NPCER: safety razors

[mominatrix]

they're the old school ones that look like this:


ish




They're "safety" in comparison with old fashioned really scary straight razors. We aren't having a conversation about those, because no.




they take blades that look like this:




do you or your SO or, really, anybody in your world use these?  My DH is wanting to convert to them, and is looking around at them, but is in the "information paralysis" stage... way too many choices, way too much information. I'm trying to help him out (as I geek out on stuff like this) but I'm way WAY down the rabbit hole

so...

do they/you like them? why or why not?
do you know what kind of razor they/you use (long handle/comb/how aggressive)?
Butterfly vs. three piece?
brand?
brand of blades?


thanks!

[bimbi284]

Yes. H uses them when he actually shaves (which, to be fair, he hasn't totally done in like 2 years.) He likes it better than "modern" cartridge razors. Anywho, lemme check his brand....

The razor (holder thingy?) he uses is a Merkur (I think its just a classic three piece one), and the half blades he uses are by Shark (the box is yellow with a blue shark on it. It says, "super stainless saloon" on the box.https://www.amazon.com/Shark-Stainless-Straight-Barber-Professional/dp/B003BRQ36O)

He has a little disposable container he puts used blades in from classicshaving.com: www.classicshaving.com/collections/razor-blades-safes/products/razor-blade-safe

[mominatrix]

Aug 31, 2016 19:07:14 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

Yes. H uses them when he actually shaves (which, to be fair, he hasn't totally done in like 2 years.) He likes it better than "modern" cartridge razors. Anywho, lemme check his brand....

The razor (holder thingy?) he uses is a Merkur (I think its just a classic three piece one), and the half blades he uses are by Shark (the box is yellow with a blue shark on it. It says, "super stainless saloon" on the box.https://www.amazon.com/Shark-Stainless-Straight-Barber-Professional/dp/B003BRQ36O)

He has a little disposable container he puts used blades in from classicshaving.com: www.classicshaving.com/collections/razor-blades-safes/products/razor-blade-safe

Thanks!

[georgeglass]

If you chicken out, we are addicted to Harry's brand (was only online - now at Target). Great handles and the razors last forever. H uses one 6-7 times longer than the Gillette cartridges he used to have. I love them, too.
www.harrys.com/

[heliocentric]

DH started with a long handle Merkur, but now uses a short handle (don't know the brand). He's tried lots of blades but now likes Persona, but I'm not sure which type.
Apparently good products are helpful, too. He likes Proraso (sp?).
People really geek out on this.

[mominatrix]

Aug 31, 2016 19:24:02 GMT -5 heliocentric said:

DH started with a long handle Merkur, but now uses a short handle (don't know the brand). He's tried lots of blades but now likes Persona, but I'm not sure which type.
Apparently good products are helpful, too. He likes Proraso (sp?).
People really geek out on this.

They TOTALLY geek out on it, which is why the paralysis. Also, there really aren't places near here to try/see/hold any of them. And handling/weight/balance is so important, but you have to buy online and guess at this stuff.

The only brick and mortar near here that carries them is Art of Shaving where they're easily twice the price of other retailers.

[tillie]

Those bring back memories of me watching my dad shave with them. There was a slot in the back of the medicine cabinet where he would dispose of the old ones.

[heliocentric]

mominatrix , I bought the first Merkur (long handle) from amazon. It wasn't very expensive (~$25) and apparently the longer handle is good for beginners. I think you're supposed to use the weight of handle to pull the blade instead of pushing/pulling it.

Shortly after I bought it we discovered that one of DH's friends is really into shaving. We were lucky because friend had tried many brands of blades and gave DH a bunch of each to try. After that test period is when DH decided on the Persona platinum chrome (I just checked the type). My takeaway from that is not to commit to a ton of blades because apparently they are all slightly different and it's very much personal preference.

Art of Shaving is super expensive. They also seem to have a relationship now with Gilette, which makes DH distrust them.

Shaving geek friend buys soap from etsy--I'll see if I can find the seller. DH uses the Proraso, which he gets from Amazon. Apparently they have a sale on it a few times a year. It's expensive, but lasts a long time.

DH has this stand. I bought a brush and soap kit from Trader Joe's when I bought him the first razor. Apparently it's not good, but DH is still using the brush almost a year later so it can't be that bad. Greek friend buys a beaver tail and makes his own (or something ridiculous like that)!

[msmerymac]

My husband uses them and likes them. He wears a full beard in winter, has it shaved professionally around equinox, and shaves in summer. I know he picked up some safety razors at Target last week, lol. He's not picky.

He says he thinks his is a 3 piece mekor. The handle is about as long as a regular razor, maybe longer?

He says it's great if you shave every other day because it works best with more substantial stubble.

[letsgetweird]

I use a safety razor. I bought it at Target (I don't remember the brand) and I buy razor blades on Amazon. It's sooo much better than cartridges.

[msmerymac]

Aug 31, 2016 19:38:11 GMT -5 tillie said:

Those bring back memories of me watching my dad shave with them. There was a slot in the back of the medicine cabinet where he would dispose of the old ones.

Lol, I still have one of those slots in my 50s-era medicine cabinet. I'm really looking forward to seeing what's behind that wall. Mmmmm, tetanus.

[isabel]

Aug 31, 2016 19:19:45 GMT -5 georgeglass said:

If you chicken out, we are addicted to Harry's brand (was only online - now at Target). Great handles and the razors last forever. H uses one 6-7 times longer than the Gillette cartridges he used to have. I love them, too.
www.harrys.com/

I think it's the Keepin' It 1600 podcast that has a promo code for this. 

[moolarkey]

Aug 31, 2016 19:19:45 GMT -5 georgeglass said:

If you chicken out, we are addicted to Harry's brand (was only online - now at Target). Great handles and the razors last forever. H uses one 6-7 times longer than the Gillette cartridges he used to have. I love them, too.
www.harrys.com/

I didn't know Harry's is at Target. I got H started on them. I'll have to check it out at Target.

[mrspez07]

Not related to razor types but razor life: safety or cartridge, DH found a life hack to extend the life of his blades (like a TON!), put the razor into rubbing alcohol for about 30 seconds after rinsing, let air dry. Don't dip in water between the alcohol and putting away.
It drys out the "moisturizing" strips on cartridge razors, but not to an unusable level.