I'm not a fan of shaving and usually shave only once a week or less. This usually results in a frustrating shave with my Fusion, it clogs up after a couple of centimetres. I figured after what everybody says on here I would give them a shot. I have a cheap Lord razor coming that is supposed to be good for beginners, hopefully it will be, if I like it I will be upgrading to something a bit nicer.
Wish me luck, hopefully I wont bleed to death!
Just make sure you order a stypic pencil at the same time to try and stem the bleeding!
Was in the same boat as you I Ache. Shaving is now a pleasure. I ended up with an Edwin Jagger. Magic to use, and not too pricey.
+1 for the stypic pencil though.
I was in the same boat too. Only shave once or twice a week - DE razor copes with long, thick stubble much better than cartridges.
Alum block is an alternative to the stypic pencil. My DE razors rinse very well, happy that I made the swap.
I am going to see how it goes and if I like it before ordering a stypic pencil or an alum block. If I don't like how it feels there is no point dropping more money on it. Likewise I will continue to use my existing shaving gel until I have run out of that then I will buy some nice soap and a brush.
Really looking forward to it in a nervous kind of way.
Remember not to apply any pressure whilst shaving and take your time.
I would never go back to cartridges again after 2 years DE shaving.
A common early mistake is to have the blades cutting into the hair like you are peeling an apple whereas it wants to be closer to 90 degrees to the face. I rarely cut myself but find a rinse with cool water stems small nicks quite quickly
As others have mentioned DE razors are the way forward.
Would highly recommend an Alum block as well, the stypic pencills, although cheap, only lasted me a week at most. The alum block lasts much longer and doesn't contain the salts that need washing off like the stypic pencil.
I treated myself to a Merkur Futur for christmas which along with some feathers blades gives a magnificent shave.
Wont ever go back to cartridges.
A common early mistake is to have the blades cutting into the hair like you are peeling an apple whereas it wants to be closer to 90 degrees to the face.
Good to know!
I bought the kit required this weekend, just a cheap Wilkinson sword razor for £5 and cheap soap, brush and stypic pencil to try it out. Hoping for it not to result in a bloodbath tonight.
A common early mistake is to have the blades cutting into the hair like you are peeling an apple whereas it wants to be closer to 90 degrees to the face. I rarely cut myself but find a rinse with cool water stems small nicks quite quickly
That is, the handle should be closer to 90', not the blade.
I'd like to try the WS or similar razors but the last time I tried a razor blade the blade holder, which was made of plastic, broke after a few months. are there any all-metal razor blade holders available?
That is, the handle should be closer to 90', not the blade.
Yes that was a bit misleading but I mean the 'head'
I bought the kit required this weekend, just a cheap Wilkinson sword razor for £5 and cheap soap, brush and stypic pencil to try it out. Hoping for it not to result in a bloodbath tonight.
I started with one of those and I am surprised I continued, I found I had very little control over it. I must have had faith in the idea I have and Edwin Jagger now and love it.
I am planning on watching a few YouTube videos before I have my first shave. I have read a bit about it but could do with watching a few vids so I don't cut my face off.
BTW this is the razor I have ordered. From Shaving-shack.com half price in the January sales.
"Lord have mercy" etc.
Take your time and you'll be fine. It's easier / safer than you think, and being terrified won't help. It's a shaving razor, not a chainsaw.
I started with one of those [WS] and I am surprised I continued, I found I had very little control over it. I must have had faith in the idea I have and Edwin Jagger now and love it.
That's interesting. I've got the ubiquitous el cheapo WS razor and I struggle to want to pick it up in preference to my Sensor. Would you say there's a big difference, then?
^^^
Yes, the various razors that are available do have different characteristics.
I found a massive difference going to a metal headed razor. The blade is far more open but in a good way as you can vary how much it bites with ease and you are far less likely to cut yourself.
The weight of the head also makes shaving easier. The Edwin Jaggers are beautiful items as well and at about £15 on Amazon, not expensive.
I started off with the WS plastic, and then moved to an Edwin Jagger. To begin with I thought there wasn't much difference. I keep the WS one in my washbag, and find it horrible in comparison nowadays. I find the metal razor much smoother on the face, and the blade is closer to the sides meaning its easier to shave accurately around the nose etc.
Blade choice makes a big difference too. Found Derby and WS blades to be poor.
Edit: As said above ^^^ the weight of a metal razor makes a big difference to the shave too. Like playing darts with plastic darts or tungsten...
The Edwin Jaggers are beautiful items as well and at about £15 on Amazon, not expensive.
Blade choice makes a big difference too. Found Derby and WS blades to be poor.
All my DE safety razors are Gillette from 1920s - 1970.
half price in the January sales
but an amazing 4quid for postage!
I started using a DE after reading about them on here, cheapo wilkinson from boots then got a merkur for christmas. Love it, the weight and heft is so satisfying plus makes shaving more interesting (for me) so tend to do it more often. I'm sure I'll get more and more drawn in, don't have a brush and lather for example. Yet.
I've just started with a DE after reading various threads on here. I have starte with a cheap Boots DE. So far had maybe 6 shaves. It is easier to nick yourself but so far only one proper bleeding session. I think I will get a decent one once my blades run out. Or maybe in the January sales.
Question for regular DE shavers - how many shaves do you get with each blade?
DE is just ace.
I have been using a Merkur 34C for just over three years.
Best tip is have a shower or a hot face wash first.
Lob the razor in hot water.
Use a good soap or cream, I use this bluebeards
Now never get a nick, its in the wrist as they say.
Enjoy
gavtheoldskater - Member
half price in the January sales
but an amazing 4quid for postage!
For some reason they didn't charge me for postage.
nacho - Member
I've just started with a DE after reading various threads on here. I have starte with a cheap Boots DE. So far had maybe 6 shaves. It is easier to nick yourself but so far only one proper bleeding session. I think I will get a decent one once my blades run out. Or maybe in the January sales.
Question for regular DE shavers - how many shaves do you get with each blade?
3 shaves and I put a new blade in and I regularly turn the razor during the shave so the wear is even on both edges.
Cheers Ho Hum, bout what I was thinking.
how many shaves do you get with each blade?
3 usually for me too. Maybe 4.
The cheapo Boots DE is pretty crap tbf. Its really light weight which means you have to use pressure which is not a good idea.
If you're on a budget then I guess (but I've not done it personally) a good bet would be to buy one of the popular merkur DE razors (with the free sample blades), try it for a week or two and if it's not for you then sell it on. Ebay prices for nearly new 34c, 38c, progresses / futurs arent far off new prices (in some cases exceed new prices!).
Or another bargain is the Parker 99r from shaving shack; now £15 for a long handled parker clone of the 34c (ie a clone of the 38c).
My only tip - start using them on a weekend - or a day you're not in a rush. Stick with it for at least a week. At the very least you should learn that a good brush and bowl improves a wet shave 10x the canned stuff. If you end up back on a disposable - the brush and bowl is still a huge improvement.
Question for regular DE shavers - how many shaves do you get with each blade?
That depends as I have about seven safety razors in rotation so few months ... yes, few months. It seems to go on forever but I am no bluebeard so perhaps that helps a bit too.
I only ever shave in the evening so time wont be a problem. I really cant be doing with the rush in the morning, I have enough problems trying to get out the front door without having to worry about shaving too.
Got a Merkur 34c plus all the gubbins for christmas after sticking it on my list thanks to all the threads here.
Started with the Feathers from the assortment pack of blades after reading all those threads.
Maybe I'm just lucky or am a 'natural' DE shaver but have only had one very minor nick so far and the shave is at least as close as my old multi-blade disposables. Easily getting a week (5 shaves) from each blade.
Throwing myself to the SW dogs possibly, but probably my only deviation from the 'classic' DE shaving dogma (and only remaining concession to modern shaving marketing) is a decent post-shave moisturiser.
slainte 
rob
Shave night before so no rush.
I can go without shaving for 3 days.
the stypic pencills, although cheap, only lasted me a week at mostI'm intrigued as to what you are doing with them to last a week. Are you using it like a shaving stick?
I've only had to use mine twice in over a year and it looks like new
colournose,
have to agree on a good quality moistueriser, i use (god i hate to say it) Chanel Blue lotion, bit pricey but very good and the misses likes the smell, in fact so do i as i bought it in Cyprus last April and it is a feel good sunshine and sand smell for me...perfect for after the DE
I am genuinely intrigued by all the retro shaving talk. A few years ago I believed that most of the so-called innovations in shaving were marketing hype and of little real substance. I toyed with going back to a cut- throat but was worried about the fag and the time required.
Three things changed my mind:
1. Bought latest Gillette fusion power - best, fastest shave I ever had. I had been overly cynical. Haven't cut myself ever and it shaves close and easily.
2. Read about London barbers who had finally moved from cut throat to modern razor
3, slightly tangentially, was bought two Trumpers products - shaving soap in a bowl and shaving cream. Former was not great, dried out half way through shave and left skin very dry. Latter was lovely but only on a par with normal gel. So currently interchange the two but have abandoned the soap..
So maybe there is a reason why shaving has moved on? The thing that always strikes me more than anything else is watching people shave at gyms or on films. I wonder if most of the problems people have is simple ignorance of the correct technique and angle of shaves. Nearly always seems to be the case on TV and films where people use short, aggressive strokes against the grain.
Still I will enjoy this thread with interest. Not sure about needing to retrieve a pencil to stop any bleeding though. Seems to miss the point or maybe that's just me?!?
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