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I don't know what it's called in English, but it's amazing. I shave with this everywhere except downstairs. I need apply NO pressure whatsoever thanks to its own weight and thanks to the sharpness of these Japanese blades. I love it. :3 βοΈπ
Edit: you obviously don't have to present your equipment on your hands like a psychopath. π€£
not sure if that's even the question but safety razor
YES!!! SAFETY RAZORS.
We should seriously consider starting a propaganda campaign for safety razor adoption over the multi blade money plucking machine.
They're:
Quality of shave ranking by my opinion: 1)Hot shave by a barber w/straight razor 2)Straight razor on yourself. 3)Safety razor 4)Cartridge/Disposables 5)Electric razors.
Trimming devices excluded.
I cut myself the one time I tried one. But then I've cut myself with an electric razor before.
There is a bit of a learning curve to getting the right angle and pressure. Also, supposedly your skin needs to get used to it?
After a couple of weeks, nicks will mostly be a thing of the past.
All time favs:
1912 Single Edge Ever Ready
1940's Double Edge Style Gillette Superspeed
Solingen 6/8th hollow grind vintage straight & a hefty old Sheffield wedge-ish
I would like a kamisori one day but haven't bought any shaving gear in maybe a decade or so now.
--
I think yours is a Merkur 510c double edge safety raxor, not a model I've used but Merkur's are awesome and I think I have DE Merkur head somewhere.
God I love coming across a comment from someone with a lot of niche knowledge. Godspeed
Damn! You really know your razors! :D
It's the shorter one, the 500, although, for some reason, I'm seeing the model name as "Progress". Apparently it has been around since the 1950's!
Nice, I'm a bit rusty of the models but I do tend prefer a short handle on a DE.
I have a phillips oneblade :3
As well as one of those standard multi-razor Gillette razors
The OneBlade is a perfect example of how easy it is to market a good product. I happened to see a commercial for this in 2017 and all the commercial did was lay out exactly how the product worked. Didnβt have to be flashy or attention grabbing or funny. And holy shit did the product live up to the marketing. I love that thing. And it has lasted, too. Besides replacing blades, Iβve had the same one for over nine years now.
I have one too! :D Works great in the intimate area(s). π«£βοΈ Too bad the blades/cartridges are so expensive π₯²
Yeah the blades are where they get you. I still really like it though, for quickly buzzing everything down without having to think about not cutting myself, or razor burn or any of that :3
I just discovered this!! As someone who hates blades and only likes to shave once a week, where it getstoo long for electric, this is amazing!!!
Feather blades are a marvel. Significantly sharper than alternatives. Astra is really nice, and a lot more forgiving, but for raw sharpness feather is king. Just be careful.
Feather has been my fav for a few years! Astra of a second for me it just doesn't feel as close. I got a multi pack when I was starting the DE game. The rest were not memorable.
I have a question. Have you tried shaving your pubic regions with it? Personally, it's still my favorite tool for that job too, if I want it cleanly shaven. Yeah, you have to be careful, but I feel like it still handles the job better than anything else. I think a lot of people refuse to try because it seems intimidating, but it's not that bad.
However, make sure you understand the technique first obviously. It's the same idea as on your face, or anywhere else. You have to keep the skin tight while shaving it, and make sure you never move laterally. The biggest difference is it's hard to see and obviously the skin is much looser, so you need to make sure to pull everything tight as you make a pass.
You have helped me make up my mind. I am going to try this! π€ Thanks for all the advice! π
I used to buy Harryβs kits from Costco but I felt like I was wasting so much money and plastic. I just wanted new blade cartridges, but the stupid box always came with a new handle. Looking now, it seems like Costco only offers an updated βchromeβ set which is even more expensive π
Eventually I found Henson and I really love mine. This is the exact color I got:
Iβve had it for maybe 4-5 years now and besides some scratches from an accidental drop itβs still in great condition. I love that I went from buying ~$25 cartridge boxes every couple months to buying 100 blades for $10 every few years. I only just recently bought my first blade refill box and I expect it to last until probably 2029.
Merkur and Feather blades, exactly what I have been using for 25 years.
I can't remember what those are called in English either. Safety razors?
I use one too and there was a subreddit for them that I used to follow. But like with many enthusiast subs, they just went on and on about how this is trash and that is trash, this $500 blade is just soooo good, you know?
I found some cheap Solingen shaver and use Feather blades (I think that's what you use) as that's the only ones I can find in Japan. For shaving cream, I squirt Muji fasewash, moisturizer, and toner into my palm and rub it all over my face. No fancy brushes with those bowls. I get a nice clean shave each time.
Double edge safety razor.
I have a bunch of these, mostly vintage. My favorite is a 1951 Gillette Tech. Super comfortable shave. There are different styles, the early ones going back to about about 1910 have an "open comb" design, but changed over to safety bars around 1935. Closer to 1960 the twist butterfly design became more popular.
Razors vary according to how agressive they are, which usually relates to how much blade is exposed to the skin. My experience has been that the least aggressive blades from Gillette came out of the 1950's. I don't really know about super modern razors.
Blades vary based on sharpness, smoothness and lifespan. There is no universal "better". Thick whiskers need a sharper blade, and sensitive skin needs a smoother blade. Teflon coated blades can even get sharper after a use or two when the Teflon wears off a bit.
I've bought quite a few razors at flea markets for less than $10 and they can be excellent. That favorite 51 Gillette Tech was about $20 on eBay. I have fine whiskers and sensitive skin, and my favorite blade is a Big Ben by Lord. Cheap-ass blades that cost about $8.00 for 100. They are medium sharp and smooth, and last 4-6 shaves for me.
The other part is the "wet" stuff. Soap and paraphernalia. Skip the drug store crap and get hold of some good soaps or creams. It makes a difference. George Trumper is a good expensive brand that will at least tell you how much better a good cream can be. Personally I like RazoRock soaps.
Brushes can be super expensive. I have a few very expensive badger brushes, but honestly, my go to daily brush is a $15 Omega boar brush. It's huge, and when brand new smelled like a disgusting blend of moth balls and wet pig as well as being way too stiff. If you break them in, then the bristles get spit ends, with the result being a brush that's soft at the tip but stiff overall.
Lastly, a shaving scuttle. Basically, it looks like the love child of a teapot and a big mug. It's ceramic and double walled, with a spout to put hot water inside the gap between the walls. It has ribs on the inside of the bowl to improve foaming. Get it hot, smear some soap on the bottom and whisk it up with the brush to get hot foam.
Note that these are not the same as the delicate porcelain things you find in antique stores. Best to source them from Etsy.
First time I tried, my face looked like I was put in a sack with a cat and thrown into a river, but in fewer attempts than I expected I got good at it. Now I almost never cut myself. One time, and it was the last, I rushed and cut myself quite deep on my chin to the point I had a few layers of skin hanging, but nothing that couldn't heal without stitches. I just snipped it with some small scissors I keep in the bathroom and continued shaving, though it was bleeding quite a bit and quite stingy.
I also keep a pack of the regular single use Gillette's on hand for times I'm in a rush, and for the downstairs area since theres no way the other sharp blade is going anywhere near there.
I foam with a horsehair brush and regular cheap cream that comes in a tube.
I gave up on close shaves years ago. My hair is dark and thick enough that I always had a 5 o'clock shadow anyway, plus I look better with a bit of scruff. I use a Wahl Peanut corded trimmer and let me tell you, that little guy is a BEAST. Best trimmer I have ever had, uses replaceable heads and has lasted me for years at this point. If you don't mind a cord I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better one.
A cheap, but we'll made, safety razor
and some classic blades
I'm a big fan of my Henson shaving safety razor, it is immeasurably better than the Gillette safety razor it replaced
I needed a $100 gift suggestion as a secret santa and added one of these to give them options. I honestly believe it (along with the 100 refill razors) will be handed down from father to son for generations to come.
As a woman with ADHD I found I did not have the patience for a double edged safety razor. I still had a 100 pack of blades though. Kept seeing ads for the leaf razor and I'm like who the fuck is gonna spend $100 on that?
Me. I did. And I fucking love it because I can use all those blades in it and I don't have to slow down or use special shave soap. Also when I'm ADHD and forget to shave for idk... A month lmao, I can just use that and the space between the blades is big enough all the hair doesn't get stuck.
I think a DE razor is a great idea for the record. I have 2 men's and a vintage Lady Gillette. I'm just impatient as fuck lol.
I just use a straight edge razor but I also don't shave very often. Much faster at removing thick facial hair than disposables.
Cartridge razors for head, safety for face and neck, rotory shaver for travel, beardscape for... Beard
I don't remember the brand of the handle I have, but I switched to a safety razor like 5 years ago and it's so much better. A million times cheaper and just a better experience.
It was a bit scary in the beginning, but I can only agree with you now! π
Yeah, safety razors are far better shaves than the cartridge style. I spent a fair bit of money on the handle I use and will probably use it until death.
I use a disposable (as they have the protection that I am looking for) when I shave my balls.
Merkur safety razors for the win. The problem is finding cheap blades. A long time ago I bought 5000 blades for $10 off ebay from a dude in the phillipines. I am down to my last 5 5-packs.
I get the most use out of a cheap beard trimmer tbh. I don't shave at all anymore and use the beard trimmer on spots where the hair gets long enough to be annoying. It's quick, doesn't pull the hair, and has lasted years now. Worth the $25-30 I dropped on it and would replace it with the same once it dies.
That which works is the best equipment! π Thanks for sharing!
I bought an Edwin Jagger DE89 10-12 years ago when I got tired of chasing the XX number of blades shaving dragon, and I use Dorco double edged blades which are about $10 for a hundred. A decent shaving brush and whatever soap is lying around. Works for me!
I also use a safety razor, a Merkur 34C with the same Feather blades. They're the best blades around and thank you for posting and reminding me to order a new pack of em
In the past I've used disposable razors and a electric razor, but nowadays I use a safety razor (just like you).
My fav was a cheapie 30 dollar braun that lasted 10 plus years. Before that I used cheapie generic 10 to a pack disposables. But I don't mind a bit of stubble and the electric shaver still gets my face admirably smooth. If anything, I hate the odd razor cut more than anything, so electric forever.
I served in the US military for 20 years, which has a strict clean-shaven policy. No facial hair allowed unless you're on a temporary medical exemption. You can't even have stubble; you have to be clean shaven if you're wearing the military uniform.
Some branches of our military (Army specifically) require you to be clean-shaven 24/7, regardless of whether you're in uniform or not. I served in the US Air Force, so that was thankfully not a requirement for me.
However, I have another dilemma. I have soft, sensitive skin, but thick, rough facial hair. So shaving is always tough on my face. I would shave 5 days of the week so I could be presentable in uniform, then let it grow out on the weekends so my face can heal. Otherwise, I'd start damaging my skin from daily shaving.
Even worse, my hair grows exceptionally fast. I had to start shaving twice a day to stay within regs; first thing in the morning before I went to work, then again around lunchtime to keep the stubble at bay. I still had a permanent 5-O'clock shadow and would regularly be accused of not shaving.
In those 2 decades, I tried a variety of razors, from electric, manual, safety, disposable, etc. In the end, the only one that truly worked well for me was the Gillette Mach 3. Not the Mach 3 Turbo, which was more expensive but with no visible improvement.
Below is my current razor. I've had the handle for about a decade now, so it's getting worn down.
I used to swap razors weekly when I shaved daily. Now that I'm retired, I shave once every few weeks and swap razors maybe once a month or two. I save a ton of money on razors now.
My wife once bought me a fancy expensive "electric" razor set from The Art of Shaving in New York. Their "Lexington Collection," specifically. It's basically a vibrating razor handle that takes Gillette disposable razor heads. I forget what Gillette calls them, but it's the one with 5 blades. It came with a metal stand that holds the razor and a shaving brush. 5 blades was too much; it didn't shave as well as the Mach 3 and its three blades. And I didn't notice a difference whether it was vibrating or not. So I stopped using it.
I also bought a Van Der Hagen shaving brush and soap cup. I used to use it with a Van Der Hagen safety razor, but despite the name, I kept cutting myself every time I used it. So safety razors are out for me.
I used to get skin irritation all the time, or occasionally break out in face acne when shaving, until I learned that "dry shaving" worked best for me. I was spending a fortune on shaving cream, but that seemed to be the problem. Now I just wet my face with hot water, run my razor under hot water and shave with it, then rinse my face with cold water afterwards. No more skin irritation, no more acne, no more problems. Shaving cream is just a waste of money; it's not necessary.
Here's an example of how fast my facial hair grows. This is me right now, after 4 days without shaving:
