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The Man Thread…

WorldWatcher

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Ladies this thread is for guys. Included in this discussion are guys, trans men, and even women that find they need to shave facial hair.

This thread is not about:
  • Shaving pits
  • Shaving legs
  • Shaving heart shapes into private regions
  • Nor is it about manscaping


BACKGROUND:

I started shaving in the late 70’s and my Dad used “Safety Razor” and even he came down the stairs sometimes in the morning with the obligatory toilet paper spot with a red dot in the middle. The first time he taught me to shave with his razor and a fresh blade I thought we were going to have to call the Emergency Squad to see if they could bring a bag of blood. It was ugly.

So, I began using “Bic” disposable razors, got the job done and I didn’t blead near as much. Stayed with them my whole life. A few months ago I was watching something on YouTube and an inline ad played from the sponsor and it was from a company making modern safety razors. I forgot about it for about a week, then thought let me check it out.

So some numbers. Disposable razors can run from about $0.75 for the cheapy double blade to $3.50 each for 5-blade cartridge heads that clip into more substantial handles. For a razor that lasts a week that is $39 to $182 per year.

Disposables are OK, but multi blade disposables/cartridges clog so you rinse, rinse, rinse and then bang it on the side of the sink to try to smack out the offending cream and whiskers.

CHOSING A NEW RAZOR

So I researched modern safety razors and shaving and learned a lot. Not only did I visit “sponsored” sites, I check review sites and even watch videos from independent people (just regular guys) about the saving process.

Safety razors can run cheap at less than $50 and high-end ones can run #275.

I settled on the Henson AL-13 as a machined aluminum razor with medium aggressive exposure of the blade. The affascinato talk about using bar soap, a brush, yada, yada. I just coupled it with Harry’s Shaving Cream.

I’m telling y’all I wasted a lot of years. I’ve used it for about a month now and it provide an outstanding shave. The reason is that blade is actually clamped under pressure an so there is not “wiggle” in the blade. Multi-blade disposables the cutting blade is mounted in plastic and will wobble during the shave. In addition, with a simple slip under running water the cream and whiskers rinse out very easily, not tapping on the side of the sink.

The save it the best shave of my life and a shave with the grain and then a run against the grain produces a baby butt smooth shave that last all day long with no 5-O’Clock shadow.

Blades run $0.15 a piece so at 1 a week for a year cost is $7.80 a year compared to $39 to $182 a year.

WW
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I've gone to a beard. Shaving about 10,000 times is enough.
 
mrjurrs said:
I've gone to a beard. Shaving about 10,000 times is enough.
Click to expand...

I still shaved even with a beard. Not as extensive an evolution, but cheeks and throat.

WW
 
Wait the disposable razors are only supposed to be used for a week? What have I been doing my whole life? I make those last me a month.
 
Razor shaving sucks. I just use one of these. Never needs replacing and can trim my goatee and take the rest smooth enough for me. Haven't bought cream or razors in years.
Sorry it says manscaping.. I just got it for face and does well. The rest of me just grows wild.
Except those ears. Starting to get a little cropping up there!
 

I use these for my ear hair.

WW
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I dumped my criminally expensive cartridge razors over seven years ago and haven't looked back. At nearly $4.50 a cartridge, the published data was it'd last for 14 shaves - of course, YMMV, but that's the de-facto standard for number of shaves for a typical cartridge. Doing the math, that's $0.32 a shave. Now, you can get cheaper cartridges - as much as half that price, but that's still $0.16 a shave.

With my safety razor setup (more in a sec), my blades cost me $0.29 a blade (and that's one of the more expensive blades). I get 7-8 quality shaves with each, more if I stretch it, but when you see the numbers - why bother? So I'm getting a quality shave for about $0.05 a shave.

...and I do mean "quality" shave - my skin never felt better afterwards, and I have NEVER EVER had a closer shave, especially with those stupid, grossly overpriced cartridges. Electric razors don't even come close either.

My setup:
Razor: my favorite is the Mergress Long (a Merkur Progress adjustable razor refitted with a stainless steel adjustment knob and recalibrated for function).
Blade: Varies - my first preference is the Polsilver Super Iridium. Second is the Gillette Silver Blue. Third the Feather. All ('cept the Polsilver) can be bought in packages of 5, 10, or 100.
Soap: Varies - try them out, there are some absolutely amazing ones out there, something for everyone.
Scuttle: Georgetown Pottery double wall scuttle. Love it. Fill with hot water for warm lather.
Brush: I bought several badger knots and turned my own brushes. I like the silvertip badger best.
Alum Block: I started with Osma (great block) and have also used Barbero, which is similar

If you're interested in "wet shaving" (the common name for this "old style" shaving), there are literally scores of websites and YouTube videos to get you started, including some great shaving forums that discuss every possible aspect of wet shaving products and how-to's. There are scores of excellent options in every category above from which to choose.

Just get online and do some research before you jump in because the initial excitement and setup can get a little expensive as your enthusiasm grows. Regardless, I guarantee you will not regret the change.
 
I am body bald and have a spare, red beard. I endeavored to grow one over months and it was pathetic. I didn’t start shaving until I was almost 20. And that was because my company commander saw two or three Shaggy hairs on my chin in formation. Those 5 blade razors last a week or more (can’t remember when I changed it out last). This would work for me.
 
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I have a safety razor, its much better, blades cheaper.

But....learning curve...
 
WorldWatcher said:
I still shaved even with a beard. Not as extensive an evolution, but cheeks and throat.

WW
Click to expand...

Yeah the idea that growing a beard is the end of shaving is a sick joke for me unless I want to take on the appearance of a 19th century rabbi.
I still end up having to shave my neck underneath, the sides of my neck, the cheek areas above the traditional beard line, and the delicate area underneath the moustache and below my lower lip because unlike a lot of men I do not want my whiskers all the way to the border of my upper lip.

I've been using Dollar Shave Club razors and the typical one lasts about two weeks so I end up with lots more razors than I need so I halt my subscription in the middle of the year and restart it with the New Year when I begin to run out.
 
One suggestion and only one.

Badgerandblade.com
 
I dont have enough individual hairs on my face to grow a nice mustache or beard. So I use a barber-style trimmer with the #1 guard to basically maintain a 5-'O'clock shadow look.
 
I use a Gillette Mach 3 most of the time. I might do Growvember this year because for some reason, my wife likes it when I look like a worried and disheveled middle aged person. I just shaved after two days and I was already starting to get a beard.

I got my first Mach 3 mailed to me out of the blue when I was a young man. I have to say that was a great marketing idea, because I'm still partial to that model.
 
I switched to a safety razor years ago I learned with a Gillette changeable cartridge razor.
 
Remember the Gillette multi-blade cartridge commercials that touted how the blades worked - one blade grabbed the hair and pulled it out while the next blade cut it and the hair receded below skin line - producing the closest shave possible?

Today we call that "ingrown hair follicles." Gillette has since dumped that commercial.

Several years ago they then introduced the Gillette "SkinGuard" - a blade designed to reduce.... you guessed it - ingrown hairs.

Cartridges are a complete scam and a total waste of money.
 
How about the battery powered 'vibrating' disposable blade razor.
I don't need my utility knife to vibrate. It just cuts with a good blade.
But now you can buy batteries and blades!
 
I have my husband subscribed to "Dollar Shave Club" with their 6 blade disposable razors for several years now.

Razors, Handles & Grooming Goodness | Dollar Shave Club

Explore Dollar Shave Club’s full range of grooming products. Discover high-quality razors, skincare, and more for a complete grooming experience.
us.dollarshaveclub.com
 
For the sake of disclosure, I’ve had more hair on my head and body for my whole life. I actually have to get my hair thinned out by my stylist when I go in for a haircut, still at 63. I’m lucky to have been born with good genes in that department, on my Mom’s side.

I grew a full beard as a senior in high school for a musical, trimmed it into a really neat goatee, and shaved it off right after the final performance because I was tired of looking like a 35-year old. I started out with a Remington electric shaver at 13 when I worked in a restaurant, because my mother didn’t want me using blades and running the risk of nicks and cuts.

After all these years, I’ve settled on a razor from Harry’s. Their blades are incredibly sharp and last a long time. The way they’re designed, I don’t ever cut myself. Then, I use a very narrow Schick disposable to get around my nose. I keep a Phillips Norelco electric trimmer for the rest of my body when needed. Yeah, mostly chest hair. My high school buddies called me a grizzly bear when we used to go water skiing and tubing. LOL.

I’ve been intrigued by safety razors, but I don’t want to mess with what works really well for me.
 
WorldWatcher said:
I still shaved even with a beard. Not as extensive an evolution, but cheeks and throat.

WW
Click to expand...
I accept the less complete work the buzz cutter gives me for those.
 
women get facial hair...we just don't shave it...we wax it or use laser therapy to get rid of it.
 
Beard, trimmed. I have an a-i disease that flares if a scrape my face or if I let the beard oils accumulate.

Wife likes beard, which helps. Trim with a OneBlade.
 
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