Thinking of trying a Safety Razor

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jmolayal

Senior member
Apr 21, 2001
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Looking for some info and tips on safety razors... Can anyone recommend a good one? I'm located in Kansas City, any good shops here?

Also, I've read that you should use a badger hair brush with some different lather. Is that best? What about shaving oil?

I've been using Mach 3 for years, and its just not getting the job done. Thought Safety Razors might do the trick. Any tips on what is good and where to buy would be great. Thanks!

- Jaison
 
Born2bwire

Born2bwire

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2005
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Try one of the Merkur fixed blades, like the HD, or an old Gillette Adjustable. The Merkur entry level adjustable, the Progress, seems to have a lot of tolerance problems with the blade gap. Check out Classic Shaving for a good place to buy new and use Ebay or Shave My Face forums for used or old razors. My advice is to take it slow and keep at it for at least two months. It takes a while to settle in on a good combination of what razor blade and cream that you like plus honing your technique. Personally, I would start with the Derby blades, they are what I use now. Not as sharp as most of the other brands, but it is very forgiving.
 
B

bozack

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
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I agree with alot of what born2b says, I used a Mach 3 for ages but was never satisfied with the shave and the price of the blades as it was nuts. It wasn't until they announced the fusion that I decided it was time for a change...

I personally use the Merkur HD Classic razor, however beware that the handle is short and will feel weird when compared to your Mach 3...I considered adjustables but figured that I didn't want to bother with trying to come up with a winning combination and so many recommended the standard that it was hard to pass up.

As for blades it is a personal preference. I started with the ones from classic shaving, the merkur blades, but didn't like them as I found them dull, moved on to some from Stop and shop which are rebranded personnas, again didn't like them as they were dull...finally bought some wilkinsons which I love, less than a buck for a pack of five...many complain they aren't consistant but I don't care as they get a really close shave and I have good luck with them.

Same for the brushes and what not, I use a Muhle medium that I got as a gift, I wouldn't spend money on silvertip or some other outrageous brush...just a good badger is fine..the oil I feel is useless, does nothing for me. As for cream I really like the crabtree almond, comes in a nice tub too....but it isn't cheap.

Good luck, I love it but it is a pain at first and frustrating.
 
U

Ushio

Member
Jul 19, 2004
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I'll put in another vote for the Merkur HD.

just beware if you do use the Merkur, expect a few nicks and cuts the first few days before you get used to the handling.
 
J

jmolayal

Senior member
Apr 21, 2001
405
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76
Thanks for all the replies so far. Any thoughts on how much impact the brush and changing soap have? Also, I've seen a lot of online retailers, but anyone know how to look one up locally? I've tried googling for a spot here in Kansas City but haven't had any luck...

What soaps do you guys recommend? Or is cream better?

Also, I have been thinking of going with a Merkur Progress, so I have the adjustments available.. Any thoughts on that?

- Jaison
 
Born2bwire

Born2bwire

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2005
9,840
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Originally posted by: jmolayal
Thanks for all the replies so far. Any thoughts on how much impact the brush and changing soap have? Also, I've seen a lot of online retailers, but anyone know how to look one up locally? I've tried googling for a spot here in Kansas City but haven't had any luck...

What soaps do you guys recommend? Or is cream better?

Also, I have been thinking of going with a Merkur Progress, so I have the adjustments available.. Any thoughts on that?

- Jaison
Click to expand...

The brush and good creams are a great improvement and I would recommend them even if you do not stick with the DE stuff. To give it an initial try, go down to Target and pick up the Proraso cream and brush. They're in the Spa or cosmetics section, not the shaving section. They also have a pre/post shave cream and an aftershave lotion. I use those but I do not use the cream for a post shave. The only caveat with the Proraso is that the shaving cream and pre/post cream have menthol, which can irritate skin. For me, using the Proraso shaving cream and the pre/post shave cream before and after shaving is a little too much menthol. So that's why I do not use the pre/post after shaving. Anyway, their brush and shaving cream should run you around $15 and the shaving cream will last three to four months. Try them with your Mach 3 first before the DE to make evaluate them alone. I have a decent Vulfix 2234 brush myself and although it is a little floppy, it's a great brush.

I think that cream has a little more protection than soap. You can pick up a puck of Williams shaving soap from a drug store to get an idea about soap but I would not consider Williams to be indicative of what the higher end soaps are like. But at 99 cents a puck, why not?
 
J

jmolayal

Senior member
Apr 21, 2001
405
0
76
Born2bwire,

Great Suggestion on Target. I'll go check it out. I'm leaning now towards the Merkur Hefty HD that everyone seems to be recommending on classicshaving.com forums. I think the cream will be good for a noob, but how is this brush? EVERYTHING I read says the badger brushes are the way to go, but I'm not sure...
 
waggy

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
check shavemyface.com. its a good group over there. most of the guys are freindly and will offer cheaper razors to newbs.
 
Born2bwire

Born2bwire

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2005
9,840
6
71
Originally posted by: jmolayal
Born2bwire,

Great Suggestion on Target. I'll go check it out. I'm leaning now towards the Merkur Hefty HD that everyone seems to be recommending on classicshaving.com forums. I think the cream will be good for a noob, but how is this brush? EVERYTHING I read says the badger brushes are the way to go, but I'm not sure...
Click to expand...

I have never used the Proraso brush. For a long time I had a brush from Walgreens (the Burmashave brand I think) and I would use that with gels or the cheap shave soaps. I pretty much enjoyed using a brush before I got into the DE stuff. So I had no qualms about ordering one of the mid-range Vulfix brushes out of the blue. I think there is a cheap badger brush called the Tweezerman or something like that which you could try too. I do not know if it is available via brick and mortar though.
 
waggy

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: Born2bwire
Originally posted by: jmolayal
Born2bwire,

Great Suggestion on Target. I'll go check it out. I'm leaning now towards the Merkur Hefty HD that everyone seems to be recommending on classicshaving.com forums. I think the cream will be good for a noob, but how is this brush? EVERYTHING I read says the badger brushes are the way to go, but I'm not sure...
Click to expand...

I have never used the Proraso brush. For a long time I had a brush from Walgreens (the Burmashave brand I think) and I would use that with gels or the cheap shave soaps. I pretty much enjoyed using a brush before I got into the DE stuff. So I had no qualms about ordering one of the mid-range Vulfix brushes out of the blue. I think there is a cheap badger brush called the Tweezerman or something like that which you could try too. I do not know if it is available via brick and mortar though.
Click to expand...


I want a badger brush. the one i got now is porcupine i think. its not very good heh.

I been looking for a gillette fatboy for cheap. i have a adjustable gillette, none adjustable and a Gem JR (wich is great i love that razor).

i keep hinting to my wife a nice merkur set for $150 i want for Christmas heh
 
M

mesomule

Junior Member
Sep 22, 2006
19
0
0
Great thread. I would love to start shaving like this and graduate to a straight razor some day :)
 
J

jmolayal

Senior member
Apr 21, 2001
405
0
76
Originally posted by: reverend boltron
Hey, you're in Kansas City, have you ever gone to IHOP? The house of prayer, not the house of pancakes.
Click to expand...

umm no.. And from a quick Google search, it would appear you mean a specific church?
 
J

jmolayal

Senior member
Apr 21, 2001
405
0
76
It turns out that my SO's father has a whole collection of old Razor's, brushes, and mugs. I'm gonna get some this weekend when we head up there. If anyone is interested, I can post pics when I get back...

- Jaison
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: reverend boltron
Hey, you're in Kansas City, have you ever gone to IHOP? The house of prayer, not the house of pancakes.
Click to expand...

My international house of prayer is house of blues.
 
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