Thread: Fine tuning w/ safety razor

Hi all!
Just to start off, I made the switch from the mach 3 cartridge razor to a safety razor for one reason only:

Sticking it to the man!

I got fed up with spending my life savings on those cartridge razors, and to top it off, they turned my face into ground zero for a razor burned, ingrown hair post apocalyptic war zone. I never really cared whether or not a safety razor would cause similar irritation, but as long as it was cheaper, the irritation couldn't be much worse. So I hope to not ever give them another dime for a crappy cartridge.

Because saving money was the main reason for the switch, I bought a cheap safety razor brand new, some soap, and a cheap brush. I bought feather blades. Even though they seemed more expensive than others, I read that they are the sharpest, plus the cost doesn't even compare to mach 3 replacements.

Although I still need some practice, it is getting easier every time. Surprisingly, I have only given myself a few small nicks. The only issue I'm having is the "fine tuning" around my goatee and sideburns. More importantly, My mustache grows really wide, so I always shave it a touch narrower on the top of it under my nose. Doing this has been a real challenge with a safety razor. It seems like the razor is too big, and I have to have the angle JUST RIGHT or it won't even shave. Plus, due to the size of the head, I have a hard time "seeing" where I'm shaving when I'm doing the outline around my goatee.

I wanted to use the safety razor for a year, then try my luck with a straight razor. They seem like, with practice, they would be the perfect thing for the intricate stuff.

I've read that maybe an open comb would be easier? I didn't do any real research before I bought the one I have. Also, are there razors that have a smaller head or a different shape that would made the job easier?

For all of you that have goatees, sideburns, etc. please chime in with what works for you. If it never gets easier, I still won't switch back to cartridges, but any info you can give would be appreciated!

Congratulations on what sounds like a great start! To answer a few of your questions there is a large variety of different safety razors in many different shapes and sizes. The Merkur 37c is a slant bar razor which is more aggressive then a standard bar razor. Open comb razors are also known to be more agressize then standard bar razors. Merkur makes a few open comb razors that are a great deal. I use the Muhle R41 which is arguably the most aggressive safety razor I have. I believe Merkur has a Bakelite razor which is extremely light weight and ideal for styling facial hair due to the fact that it is very responsive.

There are many different razors to try and I'm sure you will find the set up that is perfect for you.

Welcome to SRP.

What kind of DE did you get?

I'm not sure what others do, but I find with experience you get to "know" where the edge of the blade is at all times, call it intuitive shaving . Of course this comes with practice, but I find it fairly easy to do detail work with a DE. Using very short strokes around beard lines helps as well.

Merkur make a razor apparently designed for moustache and beards; it's head is differing widths. The only drawback with this is that Merkur seems to be the only company producing blades for it.

I sport a circle beard, and have no problems with my Merkur 15C and Gillette Superspeed razors. My Merkur Futur is a bit trickier, as it has a much larger head which makes it difficult to see where my beard starts and should be left, etc.

Don't worry about the cost. The initial outlay can seem daunting, but it really does work out cheaper in the long run, especially when Gillette sneakily increase the costs on their blades. Once you find your ideal razor, blades are pretty damn cheap and come in packs of more than just three or four.

Also, using cartridge razors is akin to driving an automatic; you stick the razor head into your lather and drag down. There's no skill in that.

Thanks for the replies! I looked everywhere for the receipt to find out the make/model of the one I have but can't find it. I looked at the razor and the only thing marked on it is "India" lol.

I will look into those other brands, and as far as practice goes, I'm sure in time I can get the hang of it. I just wonder if other razors are shaped a little different to make things a little easier. I wish there were a place locally that sold these, so I could go look at a million of them.

Originally Posted by Deegee

I sport a circle beard, and have no problems with my Merkur 15C and Gillette Superspeed razors. My Merkur Futur is a bit trickier, as it has a much larger head which makes it difficult to see where my beard starts and should be left, etc.

That's what I was waiting to hear! Different size/shape heads seems like a big deal! Only problem is I'm not sure how the size of the one I have compares to others, since I only have one, and apparently I don't even know what kind it is.

The 15C gives me the most control, as the blade isn't hidden as much as the Superspeed. I'm talking about edges or points here, not the actual open comb design of it. The Futur head leaves me almost guessing as to where the blade starts, when it comes to taming the encroaching beard, both in terms of shaving my bottom lip (I don't get enough beard growth there, it just looks plain scruffy) and the outer edges of my beard. Many a time I've lopped a bit too much off, when I've been using the Futur.

I guess actual weight also plays a part here. The Futur is by far the heaviest of the three, and the 15C *feels* the lightest.