Page 3 of 5 FirstFirst 12345 LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 47
Like Tree97Likes

Thread: Breakouts with safety razors?

  1. #21
    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    32,737
    Thanked: 5016
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    The DE's at the top of the heap (and I'll let others name them) with the right blade and top end soap or cream can give you a shave so close to a straight you'll be hard put to tell the difference.
    dewey81 and BobH like this.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

  2. #22
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    17,250
    Thanked: 3221

    Default

    Yupper, there are a few DEs that will give a straight razor a run for the money and are not necessarily the very expensive ones either. I have a Merkur 45 bakelite DE that will give a wicked close shave and is not expensive.

    Bob
    dewey81, rolodave and slim6596 like this.
    Life is a terminal illness in the end

  3. #23
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Posts
    283
    Thanked: 61

    Default

    I started off wet shaving with a DE and every once in a while will break out my Muhle R89, which is known for being a fairly gentle and forgiving razor. No matter how I try, my face does not like the DE as much as a straight but I'm not entirely sure why.

    Playing around with the type of blade you put in your DE can change the shave noticeably, so even if DE shaving works well for you, you may need to play around and experiment with blades until you find what works best for you. Also, change the blades regularly. Part of why people will get more redness with a DE is the microscopic nics build up, making for a rougher shave,and the blade simply becomes contaminated at some point and that in turn leads to skin infection.

    You can definitely get some very nice DEs for not very much money -- Merkur was mentioned and I'd agree with that, specifically the 34C is a great first razor -- but if you don't know what works for you yet and think it'll be a serious option, you might want to consider putting out a bit more money initially for a decent adjustable razor like the Merkur Futur or the Rockwell 6C.

    Good luck in your search!
    dewey81 likes this.

  4. #24
    Nemo me impune lacessit RobinK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Munich, Germany
    Posts
    897
    Thanked: 245

    Default

    I am old enough to have grown up with disposable razors. They worked, but not really well. Electric shavers worked better, gave me less irritation, but the occasional really bad case of ingrown hairs.

    Then a friend gave me a vintage DE, and things got better. Fewer ingrown hairs, less irritation. Looking back, I think that the use of shaving soap instead of canned foam, and overall more careful face preparation was what made the actual difference.

    I then switched to cutthroat-razors, and everything got well. Really well. No irritation, very, very few ingrown hairs (and Avène Dermo-K helped me get rid of those instantly).

    However, I never really got good at honing razors. And I am not talking about exotic grinds or shapes, but bog-standard Solingen or Eskilstuna razors. Just not something I ever became good at.

    Out of curiosity, and really more to ascertain that cut-throat razors are the best, I acquired a single edge (SE) razor. Of course, the most aggressive GEM Open Comb Micromatic ever made. Bloodshed ensued, but the shave was very close and comfortable despite the blood. So I persisted. I have since ended up with an EverReady Streamline (because I like the looks - if I absolutely had to settle for a deserted island razor, it would be a Schick adjustable or a G-Bar). Fun fact, vintage lathercatchers come with what are basically cut-throat blades for those that must hone their shaving contraptions.

    Looking back, shaving with cut-throat razors was a great learning experience. But it was not a necessary, or particularly useful, one. I could, and from a financial perspective, should, have gone straight to SE razors. They are very affordable even in very good or mint condition (there are exceptions like my Streamline, but even that one was a lot less expensive as my more expensive cut-throats, and that's not mentioning that 8/8 Dubl Duck). The blades are readily available and very cheap. The blades are also stiff and deliver a shaving experience close to (personally, I would say, better) one with a cut-throat razor. And, of course, there are far fewer to choose from than with DEs, and there are next to no fanbois driving up prices.

    If you have 10-30 USD to spare, get one, give it a try, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

    Name:  IMG_20181002_080630.jpg
Views: 79
Size:  49.5 KBName:  PSX_20190419_091713 (2).jpg
Views: 111
Size:  68.8 KB
    Last edited by RobinK; 02-08-2020 at 08:01 AM.

  5. #25
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    17,250
    Thanked: 3221

    Default

    I'd agree with RobinK that vintage SEs are a good alternative to DEs. I'd also suggest that the only blade to use in a vintage Eveready/GEM SE razor is the Personna/GEM stainless steel PTFE coated blade. The reason being is that they are very sharp yet smooth to use and do not rust. I really enjoy mu vintage SEs.

    Bob
    Life is a terminal illness in the end

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to BobH For This Useful Post:

    RobinK (02-08-2020)

  7. #26
    Nemo me impune lacessit RobinK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Munich, Germany
    Posts
    897
    Thanked: 245

    Default

    Thanks, Bob. Exactly that. Also known as "Ted Pella blades". Allegedly available from major supermarket chains in the US. Actually, not having a choice of blades is very liberating, too. Just pop in one of these, and you're ready to go. There are dozens of vintage GEMs in good shape on eBay (not a live auction).

  8. #27
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Chicago Suburbs
    Posts
    1,091
    Thanked: 292

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dewey81 View Post
    Watching guys do three pass shaves and against the grain shaves make my face hurt just watching!
    I can shave ATG, even with my sensitive face. The key is proper beard preparation, using a really good shave soap and producing a properly hydrated lather, and shaving with the proper shave angle and minimal pressure. Most folks who use straight razors have already learned those aspects of shaving, so shaving with a DE is not difficult for most of them.
    dewey81, rolodave and BobH like this.

  9. #28
    Padawan Learner dewey81's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Findlay ohio
    Posts
    448
    Thanked: 65

    Default

    Thank you all for your input. I'll give one a go and see what I find out!
    rolodave and ppetresen like this.
    I'm a sucker for a stamped tail. Giggity.

  10. #29
    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    32,737
    Thanked: 5016
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dewey81 View Post
    Thank you all for your input. I'll give one a go and see what I find out!
    If you have deeper pockets the Mongoose is an SE of modern design. It comes in all stainless and Aluminum too. It's a great shaver a tad on the aggressive side.
    dewey81 likes this.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

  11. #30
    Senior Member blabbermouth Haroldg48's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Clayton, NC USA
    Posts
    3,341
    Thanked: 866

    Default

    Whatever way you go with a DE, keep the pressure light. One of the reasons cartridge razors are so harsh on people is that too much pressure is used trying to het a decent shave with subpar blades,
    Just call me Harold
    ---------------------------
    A bad day at the beach is better than a good day at work!

Page 3 of 5 FirstFirst 12345 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •