Great way to start learning to shave like a man!
I've been shaving for twenty five years now. I've used a double-edge safety razor for twenty years, which most people considered old fashioned back in 1991. I found the holder at the drugstore and it was the only time I've ever seen that kind of handle in a regular drugstore even today with the internet resurgence of straight edge popularity. Anyway, I gave up on twin razors and other hi tech gizmosery as soon as I'd started. I'd found that twin disposable razors would clog way too easily and were good for only about two shaves, and they didn't shave that close. I got a Gillette Sensor when they first came out and everyone thought that was pretty slick, but being in college, I could find better ways to spend $10 than on a pack of blades that still clogged after two shaves. I found the above-mentioned handle with the pop out double-edge blade and I'd found immediately that the superiority of that product was instantly clear because you could pop out the blade and rinse it off! Clogging would never be a problem again! I also found, not surprisingly, that one blade worked as well as two, or three, or four or five or whatever the hi tech razors are up to now. In fact, one blade worked even better than anything else because I could get about ten shaves from one double edge blade before the blade was too dull to use. And the blades were CHEAP! $1.00 bought me ten blades in college, which was enough for ten months, or the whole school year. I also bought a shaving brush and soap because, well, that was also super CHEAP compared to aerosol cream. I figured out pretty quickly why there was so much marketing hype and so much "new" shaving technology--the engineering was in how to make a buck since the simple product worked so well. But, I guess I've gotten curious the last couple years or so. I know that there was nothing better on the market than my old Gillette as far as anything in the safety razor realm went. Once the internet opened up, I saw that one could, again, buy new straight razors (before the internet, I have no idea where you'd find one of those. I still have never actually seen one for sale except when I went to Germany) and so I looked and my eyes bugged out at the price. Clearly, there was no way that was going to save me money over my current system, and if straight razors did indeed deliver a superior shave, the initial cost, plus time and energy in maintenance costs just seemed like it wasn't really worth it to me. But I was still curious about how a shave, with the blade straight against the skin would feel. It did seem to me that I could get a closer shave than my old Gillette. So, one day, shopping around on Amazon, I found this and read the reviews and I decided to try it. I'm glad I did! While I won't be throwing my old Gillette away, I'll be shaving with this more often. I have just given myself the smoothest, closest shave I have ever had in my life! My face, truly, has never been this smooth since puberty. Here are some tips: 1. Watch some videos on YouTube or wherever about shaving with a straight razor; 2. Practice just a little bit the first time; 3. Let your subconscious mind work on absorbing the "feel" for a couple of days; 4. Go back and try again. That worked for me. The first time I used this razor two days ago, I was a little scared, admittedly. The way the blade loads takes a little muscle work, which, when you're handling a razor blade, is a little bit intimidating. My double-edge just dropped in and you were done. But this, well, let's just say that you have to use a lot of finger pressure to get the blade to sit right and if you're already nervous, take your time! Anyway, all I did the first time was my cheeks and neck. I finished my chin and moustache area with my Gillette and then I just waited a couple of days for inspiration. When I picked up the blade again today, I shaved my whole face and it went like a charm! I can tell that my skin needs to toughen up a little to get used to the closeness of this blade (which, I remember, my face had to do way back when I got my Gillette), but once it does, it'll really go easy. This time, my skin turned red, but only for a little while. I wouldn't even say it got irritated because there was no lasting effect and my skin is just fine now, about ten minutes after the shave. It's so close, I really don't believe it. Also, my neck, which has always been tough for any safety razor to get nice and smooth, is now just as smooth as everywhere else. That's the best part! Also, no maintenance. Just pop a blade in (well, not quite that easy, but still easy enough) and go. Maybe, if I decide I need to go real fancy in the future, I'll get a "real" straight razor. But I don't know why except just for show. I really can't imagine anything delivering a closer shave than this or designs like this. To be honest, I didn't even go crazy with the prep work, either. I just put some hot water on my face, then the shaving cream, and that was it. I shaved myself almost as fast as I do with my regular Gillette, but I was a little more careful, and voila, it was done. I would say that it was about as easy of a transition I could have imagined. I'm totally hooked! Read more
