best shaving razors?

[TedH71]

I'm starting to get tired of all the high prices on shaving razors for men. I mean $20-30 for a month's worth?!?!?! I was telling my wife that I would like to get a straight razor and learn. Wife said no due to small children at home. Got any suggestions? My razor goes dull in a week...sometimes less. I went with a cheap brand and don't really like it so am doing research.

[sgn2bapt]

Here's a good link to shaving with a straight razor

http://artofmanliness.com/2008/01/04...-your-grandpa/ (link is WFS)

I've been considering trying this out.....disposables are way too expensive these days.

Cheers

[wolffeathers]

Perhaps you can simply find a child-safe way to store your straight razor when not in use? Like a locked cabinet or drawer.

DH plans on getting a straight razor, but as with other dangers(knives, weapons, and cleaning chemicals) he will have to find a safe way to store it. I'm thinking a locking drawer or cabinet in the bathroom? Or even some kind of a locking case or box would do the trick.

As far as razor advice, DH still just buys the cheapos and switches them out when dull. We just haven't taken the straight razor plunge just yet.

[Fat Charlie]

I used to use the ratty store brand or Gillette double edged razors, they come in a 10 pack for a few bucks. Each one will last a week or so, and I was happy with that. Then I was at BJ's and saw a 52 pack of them for around 10 bucks. It's less than a year's supply because DW uses them too, but I haven't bought razors since it was 90 degrees out, and I spent less than buying two regular packs. I was fine with the price before, but now I come close to giggling whenever I go to the hall closet and reach into my bin o'razors for a fresh one.

[jwal10]

I'm still on a 10 pack of bic's bought 5 yrs ago. I only shave my neck once a week whether it needs it or not. 1 lasts about a year...James

[Bentley]

I don't know anyone elses shaving process, but I've found that I can get much longer life from my blades by shaving in the shower. I wait until I've finished washing everything, and then at the end of my shower (when my 5o'clock shadow is the softest) I'll grab the gillette with the triple blades, and it does a good job of cleaning things up. I can easily get a month out of a blade.
I often get coupons for freebie razors in the mail as well, which just extends the time between buying new razor blades.

Just a thought.

b

[TxMex]

Straight razors are awesome. I was a licensed barber for many years and I really like em. Unfortunately they aren't the greatest thing for shaving legs....lol. My recommendation if you want to get a razor that you sharpen and strop is to go to the oldest barber in town and explain what you are looking for. More than likely he can help you. You'll need to learn how to sharpen it also. It's not like sharpening a knife.

[oeb2]

Indian made, "SUPER MAX, Platinum Double Edge Stainless Razor Blades" that I bought off eBay have been a very pleasant surprise for me. Pretty safe for kids, too, if stored properly. They cost less than 12-cents each in 100 count pack. Shipping is free.

oeb2

[Kirk]

I shave with just hot water, no shaving cream. My Disposable razors (Gillette or Schick) Last about four months each. When I was younger and my beard not so thick I could get a year out of one. I also wear a full goatee (Vandyke) so that cuts down on the square inches of skin to shave.

[City Bound]

Ted. I recall the day I dished out my last $50 for razors because I was anrgy about being ripped off by the razor companies. I didn't know what i was going to do, but I vowed that i would never us those overpriced blades again.

What I found for myself was an old time razor called a Safety Razor. Check Amazon for deals. I bought a handle for $8 and a package of 100 Shark brand blades for $17. I use about a blade or two a month. You do the math, it is a seriously good deal. Buy good blades though or it will hurt, ware out quick, or actually not even work.

Sharks are good blades for the price. I find Wilkenson blades to be the best for my face and they last the longest for me. I buy Wilkensens in China town for $1.25, that is 25 cents a blade, while the drug store in my area sells the same blades for $2.50.
I even tried a super cheap blade from china, five cents a blade, and they actually didnt even work, they were barely sharpened.

I am looking to move into a straight razor next, because they are the best long term investment.

If you try a safety razor you have to feather in on the hair, you just cant clunk it down on the face like a moc five blade and clear your cheak. There is one blade, so it takes a few passes when the hair is thick.

[City Bound]

why not keep a straight edge razor in the top draw of your dressor? It is a safe place.

[oregon woodsmok]

Children get into trouble because they copy what their parents do, and shaving is a great big deal to a little kid. They really want to shave like dad, so I would consider a straight razor to be a real danger with small kids in the house.

[City Bound]

only a seriously careless fool would leave a straight razor in the bathroom when there are kids in the house.

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Straight razors are a good idea but they are for adults and adults have to be adult enough to know how to handle them in the house. it is like a gun, you wouldnt go leaving a loaded gun in the medicine cabinet.

[Beeman]

Buy a double edged razor and replace the blades. Blades are so cheap it makes you wonder why anyone would buy disposable razors.

[Conhntr]

Thanks guys i just Got a fancy double edge and brush and everything from merkur. I hate shaving and have tried electric and expensiven to cheap gillete style face shreaders. Hopefully this will work. Unfortunately my employee requires me
To be clean shaven daily... Hopefuly this will work for me

[jimsmith]

Originally Posted by TedH71

I'm starting to get tired of all the high prices on shaving razors for men. I mean $20-30 for a month's worth?!?!?! I was telling my wife that I would like to get a straight razor and learn. Wife said no due to small children at home. Got any suggestions? My razor goes dull in a week...sometimes less. I went with a cheap brand and don't really like it so am doing research.

There are forums and websites dedicated to double edge shaving.Two of the best are badger and blade, and razor and brush.Lots of shopping sites too.For some it is a hobby of sorts, I went to double edge a couple of yrs ago.Good luck.

[Farmerwilly2]

No kids in the house here, but I still keep mine up high in a cabinet. As for price, I paid $10 for the razor (barber brand if I remembery correct) at a yard sale. The brush I've had for years. Paid $18.95 for a genuine Col. Ichabod Conx Arkansas wet stone (stone mounted to a wooden paddle) this summer when I was at Lehman's. I have stones here, but for honing my razor wanted an absolutely clean smooth stone. Stopped In a harness shop in Mt. Hope and paid $20 for the heaviest grade of leather they used. I had rivets and #9 brace wire, old antler and denim at the house and was able to put together the dang swangest razor strop seen since Custer carped hisself at the Little Bighorn. Lehman's wanted $60 for theirs!! Pshaw I say. Maybe $7 for a tube of paste for it and I'm set. I like Williams shaving soap, but come across one they sell at Wally World that lathers good and smells good without smellin girlie. All told I'm out maybe $50 on a razor I won't use up in my lifetime. Biggest price I paid was to my face itself. Took me about 2 months before I could get a good shave without needing a piece of tissue as a clotter. I'd shave the flat and easy parts with the straight razor, hit around the adams apple and neckline with my old atra double edge.
Three most important tips I can share:
1) take your time and learn to sharpen your blade. It is not like putting edge on your mumble peg barlow. Learn to use the stone and the strop. I don't believe any razor can pull more than a dull straight razor, like trying to shave with a butter knife.
2) Scrape your face with it--don't pull it. You're trying to cut hair off like a snow blade scraping snow. If you pull it you will slice yourself. Ask how I learned this.
3) Take your time!!! I shoulda made that tip number one. Being late for work and trying to learn to use a straight razor do not compliment each other. I got more nicks from popping myself with the corner of the razor than from slicing.

[ET1 SS]

I used a cheap straight razor for over 20 years. I paid $6 for it. It finally died when it was dropped on a ceramic tile floor and it's blade shattered.

Today you can buy them for as low as $4.99 and they will easily last your entire lifetime.

If I were to go back to shaving I would get a straight razor.

[jrpoland]

I use the Gillette Fusion or the Schick 5-bladed razor (can't remember the name). Yes, they are expensive, but if you go to any drug store (CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens) when they are on sale for $9.97, use the $4 coupon in the newspaper, and you can buy for $5.97. It usually comes with 2 blades.

Here's the catch: if you use the store "bucks," they will give you $5 to spend on anything in the store: so I buy another razor. If you use your coupon again, and use your "bucks" again, you can do this forever and each razor only costs you $0.97.

I find that if I really rinse the razor well, I can shave with one for a few weeks before it gets too bad so I think this is a good deal.

Never tried a straight-razor...might have to look into that.

I also have about 100 blades for the 2-bladed Gillette razors...the ones they used to make before they went to the Mach 3 and Fusion. Those things used to destroy my neck.

[elevenpoint]

1) Yes, shave in the shower...no shaving cream needed.
2)Dry off the razor.
3)5 blade Gillette Fusion
4)Shave every 3 days or so...or less