Old School Shaving?

Buck Henry · 10-07-10, 12:13 PM

I am sick and tired of paying out the nose for those stinking 5 blade, hyrdo-infused, laser guided shaving razors that they sell these days! I am seriously thinking of going back to a good old fashioned double edge safety razor like the one my Dad used back in the 60's. For the price of one refill pack of those stinking Gillette Fusion blades, I can buy a very nice chrome safety razor and the DE refill blades are dirt cheap ($1.50 for a 10 pack at Wally World).

Anyone here shave with an DE safety razor that can chime in with a recommendation? I am leaning towards a Parker 82R but am also looking at several nice Merkur razors. Many thanks in advance for any words o' wisdom on this topic.

JOHNKIES · 10-07-10, 12:32 PM

Shave? I have not seen my face since June of 1972.

Okay, I do have to trim the edges and on my neck. I have a Pal single edge injector I bought in college and it works great. I don't know if Pal is still out there, but this one is great. Getting harder to find single edge blades. Speaking of blades, they really don't dull from use, the dull from rust. Get them dry dry dry before you put it back in the cabinet. There is no reason a good blade should not last six months. Learned that from a guy who worked for Schick.

As for five bladed razor blades ................ In the mid-1970s Dan Ackroyd did a skit on SNL doing a sales pitch for razors. He started with single edge injectors, then kicked it up to double edge and the grand finale was a triple edge! The punch followed, "Why three blades? Because you'll believe ANYTHING!"

lewdogg · 10-07-10, 12:35 PM

Yea, I say throw the razor out altogether and grow a beard. I would recommend the "Wahl Peanut" for beard trimming and edging.

Buck Henry · 10-07-10, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewdogg

Yea, I say throw the razor out altogether and grow a beard. .

Not an option for me; got too much American Indian blood flowing through my veins! Attempts at growing a respectable beard / mustache have always been met with intense ridicule and laughter!

KnotSlippin' · 10-07-10, 02:06 PM

I use a simple Merkur long-handled razor and recently bought a new sampler pack of blades (five from five different manufacturers). I never really knew what a clean shave was until I swiped a DE safety razor across my face!

I use Taylor's of Old Bond Street sandalwood shaving cream (the real stuff) and George F. Trumper's sandalwood skinfood for an aftershave. I love the scent and feel of the real cream and the non-alcoholic after shave doesn't dry out my skin.

West Coast Shaving is a good place to buy, but Amazon.com also has everything you'd probably need too.

During the winter months, I'm generally bearded so that my face stays warm, but I've got quite a bit of gray in my beard. Gray is not appreciated when you're only 35 years young...

VPW001 · 10-07-10, 02:18 PM

I have 2 safety razors and the mention of "long handle" is key in my opinion. I confess that frustration in finding blades moved me to the new fangled ones.

The best shave I have self inflicted was with a Blue Blade. For some reason I was never able to duplicate it.

spinboy · 10-07-10, 02:22 PM

As someone who gets razor burn when I even think about a blade, I had switched to electric for a long time but the shave was pitiful even with a very expensive electric. I used it until it died and switch to the new Gillette ones "Fusion: Power". I have attempted old-fashioned razors with poor results. I wish I knew of a better option but I have to pay out the nose for the new age stuff to keep my skin from turning into a mine field of in-grown hairs and rash.

RobG4 · 10-07-10, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnotSlippin'

I use a simple Merkur long-handled razor and recently bought a new sampler pack of blades (five from five different manufacturers). I never really knew what a clean shave was until I swiped a DE safety razor across my face!

I use Taylor's of Old Bond Street sandalwood shaving cream (the real stuff) and George F. Trumper's sandalwood skinfood for an aftershave. I love the scent and feel of the real cream and the non-alcoholic after shave doesn't dry out my skin.

West Coast Shaving is a good place to buy, but Amazon.com also has everything you'd probably need too.

During the winter months, I'm generally bearded so that my face stays warm, but I've got quite a bit of gray in my beard. Gray is not appreciated when you're only 35 years young...

I started using basically this same setup about nine months ago. I will never go back. It takes a little practice and a few nicks if you have never done it before, but I love it. I bought one tin of lather which has lasted me almost a year, and even good blades are dirt cheap on Amazon.

I get a much closer shave, and shaving has stopped being something I speed through in the morning without thought and has become a relaxing, soothing, satisfying morning ritual.

I think shaving with safety razors and fly fishing are two activities of the same mindset. One difference however is that using a safety razor will save you a ton of money over other shaving alternatives!

harleysilo · 10-07-10, 02:27 PM

Why not listen to an "expert" good old Mantic59...

Forgot how to do it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VClP...eature=related
need a brush too?

Brushes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEX7BnD595A

Didn't have a daddy? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQco5...eature=related

What really matters.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwIP9...eature=channel

flyg · 10-07-10, 02:46 PM

I grew a beard in '93, quit messing with razors around '97 or so. It's not that I like beards, particularly, I just hate scraping away at sensitive areas of my body with razor-sharp blades. Aside from wearing neckties (last purchase sometime in highschool for me) no single activity is more asanine, more indicative of humanity's debased comformity, than shaving (except for women shaving their legs, which is a good things, ladies please continue). When I had a job "working with the public", I would use an electric pet-shaving razor to knock things back once a month or so. Now I've even given up on that.

http://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/

G

10-07-10, 12:13 PM	#1
Buck Henry Former NGTO President Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kennesaw, GA Posts: 8,660	Old School Shaving? I am sick and tired of paying out the nose for those stinking 5 blade, hyrdo-infused, laser guided shaving razors that they sell these days! I am seriously thinking of going back to a good old fashioned double edge safety razor like the one my Dad used back in the 60's. For the price of one refill pack of those stinking Gillette Fusion blades, I can buy a very nice chrome safety razor and the DE refill blades are dirt cheap ($1.50 for a 10 pack at Wally World). Anyone here shave with an DE safety razor that can chime in with a recommendation? I am leaning towards a Parker 82R but am also looking at several nice Merkur razors. Many thanks in advance for any words o' wisdom on this topic. __________________ Buck Henry Simple Goat Herder Former NGTO President Hall of Fame Member

10-07-10, 12:32 PM	#2
JOHNKIES Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Laurel Park, NC USA Posts: 3,775	Shave? Shave? I have not seen my face since June of 1972. Okay, I do have to trim the edges and on my neck. I have a Pal single edge injector I bought in college and it works great. I don't know if Pal is still out there, but this one is great. Getting harder to find single edge blades. Speaking of blades, they really don't dull from use, the dull from rust. Get them dry dry dry before you put it back in the cabinet. There is no reason a good blade should not last six months. Learned that from a guy who worked for Schick. As for five bladed razor blades ................ In the mid-1970s Dan Ackroyd did a skit on SNL doing a sales pitch for razors. He started with single edge injectors, then kicked it up to double edge and the grand finale was a triple edge! The punch followed, "Why three blades? Because you'll believe ANYTHING!"

10-07-10, 02:06 PM	#5
KnotSlippin' Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bozeman, MT Posts: 565	I use a simple Merkur long-handled razor and recently bought a new sampler pack of blades (five from five different manufacturers). I never really knew what a clean shave was until I swiped a DE safety razor across my face! I use Taylor's of Old Bond Street sandalwood shaving cream (the real stuff) and George F. Trumper's sandalwood skinfood for an aftershave. I love the scent and feel of the real cream and the non-alcoholic after shave doesn't dry out my skin. West Coast Shaving is a good place to buy, but Amazon.com also has everything you'd probably need too. During the winter months, I'm generally bearded so that my face stays warm, but I've got quite a bit of gray in my beard. Gray is not appreciated when you're only 35 years young... __________________ "Of course, the most elegant experiments require no statistics at all." - A. Zale, Leader, U.S. Geological Survey Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit __ www.gateway-environmental.com www.steven-ranney.com

10-07-10, 02:22 PM	#7
spinboy Native Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cartersville, GA Posts: 2,443	new fangled As someone who gets razor burn when I even think about a blade, I had switched to electric for a long time but the shave was pitiful even with a very expensive electric. I used it until it died and switch to the new Gillette ones "Fusion: Power". I have attempted old-fashioned razors with poor results. I wish I knew of a better option but I have to pay out the nose for the new age stuff to keep my skin from turning into a mine field of in-grown hairs and rash. __________________ Does anybody know how the story really goes or do we all just hum along? -Weiland

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10-07-10, 12:35 PM	#3
lewdogg Native Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vinings, GA Posts: 1,994	Yea, I say throw the razor out altogether and grow a beard. I would recommend the "Wahl Peanut" for beard trimming and edging.

10-07-10, 02:18 PM	#6
VPW001 Native Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 395	I have 2 safety razors and the mention of "long handle" is key in my opinion. I confess that frustration in finding blades moved me to the new fangled ones. The best shave I have self inflicted was with a Blue Blade. For some reason I was never able to duplicate it.

10-07-10, 02:27 PM	#9
harleysilo Native Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Woodstock, GA Posts: 198	Why not listen to an "expert" good old Mantic59... Forgot how to do it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VClP...eature=related need a brush too? Brushes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEX7BnD595A Didn't have a daddy? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQco5...eature=related What really matters.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwIP9...eature=channel

10-07-10, 02:46 PM	#10
flyg Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 2,184	I grew a beard in '93, quit messing with razors around '97 or so. It's not that I like beards, particularly, I just hate scraping away at sensitive areas of my body with razor-sharp blades. Aside from wearing neckties (last purchase sometime in highschool for me) no single activity is more asanine, more indicative of humanity's debased comformity, than shaving (except for women shaving their legs, which is a good things, ladies please continue). When I had a job "working with the public", I would use an electric pet-shaving razor to knock things back once a month or so. Now I've even given up on that. http://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/ G