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Well, my razor is getting dull again so it'll be time to shop for a new one soon usually I go for 2 blade but I wonder if I should try 3 (like I used to use but it's been a long time), does anyone know if there's any difference in quality between 2 and 3 blade razors?

 Cheesecat wrote:
Well, my razor is getting dull again so it'll be time to shop for a new one soon usually I go for 2 blade but I wonder if I should try 3 (like I used to use but it's been a long time), does anyone know if there's any difference in quality between 2 and 3 blade razors?

I think you may get better answers by posting this question here.

I myself use an electric razor so don't really have an answer. I feel like those multi-blade razors pull my hair.

Single blade old school safety razor. The best money you will never spend.

 d-usa wrote:
Single blade old school safety razor. The best money you will never spend.

Instructions unclear, accidentally cut off an ear.

All joking aside I've read that advise many times and people really do seem to swear by grandpa-style shaving.

I have extremely sensitive skin. I just have a beard going, but for my neck, which is the worst area for me, I noticed a big difference when moving from 2 to 4 blades. Someone gave me some Gillete Fusion razor-heads for Xmas and I love them. But I don't shave much, so I don't have to replace them so often, and I'm a cheapskate generally so I wouldn't say they were worth the extra money.

Run the blade opposite of your arm will sharpen it for ya.

Ouze wrote:

 d-usa wrote:
Single blade old school safety razor. The best money you will never spend.

Instructions unclear, accidentally cut off an ear.

All joking aside I've read that advise many times and people really do seem to swear by grandpa-style shaving.

The thing that made the most sense for me, besides the whole "buy enough blades for 6 months for <$10" thing, was this:

When you shave, you do end up irritating and damaging your skin. The same blade that cuts the hair also gets dragged along your skin. You can use all the oil/lotion/soap/whatever you want to lubricate it, but some of it will always do damage. Now while thinking about that, would you shave the same spot 4 times, 8 times, 12 times, 15 times? If you are using any of the multiblade razors, you easily end up shaving that many times instead of just making a few passes. I usually shave once with the grain, and then one more time against the grain. With a single blade razor I end up doing two passes with the blade total. If I would do the same with any of the three-blade razors that would be the same as making six passes, if I am using a four-blade razor it would be eight passes. That's just that much more irritating to your skin. I also like the whole routine of it all: wash my face in the shower, let it steam up, put some oil on my skin, use some nice shave lotion, lather it up with a nice brush, it's relaxing and soothing and it's "me" time in the bathroom.

But the honest real reason why I even started it all was simply that I went to the store to pick up blades and realized that paying $40+ for blades is bs.

None of the above. Electric facial hair trimmer on the closest setting. Shaves off my 'dying old man' beard without leaving me completely clean shaven, which my wife says makes her feel like a child molester.

 d-usa wrote:

Ouze wrote:

 d-usa wrote:
Single blade old school safety razor. The best money you will never spend.

Instructions unclear, accidentally cut off an ear.

All joking aside I've read that advise many times and people really do seem to swear by grandpa-style shaving.

The thing that made the most sense for me, besides the whole "buy enough blades for 6 months for <$10" thing, was this:

When you shave, you do end up irritating and damaging your skin. The same blade that cuts the hair also gets dragged along your skin. You can use all the oil/lotion/soap/whatever you want to lubricate it, but some of it will always do damage. Now while thinking about that, would you shave the same spot 4 times, 8 times, 12 times, 15 times? If you are using any of the multiblade razors, you easily end up shaving that many times instead of just making a few passes. I usually shave once with the grain, and then one more time against the grain. With a single blade razor I end up doing two passes with the blade total. If I would do the same with any of the three-blade razors that would be the same as making six passes, if I am using a four-blade razor it would be eight passes. That's just that much more irritating to your skin. I also like the whole routine of it all: wash my face in the shower, let it steam up, put some oil on my skin, use some nice shave lotion, lather it up with a nice brush, it's relaxing and soothing and it's "me" time in the bathroom.

But the honest real reason why I even started it all was simply that I went to the store to pick up blades and realized that paying $40+ for blades is bs.

Same. I use one of those horse hair brushes with the Sandelwood shave cream, along with a safety razor as you described. I went on amazon, and bought a year or two's worth of blades for 25$. Total setup was maybe 20$ and it has lasted me a year and three months now. I've gone from not shaving often to where I have to daily.

http://www.amazon.com/Feather-Razor-Blades-Hi-stainless-Double/dp/B004RWTQTS Boom.

 Jimsolo wrote:
None of the above. Electric facial hair trimmer on the closest setting. Shaves off my 'dying old man' beard without leaving me completely clean shaven, which my wife says makes her feel like a child molester.

I tried going for that heavy stubble look, but my facial hair isn't that developed so I end up with bold spots so it's just better if I just go for a clean shaven look despite looking permanently 16 (I'm 22).

Feather makes good blades (generally considered the sharpest), but I'm an Astra man myself. Started off with a good ol' Edwin Jagger, but now I've got myself a nice 1948/49 Gillette Superspeed to use them in.

Anyway, the greatest trick P&G (owners of Gillette) ever pulled was to make people believe that more blades are better than one. And the dirtiest trick P&G ever pulled was to reformulate Old Spice. or discontinue the OS shaving soap, one of those two. At least I've got a few vintage pucks of OS soap to use sparingly (which isn't too hard when I've got 15 other shave soaps in the rotation).

Anyhoo, even if you must use the trendy multiblade ...things..., at least try to use a good quality shaving cream (hint: if it comes in a can, it's not good quality). All the chemicals they put in that fake canned goop will also irritate your skin over time.

And, for the love of God, use a real man's aftershave like Old Spice, Aqua Velva, Clubman, or Floid Blue.

I am considering going back to the old style single blade safety razor. The multi-blade type clogs up easily between the blades.

Gillette Mach 3 power,

I found more blades do help my shave up to this point, but moving to 4 or 5 did not (and cost more) the 'power' vibrations make no difference to the actual shave, but do help clear out the blades when you rinse them so are worth having too

and make sure you have a nice hot wash before shaving to soften the hairs and make them easier to cut, so many people seem to think slapping on the shaving foam/gel/oil is all you need to do

I have a slight beard at the moment, but I like to avoid the dreaded neckbeard. So I use a Gilette Sensitive on my neck (I find it far softer than a regular Gilette), an electric razor to keep the majority of the beard at the right length, and a pair of hairdressing scissors to trim and tidy.

Another vote for the safety razor here. I shave my bonce 2-3 times a week and with a multi-blade disposable I was cleaning it on every pass and it was costing a fortune. Now I shave my head quicker and it costs pennies.

 d-usa wrote:
Single blade old school safety razor. The best money you will never spend.

This. I took D's advice on this a few years ago and havnt regretted it once. Best shave I've ever had

23 years of constantly shaving....I just shave with what I have. Gillette Fusion atm.

Though tempted to try the Shaving Club

There is another path.

For those who need math:
Standard Edwin Jagger safety razor: $31
A 100 pack of Astra Superior Platinum blades (commonly considered among the best): $11
Total: $42. Assuming 3 blades a week (some people can go as low as 2 or even 1 a week, but I use three, because why not, they're 11 cents each), that will last you about 8 months (the razor itself will last years). You are also not limited to any single brand of blades.

Gillette Fusion...thing...: $11
Gillette Fusion refills, 12 count: $36
Total: $47. Assuming you can go as low as 1 blade refill a week, that will last about three months. Less if you use more than one refill a week.

So, to manage a whole year, you're spending about $50 on the safety razor vs. at least $155 for the fancy-schmancy Gillette multi blade thing. Of course, if you remove the one time purchase of the razor from the equation, it becomes about $17 vs. $144 for just the blades, year over year. Plus, the safety razor and its blades are here to stay, who knows how long until Gillette replaces the Fusion with some new gadget.

Anyway, Badger and Blade is a good resource, as well.
Beware, though, for if the bug bites you, you'll find yourself buying $100+ Rooney shaving brushes, vintage 1948 Gillette Superspeeds on Ebay (well, mine was only $50), and a cabinet full of shaving soaps and aftershaves.

Razor blades are for sissies. Real men just use their swords.
It even says so in the Bible:

Ezekiel 5.1 wrote:You, son of man, take a sharp sword; You shall take it as a barber's razor to you, and shall cause it to pass on your head and on your beard.

I'm not a fan of safety razors. They always seemed to nick my face at a much greater frequency.

Safety proof is a myth

I've never cut my face with my safety razor. Though once when changing the blade I was distracted and didn't put the fence back on it and when I twisted the head on I nearly cut the tip of my thumb off with no hesitation what so ever. So that sucked lol

Cut throat razor.
Easy once you learn the knack, save yourself a fortune in the long run.
Much closer than one of those multi-blade monstrosities too.

I use straight razors and old fashion single blade safety razors.

 d-usa wrote:
Single blade old school safety razor. The best money you will never spend.

this... x 10000000000000000000




The best shaves I get are with the large metal shavers that take razors (the double edged ones you snap in half or put in whole that cost 10$ or so for a few hundred)


barbers that can do a nice hot lather and shave are pure gold! try it sometime.

I find single blades very irritating to the skin so I use a multi-blade razor; five blades, supermarket own brand. I also use an electric razor for convenience but for a proper close, super smooth shave I find the multi-blade the best, used every other day or more and each head lasts up to two months-ish at £6 (or less, I usually get them when they're on offer) for four heads (that's roughly $9 US, $12 Canadian). Cheap canned gel as well, usually a quid, lasts for ages.

the only good razor is an electric one...

I use an electric because I’m lazy. But I spend most of my time scruffy, because lazy.

The shave is not as good as a blade. But less blood and effort.

Bah, haven't cut myself in at least a year with my razor.

Besides, you guys are missing the whole point. Proper hot water, whipping up your own lather with brush and soap, hot towel to the face, lather, shave, repeat, good aftershave (not this crap axe stuff for sissy boys), it's like a Man Spa. Most relaxing part of my day before I go to bed.