Safety Razors

Ok, I'm tired of shaving with disposable razors and electric shavers. Disposable razors clog up too fast and cost too much to buy ones worth while, and electric razors don't shave close enough and they leave my throat/adam's apple burning after every shave. So I heard online from everybody that safety razors have the best shave for the buck and last a good amount of time before having to replace blades. Therefore I turn to you, oh great T&O forum, to direct me to the best start to a new life of awesome shaving. Where do I start?

P.S. I know there's an older thread about this topic but I'm too lazy to find it.

RoboCop wrote: I like when my razors dull out some. When they are fresh, they cut me up a lot, but after a few uses, they are pain free as long as you don't overshave your face.

Baby face......

If I shave everyday, I'll do 3 passes on one day and 2 passes the second. With the grain, across the grain, against the grain.

If you're having to make more than 2 passes and are having to use alum, you need something other than the closed comb that you have. Merkur's open-comb or slant-bar will give you a closer shave in fewer strokes. I use the open comb and get it done in one against the grain, no in-growns, no nicks or cuts.

Rofl, starter kits like Robo suggested are a good way to go, but if you want to start out on the quick and cheap, a basic DE safety razor is going to be fine with standard shaving cream and some decent blades. There's no need to put down all the cash if you aren't comfortable with the shave.

I like Classic Shaving for most of my needs. Their house-branded stuff is pretty decent as well. Click their "Getting started" drop-down menu button and read up. They have good suggestions in each category as well.

As for blades, I prefer Merkur over Feather. Feather have a much, much sharper edge and tend to cut you a bit more easily when you're first starting out. Merkur are less finely honed meaning you can use more pressure, which you're used to with disposables.

If you don't like what you see on either Robo or my suggested sites, E-Bay is a great place to pick up old Gillette Tech razors for a relatively low price. Just make sure you get them polished up by a metal shop and thoroughly soak them in barbacide before using them.

Thanks for the responses guys. They really helped.

Just gotta scrounge up some dough for the initial buy, then away I go!

I use a Merkur with Merkur blades, only because I haven't ordered feathers online yet. I use some random shave soap I got for free from Art of Shaving. I have some Mach 3's I keep stashed away in case I'm in a hurry, but I use my Merkur frequently. Even though it takes longer, I'd rather spend 5 dollars on 15 blades than 15 dollars on 5 blades.

DaveEllis wrote: Right now my current soap choice is between Mitchell's Wool Fat and RazoRock Lily of the Valley

Mitchell's Wool Fat is the shiznit. A bit expensive compared to the basics, but totally worth it.

*Stealth* wrote: I shave with a Merkur Slant Bar and feather blades. I use Proraso soup, and Captians Choice Bay Rum aftershave. Occasional use of an alum block. I shave every day and have found I hardly take longer than I would with a Mach now.

I use a 1940's Gillette Tech, Edwin Jagger Badger brush, and Proraso's sensitive skin soap which is pretty awesome stuff.  Currently working my way through a blade sampler pack to see what I like best; so far, it's been Astras.  Yet to use the Feathers though.

How are the open comb compared to the slant bar (or whatever they're called) types?

I don't know how everyone else's experiences are, but I get 100000x less ingrowns after going from a cartridge to just a slant bar - far from miserable here.  Might be in part to non-aggressive Tech and blades though, and i also don't go against the grain (just with- and cross-grain).

Yomillio wrote: I don't know how everyone else's experiences are, but I get 100000x less ingrowns after going from a cartridge to just a slant bar - far from miserable here.  Might be in part to non-aggressive Tech and blades though, and i also don't go against the grain (just with- and cross-grain).