Thread: Merkurs aren't for people of color?

I have exclusively used straight razors for over one year now. I intend to shave with them until I can't safely hold one anymore. They suit my skin just fine.

Had I known about this option thirty years ago when I first started shaving regularly, I would have used nothing else, and saved myself many razor bumps and bad shaves.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Merkur DE blades I have found to be horribly rough feeling when shaving with them. I would not recommend them to anyone, of any color!

This is what I found too. Merkur Razors are FINE but their blades are completely crappy imo. I would at least use a Derby blade or a Feather with a Merkur.

Originally Posted by The0ctopus

they do make special shaving creams and powders for black people, i dunno if razor style makes any difference, but there skin is different.

I guess You are confusing the chemical creams
but they DO NOT need any type of blades
You simply scrape the hair with a spatula after "chemical corrosion" hehehehehehe of the hair

Originally Posted by The0ctopus

they do make special shaving creams and powders for black people, i dunno if razor style makes any difference, but there skin is different.

I keep seeing "magic shaving powder" on ebay, a depilatory for black men, though it's often marketed for hair removal from a more <cough> personal area.

Not sure I'd want it on my face or further South, but if I suffered from bumps I might read up on it.

I've mentioned a couple of times in the past that I grew up in an interracial family. So, I'm white, but I've got several black siblings. (Long story)

Many shaving products are marketed, as you can see from the examples other people have mentioned, to particular races. One of my brothers uses the complete "Bump-Stop Shaving System," which is a line of disposable razors, pre-shave, shaving creme and post-shave products which all carry the slogan, "The Bump Stop Shaving System, for the way a black man shaves!"

The truth is that while we may all be the same in terms of intelligence, and potential, and rights and all sorts of other things, we are VERY different on a lot of biological matters, especially superficial ones like hair growth.

I could spend an hour listing examples, but it's not worth the trouble.

Look at German, Irish, Japanese, African, and Native American beards, and you'll find 5 completely different beards. Certainly, there are white people with dense beard hair that grows in tight curls causing chronic ingrown hairs, but it's relatively rare for most western european races, and very common for people of african decent.

As far as a DE being wrong for a black man, that sounds like nonsense. It seems a no-brainer to me that a DE would be vastly superior to a cartridge, and a straight would be better still, although you'd want to avoid ever shaving ATG, regardless of what kind of razor you use.

I am about to give straight's a try. I've invested in a razor which is being honed by one of the site's members, a strop and a basic brush and creme. I'm just wondering what to expect in terms of hair bumps.

I'm mixed race and definitely inherited the propensity for hair bumps from the Black side of my family. On the one or two occasions I've tried shaving against the grain I enjoyed a wonderfully smooth shave for a few hours following which my cheeks erupted into sheets of small irritated papules which lasted for days.

I'm also a firefighter/paramedic and our standards demand that I start every shift with a close shave. My compromise has been a single pass WTG with a cartridge.

I'm wondering what the OP's experience has been. Has the DE worked out in terms of hair bumps? Any tips. Should I restrict myself to WTG? Do I just have to surrender the BBS shave I've been dreaming about for the last few weeks? I'd be particularly interested to hear from any Black men who have found success with straights or DEs, but of course I'd love to hear from anyone who has something to share. No restrictions here.

P.S. this forum has become addictive, and I haven't even begun using the razor

Originally Posted by MMM

I am about to give straight's a try. I've invested in a razor which is being honed by one of the site's members, a strop and a basic brush and creme. I'm just wondering what to expect in terms of hair bumps.

I'm mixed race and definitely inherited the propensity for hair bumps from the Black side of my family. On the one or two occasions I've tried shaving against the grain I enjoyed a wonderfully smooth shave for a few hours following which my cheeks erupted into sheets of small irritated papules which lasted for days.

I'm also a firefighter/paramedic and our standards demand that I start every shift with a close shave. My compromise has been a single pass WTG with a cartridge.

I'm wondering what the OP's experience has been. Has the DE worked out in terms of hair bumps? Any tips. Should I restrict myself to WTG? Do I just have to surrender the BBS shave I've been dreaming about for the last few weeks? I'd be particularly interested to hear from any Black men who have found success with straights or DEs, but of course I'd love to hear from anyone who has something to share. No restrictions here.

P.S. this forum has become addictive, and I haven't even begun using the razor

Welcome to the party! I can't speak to the racial propensity for ingrowns/bumps, but I can say that in general Cartridges are the worst for for all kinds of skin problems (many very thin blades=lots of opportunity for damage to the skin). DEs are better than cartridges (one very thin blade, used with skill, less chance for damage) and straights are (paradoxically) the least damaging to your skin, except for the occasional gash. There is a very steep learning curve with straights, and with DEs surprisingly enough, but once you get over the initial hump you'll probably be much better off.

I used to shave with an electric, and my neck would be red and raw afterward--it's very sensitive. I switched to a DE and the shaves were much smoother, but there was still some rawness on my neck. I switched to a Straight, and voila--smooth, clean, and COMFORTABLE shaves. And it doesn't really take any longer than the electric.

My co-worker is African-American and uses a Merkur. I offered him a Big Ben and a Feather blade and he enjoyed it. He never once mentioned any problems with ingrown hairs except for when he was younger (around 30) and tried using straights. He said the straight for him and him alone would cause ingrown hairs, and disliked the "raw" feeling.

IMO, use what you find comfortable. Just remember, if you cut yourself the edge doesn't give a flying poop what color anyone is.

However, I can see the point of how a wired and curled beard may cause ingrown hairs if shaved too close. Makes sense to me.

I never heard of specific razors being for blacks or whites. Give it a shot and see if it's for you.