this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2024
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Once saw a video of someone who forged a knife from old razor blades he found in a wall. There were hundreds. They shaved more often in the old days I presume...
They probably shaved about the same but mostly used double-edged (100% steel) blades that could easily fit in a slot, rather than the plastic-clad, quadruple-blade nonsense sold for $8/cartridge.
You can still buy double edged razors for about 10-15 cents apiece, by the way.
Mhm, that's what I use. Not sure why other people around my age don't, to be honest. Super cheap and you don't exactly have loads of cash to spend at 20
Dude I’m 38 and I’m surprised everybody doesn’t at any age.
I shave my head. I’ll admit I had to unlearn some habits from cartridge shaving. First couple of times my head was a bloody (literally) mess. But once I got technique down, it’s easier and faster than cartridge shaving.
What slows me down over “the modern way” is that I whip my soap with a brush and bowl. That’s a little less convenient than shaving cream/gel, but it’s optional. No reason you can’t use canned foam/gel. Holy shit is it cheaper though. I ordered a 3 pack of cheap shaving soap (3.5oz bars, $10 total) last January and I’m not even halfway into the second bar.
Best part is, less waste. No plastic. Every handle I’ve seen is all metal and even the cheap ones feel better in the hand. Stainless Steel Blades are wrapped in wax paper and packed in a little cardboard box. Soap gets shipped in cardboard boxes.
Literally no reason not to.
I just dry shave (safety razor) and it seems to work well for me. Less hassle + blades don't rust so they last longer
I also heard that the blades can be sharpened by running it against trousers or something like that, so it is possible to reuse them / extend their lifespan
It's called honing and you can hone a blade on a piece of leather, like an old belt. It's not sharpening per se, but it keeps the little burs on the blace's edge lined up nicely so it stays sharp and if kept up, prevents the need to sharpen with something more aggressive like a sharpening stone (or the bottom of a coffee mug in a pinch).
I have been using at minimum a 3 bladed safety razor since I was 14. I have a feeling I would obliterate my face if I tried using straight blade.
Nah. It takes a little more awareness while you're shaving for sure, but you're rarely if ever going to cut yourself once you get your gear and technique dialed in. For me, I had to find the right blade. I found Feather brand blades, which a lot of people recommend, didn't work well with my skin, but Astra blades are great for me. Everyone's a little different.
I also like the Astra blades. Even more important ive found is a quality razor holder. I had a few, but when I got a Henson for Christmas it was the best shave I've ever had. Their marketing isn't a gimmick. A well supported blade held rigid doesn't flex and pull at hairs.
My Merkur 23C has served me well for 13 years. Recently the threaded screw broke off and I had to get a replacement head. But it was very reasonable. I have been curious about the Hensons, but have tended to stick with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy. People really seem to like them though. Do you have the light, medium, or aggressive?
I have the standard AL13. I didn't know they had different levels. My beard isn't super thick, but not sparse either. I can shave a full weeks growth (4-6mm length) without issue. My previous razors would clog a fair bit if I did the same and I'd have to take less per stroke and rinse more frequently.
I couldn't resist. I went ahead and bought that AL13 aggressive after reading and watching a bunch of reviews. It's great. It holds the blade more firmly than the Merkur and shaves really smoothly without pulling. I would like it if it were a bit heavier, but it still feels good in my hand. Thank you for the recommendation.