Posted on 06/03/2023 7:04:04 AM PDT by ConservativeInPA
A few weekends ago I posted a vanity asking for recommendations about shaving alternatives to typical disposable razors, such as from Gillette or Bic.
Thank you for all your recommendations.
Today, I’d like to share the results of my new shaving experience. This comes after two and a half weeks and two double edge razor blades of experience.
I wanted a good close shave, using an inexpensive, non-woke American made product. I am pleased to say, I am now fully suffering from toxic masculinity. Gillette, you can shove your razors where the sun doesn’t shine. Hopefully those blades will be jagged and rusty. (Ouch)
I now wet shave using a safety razor from Western Razor Co.. The safety razor has a one-time cost of $60. It’s an investment in a quality hunk of steel. It most certainly will last a lifetime and I will pass it down to my grandson so he can suffer from toxic masculinity too.
The safety razor came with five double edged razor blades. Western Razor Co. does not manufacture the razor blades. They resell double edged razor blades from Razor Blade Co. The double edge razor blades are branded as “Personna” and are made in Verona, VA USA.
I haven’t bought or researched where I can purchase the double edge razor blades, although they are available on Amazon for $16.49 in a quantity of 100, so they cost about 16 cents per blade. That is far less than a typical Gillette disposable blade or any of their competitors.
The safety razor is a heavy hunk of metal compared to the cheap plastic used by any of the manufacturers of disposable razors. It feels different because of its weight, but after two weeks it is barely noticeable. Wet shaving is something to get used to, but certainly nothing difficult.
I’ve been through two double edged razor blades. The first blade I used for a week and a half, approximately 9 shaves. I skipped a day or two. The last shave with that blade there was noticeable drag while shaving through my whiskers and I nicked myself three times. A sharp blade did not nick me. I will be replacing the second blade this morning. I used it for a week, in which I skipped one day, so a total of 6 shaves. That makes the cost per shave 2.7 cents.
I am getting the closest shaves that I have ever had. The process of wet shaving takes slightly longer than using foamy shaving cream and disposable blades, but is much more enjoyable. I truly find it relaxing as if I am pampering myself. I have even brought of retirement a heavy terry cloth bath robe to wear while I am shaving. I allow it to warm from the steam created by the shower.
It is well worth the little extra time to shave since I can plan my day in my head and contemplate what and how I will be doing things.
I have not successfully sourced an American made shaving soap/cream. I am currently using Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream. It’s made in the UK and I haven’t detected any wokeness on my face. It is a fine product. I will have to replace it in a year as it does not require a significant quantity to get enough lather to shave. If I can find a suitably priced American made product I will try it.
I realized that I have been susceptible to marketing. All my life I have been using disposable razor blades, beginning with two blades and more recently five blades. I had two major misconceptions. First, two or more blades is better than one, which you get with a double edged blade (one blade per side). Second, the disposable razors are somehow safer than a safety razor. I’ve cut and nicked myself with disposables countless times. I am fairly certain that I will have less of that using double edged blades if I replace then after a week’s use. There’s no need to stretch the use of a double edged blade due to price. That was the cause of any shaving accidents that I had in the past.
Final conclusion: sometimes old stuff works better. Don’t be fooled by marketing.
Do you own an axe?
It is well worth the little extra time to shave since I can plan my day in my head and contemplate what and how I will be doing things.
I am getting ready to fire up my pipe for the same reason.
I don’t use shaving soap or brushes. I just wet my face, rub it with a bar of soap - Ivory will do although I use Shea’s - and lather up. Shave. Repeat for the against the grain pass. Done. Takes me about 5-6 minutes total if I do a good job. Sometimes use canned shaving cream for the second pass.
It's not rocket science...it's not even slightly mysterious or symbolic.
You have that in common with Hunter. But he has a porn actress helping him and I'm guessing you don't.
I recommend Feather blades. There are none sharper.
I usually use Schick or Bic disposable razors. I haven’t purchased a Gillette razor since they ran their androphobic ad in 2019.
I think you’re kinda nosey axing him if he has an axe. Why would you axe that question?
Oh, that’s right, he was axing for suggestions. Axe away, FRiend!
My father has a Rolls Razor I don’t think he uses it ,LOL
Little perplexed by the one-time charge of $60. I usually shave by having a pair of pet wolverines chew my face off, which due to the thick skin I’ve acquired from being a conservative living in the D.C. metro is not bloody as you might think. But my wife complains about the hair balls they cough up removing the finish off of our floors. (They can polish the rust off the ol’ Abrams like nobody’s business.) So I am considering other shaving techniques. (The neighbors complain about the chainsaw noise and I’m inclined to keep good relations with any non-Stalinist I know.)
So what costs $60? That’s more money than a flame-thrower! (Seriously.... it’s wierd how cheap they can be.)
Ive commented on these kinds of threads and dont want to redo all that and didnt see your last thread on this so wont waster your time by going over things you likely know.
One thing Ive noticed is that people are quite convinced that there has to be some kind of lather for the soap to work. Maybe its just very powerful suggestion by marketing artists. Foamy bubble is really only of any value when trying to wash away grease and things.
Assuming that your face is relatively clean and your whiskers arent made of cotton candy then theres no need for big frothy foam shaving mugs. The soap is really only there as a lubricant. It helps avoid razor burn, nicks, and facilitates clean up of the blade during and the general area afterwards.
This is what Ive done for years. Get a bar of Ivory or similar real soap (most bars are not soap, they are detergent). If you need your soap stinky then there are plenty of little basement real soap factories in your area that make better bar soap than the national brand detergent bars.
Wet your face. Wet the bar. Rub bar vigorously about the face. Dont worry too much about if its enough or too much as the whiskers kind of each take off more than enough soap for its own need. Wet your hands and rub and smack your face around for a couple of seconds.
Your face is now lubricated and ready with no big wads of foam obscuring your vision to make sure you can see your face and didnt miss anything.
Maybe you wont get the satisfaction of removing the big pillow of foam like in a movie or commercial but you will wind up with a cleaner safer shave.
I appreciate this post.
I recall your initial thread and, though I did not comment on it, I did read it in full.
I have always shaved in the shower — for years — and I use Neutrogena to lather up with. I get a very good shave in the shower.
Over the years I have tried many shaving systems including a badger brush and shaving soap in an antique ceramic soap & brush holder. Nothing special IMHO...
I have been using a Harry’s razor but when my last few blades are gone I will purchase from Jeremy’s Razors.
I have a Norelco three-head electric if i don’t shower/shave for a few days and it’s pretty good.
I may try a single blade/double edge system like you have some day soon as well.
Again, thanks for these two threads.
Best to you, FRiend.
(OK, the weasels are really just cats, and the Abrams is a Prius and the hairballs are pretty useless. I’m just reacting against Gillette’s “toxic masculinity” crap.)
I hear most lumberjacks are swingers. I’d keep my distance.
Good point about the soap. I shave in the shower after washing as the hot water softens my beard. I just soap up my beard again and shave.
Also, blades will last considerably longer if you dry them after use.
Especially the ones that compete in axe throwing!
I imagine its the razor, not the blades, the carrier that holds the razor blade. You knw, twisty handle on the bottom of the handle that opens the doors.
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