I remember the first time I “shaved.” I was a young teenager and had only a wisp of hair on my upper lip. I got curious about shaving one day so I grabbed a blue plastic Gillette Good News razor out of the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and without water or shaving cream I ran that thing over my skin and thought “well, that’s not so bad” and it wasn’t.
As I got a little older things changed, or more correctly, I changed. I began shaving my whole face and quickly realized that dry shaving was out of the question. I began getting my own razors and shaving cream instead of using the rusty ones in the medicine cabinet and I learned that shaving against the grain was the only way to get a close shave (or so I thought).
As I got older I continued to buy in to all the latest shaving fads. First it was a pivoting head, then the Mach3, then the Mach3 Turbo, then the Mach3 Red & Blue. Then Schick added a blade, the “Quatro.” But Gillette skipped over the 4-blade razor and went right to a 5-blade beast and called it a “Fusion.” I don’t know what it was a fusion of, maybe a fusion of price tag and hype? o_O
Well, 8 cartridges for $30 was a little steep for me especially considering I’d only get 5-6 decent shaves out of a cartridge before it started tearing my face to bits (well, more than it did already). Thankfully, by the time the Fusion was debuted it held no I-want-it power over me because I was well on my way toward learning how to shave with a double edge (DE) razor.
At first I wanted to shave with a DE razor because it was different and as we all know I love going counter-culture or at least counter-popular-culture. Also, realizing that I could get 100 blades for $10 shipped, it was a sound financial decision too. But as I got better at DE shaving I realized that I no longer had the skin irritation that I had previously gotten from the Mach3. I no longer had to shave against the grain to get close shaves either. And most thankfully I didn’t get ingrown hairs on my neck anymore. Quite without realizing it I had begun to enjoy shaving rather than merely enduring it.
Granted, the buy-in price is high: $20 for a decent razor, $10 for 100 blades, $40 for a decent brush and $5 for a decent cake of soap. But bear in mind that a decent razor should last you the rest of your life, a cake of soap will last half a year at least, 100 blades will last a year (assuming you shave every day and you get 3-4 good shaves out of a blade, which is typical) and the brush should get at least a few dozen good years of use before it needs to be replaced. The cost of DE shaving is a bit lower than using the canned goo shaving cream and a cartridge razor but the most important benefit you’ll get is an increase in the quality of your shaves.
OK, so the first couple weeks of DE shaving will suck; after all, you have to unlearn all the bad shaving habits you learned from cartridge razors such as the faulty idea that if you want a closer shave you just need to press harder. But after that initial learning period you’ll notice a marked improvement in your shaving experience. And let’s not forget that unlike those plastic cartridges, a steel DE blade will merely rust away in a landfill, the razor isn’t disposable (I use one from 1961 and it will likely last me until the day I die) and the cake of soap comes with minimal packaging (hey, every little bit helps, right?)
So if you recognize that you’re throwing money away on a grueling, sub-par shave every morning, why not join the shaving revolution? You’ll find that reading through the threads on a forum such as Badger and Blade will be immensely helpful as you’re starting out. I’m an active member there and have picked up a lot of great advice from seasoned DE shavers. You have nothing to lose except a lot of razor burn and ingrown hairs.
14 Comments
I started shaving with a double edge a few months ago after reading about it on the Art of Manliness blog. I got a 1964 Gillette adjustable from my father-in-law, and haven’t looked back. Like you said, the first few weeks can be tough, you have to learn how to not slit your throat.
But it’s amazing the difference it makes in having a smooth face…which makes a world of difference when making out with the wife!
I started shaving with a double-edge about 2.5 years ago, and it was such a wonderful investment. I really enjoy the shaving now, and do feel like I get a superior shave. The break-in time for my face was just a few days, and a blade, for me, lasts at least a month (everybody’s face is different!). So I’m still on my first 100 blades.
The only drawback I’ve found is that airport security can get upset about the blades. Thankfully they didn’t take my razor, just the blade.
I blogged my “switching” experience over here
Wow!!! My wife is a hair stylist at Bob Steele Salon here in Atlanta and she and I were just having a conversation about this the other day! I was already curious and now that you make it sound like the greatest thing ever, well… I gotta try it. Where did you get your 1961 Gillette FatBoy??? I didn’t know if it was a replica or some sort of heirloom. The ones they use at the salon are some sort of hybrid similar to a straight razor. Yikes!!!
@Anthony: I’ll bet that article about “Shaving like your grandpa” did more for wet shaving than any other. It was a really great article.
@Brian: Cool man. I read that post of yours, looks like you have a Merkur Classic there, eh?
@Brad: Wouldn’t recommend starting with anything like a straight. The learning curve for that can be quite high. Learning curve for a DE is much lower. If you want a good DE razor at a decent price I’d be willing to ship you one for $12. But you’ll need a good soap and a brush. I can give you a shaving mug but the brush and the soap you’ll have to order on the Net.
Hrm, I’ve been looking over this quite a bit but haven’t made the leap yet (pretty steep initial investment). I’ve found for a quality setup it’ll cost me $100+, which is a bit too high just yet to convince myself. I have a tab at http://www.deskload.com complete with vids and good forum posts that I’ve learned up about DE shaving yet, but just need to take the plunge!
Psssh. All you need is the brush. That’ll cost you about $40 for a good one, the same one I have. If you’re serious about wanting to DE shave then you can check out the Badger and Blade Buy/Sell/Trade forums. There are frequently newbie giveaways there with all the stuff you need to get started for an astonishingly low price. I’d say you can get started for around $50 max.
If you’re still having trouble getting a razor send me an email. I’ve got a few knocking about that I’ll sell ya for cheap.
Hey Ben, I want to get some decent quality items, and have had in the back of my head that the Merkur HD would be a good choice, does that sound right? I guess I’m not too picky on whatever else, and could take recommendations, but didn’t really want to get a plastic brush or anything. I just registered over at B&B, is it OK to post a want list in the sale forums?
To be honest, I use an electric shaver most of the time, which serves me very well indeed. I have very few problems with it, it gives me a nice shave, and I’m usually irritation-free afterwards. Problem solved!
@Ben: Yeah, it’s fine to post a “Want to Buy” in the forums even if you’re a n00b. The HD is generally regarded as a great razor and everyone who has one really loves it.
@James: Most folks who have used an electric razor for a long time and then switch to wet shaving will say that saving with a razor gives a consistently closer and more comfortable shave than an electric.
I’ll wait until this is up to post a wants list.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=561604#post561604
i’m away from home for a 3 month business trip (like thing), and so I bought a three pack of 3 blade schick disposables called “comfort.” I wanted to sue for false advertising.
I kept the mac three and did brush instead of cream for a while and was shocked at how much better of a shave I had just from massaging my face with the brush.
also… if you haven’t looked into it yet. I used to use Old Spice aftershave… its alcohol based and feels great for a little bit…
but one time on a trip through albania I had a guy straight razor me and then use Nivea for Men balm Aftershave… I have never felt better in my life…
if you’re shaving well and still using alcohol based aftershave you’re only getting half the experience.
unfortunately for me my wife still prefers the smell of old spice… what can you do? but you’ve inspired me to consider the straight razor.
If I hadn’t bought so many Turbo blades, I would have had a MUCH larger CD collection.
I don’t have much facial hair (they don’t call me ‘Babyface’ for nuttin’) so, DE still a viable alternative? I always felt that razors work quite differently for people who don’t have much to shave off!
@Roger: yeah, that Nivea stuff is the bees knees. I just like the way the Bay Rum smells
@Volkher: I’d say it’s absolutely an option, and could possibly be a fun alternative (more money for CD’s) than those Turbo blades.
Posted up my wants list, hopefully something comes through.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=563316#post563316