What do you use to shave?

[aihpcfl]

Is anyone else here using the Grand Bay Bay Rum? If so, chime in, good or bad, to help others.

This brand came on the scene when Dominica was wiped out by a hurricane, and for all I know Grand Bay was stood up in its place. If you don't know it, this this is a suggestion to check it out if you like Bay Rum. It is very simple: bay oil, alcohol, water. That's it. No added coloring, artificial or otherwise. It has a light fragrance that doesn't linger. No glycerine, so no oily feel. No added spices, doesn't smell like a pumpkin pie. No burn, which is a downside if you like a good spicy heat.

I bought a dozen bottles to add to what I already had when I learned Dominica wouldn't be coming back and I was uncertain of Grand Bay's future. I'm still working on that stash so I don't know prices or quality now, but I fully expect it is still good stuff, but maybe expensive. And every new bottle I open, after these years under the sink, is just a perfect as always.

Anyway, it isn't what guys will associate with a barbershop Bay Rum, but I love the fragrance, as short lived as it is. And the clean feel is wonderful. It is a fleeting pleasure after a shave.

 

[Trenchfriend]

-King C. Gillette DE razor
-KCG blade
-greybadger brush
-Speick shave soap stick
-Old Spice original after shave

Wonderful gentle shave without any nicks.

 

[postpaper]

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but I can see that this is an OLD thread.

Can anyone tell me why double edge blades are a thing? I use a double edge safety razor myself, but could never really understand why two blades were needed. It's not like its two different types of blades as far as I know, so just got curious.

I've been also looking into single edge safety razors and found this company... Does anyone have experience with them? I'm hesitant to order it immediately since they are quite pricey. Would love to hear if you personally use them.

https://proofrazor.com/products/benchmark-razor-1

 

[aihpcfl]

[ . . . ]
Can anyone tell me why double edge blades are a thing? I use a double edge safety razor myself, but could never really understand why two blades were needed. It's not like its two different types of blades as far as I know, so just got curious.

I've been also looking into single edge safety razors and found this company... Does anyone have experience with them? I'm hesitant to order it immediately since they are quite pricey. Would love to hear if you personally use them.

https://proofrazor.com/products/benchmark-razor-1

Breaking into pieces:

Why a thing now? I think partly they are a thing in the way anything becomes a thing. But for some, they believe they get a better, more comfortable shave with a double-edge safety razor. Some are motivated by the cost per shave versus the modern cartridge razors. Some like the whole idea, the tools, the product, the process. (My reasons were saving money and the nostalgia.)

But why two edges? I'm not sure of the original idea, but in practice one can rotate the razor and use the other edge before rinsing. If you shave every day this may not be an issue. You can rotate and use the other edge, but there isn't anything forcing you. But if you go days or more between a shave, and particularly with modern razor head designs, and particularly the mild razors, you can rotate when the gap gets clogged and do another stroke before rinsing. (I use a 1930s era Old Type. It doesn't have a safety bar and gap. I can shave a 3-week beard without problem. When I do, I rotate to the other edge between every stroke. After a stroke or two the combs are full of whiskers and lather. Having the double edge is efficient in a case like this.)

I don't know anything abut that razor and cannot comment, except to ask if the blades are exclusive to that razor. Can you buy blades from any source you desire to use with that razor? One of the nice things about double-edge razors is that blades are standardized and produced all over the world., and it can be part of the fun to try different blades to find what you like and that works best for you and with your razor.

 

[rogueclimber]

I've been also looking into single edge safety razors

I love my single edge safety razor, went with this brand as I can bring them in my carry on bag when flying

https://unoshaveco.com/

 

[postpaper]

I love my single edge safety razor, went with this brand as I can bring them in my carry on bag when flying

https://unoshaveco.com/

Looks cool! Are they only compatible with the blades supplied by them? Do you happen to know any manufacturers who make razors that are compatible with third party blades like Derby or Dorco?

 

[postpaper]

I can shave a 3-week beard without problem. When I do, I rotate to the other edge between every stroke. After a stroke or two the combs are full of whiskers and lather. Having the double edge is efficient in a case like this.)

Thank you for your answer. That is probably the best explanation for them, just makes the shaving more efficient.

I don't know anything abut that razor and cannot comment, except to ask if the blades are exclusive to that razor. Can you buy blades from any source you desire to use with that razor? One of the nice things about double-edge razors is that blades are standardized and produced all over the world., and it can be part of the fun to try different blades to find what you like and that works best for you and with your razor.

As far as I know they don't sell any blades on that website, so I do believe the third party blades are compatible. There was a different single edge safety razor brand that I thought looked great until I found out that they designed it to be incompatible with third party blades.

One other thing that does make me hesitate is that I'm believe the way blades are held is with magnets? I'm not sure if I can trust magnets since I just use one that you screw down the blade.

 

[rogueclimber]

Looks cool! Are they only compatible with the blades supplied by them? Do you happen to know any manufacturers who make razors that are compatible with third party blades like Derby or Dorco?

The Uno uses proprietary blades (which is what makes them TSA friendly)

I am unfamiliar with other brands as Uno is the only one I found to fly with

 

[aihpcfl]

Thank you for your answer. That is probably the best explanation for them, just makes the shaving more efficient.


As far as I know they don't sell any blades on that website, so I do believe the third party blades are compatible. There was a different single edge safety razor brand that I thought looked great until I found out that they designed it to be incompatible with third party blades.

One other thing that does make me hesitate is that I'm believe the way blades are held is with magnets? I'm not sure if I can trust magnets since I just use one that you screw down the blade.

I saw blades for sale, $25 per 100.

I wondered about the magnet, too. I'm sure it works. But I would be looking at it a lot until I was satisfied, if it were me.

 

[Edward]

Breaking into pieces:

Why a thing now? I think partly they are a thing in the way anything becomes a thing. But for some, they believe they get a better, more comfortable shave with a double-edge safety razor. Some are motivated by the cost per shave versus the modern cartridge razors. Some like the whole idea, the tools, the product, the process. (My reasons were saving money and the nostalgia.)

But why two edges? I'm not sure of the original idea, but in practice one can rotate the razor and use the other edge before rinsing. If you shave every day this may not be an issue. You can rotate and use the other edge, but there isn't anything forcing you. But if you go days or more between a shave, and particularly with modern razor head designs, and particularly the mild razors, you can rotate when the gap gets clogged and do another stroke before rinsing. (I use a 1930s era Old Type. It doesn't have a safety bar and gap. I can shave a 3-week beard without problem. When I do, I rotate to the other edge between every stroke. After a stroke or two the combs are full of whiskers and lather. Having the double edge is efficient in a case like this.)

I don't know anything abut that razor and cannot comment, except to ask if the blades are exclusive to that razor. Can you buy blades from any source you desire to use with that razor? One of the nice things about double-edge razors is that blades are standardized and produced all over the world., and it can be part of the fun to try different blades to find what you like and that works best for you and with your razor.

I think all of this is true. I also wonder whether at some stage there was a simple marketing idea. At one point Leo Fender wanted to put six pickups on the Stratocaster to do "more" than his rivals. In the end he settled for three, supposedly saying "Well, Gibson can't do better than three either." Truth? Who knows. But "our blades are double sided, get twice the shaves from one blade!" seems like it could be at least as viable a marketing pitch as multi-blade cartridges. I wonder also if it was a way of selling the same number of sharp edges per unit at lower production cost. It surely must be cheaper to produce one DE blade than two SEs?

As to why use a DE now, I think you've hit on the key reasons. For me I think subconsciously there was a "vintage" influence, generically (my Dad has had a beard my entire lifetime and I don't recall witnessing other men in the family shaving, so it wasn't a personal association). It being cheaper was an attraction as cartridges got ever more expensive (though I still have to use them on my head as getting the angle right with a DE is too much of a challenge for my sausage fingers). In theory anyhow... of course I went and bought a bunch of handles I didn't really need, but enjoy switching between. What really keeps me with it, though, is the quality of the shave. A three pass has become much quicker with practice (some days I do a two pass if pushed for time), and the shave is so much better than with a cartridge razor, even using soap and brush with both. I often find I can get away with shaving every other day when I three-pass, and I could probably grow a reasonable starter beard if I gave it a week without shaving.

 

[postpaper]

I think all of this is true. I also wonder whether at some stage there was a simple marketing idea. At one point Leo Fender wanted to put six pickups on the Stratocaster to do "more" than his rivals. In the end he settled for three, supposedly saying "Well, Gibson can't do better than three either." Truth? Who knows. But "our blades are double sided, get twice the shaves from one blade!" seems like it could be at least as viable a marketing pitch as multi-blade cartridges. I wonder also if it was a way of selling the same number of sharp edges per unit at lower production cost. It surely must be cheaper to produce one DE blade than two SEs?

Yeah I actually got curious and just quickly went on Amazon to compare prices, and SE blades are almost the same price as the DE blades. I guess DE blades then could be argued as the true economic choice. I don't know why I just assumed half of the edges so half price logic.

 

[aihpcfl]

Yeah I actually got curious and just quickly went on Amazon to compare prices, and SE blades are almost the same price as the DE blades. I guess DE blades then could be argued as the true economic choice. I don't know why I just assumed half of the edges so half price logic.

Think in terms of cost per shave, and also closeness and comfort. For some people, some blades last longer (more shaves) than other blades. And there can be quite a difference in the feel and efficiency, for some. It is possible a particular single-edge bade could give more shaves than a particular double-edge blade of the same price per blade, for you. In that case, just judging by price, the single-edge blade would be better, for you.

 

[Edward]

Yeah I actually got curious and just quickly went on Amazon to compare prices, and SE blades are almost the same price as the DE blades. I guess DE blades then could be argued as the true economic choice. I don't know why I just assumed half of the edges so half price logic.

By this point the demand for SE blades is probably so much lower of the two that economies of scale impact to make a big difference would be my guess.

 

[Farace]

When I first looked at the modern SE razors linked above, I was hopeful that someone had started production on Schick-style injector blades, but it seems they use DE blades snapped in half, which to me seems unnecessary and potentially unsafe. I do have some of the old-style (e.g. Gem) single-edge razors, but I haven’t seen a shaving-quality SE blade of that style for some time. And I have a few Schick injector handles, but without a source of blades that I’m aware of. DE blades are plentiful, economical, and there is a great variety, so I can avoid the brands I don’t like and stick with those I do (several years ago I bought a quantity of the Gillette Silver Blue that have been treating me well). I use a Merkur Slant razor, but have quite a few old Gillettes dating back maybe a hundred years that I could deploy.

 

[Trenchfriend]

The gentle King C. Gillette DE blade really reminds me on the legendary "Red Personna" blades, I had a bunch of, many years ago. But with one difference. The Personna blades were never sharp enough for me.

I'm assuming, the current King C. Gillette blades are just the long-known Gillette Super Silver, you could usually find in the bigger german supermarkets?

 

[Trenchfriend]

-King C. Gillette DE razor
-KCG blade
-greybadger brush
-Palmolive shave soap stick (out of production)
-SIR Irisch Moos after shave

Fine!

 

[Trenchfriend]

And say, what you want, but the simple SIR Irisch Moos after shave is still one of the best. Sure, it could be less sweet.

 

[Edward]

When I first looked at the modern SE razors linked above, I was hopeful that someone had started production on Schick-style injector blades, but it seems they use DE blades snapped in half, which to me seems unnecessary and potentially unsafe. I do have some of the old-style (e.g. Gem) single-edge razors, but I haven’t seen a shaving-quality SE blade of that style for some time. And I have a few Schick injector handles, but without a source of blades that I’m aware of. DE blades are plentiful, economical, and there is a great variety, so I can avoid the brands I don’t like and stick with those I do (several years ago I bought a quantity of the Gillette Silver Blue that have been treating me well). I use a Merkur Slant razor, but have quite a few old Gillettes dating back maybe a hundred years that I could deploy.

My first safety razor (sadly left behind at a weekender in 2012, though since replaced) was a Merkur progress. I've got two or three of their handles, with a real favourite being their repro of the original 1903 Gilette. I have the closed comb version, though I see now they also do an open comb - I'd buy that too if I didn't already have a Parker that's almost identical to it. Can't go wrong with a Merkur.

 

[Edward]

When I first looked at the modern SE razors linked above, I was hopeful that someone had started production on Schick-style injector blades, but it seems they use DE blades snapped in half, which to me seems unnecessary and potentially unsafe. I do have some of the old-style (e.g. Gem) single-edge razors, but I haven’t seen a shaving-quality SE blade of that style for some time. And I have a few Schick injector handles, but without a source of blades that I’m aware of. DE blades are plentiful, economical, and there is a great variety, so I can avoid the brands I don’t like and stick with those I do (several years ago I bought a quantity of the Gillette Silver Blue that have been treating me well). I use a Merkur Slant razor, but have quite a few old Gillettes dating back maybe a hundred years that I could deploy.

I must have misunderstood them - I though they were cartridges. If something like that was available, though, alongside a ready supply of the right blades (I agree, I wouldn't fancy trying to cut a DE in half myself), I'd jump on one. As of about a year ago, I am no longer permitted to carry a DE on the Eurostar. While I understand the security concerns (unlike a plane, all your luggage is to hand at all times on the train), it is a pain being limited to using the cartridge razor I normally inly do my head with on my face as well.

 

[Trenchfriend]

-King C. Gillette DE razor
-KCG blade
-NoName silvertip "Rein Dachs"
-Wilkinson shave soap stick (out of production)
-Tüff (Red) after shave

Excellent!

But does not change the fact, that I like simple greybadger brush with it's great "massaging-in effect" so much more.