The Safety Razor

[Disco LT]

Last month I decided that I was done with Gillette. Done with paying through the nose for new cartridges every month, and done with products that just don't work.

I'm not alone, after some quick web browsing I discovered there are a whole legion of folk just like me who have decided to go a bit retro and ditch the Gillette Mach Fusion X in favour of the old fashioned Safety Razor. I purchased a Merkur 180 Long Handled Safety Razor, razor blades, shaving soap, and a badger hair shaving brush - which all finally arrived on my doorstep today.

I was a bit nervous about the prospect of my first shave and well aware that there would be a learning curve from the Gillette style razors which are essentially blunt when compared to a razor blade that I've grown up using and decided to delve into the realm of manhood tonight after a few Youtube instructional videos, a stiff drink and a shower I was good to go.

I hadn't shaved in 3 or 4 days and normally that is a painful prospect with a disposable which spends more time ripping and tearing than actually shaving. I'm glad to say despite my reservations it was a pleasure to shave; the most difficult aspect is attempting to keep the blade on the right angle over the contours of your face and neck and I only occasionally had to remind myself to be a bit more careful than usual.

I was surprised at how gentle an experience it was compared to a disposable, and although I'm a bit patchy with a 12 o'clock shadow here and there (my fault due to the angle) I'm really impressed with my first attempt and look forward to practicing and enjoying the experience of shaving.

So if a Cut Throat isn't for you (I like my head just where it is), and you like the idea of spending 10c a piece or less on your razor a week, I say go for it. You wont regret it!

Happy Shaving

[DarkMellie]

Fairly intense razor-based posting there Disco!

I got an electric razor, one of the super expensive kinds... and it kinda sucks. It's never as close as my Gilette but it is a HELL of a lot quicker... although sometimes so quick that I miss bits and then obssess about them all day.

Might have to beard it up one day, but I can't grow the connecting hair between the moustache and the chin

[Disco LT]

I've tried electric razors but they never seem anywhere near as good as a proper razor, and they hurt for some reason. But yes, I was excited about my new found shaving style and wanted to share a review I've never tried to review anything before.

[Wyld]

I tried a good electric razor, and loved it .. for the first two weeks .. probably less. Anyone with a real face of hair will get pissed with it, and quick.

I hate to say it, actually, I don't .. but this has served me VERY WELL.



DON'T SHAVE YOUR JEANS. You do it the other way.

I'm the same. I got a 4 blade stupid expensive "disposable" razor, and have been using the current one for the past 8 months. Look at my avatar. I get some serious face growth. I can shave twice a week to keep the chops looking great, and I have zero issues. I was sceptical at first, but I'm now a pretty firm believer.

The key I've found is to continue to do this ritual before every shave.

After the first time you shave, when seen under a microscope, the blade gets damaged. Do it once or twice more, and it's crazy just how damaged it gets. You do the 20 strokes as per the video, and you avoid that. It just keeps working.

I do still replace the blade every 9 to 12 months, but even so .. I think that's just me and not the fault of the razor itself.

Can not recommend this enough.

Oh and I shave with water, no soap.

[Matty]

This is all well and good for people with nice skin

[discobrad]

give it time matty

great tip Wyld! i will give that a crack

[DarkMellie]

DON'T SHAVE YOUR JEANS. You do it the other way.

A little confused, you post a vid saying to shave your jeans then say don't shave your jeans.

WHICH IS IT GOVERNOR FRONTBOTTOM?

[Disco LT]

I had read of that Wyld, apparently it does wonders for the disposable kind, between doing that and drying your blade after use you can extend the life exponentially. I wondered how you'd go with the little aloe strips though, as they tend to fall off eventually?

It reminds me of using as steel to realign the edge of a knife.

[Wyld]

DON'T SHAVE YOUR JEANS. You do it the other way.

A little confused, you post a vid saying to shave your jeans then say don't shave your jeans.

WHICH IS IT GOVERNOR FRONTBOTTOM?

Watch the video again.

2 key points are, you REVERSE shave it as you're straightening the blade, not shaving your jeans, and 20 strokes one way then 20 strokes "against the grain". The weave in jeans is diagonal so doing it the other way helps keep the repair job even.

As for the aloe strip (or whatever the strip is), yeah that can fade in time but I've honestly never found it to be a requirement to a decent shave. Straight razors don't have one, and they work more than fine without it.

Warm water on the face first, get your whiskers good and wet, and once done, cold water to help close the pores.

[Dean]

Electric razors are carp.

[Disco LT]

Anyone out there interested in the Straight Razor routine should look into the Dovo Shavette:



A lot cheaper than a straight razor, same idea but is loaded with disposable DE Razors instead, so no honing or stropping and it a good introduction to straight shaving if you're keen.

[diamondd]

just reporting in as a HUGE supporter of the old DE safety razor.

when I first started I was a bit indifferent and didn't seem to notice much of a difference. Just recently however I took a brand new gillette fusion on holiday and geeze was that a poor experience, rough as guts by comparison. Next time I'm packing my Merkur for sure

it is quite an intimidating outlay but honestly it was so so worth it.