Anyone shave with a straight blade razor?
 

I'd like to give this a go. I've tried every kind of safety razor, and have been using an electric razor for the past 6 months. Truth is, neither of them are that good. I believe it's time to try a good, old-fashioned straight blade.

I've read they cause less irritation, and the shaves last longer (if i shave with my electric razor in the morning before work, i'll have a 5 o'clock shadow by lunch)

But, i have no idea how to pick a "good" one...or at least one that won't tear up my face (too bad at least) or what kind of steel it should be made out of and all that kind of stuff.

So does anyone here actively use a straight blade to shave?

Sorry, my father used one but I passed years ago. Ever considered changing shaving creams and/or trying mineral oil? In other words are you completely sure the problem is the razor?

I had a similar problem.... sensitive skin (neck area) that would get spotty with cheap razors/shave foam... but if I didn't shave I would look like Desperate Dan by lunch!

I use a clipper 95% of the time and always have stubble, I have never had a problem with my skin since switching. For the rare occasions that I have to impress someone I use a cut throat razor with King of Shaves Oil. and it works very well. Critical thing is to in the direction of the hair and dont rush it... or it could get nasty. Mach3's are okay.... but I can blunt them in 3 shaves... and they are damn expensive at that rate.

Hmm, shave in the direction of the hair? Everything I've read says you should shave against the direction of hair growth.

thats what I meant :D

Egnlish woz nevr my stronpont :D

the only times I've been shaved with a straight razor is by old school barber shops. I don't really notice a longer hair-free period on the back of my neck. I use a multi-blade razor which keeps my face nice and smooooove ;)

I'd bet that keeping a clean, sharp 4~5 blade razor around would be better than a straight razor. I happen to agree with the marketing blabber about more razors being better. The only thing I do to get a clean shave is skip every other day. I've found that shaving every day is way to harsh for my skin.

A straight razor would be a cool decoration, and a good weapon...but I think it's past it's time. I tried a brush and soap tray as an alternative to the Gillette shaving gel. That didn't last long. The new gels and shaving lotions are far superior to the camel hair brush and manual lather.

I've got the perfect solution to the shaving problem! Just stop. Let it grow, then use a beard trimmer (zero irritation, fast to use). Wish I'd done it sooner.

Haha...don't think that would go over too well with my girlfriend...or my mom for that matter.

Anyway, i picked up a Gilette Fusion today...you know, that orange one with 5 blades. I shaved with it post-shower this evening, and it was a real good shave i must say. Definitely closer than my electric, and i didn't get cut up at all actually.

We'll see if i get a bad case of razor burn tomorrow morning from it though...(one thing i didn't miss with my electric, but it's a trade off i guess)

Definitely.

Plus, did you ever see a true unix.wizard without a beard ?

I think it's a bit of a trade off. Shaving against the direction of growth will shave closer but result in more irritation.

If the girlfriend doesn't approve, better to find out now if she's that superficial than later. Mom will eventually get over it, that's what moms do. Mine didn't like it either, but it's not like she's going to disown me over it. The girlfriend does prefer the beard, so that was easy.

Nothing is more convincing in a meeting than rubbing your beard thoughtfully then slowly saying, "In my professional opinion, I believe we should..."

Well i wouldn't exactly call her superficial...it's just a matter of preference. Just like i like her with long hair. It's not that she feels if she cuts it short, i'll never talk to her again, it's just she knows that i much prefer longer hair to short on girls...ya know what i mean?

So if she prefers a cleanly shaven face rather than a beard (which i don't even know if i'd want to grow out anyway) i say why not?

I agree 100% with your thought about mom's though, and with the beard-rubbing, professional opinion giving, Unix wizard... :D

just let it grow :)

Definitely use a shaving gel rather than a cream or anything else, they are much better.

Also I've discovered that if I angle the razor so as to put more pressure on the rubber strip on the leading edge of most razors it seems to be less harsh on my skin.

Reminds me of a friend who when travelling through Turkey decided to get a shave at a barber's. He said the whole thing took about 2 hours with about 5 coffee breaks and much gesticulating and long conversations amongst them all.

He wandered in and through sign language asked for a shave (he'd been travelling for a while and hadn't shaved for a few days)

The stages were something like:
1. Hot towels on the face, lie back while they have a coffee.
2. Massage oil into face, lie back while they have a coffee.
3. Lather soap into a frenzy, apply to face, lie back while they have a coffee.
4. Shave with the grain with a cut throat razor.
5. Lather soap into a frenzy, apply to face, lie back while they have a coffee.
6. Shave against the grain.
7. Hot towels on face, lie back while they have a coffee.
8. Cower in terror as barber uses a needle to pick out any ingrown hairs!
9. Cower in terror as barber lights rolled up piece of paper and waves it at your ears to burn up any protruding ear hairs!!!

You'd really have to schedule that one in for a whole day :D

Hahahaa...wow that's a lot more than i'd like!

I have to say i'm pretty happy with this Gillette Fusion. I bought the Fusion shaving Gel along with the alcohol based Fusion after shave and i get a nice close shave with zero irritation. I just make sure i shower first, and take my time doing it carefully. It's working out great so far (and i have been shaving every morning even!)

I don't get the whole vibration feature. Does that do anything? It seems way too gimmicky (even for a guy who bought the Fusion Shave Gel + Fusion after shave!)

Back in the late '50s, I bought a modified straight razor with a fine stainless steel blade in an Army PX. It came with a small metal rail projection that protected against cuts. Its case had a built-in sharpening stone and a modified strop. The width of that permanent blade was about that of a safety razor.

It gave an excellent shave but it also was so admired by others in the barracks that it was stolen. I gave up looking for a replacement after a few years. I don't recall the brand name, but I seem to recall that it was made in England. If anyone has any leads on such a razor, please share it here. Thanks.

Respectfully, Norm

actually, have you ever seen any kind of wizard with out a beard?

I bet this guy has something to say about it:

http://www.warofthering.net/quintess...lf_grey_tn.jpg

I've been using a straight blade for about 6 months now and absolutely LOVE it .

If you are looking at trying it out, it's probably best if you don't go out and buy a real straight blade razor - these are quite expensive.

There are disposable ones that are available at all shaving/tabacco/cigar shops. They look something like this:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...e_06/blade.jpg

These things fetch about 17 bucks and the blades (single use) will cost you about 30 cents each.

If you are then comfortable with using a straight blade, go buy a good expensive one - don't get a cheap one, these things last a life time so you may as well get a good one.

As for your question about irritation- it really depends on your skin type. I've never really had a problem with irritation except when i shave with a dull blade. Just be aware - you don't use alcohol based calognes with straight blades.

Now, do straight blade shaves last longer - i'd be inclined to say yes. I shave twice a week with a straight blade - i used to shave about 5 times a week.

p.s statistics say you'll cut yourself once a month - I've probably nicked myself about 3 times now so i owe myself a new cuts ^_^

I use a gillette m3 power and its the best thing ive ever used.

http://i16.tinypic.com/4ggq6ag.gif

.
I recently heard about a remarkable shaving oil which is totally clear.
It’s called Total Shaving Solution, recommended by Kevin Kelly, one of the editors of Wired Magazine.

The short story? It neither dries out nor irritates your skin. It consists of natural essential oils with added menthol. Unlike the name brands we’re conned to buy, it does not contain soap, alcohol, salt, artificial colour or propellants.

If I ever take up shaving again, I’ll give it a try. ;)

By far the best shaving 'lubricant' I've ever used is a non-foaming gel. Don't get conned by Gilette et. al. into these "gels" that then foam up, they're not bad, but they aren't as good as a real gel. Consistency of something akin to KY ;)

I've used the king of shaves oil, but it didn't give enough 'buffer' for me.

14 bladed razors by the year 2100??

http://www.economist.com/images/20060318/CST393.gif

http://www.economist.com/science/dis...ory_id=5624861

Hi!

I prefer german straight razor blades. I have two, one for the weekend and one for working days. :D The weekend is a "Puma" and the working day a "Zwilling J.A. Henckels". I shave my face 2 times the week.

At the begin it was a hard time but found a instruction on the net.
http://www.knifeshop.com/shop/inhalt...user_lang=true

In the meanwhile I love the straight razor. :)

Mario

Re: the comment about shaving with a multi-blaze razor just after the shower, I find that shaving before the shower works better for me. After the shower, the face has more blood supply close to the skin, and the inevitable nicks bleed more freely.

I uses to shave with a razor, until I finally tried a Remington Electric razor. I have to admit that it took some getting used to, but in the long run it worked out great. I get to save time, water and I can shave while I'm driving (just kidding about the driving, but I've seen it done here in Vegas).