DE shaving

Anybody else use an old double edge safety razor to shave? I just got a '64 Gillette SuperSpeed and have used it the past couple of days. It really is a whole new experience when you take the time to shave correctly. You don't need 500 blades and vibrating handles. My skin looks a lot better too. Ingrown hairs are almost gone.

 

I think I know what you're talking about, but could you post pics?

Also where did you find one and where do get new razors or do you sharpen themyourself?

My uncle uses a 'modern' 2-blade still. I use an electric b/c normal razors have always bothered me.

 

Sure thing. Here's a pic of a similar razor to what I have.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2280246681_7220bcfc91.jpg

You can get blades almost anywhere still. My first pack I bought from WalMart. I just ordered a sampler pack from Amazon.com.

There's a whole shaving subculture at badgerandblade.com plus that is basically what The Art of Shaving stores are trying to sell, just at a very high markup. Selling what's old as new.

 

That's exactly what I had in my head.

I wouldn't mind giving one a try. Maybe in the future. I'll check out that website though. Thanks.

 

I picked up the SuperSpeed on ebay for $15 shipped. A pack of 10 blades cost me $4. So for $20 I have 10wks worth of shaving. Compare that to Mach3 or Fusion or whatever the new ones are. Better shave and much, much cheaper.

 

I use a straight edge, and I love it. It is the best and closest shave.

 

Been using a safety razor for as long as I've been shaving (20+ years). Blades are around, but they're getting tougher to find. Worse, they're mostly from China, now, which means the steel quality is inferior to the German or US blades and require frequent replacement.

I've had straight razor shaves before, and I enjoy them from time to time as a luxury. Just quiet, down time. However, many Health departments are shutting the practice down saying that they're unsanitary. I offered to purchase my own straight razor and strop, but the barber I used has moved elsewhere, and the current barber won't do it.

There are a few shops around (like Art of Shaving), but many of them are just doing multi-stage shaves with Mach5 or equivalent. IMHO, a waste of $100. Certainly not what it once was...

CW

 

So I surfed around that site for a little bit yesterday. Holy crap am I ever confused. Seems to be 100 different types of safety razors and different numbers. Can you clarify any of that for me?

 

I'll do my best. First there are two camps, vintage and modern. Vintage is the original classics like the Gillette SuperSpeed that I use. Then there are modern ones, like the Merkur. Both have benefits and drawbacks. I like the originals because the price is hard to beat. Then there are fixed and adjustable razors. With fixed razors, you put in the blade and that's it. No mess, no fuss but you only get the shave that it gives you. With adjustable you can make the shave closer if you want by opening up how far the blade is from the base. I get a great shave from the fixed myself, so I see no need to change.

It gets even more confusing when you start getting into "shaving routines" such as using shaving soap or cream in a mug with a badger hair brush, using a hot towel to soften the beard, then using the brush to apply the lather, using your fingers to massage it in to get all the oils and dirt off, rinsing, then reapplying the lather to shave, then doing it again if you want to get closer.

I just use the hot towel, apply shave soap, shave, use moisturizer for post shave. My neck looks 1000% better and I rarely have an ingrown hair now. You have to remember to let the razor do the work for you. No pushing it on the skin and dragging it across like with a mach3. Just let the weight naturally pull it down your face. You may have to go over it again if you want to get closer, but thats ok. If you try to push it into the skin to get closer like a modern razor you'll look like Nick Cage in Face-Off.

 

Thanks man. I appreciate it.

I may give it a try, some day. I'll probably order one of the new models though. I don't want to have to fish through antique shops. And from that website, they didn't seem to confident about ordering them on ebay.