The Money Mustache Community
General Discussion => Share Your Badassity => Topic started by: dougstash on April 26, 2018, 07:13:35 PM
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Shaving: it's something many of us do and for those of us who do, we hate paying for "premium" razors. This leads us to look for (or maybe we already found) cheaper alternatives so we can put even more into our savings! DSC was my answer but as time ticked by I found myself saying "I'm tired of paying $9/ mo for razors" so I soon switched to their $6/mo plan. After a few months or two years rather I decided to cancel that in place of a safety razor. Two weeks in and my here are my thoughts
-Takes a bit longer, at first
-closer, more comfortable less irritating shave
-Cheap! Cheap!
-did I mention it's cheap?
So all in all I'm happy to say goodbye DSC
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I started using an old fashioned safety razor about five years ago. It's awesome. I spent about $60 on the razor handle, soap bowl, and badger brush, then maybe another $5 on a pack of razor samples. That lasted me the better part of 4 years, I just recently spent $10 on a new pack of razors. Overall, $75 over the course of five years, and my razors will probably go for another five or ten years. You're right, dirt cheap. Much closer shave too, and there's something gratifying about the old-fashioned manliness of it.
I do knick my chin just about every shave though, this long and haven't quite figured that out.
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I started using an old fashioned safety razor about five years ago. It's awesome. I spent about $60 on the razor handle, soap bowl, and badger brush, then maybe another $5 on a pack of razor samples. That lasted me the better part of 4 years, I just recently spent $10 on a new pack of razors. Overall, $75 over the course of five years, and my razors will probably go for another five or ten years. You're right, dirt cheap. Much closer shave too, and there's something gratifying about the old-fashioned manliness of it.
I do knick my chin just about every shave though, this long and haven't quite figured that out.
agreed that it's much more satisfying. You mentioned a soap bowl and badger brush? I've thought about picking up some of that fancy stuff but haven't brought myself to yet. Is it a big upgrade from good ol' barbasol?
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I wouldn't call it an "upgrade" just a difference. I always used Nivea instead of Barbasol too, a touch pricier but for me it was only a few dollars per year. With the bowl & brush, It feels more like you're pampering yourself, but it takes more time to prep. You can get cheap "starter packs" from Target or Amazon...not sure about the used market on these things, but some higher quality brushes can go upwards of $80-100. If you wan't to go that route, I'd suggest start cheap, my starter pack hasn't given me any problems, but make sure you get a nice, well-reviewed soap, and maybe a good pre-shave lotion too. The soap lasts longer than any can of shaving cream and a nice lotion really feels like a barber shop shave at home, and makes the cut smoother.
I got this one:
https://www.target.com/p/van-der-hagen-premium-4-piece-shave-set/-/A-14950422
No complaints other than some occasional rogue badger hairs that come out of the brush, not sure if this happens on more expensive versions but only a minor inconvenience on this one.
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I do knick my chin just about every shave though, this long and haven't quite figured that out.
You definitely have to change your technique when you switch to
"safety" razors. I take multiple 1cm strokes and hardly ever nick
myself -- maybe minor nicks 2-3 times per year. It also helps if
you're not rushed. If you're in a hurry, you may be more likely to
draw blood.
There are some useful tutorials on youtube.
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I've been slowly working my way through a multi-pack of disposables I got for Christmas, but I'd prefer a long-lasting solution. Do you sharpen a safety razor blade or is that replaced? If replaced, how often?
I use Cremo for lather. The bottle says "90 days," but I can make it last 6 months.
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Isn't DSC just remarketed Dorco blades?
I heard that before and never bought into their plans.
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I also have been using a safety razor for a while. I also had a problem of nicking my Adam's apple (I don't shave my chin) no matter how small my strokes were.
What I did to avoid it was to stretch my skin just off my apple in order to have a flatter surface. The chin might be a bit harder, but it's something to try.
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We ditched Dollar Shave Club sometime last year, though it was mainly because we had built up such a glut of razors. The razors can last much longer than a week before there is significant deterioration in quality, so we'll be working through our stash for awhile before we either need to resubscribe or find an alternate solution (maybe bulk Dorco?).
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I've been slowly working my way through a multi-pack of disposables I got for Christmas, but I'd prefer a long-lasting solution. Do you sharpen a safety razor blade or is that replaced? If replaced, how often?
I use Cremo for lather. The bottle says "90 days," but I can make it last 6 months.
The razors are disposable. I believe they can be sharpened, but they're very cheap. Mine usually last about 4 shaves before they start pulling the skin, but I don't have a very thick beard so I may be able to stretch mine further than people with Viking genes.
Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Astra-Platinum-Double-Safety-Blades/dp/B001QY8QXM/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1524853769&sr=8-3&keywords=safety%2Brazors&th=1
100 blades for $10, if each blade lasts 3 shaves that only about 3 cents per shave. Even if you change every two shaves that's still only 5 cents.
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Isn't DSC just remarketed Dorco blades?
I heard that before and never bought into their plans.
Yup, they sure are. DSC is currently using the Dorco Pace 6 Plus (https://www.dorcousa.com/pace-6-plus/). $10 buys you four cartridges (https://www.dorcousa.com/pace-6-plus-cartridges-4-refills/), it's clear Dorco's upped their prices since to exploit the DSC ship jumpers. Not hard to tell, just look at the pictures - it's clearly the same handle and blades.
It's worth noting, however, that Dorco uses the same head connector for their three blade through seven blade Pace cartridges, so you can just swap over to the cheaper Pace 3 blade cartridges (https://www.dorcousa.com/pace-3-cartridges-4-refills/). It'll probably leave your face feeling less like hamburger after using, too.
Speaking of, one of the reasons why you're getting a better shave, Dougstache, is because more blades does not equal a better and closer shave. The multi-blade arms race in shaving's gotten ridiculous, and it's mostly been done to charge more per cartridge and potentially make the blade wear out quicker by making it harder to clean between the blades and dry off. The best thing you can do to extend the longevity of a razor blade is to keep it clean and dry when not in use, and have enough of a gap between the blades to easily clean it out after use.
For those not gutsy enough to go back to safety razors or a straight edge and miss (or never knew) the simplicity of the old Gillette Atra/Sensor blades but stopped using it due to the cost, Dorco's Pace Comfort Thin II blades (https://www.dorcousa.com/pace-comfort-thin-ii-cartridges-5-refills/) will actually work with the Gillette Atra/Sensor handles, and they're a buck a cartridge.
And a tip for the women if you don't know this already: Your Gillette Venus handles? The handle mounts are identical to the Mach3, and the men's cartridge replacements are usually cheaper than the women's. Gotta love the pink tax. The Mach3 connector has come out of patent now as well, IIRC, and generics are available now. Walmart sells Equate branded Mach3 compatible blades now, and there's generics available elsewhere as well.
That's all I've got to add to the conversation. If you need me, look for the dude who only needs three minutes a week to use the Wahl clippers on his beard.
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Am I the only one who gets multiple months out of a cartridge? I never tried a monthly shave club simply because I don't need a new cartridge every month (and because, as a consequence, it's taken me years to work my way through my last Sam's Club bulk purchase). Even with fancy-pants Fusion cartridges at $2-$3 each, I'm still looking at about $1/month with my current shaving system*.
[* Plus "shave gel" which is actually just lathered shower gel. I'd have to wash my face anyway, so that's a freebie!]
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Wow quite the knowledge on this subject! I was always thinking that DSC was a re-branded "name" brand razor that was made generic and marked down in price. It never occurred to me that it would be a generic that was marked up in price. As for the shave soap suggestion I might give that a shot. The safety razor I have is actually the same brand as the starter set you linked (Van Der Hagen) and all in all I'm happy with it. To any considering making the switch I highly recommend it
Oh and at least for me as a regular shaver due to work requirements I can't imagine using the same cartridge for a whole month... a bit more than a week and it's about time to switch it out
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Isn't DSC just remarketed Dorco blades?
I heard that before and never bought into their plans.
And a tip for the women if you don't know this already: Your Gillette Venus handles? The handle mounts are identical to the Mach3, and the men's cartridge replacements are usually cheaper than the women's. Gotta love the pink tax.
You are my new hero.
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You are my new hero.
Aww shucks.
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Isn't DSC just remarketed Dorco blades?
I heard that before and never bought into their plans.
Yup, they sure are. DSC is currently using the Dorco Pace 6 Plus (https://www.dorcousa.com/pace-6-plus/). $10 buys you four cartridges (https://www.dorcousa.com/pace-6-plus-cartridges-4-refills/), it's clear Dorco's upped their prices since to exploit the DSC ship jumpers. Not hard to tell, just look at the pictures - it's clearly the same handle and blades.
It's worth noting, however, that Dorco uses the same head connector for their three blade through seven blade Pace cartridges, so you can just swap over to the cheaper Pace 3 blade cartridges (https://www.dorcousa.com/pace-3-cartridges-4-refills/). It'll probably leave your face feeling less like hamburger after using, too.
Speaking of, one of the reasons why you're getting a better shave, Dougstache, is because more blades does not equal a better and closer shave. The multi-blade arms race in shaving's gotten ridiculous, and it's mostly been done to charge more per cartridge and potentially make the blade wear out quicker by making it harder to clean between the blades and dry off. The best thing you can do to extend the longevity of a razor blade is to keep it clean and dry when not in use, and have enough of a gap between the blades to easily clean it out after use.
For those not gutsy enough to go back to safety razors or a straight edge and miss (or never knew) the simplicity of the old Gillette Atra/Sensor blades but stopped using it due to the cost, Dorco's Pace Comfort Thin II blades (https://www.dorcousa.com/pace-comfort-thin-ii-cartridges-5-refills/) will actually work with the Gillette Atra/Sensor handles, and they're a buck a cartridge.
And a tip for the women if you don't know this already: Your Gillette Venus handles? The handle mounts are identical to the Mach3, and the men's cartridge replacements are usually cheaper than the women's. Gotta love the pink tax. The Mach3 connector has come out of patent now as well, IIRC, and generics are available now. Walmart sells Equate branded Mach3 compatible blades now, and there's generics available elsewhere as well.
That's all I've got to add to the conversation. If you need me, look for the dude who only needs three minutes a week to use the Wahl clippers on his beard.
As a lady, I discovered long ago that men's razors are cheaper than women's. I used Gillette Sensor for years, then DSC for a while. They thought I was a dude and kept trying to sell me beard softener. Eventually I realized that it was slightly cheaper to buy a bulk pack of Dorco cartridges. I use the four-blade ones. Six seems excessive, two was insufficiently luxurious for my hedonic tastes.
I have heard of ladies using safety razors but I prefer MORE safety, thank you very much.
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the 6 is so excessive. When I switched from 6 to 4 I was expecting a decline in shave quality along with the price. What I found was only the price to have gone down and quality to go up slightly, per my skin anyway
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Yeah, two-three blades is technically the sweet spot with multi-blade setups, and much safer if you're prone to accidents. The greater the physical distance between the eyes and the skin with more arm extension, the better the safety margin with more blades. I can appreciate that. Same with some of the Venus handle designs. However, four seems to be the beginning of overkill and the introduction of shorter longevity.
Another couple tips for blade longevity: Remember how I mentioned that moisture and gunk is the enemy with razor sharpness? Don't store the razor in the shower or next to the sink. After you clean the blades well, dip it in iso-91 rubbing alcohol and shake to dry it out, then lightly smear with baby oil and keep the blades covered while not in use. Outside of physically dulling due to use, oxidation is the quickest blade killer. It's all about sequence and care. If you sufficiently soften and moisten the hair before shaving (shave after showering for five minutes or so) and do this, you should be able to get the blades to last a fair bit longer. If that's not enough to help you stretch your shaving money and you already have access to liquid nitrogen? You could always do a 24 hour cryotemper on the blades as well (http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=58901).
Beyond that, the best way to save on shaving is to stop fighting the hair that G-d gave you.
It's funny. There's so much old-school "man advice" typically tied to depression-era military basics and rationing that's been lost over the years due to our disposable society, and even unfortunately kept from the fairer sex... like proper razor blade care and how to properly clean and care for leather. Real shame, that. My wife was amazed at how much longer her leather shoes last once I taught her how to use saddle soap and mink oil.
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I highly recommend this.
After getting fed up with the prices for Gillette cartridge refills I bought a Merkur safety razor plus a bag of assorted blade sample packs off Amazon 8 years ago. Cost me about $35.
It took me a couple of shaves to get used to a single blade.
Giving the finger to Gillette made it worthwhile.
I still have plenty of blades left although since I'm semi-retired now I only shave twice a week.
The razor itself will outlive me.
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Am I the only one who gets multiple months out of a cartridge? I never tried a monthly shave club simply because I don't need a new cartridge every month (and because, as a consequence, it's taken me years to work my way through my last Sam's Club bulk purchase). Even with fancy-pants Fusion cartridges at $2-$3 each, I'm still looking at about $1/month with my current shaving system*.
[* Plus "shave gel" which is actually just lathered shower gel. I'd have to wash my face anyway, so that's a freebie!]
Back when I used Mach 3s I could stretch a cartridge out for months. A 4-pack would last a good year. The Equate brand "disposables" I'm using now (flimsy 3-blade units) I'm able to use for about 4 weeks. My wife is using them as well. At the rate we're both using them we won't have to buy anything new until the end of the year. They came in a 20-pack.
It doesn't seem to matter what blade or technique I use, my neck is raw and bleeding every morning.
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I don't understand this stuff at all. $60 for a brush? And outrageous prices for blades? Are they electric shaver blades?
For ****'s sake, just get an old fashioned T shaped razor blade holder and a pack of 2 sided safety razor blades. Cheap as hell (or should be). Or buy a pack of plastic disposable razors. What are they, 50 cents ****ing each, or even less? I use them too, and they shave nice and sharp for at least 10 shaves. Problem solved.
When I hear the Dollar Shave Club commercials I want to scream. It's like they're saying "Are you tired of paying $100 for one apple?" (Umm, no, dude, no one pays $100 for one apple. What planet are you on?)
"Buy your apples from us at Dollar Shave Club! We only charge $80 for one apple!" (Ummm, dude, I'll continue to get my apples for 50 cents each at my local store.)
I really just don't get it.
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I spend maybe $30-35 a year on shaving equipment.
I get a box of 52 disposable razor blades(2 blades each), and use 1 per week. Depending on the brand, probably costs $20-25 for a box. Then I get a thing of shaving soap at Walmart, costs about $4. I already have the brush. The shaving soap lasts a long time(6 months to a year) and feels much better than anything else I've used. It raises the hair perfectly so that even shaving with a disposable razor feels great. It's a huge improvement over the expensive razors and expensive shave gels.
I tried the T shaped 2 sided safety razor. It just took longer to shave with if I wanted to avoid nicks. The cheap disposable blades shave just as good, but they are more user friendly early in the morning when you aren't quite awake yet.
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I picked up a tip on the MMM forums a year or two ago regarding honing your blade. I still use mach 3 blades, but after each use I hone it by running it backwards along the soft part of my forearm. I get a few months per blade nowadays.
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There are some huge liquid nitrogen storage tanks at my place of work. I'm not so sure the safety management would be thrilled if I threw some razors in it though
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I just grew a beard and use an electric trimmer to keep it neat. A blade lasts a long long time when you only use it for edging.
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@Daley, your posts on this topic are great stuff and sincerely appreciated. Thank you!
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I bought into the safety razor hype and got the whole setup. After trying it out I'd have to say that different things work for different faces.
I have to be clean shaven for work, or I'd have a beard.
Issues - I realized that the safety razor couldn't reach the hairs just under the edges of my nostrils. My Mach 3 got them fine, so this was a bit of a surprise. Shaving took much longer, it was a lot harder to rinse the cream/hair off the razor in order to make the next swipe. I thought the opposite was supposed to be true. the blade felt like it was getting duller with every swipe (and that's using a new blade each shave). Supposedly it's easier to cut yourself on a safety razor, but this wasn't an issue for me at all. I switched back to Mach 3's but started stropping them (learned that here) on a towel after every use to extend blade life. Badger brush... pain in the ass and took much longer than Edge shave gel, but I guess you I recognize it's way more environmentally friendly, as long as we don't run short of donating badgers.
I'll have to try the Dorco cartridges now though.
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And a tip for the women if you don't know this already: Your Gillette Venus handles? The handle mounts are identical to the Mach3, and the men's cartridge replacements are usually cheaper than the women's. Gotta love the pink tax.
*jaw drops*
I had no idea!
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Daley, you are a ladies hero right now
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I don't understand this stuff at all. $60 for a brush? And outrageous prices for blades? Are they electric shaver blades?
For ****'s sake, just get an old fashioned T shaped razor blade holder and a pack of 2 sided safety razor blades. Cheap as hell (or should be). Or buy a pack of plastic disposable razors. What are they, 50 cents ****ing each, or even less? I use them too, and they shave nice and sharp for at least 10 shaves. Problem solved.
When I hear the Dollar Shave Club commercials I want to scream. It's like they're saying "Are you tired of paying $100 for one apple?" (Umm, no, dude, no one pays $100 for one apple. What planet are you on?)
"Buy your apples from us at Dollar Shave Club! We only charge $80 for one apple!" (Ummm, dude, I'll continue to get my apples for 50 cents each at my local store.)
I really just don't get it.
Agreed. I buy the cheapest razor blades and get a clean shave after months of use (granted I only need to shave once per week).
This isn't even frugality - I just can't really imagine how the experience would need to be any better than what I currently have.
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Daley, you are a ladies hero right now
Daley, hero of a people who still buy into 100+ years of social and consumer engineering to waste money scraping their flesh for no discernible reason other than to make us feel less than human if we don't so we can feed the hungry maw of the Razor Industrial Complex. Those scrap used battleships purchased for steel don't come cheap, after all!
*dispassionately tosses confetti*
There's a better way, folks.
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Daley, you are a ladies hero right now
Daley, hero of a people who still buy into 100+ years of social and consumer engineering to waste money scraping their flesh for no discernible reason other than to make us feel less than human if we don't so we can feed the hungry maw of the Razor Industrial Complex. Those scrap used battleships purchased for steel don't come cheap, after all!
*dispassionately tosses confetti*
There's a better way, folks.
Yes, this! Relatedly, I went for about 2 years without shaving back in college, and found it ironic that it was usually the hairiest guys that made negative comments about it.
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I just use disposable blades, I shave but once a week, and one of these disposable blades last me about or month or so.
Bought 3 packs of 10 blades each for €5,-
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Am I the only one who gets multiple months out of a cartridge? I never tried a monthly shave club simply because I don't need a new cartridge every month (and because, as a consequence, it's taken me years to work my way through my last Sam's Club bulk purchase). Even with fancy-pants Fusion cartridges at $2-$3 each, I'm still looking at about $1/month with my current shaving system*.
[* Plus "shave gel" which is actually just lathered shower gel. I'd have to wash my face anyway, so that's a freebie!]
I think it depends on how frequently you shave. I shave every 4-7 days and I get months out of one Fusion cartridge. It does such a good job I haven't wanted to hassle with switching. Lather up in the shower and two minutes later my face is baby butt smooth. No mirror required.
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Yeah, two-three blades is technically the sweet spot with multi-blade setups, and much safer if you're prone to accidents. The greater the physical distance between the eyes and the skin with more arm extension, the better the safety margin with more blades. I can appreciate that. Same with some of the Venus handle designs. However, four seems to be the beginning of overkill and the introduction of shorter longevity.
Another couple tips for blade longevity: Remember how I mentioned that moisture and gunk is the enemy with razor sharpness? Don't store the razor in the shower or next to the sink. After you clean the blades well, dip it in iso-91 rubbing alcohol and shake to dry it out, then lightly smear with baby oil and keep the blades covered while not in use. Outside of physically dulling due to use, oxidation is the quickest blade killer. It's all about sequence and care. If you sufficiently soften and moisten the hair before shaving (shave after showering for five minutes or so) and do this, you should be able to get the blades to last a fair bit longer. If that's not enough to help you stretch your shaving money and you already have access to liquid nitrogen? You could always do a 24 hour cryotemper on the blades as well (http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=58901).
Beyond that, the best way to save on shaving is to stop fighting the hair that G-d gave you.
It's funny. There's so much old-school "man advice" typically tied to depression-era military basics and rationing that's been lost over the years due to our disposable society, and even unfortunately kept from the fairer sex... like proper razor blade care and how to properly clean and care for leather. Real shame, that. My wife was amazed at how much longer her leather shoes last once I taught her how to use saddle soap and mink oil.
Good point on softening the beard. I wet (and lather) my face as soon as I step in the shower, but I do my shaving at the end. Oh, and I rinse the blades in cold water, which seems to make a difference.
Am I the only one who gets multiple months out of a cartridge? I never tried a monthly shave club simply because I don't need a new cartridge every month (and because, as a consequence, it's taken me years to work my way through my last Sam's Club bulk purchase). Even with fancy-pants Fusion cartridges at $2-$3 each, I'm still looking at about $1/month with my current shaving system*.
[* Plus "shave gel" which is actually just lathered shower gel. I'd have to wash my face anyway, so that's a freebie!]
I think it depends on how frequently you shave. I shave every 4-7 days and I get months out of one Fusion cartridge. It does such a good job I haven't wanted to hassle with switching. Lather up in the shower and two minutes later my face is baby butt smooth. No mirror required.
I shave every day, but I don't have to do the tricky areas around the mouth (goatee/mustache). Basically just under the chin and then a couple of swipes on the cheeks. I also shave my head twice a week, but I feel like the tighter skin there makes it easier and may produce less wear on the blades.
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Another recent safety razor convert here.
https://sharpologist.com/ was a good resource for me (same guy is Mantic59 on YouTube, tons of instructional videos). They have some great info for low cost, high value supplies. Bonus: the site also feels delightfully early-Internet/90s era.
I ended up with a Merkur 34C, Astra SP blades, middle-of-the-road badger brush, repurposed coffee bowl (free!), Noxzema classic face wash, Pacific shave cream and Nivea aftershave for like $45 total. Also, look around for vintage handles, which can apparently be had for under $10 while being extremely good.
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For those not gutsy enough to go back to safety razors or a straight edge and miss (or never knew) the simplicity of the old Gillette Atra/Sensor blades but stopped using it due to the cost, Dorco's Pace Comfort Thin II blades (https://www.dorcousa.com/pace-comfort-thin-ii-cartridges-5-refills/) will actually work with the Gillette Atra/Sensor handles, and they're a buck a cartridge.
I was always pleased with my old Sensor Excel 2-bladed cartridges until I couldn't find them any more. Are the blades on this similar to the old Sensors? Right now I'm working through an 8-pack of Gilette Sensor3 disposables for a total cost of $9.62 (https://ondemand.gillette.com/starttoday) from the Gillette subscription service. They're definitely better than any of the Dollar Shave Club or Harry's razors, both of which I've tried. I do like that you can just set it to reorder upon request, you don't actually have to get shipments every month or three months or whatever. I ordered mine last October and am still going through them. No complaints. But I may try out the Dorca blades if they are comparable to the old 2 bladed Sensor Excels.
Ref link if anyone cares to join the Gillette site. (https://gillette-on-demand.extole.io/s/Nathan23)
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They're definitely better than any of the Dollar Shave Club or Harry's razors, both of which I've tried.
If you didn't like the DSC blades? You may not like the Dorco CT-II either, given that DSC uses Dorco as their supplier. All you can do is try 'em and see for yourself. I'm the wrong guy these days to ask that question. *scratches beard*
I'm mostly just pointing out cartridge compatibility between brands and models and techniques to extend blade life.
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They're definitely better than any of the Dollar Shave Club or Harry's razors, both of which I've tried.
If you didn't like the DSC blades? You may not like the Dorco CT-II either, given that DSC uses Dorco as their supplier. All you can do is try 'em and see for yourself. I'm the wrong guy these days to ask that question. *scratches beard*
Gotcha, thanks. I may just say "good enough" with my Sensor3 blades. They aren't expensive and seem to be lasting me quite a while.
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Good job ditching DSC!
The whole subscription model of service has really taken off in the past five or so years. It produces more consistent revenues, probably makes companies more money, and probably costs consumers more than they realize. Adobe, Microsoft, Audible, etc. DSC may be a small player, but they are living off those subscriptions. I mean, a service is a service, but everyone wants your $$$.
I too jumped on board the safety razor craze. I didn't think it was a craze, but then how do I explain how I first found out about it? You have to be careful because big retail stores (aka wally world) caught on and try to hock razors for much more than you can find online. I stopped shaving my full face years ago and just trim my neck and the sides of my face, so my razors could probably last another decade at the rate I'm going. I also bought a cheap straight razor I haven't used in awhile that has disposable razors. I think a 100 pack was like $6 or so. It takes a bit more skill, hence why I haven't used it in awhile.
So yeah, I'm a big fan of the safety razor, you just have to watch out for people trying to milk that industry. It's easy to spend a ton of money going super fancy, but you definitely don't have to. Also, if you want to feel some angst, do some research on how smart the actual Gillette guy was for realizing that straight razors were too good and wouldn't make him enough money. He basically invented the disposable razor to keep the profits rolling. This was the early years of planned obsolescence. The modern counterpart is the subscription model.
(another slick marketing tactic: when each guy in my high school turned 18, Gillette sent him a free razor handle and two blades. This makes great business sense because then a guy has to go out out and drop $20 for another pack of blades. Genius, but kind of evil, IMO).
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Cheapest single-blade razors, 20 for $2, do the best job for me. Multi-blades get gummed up with hairs between the blades, but single-blades I just put under a brief blast of water from the tap and they are clean. One single-blade disposable lasts for over a month of everyday shaving.
No shaving cream, foam or aftershave. Cold water does all those jobs.
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Cheapest single-blade razors, 20 for $2, do the best job for me. Multi-blades get gummed up with hairs between the blades, but single-blades I just put under a brief blast of water from the tap and they are clean. One single-blade disposable lasts for over a month of everyday shaving.
No shaving cream, foam or aftershave. Cold water does all those jobs.
I definitely learned to love one blade but the one blade disposables like bic always butchered my skin
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I use the safety razor and Astra blades...a few cents for each one. I change them after every other shave/3 at most. Badger brush plus some Art of Shaving cream lasts me 8-10 months. Once you're comfortable shaving with safety razor blades, it really is a better shave. I have coarse facial hair and the 5 blade razors were giving me horrible pfb. literally, cutting facial hair 5 times in a row, was cutting the hair so short, it was curling underneath the skin and causing painful razor bumps. the safety razor blades leave it a little bit longer and I get a 5 oclock shadow by about noon, but saves me so much irritation and money
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My horrible patchy facial hair (hence the username) is a blessing in this regard. My old man can grow a beard in a day, yet it takes me a week to get some ugly patches.
I buy a 3 pack of gillette fancy cartriges every year and it lasts me with twice weekly shaves. All i do is try to thoroughly rinse and dry the blades after each shave and leave it out in the open.
Works for me, and is great on the wallet at less than $10 a year. Plus a bottle of Barbasol a year at $1 (I use very little).
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is great on the wallet at less than $10 a year. Plus a bottle of Barbasol a year at $1 (I use very little).
As unmustachian luxury purchases go, this is probably a minor one. I just feel compelled to point out that a $35 electric razor will last you 20 years with essentially zero maintenance other than the occasional rinsing.
Metal razor blades seem kind of like gasoline cars and natural gas stoves. Electric is just better, and yet people resist the superior technology based on advertising and nostalgia.
For the record, I have a beard.
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is great on the wallet at less than $10 a year. Plus a bottle of Barbasol a year at $1 (I use very little).
As unmustachian luxury purchases go, this is probably a minor one. I just feel compelled to point out that a $35 electric razor will last you 20 years with essentially zero maintenance other than the occasional rinsing.
Metal razor blades seem kind of like gasoline cars and natural gas stoves. Electric is just better, and yet people resist the superior technology based on advertising and nostalgia.
For the record, I have a beard.
My wife tried giving me one of those for Christmas one year, and I could not get a smooth shave with it. It was an expensive version too. Read a bunch of stuff, watched Youtube videos...just couldn't make it happen.
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is great on the wallet at less than $10 a year. Plus a bottle of Barbasol a year at $1 (I use very little).
As unmustachian luxury purchases go, this is probably a minor one. I just feel compelled to point out that a $35 electric razor will last you 20 years with essentially zero maintenance other than the occasional rinsing.
Metal razor blades seem kind of like gasoline cars and natural gas stoves. Electric is just better, and yet people resist the superior technology based on advertising and nostalgia.
For the record, I have a beard.
Every electric razor i've ever tried felt like it was literally ripping my neck to shreds. So freaking painful, AND it gives a crappy shave to boot. Which is nice.
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I could not get a smooth shave with it.
Your standards are too high. Why do you need a "smooth" shave every single day? Its' just going to have stubble again in a few hours. Electric razors are 90% as good at 10% of the cost, easier and faster to use, and they don't leave a mess in your sink. Besides, haven't you heard that stubble is "in" now?
If you feel you need a smooth baby face for a particular event, like a date, then you can blade shave right before that. You don't need to baby shave every morning, just like you don't need to wax your car every morning. You're spending too much to get too little benefit.
Of course, advertisers have spent billions of dollars convincing you that you DO need to baby shave every single day, so I don't really expect a random internet stranger to change your mind on this point. I accept that we are all subject to the evils of advertising, and it effectively convinces us to waste money on irrational things that we think are important for unidentified reasons.
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I could not get a smooth shave with it.
Your standards are too high. Why do you need a "smooth" shave every single day? Its' just going to have stubble again in a few hours. Electric razors are 90% as good at 10% of the cost, easier and faster to use, and they don't leave a mess in your sink. Besides, haven't you heard that stubble is "in" now?
If you feel you need a smooth baby face for a particular event, like a date, then you can blade shave right before that. You don't need to baby shave every morning, just like you don't need to wax your car every morning. You're spending too much to get too little benefit.
Of course, advertisers have spent billions of dollars convincing you that you DO need to baby shave every single day, so I don't really expect a random internet stranger to change your mind on this point. I accept that we are all subject to the evils of advertising, and it effectively convinces us to waste money on irrational things that we think are important for unidentified reasons.
I mentioned in my first post in this thread that I shave twice a week, so I don't feel I'm succumbing to BIG RAZOR that I need to shave every day as you've just stated. I already say "good enough" each morning that I don't shave. I just try to ignore my uneven patches on those days. When I put around 4 months on a cartridge, I'd say that's good enough.
And honestly if my facial hair was fuller and more symmetrical, I'd totally grow out a beard. But I lost that part of the genetic lottery. At least I'm over 6 foot tall................ladies (jk, married, happy).
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I also only get patchy facial hair and shave only twice a week. Sometimes less (to my wife's dismay). The only money I've ever spent on shaving is the electricity, since my Dad bought me an electric razor when I was old enough to shave, around 16. I'll be 30 in July, and the razor is still going strong! I've never noticed it to be especially uncomfortable, though I imagine it depends on the razor and the person.
As a side note, I just looked up DSC because I've heard of it but never looked into it. They have a video playing on the front page. One of the clips is a very muscular guy playing video games. He also appears to be pooping. I'm... confused. What relevance does the pooping muscly gamer have to shaving?
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Am I the only one who gets multiple months out of a cartridge? I never tried a monthly shave club simply because I don't need a new cartridge every month (and because, as a consequence, it's taken me years to work my way through my last Sam's Club bulk purchase). Even with fancy-pants Fusion cartridges at $2-$3 each, I'm still looking at about $1/month with my current shaving system*.
[* Plus "shave gel" which is actually just lathered shower gel. I'd have to wash my face anyway, so that's a freebie!]
I have the same experience you do with Fusion cartridges. I don't change them for about 2-3 months. I may use 6-8 per year. That's about $1/month. Of course, I don't have a five o'clock shadow so I don't know how long they'll last for those with a heavy beard. I gave my brother one and he went a year without buying a cartridge.
I shave in the shower and don't use any soap or gel. Just warm water.
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is great on the wallet at less than $10 a year. Plus a bottle of Barbasol a year at $1 (I use very little).
As unmustachian luxury purchases go, this is probably a minor one. I just feel compelled to point out that a $35 electric razor will last you 20 years with essentially zero maintenance other than the occasional rinsing.
Metal razor blades seem kind of like gasoline cars and natural gas stoves. Electric is just better, and yet people resist the superior technology based on advertising and nostalgia.
For the record, I have a beard.
my "beard" is too light for an electric. It just doesn't work. :(
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Another electric user, but not the fancypants $35 one. $9.95 at Wal Mart. Also had a full beard and didn't shave at all for a full 30 years before going to the dark side.
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When I had to shave every day, I had a Gillette mach 3 or something, but I haven't had a smooth face in quite a few years. Now, I save time, money, and look much better with a beard. I have a safety razor to keep the edges clean, but I only use one blade every 6 months or so.
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I'm still very undecided on this issue... I don't necessarily NEED to keep a smooth shave every day but I like to shave at least 2-3 times a week because my face gets itchy after 3 days max, especially in the Texas heat in summer. Plus, I'm not a big fan of beards, especially not in a hipster-prone city like Austin.
I've tried various things in my life so far:
- cheap disposables - didn't like them as they were very irritating and uncomfortable to use.
- expensive disposables - see cheap disposables.
- Schick Quattro - decent shave but blades are too close to each other so the hair gets stuck in there and is nigh impossible to remove. Plus, expensive cartridges ($3 each) that will last for about 2-3 weeks max before they get uncomfortable, irritating, and painful.
- Gillette Mach 3 - decent shave with blades spaced wider apart; expensive cartridges ($2.50 each) that will last for about 2-3 weeks max before they get uncomfortable, irritating, and painful.
- Cheap no-name razors from various stores and brands - hit and miss with a mostly decent shave and more affordable cartridges at around $1-$2 each that never lasted more than a week and started to cause skin burn very quickly.
- Safety blades - didn't like them, they butchered my skin and shaving took way too long.
- cheap no-name electric razor - awful experience, it pulled more on my facial hair than actually cutting it; very irritating and painful, stopped using after a few tries.
In other words: the only thing that worked for me so far were either Gillette Mach 3 or Schick Quattro, with the former being my preferred choice hands down. I'm currently on Schick Quattro cartridges because I scored a great deal (buy one get one at my local H.E.B., so $2 per cartridge) but I'm am running out and have decided to give the Philips Norelco Electric Shaver 2100 for $39.95 a shot. Since I work from home where nobody minds a stubble I don't need that close of a shave. In theory, as the blades are supposed to last for a full year and a new set costs slightly over $20 it could end up being much cheaper than Gillette or Schick cartridges. Let's just hope my experience will be better than with the last electric razor... had to toss that away after a few weeks as it was too painful to use. At least the Philips can be returned so I don't have much to lose.
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I could not get a smooth shave with it.
Your standards are too high. Why do you need a "smooth" shave every single day? Its' just going to have stubble again in a few hours. Electric razors are 90% as good at 10% of the cost, easier and faster to use, and they don't leave a mess in your sink. Besides, haven't you heard that stubble is "in" now?
If you feel you need a smooth baby face for a particular event, like a date, then you can blade shave right before that. You don't need to baby shave every morning, just like you don't need to wax your car every morning. You're spending too much to get too little benefit.
Of course, advertisers have spent billions of dollars convincing you that you DO need to baby shave every single day, so I don't really expect a random internet stranger to change your mind on this point. I accept that we are all subject to the evils of advertising, and it effectively convinces us to waste money on irrational things that we think are important for unidentified reasons.
This is going to vary for different folks. For me, pale translucent skin + thick dark brown facial hair = I have a 5 O'clock shadow even after the smoothest shave. Shaving with an electric makes me look like I've been on a weekend bender, and actually skipping a day starts to verge on hobo territory (only half kidding).
Now of course I could choose ignore societal standards on such things, but I would pay a cost in terms of my career and other situations in which perception matters. Instead, I choose to shave with a manual razor most of the time (which as I mentioned before, costs me around $1/month).
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Now of course I could choose ignore societal standards on such things, but I would pay a cost in terms of my career and other situations in which perception matters.
I think you are vastly overestimating the impact to your life or career of a few hours of stubble, which is exactly what razor companies want you to do, and have spent billions telling you for decades now. In truth, nobody cares about your face as much as you do. Most people will not notice after the first week, and in the first week they will only notice because you've been so unnaturally shiny bald for so long that a more normal looking face will stand out by contrast.
But it's your money and your face, and if you honestly believe that your life will suffer if you stop spending money on a ridiculously outdated morning ritual, then you are free to continue it. Just recognize that the "but everyone will stare at me!" defense is kind of silly.
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I use a Gillette Mach 3.
My annual expenditure on replacement blades = $0.00.
How?
You can realign the blade every time you use it (thereby keeping it sharp) by rubbing it up your arm (do this in the opposite direction to how you would shave!!) 10 times after every use. It is has the exact same effect of a barber with a leather strap (guess what leather is made from?).
I have been using the same "disposable blades" for 3 years and they still work perfectly. There are videos on YT showing you how to do what I have tried to explain.
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Anyone besides me here using a straight razor?
I'll admit, it's not a faster shave, but I enjoy those 20 minutes: the hot towel, the strop, the badger brush, the hot oil, lathering up, and shaving twice - it's a nice ritual and I get a great shave. A good blade is expensive, but lasts forever - my everyday blade is my grandfather's Krusius Brothers that he probably bought for $3 in NYC in the 1930s and that I had sharpened for ~ $50 two years ago.
Good shaving soap costs more than a can of Barbasol, but lasts a loooooooong time. I like Mitchell's Wool Fat Shaving Soap, $14.83 at Amazon, lasts me about a year.
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I use a Gillette Mach 3.
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I have been using the same "disposable blades" for 3 years and they still work perfectly. There are videos on YT showing you how to do what I have tried to explain.
I have owned a bunch of electric razors over the years. The quality kept going down and I got tired of buying expensive new Remingtons that croaked after a couple of years. Then I switched to disposable plastic supermarket razors and used those for several years. Those things are crap -- they don't last, they do a lousy job, and they pollute the environment. It's a false savings.
Then it finally occurred to me to look at customer reviews and so I bought a Mach 3. I bought a pack of Mach 3 cartridge/refills a year ago and holy crap they are great. They cost more up front but they last waayyy longer than the cheap disposable razors. I've only gone through about two refills in ten months. I wish I had known this 30+ years ago.
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I don't understand this stuff at all. $60 for a brush? And outrageous prices for blades? Are they electric shaver blades?
For ****'s sake, just get an old fashioned T shaped razor blade holder and a pack of 2 sided safety razor blades. Cheap as hell (or should be). Or buy a pack of plastic disposable razors. What are they, 50 cents ****ing each, or even less? I use them too, and they shave nice and sharp for at least 10 shaves. Problem solved.
When I hear the Dollar Shave Club commercials I want to scream. It's like they're saying "Are you tired of paying $100 for one apple?" (Umm, no, dude, no one pays $100 for one apple. What planet are you on?)
"Buy your apples from us at Dollar Shave Club! We only charge $80 for one apple!" (Ummm, dude, I'll continue to get my apples for 50 cents each at my local store.)
I really just don't get it.
I wish I had skin that could handle the multi-blade disposable razors. But in college I discovered that if I wanted to shave often with disposable razor blades, I was going to have razor bumps all over my neck. Some people have more sensitive skin. I have to spend more time shaving with a safety razor on a face pre treated with a pre-shave oil to not irritate my skin. But it is dirt cheap once you have the equipment. I don't have a special bowl and my brush is cheap.
Your standards are too high. Why do you need a "smooth" shave every single day? Its' just going to have stubble again in a few hours. Electric razors are 90% as good at 10% of the cost, easier and faster to use, and they don't leave a mess in your sink. Besides, haven't you heard that stubble is "in" now?
If you feel you need a smooth baby face for a particular event, like a date, then you can blade shave right before that. You don't need to baby shave every morning, just like you don't need to wax your car every morning. You're spending too much to get too little benefit.
Of course, advertisers have spent billions of dollars convincing you that you DO need to baby shave every single day, so I don't really expect a random internet stranger to change your mind on this point. I accept that we are all subject to the evils of advertising, and it effectively convinces us to waste money on irrational things that we think are important for unidentified reasons.
I think it varies greatly by the user. I have a nice electric razor, and it does a great job on my face. However, on my neck it just doesn't work as well. Not 90% for sure. It's uneven and the fact that it doesn't match my face makes it look weird.
I understand your point that it may not be necessary for my job to shave as often as I do (which is every other day). But genuinely, it's not from that. I think I look better clean shaven and I like being clean shaven. And since safety razor blades are dirt cheap, the only cost is my time, which I'll happily give.
I can get 80% of a workout at my cheap gym if I bought equipment for myself at home, but for things like this I want 100%. I want my full workout and I want a great shave.
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I usually just use an electric with the guard on the shortest setting, 1-3x per week, wife likes the stubble
On rare occasions when I do shave clean, I'm another vote for the safety razor. Bonus manliness points because the handle is handmade (turned down on a woodlathe)
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I'm currently on Schick Quattro cartridges because I scored a great deal (buy one get one at my local H.E.B., so $2 per cartridge) but I'm am running out and have decided to give the Philips Norelco Electric Shaver 2100 for $39.95 a shot.
Quick update: been using it for a month, 2-3x weekly. So far it works great, had to get used to it first but after the first week it got a lot easier. Not sure if my skin/hair actually adjusted of if I just got better, but it takes me less than 5 minutes now. The shave is decent and clean enough, and I have no complaints so far.
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I never used dollar shave club, but reading about them did help me discover their supplier (Dorco). I now order cheap and good quality razors straight from the source.