When will all men figure out this is the best and most affordable way to shave?
Here's the tl;dr review: these Shark blades are terrific, will give you a good close shave and can save you a ton of money in these trying economic times. Now here's the long review: I frequently see ads on TV and websites from a company that offers razors and multi-blade refills for a far lower price than the "name" brands at retail. They certainly make a quality product, but $2 per replacement cartridge (while far cheaper than in-store) still doesn't cut it when you consider the alternative. Like a lot of men my age (68), I learned to shave using a safety razor and double-edged blades like these Sharks. I got sucked into the disposable, multi-blade world because I was swayed by the marketing that it was a better way to shave. Safety razors and blades disappeared from stores, and men were left with no convenient choice, other than electric razors. I found that the "wet shaving" world lived on through the Internet and decided to try it again. Long story shorter, I went back to the "old" way 15 years ago and I will never leave. I won't get into the nuts and bolts of correct shaving methods as there are plenty of places online to find that information. But high-quality safety razors are plentiful on this site, as are double-edged blades (although nearly all are made in the Middle East and Japan now). Here's some math: At the online shave company I referenced, their least expensive (plastic) handle is about $10. A package of 8 disposable blades runs about $17. That's a bit over $2 per blade. The number of shaves one gets from each blade depends on a lot of things, mostly the composition of a man's whiskers. If one averages 5 good shaves per blade, they're looking at about 40 cents per shave. For daily shavers, those 8 blades will last about a month and a half, maybe two months at the outside. Now for the other method: a high-quality safety razor like the Merkur 34C is available here for about $45. There are a number of other quality razors available for less. The big difference is that razor will last for so long, you'll likely pass it down to your sons or grandsons. This package of Shark blades (50) costs under $5. Again, if you get five shaves per blade using them daily, your blades would last nine to ten months before you have to cough up another five bucks for more. I use a "vintage" razor - a 1961 Gillette Adjustable (commonly known as the "Fat Boy") still working perfectly after 62 years. I tested different blades and loved the results with these Shark blades. Personally, I get four or five great shaves from one of these before tossing it. Some men toss these after three shaves. Why? Because they're CHEAPER than multi-blade cartridges. Personally, I don't shave every day, and I have a goatee, so mine don't wear out very fast. Some blade brands work better in certain razors. If one searches, one will find lots of sample blade packs that allow testing different blades to find the best one. Traditional shaving with these razors and blades is a skill that has to be learned - many men give up after a few tries because of issues like nicks and bleeding. This demonstrates that they need to improve their technique - we all go through that. But I can tell you that I get closer shaves and I *rarely* get even the smallest nick. Almost forgot to mention - one should never use canned shaving creams with these, as they're often nothing more that soapy detergents with some added aroma. Real shaving soaps are used with a brush (also a learned technique) and a single soap puck (like the great Tabac) can last a man for months. See how many shaves you can coax out of a spray can. As I end this review/vent, I want to emphasize that these Shark blades are excellent for the price and a high-quality product. I hope this convinces more men to return to this great tradition. Read more