I finally acquired a double edged razorblade razor

Hearken! Behold, a shaver went out to shave:

Yesterday a double edged razorblade razor appeared at my home and this morning I shaved with it. I had not used such a device before, and I was initially unsure how to get the blade into the handle, but my 4 year old figured it out (how to open the holder, not how to insert the blade) and handed it back to me.

So this morning I struggled to hold the razor at the proper angle to keep the blade cutting hairs. It cut closer during my first pass than my straight razors do, but I missed a few patches against the grain which I think was because I couldn't find the right angle. It didn't wipe away lather very well either, so I found my fingers slipping as I tried to stretch my skin. And even though I felt like I should have received a closer shave from this razor, it was close enough and comfortable enough to use again.

What surprised me most about the razor was that it wasn't any faster for my results than my straight shaves are after having shaved with straights for a few months now. I thought I would be done in five minutes, but it actually took me about 15. Oh well! Maybe I need more practice

In conclusion I have a sneaky feeling I will be giving this razor away, but it was fun to try. I may do like I did with the Mach3 though and try shaving half of my face with a straight and the other have with the doubleedged just to more closely compare and contrast the two.

Thanks for reading :D

I wouldn't get rid of it just yet. I use mine for 'weekend shaves' where I don't need to look my very best. Every now and then for a quick evening touch-up before going out to dinner. Also, I use one for traveling. I do over 150,000 air miles a year and I don't check bags. They don't let me bring straights in my carry-on bag :)

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Originally Posted by kelbro

They don't let me bring straights in my carry-on bag :)

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Do they allow bringing DE razor blades in a carry on, or do you locate the blades after you're at your destination?


I have a vintage Gillette DE that my Dad used. I have used it now and again and I find just what you have, to get a close irritation free shave, it takes me about as long as with a straight. The biggest thing I find between the shaves is that a DE and a straight shave may feel the same (smooth) initially, but whiskers come back MUCH faster from my DE than my straight.

I like shaving with straights better.

Chris L

Confusing on the TSA site since they say 'excluding safety razors'. I usually just put two or three in the razor and close the 'doors' and they have never stopped me over it. I have noticed the same thing on the shave. Feels close but a few hours later, there's a shadow.

Hi Lee,
So, the razor just sorta showed up at the house eh? Luckily, you had some capable assistance when figuring out the intricacies.......heh. A year and a half ago I never figured to be using a DE razor (instead of a M3), but things are different now. Maybe I can offer a few thoughts about what to expect with one of those things.
You know, I don't believe you'll need any face stretching, or not the kind you're used to. I don't think you'll need your other hand to help, but instead can just use the normal comical facial gyrations instead. That's usually plenty when it comes to stretching the skin, and I think the razor's rounded head makes it much more forgiving than a straight.
Fifteen minutes is about the time needed for an experienced DE shaver, so you were on target there. Of course, if you only do two passes, that's a kinda long time, but 15 minutes is about right for a 3-4 pass shave ( plus touch up). Hehe, you went against the grain for part of your first DE shave eh? Very impressive, since that's new (and possibly bloody) territory. Glad that worked out well.
Most straight users already have a huge advantage over people new to wet shaving. Y'all understand how important the right prep can be to your shave. You know what good lather should feel and look like, and can tell if it's not 'right'. You already have a good reference point, in other words. Plus I'd think most successful straight shavers understand very well about pressure, whisker reduction, and paying attention to details without being rushed. Those are totally foreign things to most new shavers.
Oh.....if you felt like you shoulda gotten a better and closer shave than you did, that's exactly right! You CAN get a great shave from a DE, but not the first time(s). Nope, you gotta pay some dues if you want a BBS shave. I'm amazed though, when I read posts like yours Lee, and how easy it was for you as a first time DE user. Other members have posted similar experiences, and it's really impressive to me. You wanna read something sad.......check out the new DE shavers posts in other forums, and see what they go through. Yeah, luckily they're highly motivated..heh.
Anyway Lee, don't expect much more than what you're getting now, as far as shave quality. It may get a little better 3-4 shaves down the road, but don't look for a BBS finish. It's tough building up enough muscle memory by using it infrequently. You DO have a huge advantage when it comes to wet shaving, but you still have to learn the technique for a totally different shaving tool. They can be great shavers, but you need to spend some time with em before that happens.
Oh, not to put you off the DE, but............blades can make a BIG difference in your shave quality. There's some out there I can't use, even though my technique is good. I can be using my favorite razor, and get a crappy and painful shave with certain blades. Hard to believe maybe, but very true. In addition to having no technique yet, you may be using a blade that's wrong for your face, or a razor with the same problem. Once again, it's just a question of having no reference point, and that takes experience to truly fix. Yeah, you gotta try em and see what works! Gotta try a bunch of razors and blades......refining things with your shaving habits as you go. Sounds like a PITA doesn't it? Well.....it is, but made much easier because of the motivation. Lee, without spending time and fine tuning your DE shave, it's never gonna be the experience it can be. However, it can still easily be a fun change of pace. I may be wrong on that, but it's how I see things.
Hope that helps in some way,
Martin

Martin, the Slim that I got from you shaves well. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by De Layne

Hi Lee,
So, the razor just sorta showed up at the house eh?

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I know, isn't it incredible? :D My wife was actually thrilled because more stuff went out than came in.
As you must well know, mr. savant, I was hoping it would show up :) I am now off to the post to send it away again.

I don't remember who put the double edged razors in there, but it was a tsd member

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Originally Posted by kelbro

Martin, the Slim that I got from you shaves well. Thanks.

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Good deal.......nice to hear
Glad that worked out for you. Those slims ARE nice shavers.
Martin

I actually started on DE and still use them frequently. I gave away allmy extra's to let friends try and only kept one to use. I use my DE everyday on my ATG pass. I have to be BBS as I am in the military. I also need one for those days when I need to run out the door and need to shave at work. Anyone have an extra lying about I can purchase for a small fee that I can toss in my gym bag so I always hve one? At any rate, dont give up on the DE just yet my friend. Try shaving without stretching the skin, its not really required with the DE anyhow.

I still give myself the occasional shave with an old Tech and gave away a few Feather Portables (modern Tech knockoffs) to a few buddies that wanted to get into wet shaving but were too sissy to go straight. Once you get the hang of it, it is a bit faster than a straight shave in addition to there being no stropping or wipedown after the shave. The shave itself is almost as close as a straight shave.
The problem with sourcing the blades locally is that you can't guarantee the quality. As for the TSA.. Once I set off a bomb detector at the Miami airport, which resulted in a search (fortunately not a BCS lol). The guy who searched me specifically asked if I had any blades in my carryon as they were forbidden. Fortunately, the blades were stashed away, together with my straights, in the checked luggage. (*)
(*) I took a 3 week trip to Chile but I was travelling all over the place, so I wanted to have the DE as an easy local travel option.