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:

• waaaaay more environmentally friendly
• no plastic
• will probably outlast YOU
• will save a crazy crazy amount of money over your lifetime
• give you a better shave? This is what I've heard, but have never tried the scam razors myself, so no personal experience

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.

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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.

I have a phillips oneblade :3

As well as one of those standard multi-razor Gillette razors

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.

I used to buy Harry’s 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 “chrome” set which is even more expensive 🙄

Eventually I found Henson and I really love mine. This is the exact color I got:

I’ve had it for maybe 4-5 years now and besides some scratches from an accidental drop it’s 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.

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.

Merkur and Feather blades, exactly what I have been using for 25 years.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'm a big fan of my Henson shaving safety razor, it is immeasurably better than the Gillette safety razor it replaced

A cheap, but we'll made, safety razor and some classic blades

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.

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

You might be interested in ![email protected].

In the past I've used disposable razors and a electric razor, but nowadays I use a safety razor (just like you).

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.

A Jumbo Jet

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!

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.

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.

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 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

I use a straight razor! I think I spent ~100 USD on it... forgot the brand/make, but with a decent water stone + leather strop most half-decent straight razors can be honed to be quite good

I only use it for face shaving. Because I wanted something that is both 1) highly effective (want to go for a 100% clean look) and 2) environmentally friendly... I started off with a safety razor too, later upgraded to the straight razor since it is as eco-friendly as it gets, no need for shaving cream/cartilages/etc. The razor was pretty cheap all things considered and the plastic handle has already fallen off, but the blade itself still works like new

Downside is 1) a bit more annoying to use as it has to be honed every time, and 2) much higher risks of accidental injury especially for beginners

I am considering getting an electric something for shaving other parts of the body though

Do we need a 2nd thread for Shave creams?
I have very sensitive skin and once I learned Aged care nurses use Sorbolene Cream for the elderly men I tried it and haven't gone back. Just smear some on and shave away, no more rashes and it leaves my skin soft. Also, a $10 1L pump bottle will last me for years.

Seeing a lot of blades here, so I’ll throw out an electric for my razor burn homies.

The Panasonic Arc razors have always been pretty solid for me. And they’ve recently updated the old trusty Arc 3 with some pretty dope industrial design and USB C. I may have to swap over to that when my battery life eventually gets crummy in a several years.

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:

People shit on disposable razors all the time but... Several years ago, a brand called Dorco made a 6 bladed disposable razor that was absolutely fucking incredible. My face would feel like a baby's ass after I shaved and had zero irritation. Then they suddenly switched factories and their razors became shitty. Really shitty. For a while you could buy surplus of the old stock on eBay and I bought a fuck ton of them. I've been slowly going through said stock and probably have another decade or so worth.

I have no idea what I'm going to do once I run out. Nothing else I've tried even comes remotely close to how well these razors work.

Just grab the hairs and rip them out yourself. I use this method personally

I use the usual razor for general face area, and the woman's razor for everywhere else. The thing around the blades becomes slippery when wet so you don't hurt yourself, though I don't know what that is made out of.

Its an interesting design. is a blade loaded in the first picture as I don't see it. I originally used a trapdoor style safety razer but now use a screw together type.

Maybe TMI but safety razors are fine for whatever downstairs mix-up you've got IMO, the wife and I have no issues. We both use one everywhere.

How long do the blades last?

I moved to a safety razor a few years back and love it. Took some getting used to when using it on my head shave, but once you get the hang of keeping it at that 30 degree angle, it takes no pressure at all and I (almost never) nick myself.

Your razor is called a double-edge safety razor. Purists call them a scam to keep selling you blades. Shaving enthusiasts (yeah they apparently exist) like to use straight razors that you can keep sharpening.

I use a plug-in Norelco shaver and consider it close to BIFL. I might have to replace the spinning blades someday. Otherwise, it's more powerful than the battery powered models and doesn't have batteries that gradually lose capacity or tempt you to throw out the shaver when the battery craps out after a few years. The batteries in those models are sealed in the razor like mobile phone batteries, so replacing them is an electronics repair job involving soldering, replacing waterproof seals, and stuff like that.

I have a blue tip ‘57 Superspeed that I pair with Feather blades, but it isn’t even close to my favorite bit of kit. My favorite is the silver-tip badger brush. So nice.

I second this! I've saved so much money on shaving since buying a double edged safety razor like that back in, like, 2012?

i've had to buy only two packs of 100 razors in the twelve years since and I'm still on that second pack.

that same 100 pack (Derby Extra) currently goes for $9 on amazon

I also have a straight razor that I enjoyed using a long time ago, but all the effort in keeping it sharp was just soo much hassle. Never touched it again after getting my safety razor, though I do very occasionally miss using the straight razor, it was just such a cool vibe using it!

Electric razor with a #1 guard on it.