.

You must have very soft/fine hair. I really can't get more than 5-10 shaves out of a mach5 blade. I start getting severe razor burn and niks after that. And really, I was never satisfied with the shave of the mach3/5 after the first couple of shaves on a blade.

I use a DE, it works fine. I just use the Personna blades from Wal-Mart because I am super cheap. They work fine for me, I rarely get any niks or cuts.
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
I use an old 1930's Gillette tech safety razor with the cheap persona blades from walmart. Lather up with a badger hair brush and make 3 passes: with the grain, across the grain, and finish with against the grain. use very light pressure and short strokes, rinsing the razor frequently. Finish with a cold rinse and a splash of witch hazel. Results in the best shaves I've ever had. A Gillette mach 3 with a fresh blade is a close runner up.

What color is the color of the dress you wear while you do that? :biggrin::awe:
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
You must have very soft/fine hair. I really can't get more than 5-10 shaves out of a mach5 blade. I start getting severe razor burn and niks after that. And really, I was never satisfied with the shave of the mach3/5 after the first couple of shaves on a blade.

I use a DE, it works fine. I just use the Personna blades from Wal-Mart because I am super cheap. They work fine for me, I rarely get any niks or cuts.
I was blessed with the facial skin not at all unlike the supple backside of a barely-legal.
 

2canSAM

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2000
3,390
4
81
I use an older model my grandfather used back in his day. Do yourself a favor and pass on the Walmart blades, they are crap. When I first tried the razor i grabbed some of those blades and was disappointed. After trying some higher quality blades (Derby something) it was like a whole new experience. Also get a real badger hair brush and skip the cheap boar hair, your face and throat will thank you. I have used the shave soap at walmart though and have not had any issues with it. HOT water, lots of lather, take your time and get a feel for the right angle, then finish with cold water and Nivea aftershave lotion.
 

Zargon

Lifer
Nov 3, 2009
12,218
2
76
Forget this. It's the 21st century, just get something from the drug store. I get at least 50 shaves out of a 5-blade Gilette.

I think you people replacing blades like crack heads would be like getting brand new tires every 3k just because I think I can feel they're only 99% as good as when they were new.


I think you dont have much facial hair.

If I want a halfway decent shave, I can get 2-3 tops out of a fusion or mach 3
 

Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
9,547
1,127
126
I've been using a DE Saftey razor since May. Works better than any cartridge based razor and far cheaper in the long run.

I'm not even half way through my first soap and and I bought 20 blades for like $5.00. Still have 5 blades left.

Before I went through a can of shaving cream and 8 cartridges a month.

Ive never once nicked myself either. Once I got the hang of it after a week or two I never get razor burn unless in a hurry, and even then its not that bad of razor burn.
 

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
A good badger brush, a bar of soap and razor + blades will set you back 50+, I'd say 100 if you get quality equipment. After that, blades are cheap as heck though and will get you a very close shave.

I do it for special occasions when I want to get rid of that weird darker color around my chin and mustache area. That, and it looks cool.

Here, you can browse around this website as well.
http://www.theartofshaving.com/taos...ontent=20091030&utm_campaign=3Samples20091030

http://www.classicshaving.com/Safety_Razors.html
 

Born2bwire

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2005
9,840
6
71
I was blessed with the facial skin not at all unlike the supple backside of a barely-legal.

Most women are like that.

The nice thing, and overwhelming part, of safety razors are the myriad of options with blades and razors. It took me a while and a lot of experimentation before I found a combination that I liked. The Merkurs are very nice looking razors, but I could never get as good shaves with them as the old Gillette razors. If you want to try them, a Merkur classic or Heavy Duty Merkur classic is a good choice. They're simple and the standard brand. There are companies that sell blade sampler packs too.
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
29,307
106
106
holly crap a lot more people then i expected I do want to say that i am using a Bic disposable and i use one for about a month (shaving every 3 days) kinda because im so cheap.

Is their an advantage for paying for an expensive handle ?
 

69Mach1

Senior member
Jun 10, 2009
662
0
76
I was blessed with the facial skin not at all unlike the supple backside of a barely-legal.

Yeah, that's great for you, but I was blessed with facial hair just short of barbed wire. I keep a full beard and only shave my neck and cheeks to shape it and I'm lucky if I get 3-4 shaves out of a mach3 blade. My dad also has nasty facial hair, he uses his old safety razor he got in the 50s, and he says it works better than the new ones for him. I got him some of the Wal Mart blades and he hated them. If someone knows a better blade, and where to get it I'd love to know.