You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Just to be that every second thread on here was about safety razors but I had a beard at the time and didn't pay too much attention.
Beard has now gone and I'm wondering if safety razors might be kinder to my face and the environment than cartridge types.
Was there a consensus on what was the best way to scrape fuzz off your face?
Was there a consensus on what was the best way to scrape fuzz off your face?
It's trial and error - there's no best, just what suits your face and how you like the razor to feel in your hand.
I've used both of these sellers...
https://www.connaughtshaving.com/
https://www.theenglishshavingcompany.com/en_gb/
Buy a selection of blades from Connaught as they are all slightly different.
https://www.connaughtshaving.com/samplepack.html
I've settled on a Merkur 23C Safety Razor and Personna blades.
And this stuff is right nice!... 🙂
https://www.theenglishshavingcompany.com/en_gb/saponificio-bignoli-blackberry-moss-shaving-soap.html
Something that uses actual blades.
I was looking at the latest cartridge thing from Gillette the other day. They're like five quid a pop, that's insane. Twenty quid's worth of razor blades, I'll be dead before they run out.
I basically did what the first reply suggested.
Mixed set from Connaught Shaving and a Merkur razor.
Been using one for getting on for a decade I reckon.
Shave isn't as close for me as cartridge razors but my face and skin are so much more comfortable, it's tons cheaper and better for the environment.
And the blades are mega useful for other things.
I buy a packet of disposable razors from BIC or Gilette or whoever, they last me for months, the amount I use them. My head gets a regular going over with my hair or beard trimmer.
Only issue I find with mine is shaving every 2 to4 days with single blades is much more painful than leaving it a week and a half or so. Had this with various different blades and not managed to improve it.
If you decide it's not for you, I've been using these for years:
Wilkinson Sword Quattro Titanium Precision Razor Blades
combined with Proraso shave cream (applied with a badger's brush, obviously). All v cheap, razors and cream last for ages and give a good close shave.
I've gone from Gillette Fusion to a safety razor this year. I find it's a closer shave. I'm using a very cheap handle - King Gillette, usually about £10 - Chinese handle with a German head. I'm trying a variety of blades (avoiding the P&G ones including Gillette made in Russia) from Executive Shaving. I'm using normal Gillette shaving gel.
The advantage to me is that the blades are so cheap that I change them every week rather than every month with Fusion blades.
Only shave once a week (Probably still looks like some guys '5 o'clock shadow'). Can't honestly remember the last time I bought a razor, though in hindsight, I probably have sharper edge tools at work than I do in my bog bag..
Movemember? Yeah righto, more chance of flying to the moon.
I was lured in by hype. Bought a basic Wilkinson Sword jobby. Tried persevering for a while but it felt like my face was on fire each time. Blood everywhere. Even those orange Bic things are far superior.
I like the idea, for the environmental credentials if nothing else, but for actual useage you're better off with your average disposable.
Maybe I got a bad one, I don't know. It certainly wasn't the experience that was sold on here.
Merkur 34c, brush and razor blades of your choice. Seems to work way nicer than cartridges ever did and as above, 20quids worth of blades last forever
Tried persevering for a while but it felt like my face was on fire each time. Blood everywhere. Even those orange Bic things are far superior.
Username checks out! 🙂
As I said - it's personal preference. After the initial "oooh bugger, I'm going to slash my face to bits" feeling, I just shave now as I used to with disposables Mach 3's. Done in minutes.
I tried, as I used to get shaving rash on my neck, but couldn't get in with it. I now use a brush, cream, alum block etc, but shave with a good old Mach3. No rash.
If you use a razorpit (or generic copy thereof) the blades last for ages as well. I shave every other day and change the blade every other month, if I remember...
I swapped to de shaving 5 years ago now, with a lengthy thread here to get tips. For me it is far far far far more pleasant and my skin is in great condition, I get a far closer shave and can go a couple of days without looking unshaven, and 20 blades cost about £1.60 and last a year. I've stocked up for several lifetimes..... well....50 years.
I tried 20 odd different blades and settled on Gillette 7 o'clock sharp edge (the yellow packet). You may want to avoid these..... they are made in Russia.
I'd suggest a cheap shaving brush, something from ebay for under a fiver, the Wilkinson sword one is OK.
Around shaving soap is a great budget soap. There are far better creams and soaps but arko does the job well and costs pennies. An alum block is essential, ebay for a couple of quid and it will last decades. I'd also recommend trying an oil, put it on your clean face and then lather the soap over. It lubricates and for me was a game changer. I use Johnsons baby oil with aloe Vera, again it costs a couple of quid for a 300ml bottle and since you only need a few drops a bottle lasts a couple of years.
Oh yes, Merkur futur set at 2 works a treat for me.
And it should have read arko soap above not around. Soz.
Since I tried single edge razor (in my case it was - and still is - the Mongoose) with Kai Captain Titan Mild blades I sold my collection of DE razors and never looked back.
What I've been using for 10 years now is a single edge razor with:
- Kai Titan Mild (pink) blades:
https://www.connaughtshaving.com/kaictm.html
- Cella shaving soap:
https://maguiresbarbershop.co.uk/cella-shaving-soap-pot-150g/
- The village barber post shave balm:
https://www.villagebarber.com/products/shaving-balm/
That is my holy grail, I don't have any intention to change it. I have excellent results each time despite having super sensitive skin.
Me too Merkur futur with Feathers at 2 for approaching ten years 2-3 shaves a week. (6 looks scary!) Only frustration is bottom of nostrils but have a little electric thing for that and other stray hairyness.
Hot skin post shower, lots of time with soap on and i get a closer shave than cartridge and a much nicer feeling process when it is 2-5 days growth.
Shave oil much less faff than soap.
Merkur 34C here.
Having tried many different blades, Dorco Prime are my goldilocks blades having tried a vast array of other ones (via the great "trial packs" of different ones you can buy. Everyone seem to be different so I'd suggest buying one or two of these trial packs and experimenting, see which one YOU prefer).
I have never got on with the various soaps and brushes - I ended up with a lot of irritation, but have discovered that Waitrose Essential shave gel is perfect - basically the same as the King Of Shaves gel but a fraction of the price.
There is a cost in buying the handle, but more than offset by blade cost - I now buy the blades in packs of 100. Last time was 100 for £8.79.
I would not go back to the disposable type now.
I got an Edwin Jagger razor and brush and have s packet of Astra blades. Took a while to figure out a process that works: I add warm water to the shaving soap to soften it, and soak the brush, while I shower. The lather still isn’t as good as the gel I used to use though. As others, I find I get s as lot better shave and it’s more comfortable if I shave after several days rather than every other day, but I’m too lazy to try shaving every day
I don’t like foam or oil. But Dr Bonner’s liquid soap is amazing. No need for a brush and you only need the tiniest amount. A tube will last years.
https://www.drbronner.com.au/products/peppermint-organic-shaving-soap
The nonsense written on the packaging is next level too.
I've occasionally dipped into these shaving threads, with a fair sense of bemusement. I have to say, it all seems very 'emperor's new clothes' to me.
For years now I've quite happily used a combination of Gillette Slalom disposables and King Of Shaves antibacterial gel.
A pack of razors lasts me ages, as does the gel. Neither is expensive.
I get a nice clean shave every time. No cuts, no rash, no problems.
What would these other systems and s****y bits of kit you're all on about give me, that I don't already have?
Its not even like this is akin to the other Singletrack preserve - artisan coffees - where I accept a high degree of personal preference on taste plays a part. A clean, injury-free shave is a much more objective thing.
What would these other systems and s****y bits of kit you’re all on about give me, that I don’t already have? What would these other systems and s****y bits of kit you’re all on about give me, that I don’t already have?
Nothing. You’re basically saying the same as everyone else is saying “I’ve found a razor and soap/gel that works for me”.
What would these other systems and s****y bits of kit you’re all on about give me, that I don’t already have?
For me its...
• Mucho cheapness. Razor blades are pennies.
• Better for the environment than chucking away billions of bits of plastics every year.
A decent razor is £30ish and shaving soap/cream lasts bloody ages. Don't see what's s****y about it.
As with everything you can go a bit mad though and build up a collection of expensive razors! 🙂
If we are just saying what we use and works then:
Lubricant = King of Shaves Oil - way better than foam and soap everywhere. The razor glides and you can actually see what you are doing
Rezors = A green one with 4 blads - Harrys? - that cuts nicely and seems to stay sharp a long time and a blue one with 5 blade - Wilkinson Sword - that I picked up near the hotel when I realised I had left my washbag at home. It cuts nicely and seems to stay sharp a long time. There might be a 3rd one in the washbag but I can't be bothered to look but it will have 4-5 blades, cut nicely and seem to stay sharp a long time
This combination allows me to shave after 2-3 days without issue but also shave every day without and rash or irritation when needed.
The blades are expensive when you have to buy them but if you use them on a wet and oiled face then they seem to last for ages. I think that part of the reason people get through so many blades is that they are extremely sharp when new so people don't bother lathering up properly and the blades blunt quickly on the coarse, unsoftened bristly hair. If you wash your face with warm water - or shower / sauna - before shaving it makes such a difference and the blades last for ages.
If anything it's more about not using and throwing away the plastic for me than the shave or the money saving
It's disappointing to hear about Gillette 7 o’clock sharp edge blades, they are the ones that work the best on my face from the samples I am still using. I'll have to try and get a few other packs I haven't used before and hopefully find a suitable alternative.
Does everyone just put their old blades into metal recycling at the local council recycling centre?
went down the rabbit hole a few years ago and now have a fine array of vintage gillette DE's and vintage schick injectors, plus a schick DE too.
ones i usually keep going back to are a gillette 1964 adjustable slim, and the schick krona DE.
for blades, ive found the feathers are best for me, sharper the blade the better and i usually use a decent brush with taylor of old bond st cream.
its cost effective now as the blades are so cheap, altho the fact that i bought around 10 razors suggests otherwise 😀
yep the superduper 7 bladed cartridges may be a lovely smooth shave too, but i just like the idea of still using something thats (many many) years old rather than space age and as cheap as chips (actually a lot cheaper than chips these days).
Does everyone just put their old blades into metal recycling at the local council recycling centre?
I'm wondering this having filled a tin with 5 yrs worth - what's the safe/recommended disposal ?
I’m wondering this having filled a tin with 5 yrs worth – what’s the safe/recommended disposal ?
I chuck mine in the sharps bin at work.
I was lured in by hype. Bought a basic Wilkinson Sword jobby.
...
Maybe I got a bad one, I don’t know.
You've answered your own question here. I did exactly the same, it was (literally) bloody awful. Getting a decent one was a game changer.
A pack of razors lasts me ages, as does the gel. Neither is expensive.
It sounds like you're somewhere in the middle but by way of comparison: the link to a selection pack of blades above is ten quid. The same quantity of XR4i Turbo Nutter Bastard cartridges would run to £350.
I’m wondering this having filled a tin with 5 yrs worth – what’s the safe/recommended disposal ?
I put mine in an empty drinks can along with milk bottle tops and other bits of foil
I gave up on disposables about 10 yrs ago. It was the waste that got to me, all that packaging and blades that clogged up with one swipe...
Since then I've been using a Parker 74R. A big box of generic, cheapo blades that I got from ebay for a tenner and will probably last my lifetime and currently a pack of 5 Imperial Leather shaving soaps that Mrs Beagleboy bought me for Christmas about 6 years ago. I'm about 1/4 of the way through the 2nd cake of that!
4 or 5 yrs ago I bought my big brother a Parker 74 to try. He's a self confessed shaving junkie, his chin is like teflon. He's never looked at disposable cartridge razors since. Is his skin better for it? Well, he'll always be hideous as he's my big brother, but I maybe don't boak so much when I see him nowadays.
CougarFull Member<br />Something that uses actual blades.
I was looking at the latest cartridge thing from Gillette the other day. They’re like five quid a pop, that’s insane. Twenty quid’s worth of razor blades, I’ll be dead before they run out.
as per Cougar - I bought wilkinson sword blades, 25 packs of five off amazon back in 2016 for £19.99. dont shave every day so a single blade lasts 2-3 weeks (8-10 shaves ymmv).
opened pack 20 last week so on that basis ive got another 2-3 years before I have to scrounge up another £20 or so - not quite dead by then, hopefully, but you cant beat that £/shave.
Yep, shaving like it was 1950 is definitely cheap, effective and much less waste. I am tempted to try the Dr Bonners shaving soap recommended up there as my Proraso is just about finished after 2 or 3 years and not requiring a brush would avoid me replacing my 10 year old shaving brush which is held together with a screw in more make do and mend 1950s style.
I put the used blades inside an empty can or such and toss in the recycling.
If you like 7 o'clock sharp edge I'd say astra sp, Gillette nacet, or Wilkinson sword (made in England ones, not the German) are similarish mix of sharp and smooth. Not sure where the nacet are made.
Several years ago I bought a Gillette King safety razor and some blades for about £10 to try after reading a thread on here. The thought was to try it and upgrade to a posher razor if I liked it.
After a bit of a learning curve and some claret spilt I refined my technique and now rarely nick myself. I tried a few different blades and they have all been fine. I liked Feathers but sometimes struggle to find them and am happy with Gillette blades.
I have not felt the need to "upgrade" the razor handle to something like a Merkur. It is not adjustable but I don't feel that I need that.
For a long time my favoured shaving gel was Crabtree & Evelyn West Indian Lime but that sadly seems to have disappeared so I have just been using whatever is cheap from the supermarket. I am interested in using a brush but with three women in the house space on the bathroom shelves is limited.
Shaving this way has been cheap but also pleasurable - no need to spend £££ to try it.
And the blades are mega useful for other things
Slashing the snitch on cell block A?
I use a Cambridge cut throat handle, and Astra blades....
Love it...
Though really it's just for the non-beard bits of my beard....
DrP
I have enough safety razors and blades to last me until I die in this life.
@wooksterbo I bought it at sainsbury. It may have been a bit more but not much although since a bottle lasts a year or more and I think I bought 2 last time for some reason it's been a while and may now be more..... Like everything! Although......
I just checked my notes again. Ignore what I said about nacets, they aren't a sharp blade.
Permasharp super were a nice blade for me, but only for 2 shaves per blade.
As above I have a Merkur 34C along with a Kent Badger Hair brush.
I normally use Feather blades (very sharp) along with a mixture of different soaps.
The current soap is an Arko shaving soap stick.
Its all very blokey and a great start to the day.