[Closed] Starting with safety razor and Feather blades - am I going to die?

1: You will not die if you try them out.

2: I don't know when you are going to die, that would be impossible to predict.

3: but you are definitely going to die at some point. Sorry.

I use feather blades, and have done since I started using a proper razor. Softly, softly, lots of lather and you'll be fine.

Google mantic videos for an excellent how-to.

Just remember that disposable are really quite forgiving and DE razors are not. Take your time and do not push the razor against the skin and make sure you get the angle right when shaving.

It can take a little while to get used to, but you will end up enjoying it in the end!

I barely trust myself to get fressed properly in the mornings, let alone take to my face with a cut-throat razor!

my futur has different settings for how close the blade is to the skin so you can practice for a bit!!!

Set razor to '1'. Put blade into razor without slicing finger open. Use lots of warm water and lather. Shave in the direction of beard growth to begin with. Angle of razor handle with face should be ~30 degrees or so. NOT ~parallel with skin like with a Mach 3!

Take your time. Do not apply pressure.

my advice for starting to use a safety, buy a styptic pencil thing or be prepared to go to work with bits of paper stuck to your face!

(i don't cut myself now, but when i started it was claret all over the shop!)

acjim - Member
my advice for starting to use a safety, buy a styptic pencil thing or be prepared to go to work with bits of paper stuck to your face!

(i don't cut myself now, but when i started it was claret all over the shop!)

Or you could go for an alum block instead.

Hijack: I am really quite interested in these in a strange way.

How good are they are they really likely to rip your face to shreds?

Any good bits of info for a noob?

Not tried Feathers: come with a reputation but many swear by them. Derbys ok. Wilkinsons a bit hit and miss. Currently on Personnas, which I find a good blend of sharpness with comfort.

I think they're excellent. Tips as per Rastapopolous, apart from the fact that my razor doesn't have settings, that's far too new fangled 😉

It's not difficult, you just need to take your time when you start - it's no slower for me now and I use a circa 1930s gillette! (from my local bric a brac shoppe)

+ doesn't give me the face rash that using a modern multi blade used to.

I use the merkur platinum coated ones (the silly expensive ones that cost s much as mach3's)

good shaving soap
good shaving brush

Make sure your face is clean first (any oil/grease in the hair stops the soap doing its job)

Start on the roughest setting and follow the hairs arround your face,

Go one notch closer each week as you get used to it.

I find that imediately washing my face in hot water and more soap stops it breaking out in a rash by the end of the week. That and a good moisturiser.

90% of the time I cant be bothered though and only shave on Sundays.

they must love you at work! 😉

shave every day for that mad men don draper style leather face - nice.

Start on the roughest setting and follow the hairs arround your face,

Presumeably that's 'Start on the [setting that leaves your face] roughest...'

and not 'Start on the [setting that is] roughest [on your face]...' 😕

What's wrong with Mach 3s?

They may be expensive but they last a while and can be used hungover in the shower without risking serious personal injury.

Are safety razors a STW niche thing?
Or just an old bloke thing?

(granted the two are not mutually exclusive)

pros:

cheap
fully recyclable
nice to use
not part of the marketing yadda yadda

cons:

wee bit scary to start
require brush etc (really a pro)

ps: i'm 34 is that old?

Definitely couldn't be faffed with a brush etc.
I can only just about be arsed to shave twice a week.

And yes, 34 is very old. (I know cos I'm 35).

It can take a little while to get used to, but you will end up enjoying it in the end!

Kinda like anal sex 😯

What's a 'feather' vs a normal (wilkinson sword or otherwise) safety razor blade ? Last longer or something ?

I really wouldn't recommend shaving against it (across is ok), you may get the skin closing above (or at least I do) >>>> spots and ingrowing hairs (ymmv)

Re multiblade razors - apart from the amount of non-recyclable rubbish they generate, they're ok if you've got a short amount of beard, anything longer and they clog. Also rubbish if you want to trim around beard/sideboards.

I'm currently using a 60's Gillette adjustable - (my thread on my fathers 40's or 50's thing's given up the ghost) - I wind up just adjusting it by eye, you can tell whether you're likely to overdo it within the first part-stroke, if it feels sharp it's probably gonna go peared-shaped 😉
BTW - if you've got much existing beard, you may find need a slightly more agressive setting (at least, judging by the thing I use)

BTW2 - re the 'fully recyclable' - I think they were one of the earliest examples of the modern throwaway society.

Brush ? - don't need to even with my fussy face, just washing soap (more often than not with cold water) - tho' a hot flannel feels better. Splashing cold water on afterwards helps close the pores and pushes any gunk out.

As mentioned, don't push too hard, and if necessary pull the skin from above the way the beard grows (iyswim) to help lift the bristles.

How does this differ from a normal 2/3 blade razor? From what I see you still need to do a couple of passes, you still need a decent lather going on and you still need to take care what direction you are shaving. That seems about the same as I do with a 37 blade modern wonder?

You're forgeting that smooooth feeling of smugness coffeking. Oh, that and the relief of not slicing through your jugular.

TBH, not a fat lot, but it's easier to cut yourself- especially with an adjustable. I guess for anyone that's never used one it could be a little daunting - I rarely cut myself now but used to frequently get the odd nick as a teenager, and it's not as if my face has hardened up much - it gets a shave about once week or two.

One of these days I plan to get a straight razor, but you've got to know how to strop the things otherwise you're likely to mess up the edge.

😀 ok! I guess the two would be nice, I'll do anything to increase my smug 😉

TBH I fairly regularly get nicks from a normal multi blade thang, and it usually rips my skin to bits too unless I replace the blade every other shave which is ****ing expensive, so I tend to leave it as long as possible!

TBH recommending razors is a mugs game, go with whatever makes your face free of hair, and doesn't rip your skin off. I can get 20 shaves from a regular Mach 3 cartridge blade, so it's reasonably economical.

...and as a historical point, pre safety razors most people only had one straight razor - if at all. My grandfather - who died in the 60's and worked on the narrowboats all his life - always went to the barber for a shave - and shaving every day was a rarity. If you were a 'gentleman' you'd probably have several straight razors (one per day of the week? - not sure) - so you'd shave every day (or have someone shave you), with the freshly-stropped blades resting in between days.

(I daresay there's a more accurate source of info somewhere in the web tho')

Don't be such a poof......it's just a razor. You're much more likelyto cut yourself with a blunt razor as you tend to press harder to get a decent shave

If you want to accidentally cut your head off or sever your jugular you'll need one of these

[img] [/img]

Merkur Futur can rather aggressive so dial down as much as you can if this is your first shave especially if you are using Feather blade with it since Feather is the katana (= Samurai sword btw) of the safety razor blade world. I would prefer Merkur Progress (adjustable) like this one over Futur.
[img] [/img]

No, you don't have to use brush as there is something called Ingram Brushless Shave Cream with Menthol 100ml, which is cheap,cheerful & effective. (£2.50 or less)

[img] [/img]

If you want some good blades I would say this is fine.

Large Dispenser Pack of 200 Personna Razor Blades (£15 + £3 postage)

[url= http://www.gentlemans-shop.com/acatalog/Razor_Blades.html ]The Gentlemen Shop[/url]

[img] [/img]

Other blades you might want to considers are:

If you can find Tesco safety razor blade then they are fine too as they are similar to Personna. (made in the same factory if I can recall).

Merkur blades are lame so is Wilkinson blades which is slightly better but expensive and mediocre. Derby blade received mixed review.

The Russian made Iridium like this is very good. You can get them from [url= http://connaughtshaving.com/razorblades.html ]Connaughtshaving[/url]

[img] [/img]

So good blades are:
1) Feather (yellow package)
2) Iridium Super.
3) Crystal (rebranded Personna)
4) Gillette 7 O'Clock. (all of them)
5) Personna Red pack.
6) Astra Super Platinum.

You might want to consider some of the old Gillette adjustable razors too as they are very good.

As for shaving just take your time if without putting too much pressure as you might cut yourself. Especially with Feather blade.

Funny, I find Wilkinson blades really good, but as with anything DE-related, it's all personal choice. It's also handy that you can get them in Boots too.

I also don't bother with a brush and soap any more. I find [url= http://www.kingofshavesdirect.com/Alphagel-Shave-Gel-Cooling-Menthol-PUK_AGELCOO/ ]King Of Shaves Menthol Gel[/url] works brilliantly with a DE and makes for a much faster shave.

Can any old shaving gel/foam be used or does it have to be the old fashioned stuff?

My Weishi DE Safty Razor arrived from HK today, just love the English Translation on the the Box.

Weishi Attend Entirely Luster (I think they mean its shiney!)

Nobeleness made of Noble Aluminium metal and apply advanced computer product line processing superfices plating disposal (hmmm not a clue!!!

and

Needlessly load and unload shaver

Inimatable rotating handle

Why are they called safety razors? They're clearly more dangerous than the real safety razors.

feathers are superb, I use them with my Merkur 38C Barberpole.

If you want to enter the very scary world get hold of a slant blade razor, I got one and am sacred to death of it.

[b]Taken from "The Shaving Shack"[/b]

[i]The Merkur 39C, the the long handled version of the 37C, is a serious bit of kit designed for the more experienced DE shaver for an extremely close shave. The slanted head exposes more of the blade at one end and is very similar to the cutting angle of a straight (cut-throat) razor. This means it is ideal for cutting through heavy beards and tough stubble. It is also highly regarded as one of the best DE razors for sensitive skin sufferers because of the way it shaves. It's heavy head means that the experienced shaver only has to use light pressure to get the best shave of his life!

The main difference between this and the 37C is the fantastic long handle with barber pole design (3.75 inches).

Comes in a Merkur branded cardboard box with a single Merkur blade.

Please note! We weren't joking when we said this razor is for the more experienced shaver! Even Tom uses it with caution but knows that he's going to get a fantastic shave if he treats it with the respect it deserves.[/i]

>Can any old shaving gel/foam be used or does it have to be the old fashioned stuff?

Can't see why not - foam, gel, oil, whatever-they'll-flog-you-to-go-with-your-brush, washing soap - all you need it to do is a) soften the beard bristles b) lubricate yer face

cheers for all the recent threads guys.

It's given me the push to order myself a Murkur Progress yesterday as a father's day treat for myself.

I only shave once a week (only one day do I have to don the rags of office and see my adoring public) the rest of the week I wallow in the pleasure of growing a gruff gingerish mess on my face. Not that Mrs Stoner wallows in it with such glee as I do. However, the weekly scrape (due in 20 minutes 🙁 ) is a chore and my tough old bristles do not yield well to even mach 3s or mach 5s etc etc.

So next week I hope to turn up at the office with a face like a B movie victim.

My Merkur Vision somehow went wrong when I was cleaning it so that the balde gap was HUGE and wouldn't reduce properly so it went back to be checked out. In the meantime, I got a 38C Heavy duty or something that i much prefer so if/when the vision comes back I'm selling it.

Good brush, nie cream or soap and a new blade is great after a little bit of practice.

Take your time and don't push on at all. Give it a week or 2 and you'll be pretty confident and comfortable with it.

Merkur 34C is also one the classic favourite.

Can you do your balls with it though?

I don't see how one blade can shave closer than 3 or 5.

I'm sure these guys tested the product extensively before they agreed to endorse it. After all, they don't need the money!

[img] [/img]

This does seem to be the shaving equivalent of single speeding, a small minority rave about it but in reality there are few, if any, tangible benefits...

Well singlespeeding is lots of fun and cheap.

This bare blade shaving business sounds like it's not much fun and expensive. 😉

But each to their own I guess, I can hardly point and laugh.

On Youtube. There is one guy showing different shaving techniques FFS.

Have a look at [url=

(10 minute shave)[/url] where the guy thinks 10 minutes is quick and says it can take up to 45 minutes 😯

How long for a back, sack and crack?

It's all a load of fancy marketing led nonsense to try and make you feel special so you'll part with cash. Fact.

I gave up regular shaving years ago, now I just trim stubble with a babyliss itrim, so I never have blades near my skin and it's soft, lovely and unblemished all the time 🙂

I stared using a saftey razor for 2 reasons, the first was curiosty and the secod was that I get bad ingrowing hairs in my neck. Since changing, the ingrowing hairs have gone away and I now enjoy the process of shaving much more than before. Yes it takes me 5 minutes longer than it did, but it's 5 minutes to myself without hassle from the kids or wife and I enjoy it.
There is also the gadget aspect of it that I expect most cyclists will understand.

I have no intention of going ack to the Mach 3 fusion things but I generalyl don't make a fuss about how I shave in the same way that I don't make a big deal about what shampoo I use.

Bugger! I'm going to have to get one now I've thought about it.

I don't want to spend a lot as my dad has a couple which I can nick next time I visit, one of which is a nice Gillette apparently. So......

I've had a look on Ebay - see below. Other online recommendations please under £20

[url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290443375750&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT ]Ebay 1[/url]
[url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350368166010&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT ]Ebay2[/url]
[url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190407380969&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT ]Ebay3[/url]

Update.

Parker + 6 feather blades received from Ebay this morning for <£20. Started shaving at 1725, made cup of coffee amd it's now 1735.

All I can say is.......what is all the fuss about?

Slapped on a bit of Gillette shaving foam from a can and shaved taking it easy initially then up to same speed as normal. Very smooth, closer than the '3-5 blade super duper modern technology magabucks throw-away models' and cheaper in the long run.

I'm converted