Multi-blade razors

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Discussion

br d

Original Poster:

8,388 posts

225 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
That just dragged up another old advert memory.
It was for the rechargeable Phillishave.
3 blokes on holiday somewhere in a beach front washroom. Our good looking hero is happily shaving away using his rechargeable Phillishave while a foreign sounding johnny is frantically looking for a socket for his electric shaver. He's going "No eleck-trizitay Monsieur?".
The final bloke has just foamed up and is using a normal razor. Normal razor bloke is smiling across at Phillishave man and nodding in the direction of johnny foreigner in a conspiratorial way that says "Huh, idiot!"
Handsome Phillishave man fishes, blows off the shaver and runs his fingers across his square jaw. As he turns to walk out normal razor bloke puts his razor under the tap only to discover there is no water.

Now that one was a long time ago.

Emsman

6,919 posts

189 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
Mach 3 Is more than enough?

The only other one I used was the king of shaves razor.
I can only assume it was developed by Sweeney Todd.

Jesus Christ, it wouldn't have cut much more if I had used a broken bottle.

Jesus TF Christ

5,740 posts

230 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
When I started shaving I went from a single blade traditional to a twin blade cartridge because I didn't know what I was doing and found it nigh on impossible to cut myself.
I don't shave that regularly so 5 blade cartridge razors block quickly and they are physically too big for areas of my face.
I'll go back to traditional blades at Christmas, just waiting to use up my Wilco's own brand cartidge ste (£2.50 for the handle and 15 cartridges; lasted me almost a year!).

Emsman

6,919 posts

189 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
Emsman said:
Mach 3 Is more than enough?

The only other one I used was the king of shaves razor.
I can only assume it was developed by Sweeney Todd.

Jesus Christ, it wouldn't have cut much more if I had used a broken bottle.
not bad, 2 minutes and Jesus was the next poster.
Very impressed

digger_R

1,807 posts

205 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
Ok whats the deal with these safety razors, I want to try one out so what do i need?

I guess a pack of blades and something like this?

http://gentastic.com/wp-content/uploads/safety_raz...

I get too many ingrowing hairs with my mach 5 supercharged v12 blah blah

Oh yes - am i going to lose half of my face the first time i try it?

snowy slopes

38,748 posts

186 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
digger_R said:
Ok whats the deal with these safety razors, I want to try one out so what do i need?

I guess a pack of blades and something like this?

http://gentastic.com/wp-content/uploads/safety_raz...

I get too many ingrowing hairs with my mach 5 supercharged v12 blah blah

Oh yes - am i going to lose half of my face the first time i try it?
Right, get to boots, they do a cheap razor, blades for a couple of quid a pack, and they do soap in a bowl quite cheap, then if you cant get on with it, you havent spent a fortune getting stuff. When you get it, look up shaving tutorials on youtube, a guy does one for straight razors and safety razors that are quite good, and should reduce any chance of slicing yourself up. Oh, and get a styptic pencil/alum block for the occasional accident



If you find you can get along with a safety razor, then connaught shaving or english shaving company do lots of little goodies for you to spend your hard earned on, like soaps,skin food,merkur razors, bundles of baldes etc etc


Edited by snowy slopes on Tuesday 23 November 15:15

shakotan

10,679 posts

195 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
paulrockliffe said:
The more blades, the less work each does, the more shaves until it's blunt. That's backed up in practice for me. The 5 blade ones represent a cost saving to me over the three blade ones, because they last longer.
False economy there.

My safety razor blades cost me £8.00 for 50 blades, enough for a years shaving.

GTIR

24,741 posts

265 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
Is it only me that gets the heeby jeebies when I see a bloke shaving on tv?

Makes me feel very odd.

snowy slopes

38,748 posts

186 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
shakotan said:
paulrockliffe said:
The more blades, the less work each does, the more shaves until it's blunt. That's backed up in practice for me. The 5 blade ones represent a cost saving to me over the three blade ones, because they last longer.
False economy there.

My safety razor blades cost me £8.00 for 50 blades, enough for a years shaving.
Yeah, i think i have used about 18 blades since march in mine, and at about £2 each for wilkinson sword 10 pack blades in boots, that is quite cheap compared to £10 for the fusion ones know

Stu R

21,410 posts

214 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
snowy slopes said:
digger_R said:
Ok whats the deal with these safety razors, I want to try one out so what do i need?

I guess a pack of blades and something like this?

http://gentastic.com/wp-content/uploads/safety_raz...

I get too many ingrowing hairs with my mach 5 supercharged v12 blah blah

Oh yes - am i going to lose half of my face the first time i try it?
Right, get to boots, they do a cheap razor, blades for a couple of quid a pack, and they do soap in a bowl quite cheap, then if you cant get on with it, you havent spent a fortune getting stuff. When you get it, look up shaving tutorials on youtube, a guy does one for straight razors and safety razors that are quite good, and should reduce any chance of slicing yourself up. Oh, and get a styptic pencil/alum block for the occasional accident
Sound advice. Shaving technique is different, lots of shorter strokes instead of one continuous one etc. Tesco's super cheap value blades are some of the best I've used believe it or not, they cost pence too, and I've tried some super pricey ones.
Once you get the hang of it and if you prefer it, it's worth investing in a decent safety razor, Merkur are the best I've used. smile

snowy slopes

38,748 posts

186 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
Stu R said:
snowy slopes said:
digger_R said:
Ok whats the deal with these safety razors, I want to try one out so what do i need?

I guess a pack of blades and something like this?

http://gentastic.com/wp-content/uploads/safety_raz...

I get too many ingrowing hairs with my mach 5 supercharged v12 blah blah

Oh yes - am i going to lose half of my face the first time i try it?
Right, get to boots, they do a cheap razor, blades for a couple of quid a pack, and they do soap in a bowl quite cheap, then if you cant get on with it, you havent spent a fortune getting stuff. When you get it, look up shaving tutorials on youtube, a guy does one for straight razors and safety razors that are quite good, and should reduce any chance of slicing yourself up. Oh, and get a styptic pencil/alum block for the occasional accident
Sound advice. Shaving technique is different, lots of shorter strokes instead of one continuous one etc. Tesco's super cheap value blades are some of the best I've used believe it or not, they cost pence too, and I've tried some super pricey ones.
Once you get the hang of it and if you prefer it, it's worth investing in a decent safety razor, Merkur are the best I've used. smile
The thing is, once you start getting used to a safety razor, you have to map your beard out, and follow the hairs direction of growth, because if you dont and just use the old faithfull of down the face, then up the face, it can sting like a bd for a while after. If you do map your beard out, and follow it, then the chances of stinging are greatly reduced.

RichB

51,433 posts

283 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
Cardboard, 7 bladed disposable razors, that's the future...

digger_R

1,807 posts

205 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
boots isn't an option as I'm in the netherlands but i'm sure i can find something suitable, cheers

snowy slopes

38,748 posts

186 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
digger_R said:
boots isn't an option as I'm in the netherlands but i'm sure i can find something suitable, cheers
Ah right, well google connaught shaving and english shaving company, they ship abroad i'm sure, and connaught especially do some good deals

tank slapper

7,949 posts

282 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
The two most difficult things when switching from a cartridge type razor to a safety razor are, first that you must hold the razor at a constant angle to your skin. It doesn't have an articulated head, so it's up to you to do it. Second, you must use absolutely no pressure - let the blade do the work. Cartridge razors are more forgiving in this respect, but if you do it with a safety razor you will cut yourself a lot.

It does take a while to get the knack of it, and you will probably nick yourself a few times to start with but take it slowly and eventually it becomes easy.

jdw100

4,069 posts

163 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
quote]


The thing is, once you start getting used to a safety razor, you have to map your beard out, and follow the hairs direction of growth, because if you dont and just use the old faithfull of down the face, then up the face, it can sting like a bd for a while after. If you do map your beard out, and follow it, then the chances of stinging are greatly reduced.
[/quote]

Sound advice. I switched from whatever the latest Gillette was last year to double edged safety razors. 4 blades (that lasted a week) for £15 or 200 blades (that last three days) for £20. That's a hell of a saving and a much better shave. Mapped my beard and I now no longer get any razor burn at all.

However the cost saving has rapidly disappeared as I started collecting razors (tech, slims, superspeeds, flaretips...for those of you in the know..).

Just started using single edge bladed razors and have found them even better than the double edge blades (maybe because they don't flex?). End result I've switched from 2009 technology to using razors patented in 1912 and the results are so much better.


digger_R

1,807 posts

205 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
sorry what do you mean by mapping your beard?


[/stupid]

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
br d said:
Anyone else remember the ads?
Just the Mach 3/ Mach 3 Turbo ones and onwards.

Went back to using Mach 3 Turbo for a little while and found it so small (handle slim and light) compared to the latest offerings.
Do prefer 5 blades somehow.

Purchased King of Shaves Azor razor- looks a beauty, yet to try it though.


jdw100

4,069 posts

163 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
soad said:
br d said:
Anyone else remember the ads?
Purchased King of Shaves Azor razor- looks a beauty, yet to try it though.
Awful - tried it twice and got a refund from them. Worst razor I've ever used.

snowy slopes

38,748 posts

186 months

Tuesday 23rd November 2010
quotequote all
digger_R said:
sorry what do you mean by mapping your beard?


[/stupid]
Look at your beard in a mirror, very closely, and see which way your hairs grow. For example, my cheek hairs and top lip hairs grow in a v shape towards my chin, my cheek hairs grow straight down, and under my chin, me left side grows horizontaly so to speak, my right side grows at about 45 degrees towrds my adams apple. If you can find which way your hairs grow, and follow them with the razor, it is a much nicer shave, as you dont get that burn afterwards.


OH, and it wasnt a stupid comment, i had to look the videos up on youtube to find out what it meant

Edited by snowy slopes on Tuesday 23 November 15:46