Giving up on Cartridge Shaving...
Printed From: Tippmann Paintball
Category: News And Views
Forum Name: Thoughts and Opinions
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URL: http://www.tippmannsports.com/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp?TID=189623
Printed Date: 26 September 2025 at 11:16am
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Topic: Giving up on Cartridge Shaving...
Posted By: *Stealth*
Subject: Giving up on Cartridge Shaving...
Date Posted: 11 December 2011 at 2:45am
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Well, Finally giving in and making the transition... Traditional disposable razors have tore my face apart for long enough. I know quite a few of you use D/Es. So - I seek recommendation for the proper equipment ; Tallen, I'm looking at you here. Tips also welcome. ------------- |
Replies:
Posted By: Rofl_Mao
Date Posted: 11 December 2011 at 3:00am
| Gillette Pro Fusion Power. Fancy name, fancy price, but it really is a comfortable shave. |
Posted By: DaveEllis
Date Posted: 11 December 2011 at 4:05am
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Oh lets ask Tallen because he knows everything. I've been using a Merkur Classic for the past few years. Right now I use Derby blades but go get a sampler pack and find what blade works for you. I would recommend a pure badger brush, Vulfix makes some cheaper ones and it is what I use. Bristle will work but the pure badger is just nice. I use Tabac Shave Soap and Tabac Aftershave...it has a sort of 70s lounge scent that your grandfather probably smelled of, but that's ok because he was a man. It's a buy once cry once thing too, you get what you pay for in terms of hardware. If you want shave cream another nice one is the CO Bigelow stuff from Bath and Body Works...it is merely repackaged Proraso (read nice cream) and sold by Bath and Body Works. Post up what you're looking at and we can discuss, if you want tips on prep and such find the guy "mantic59" on youtube...he has more videos than you'll want to watch on it. Glass rose out.
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Posted By: *Stealth*
Date Posted: 11 December 2011 at 6:36am
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Firstly, it is a widely accepted forum fact that Tallen does, indeed, know everything. Secondly, I appreciate the feedback ;) I understand the whole ordeal to be a good chunk of start up funding; so I was expecting to spend some where in the realm of $200-$250 to get myself all started... I was looking at this http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/284046.htm - http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/284046.htm as the razor... and this http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/800550/422188.htm - http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/800550/422188.htm as a brush... I'm interested in soaps/aftershaves and easily overlooked things etc. Prepare me for what I'm realistically probably not prepared for. ------------- |
Posted By: tallen702
Date Posted: 11 December 2011 at 10:16am
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If you want a closer shave, go with the Merkur slant-bar. It'll irritate your face a lot less. The only reason to go with an open comb is if you want the scruffy look, or if you get ingrown hairs really, really easily. As for the brush, super-badger isn't necessary, but it is nice. Pure badger will work just fine and feel really good. Edwin Jagger makes a good, fairly inexpensive pure-badger brush that is very soft. http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/mens/mens-gifts-mens-gear/mens-skin-care/mens-shaving-supplies/32045.aspx - http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/mens/mens-gifts-mens-gear/mens-skin-care/mens-shaving-supplies/32045.aspx
As for soaps, I find the lambs-fat soaps work the best if you've got sensitive skin. The natural lanolin in them keeps your skin soft and moist. Otherwise, go with a nice Colonel Conk or similar soap. Mind you, the "classic shaving" or "Edwin Jagger" brand soaps are really nice too. As for aftershave, I like The Art of Shaving's lemon scented aftershave lotion. No burn and it moisturizes really well. That said, it's going to take your face a few days to get used to the new razor. Go easy with long "with-the-grain" strokes. That will keep the irritation down to a minimum. As for blades, I'm particular to "Feather" and "Merkur Super Platinum" blades myself. But as Dave said, get a sample pack first and give them a try. Expect to get far more shaves out of a single double-edged blade than you'd ever get out of a cartridge. |
Posted By: Tolgak
Date Posted: 11 December 2011 at 11:30am
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You don't have to spend $100 to get a good razor. I got a 1950s Gillette Superspeed for (IIRC) $20 on eBay. Blades and cheap soap can be found at pharmacies. Keep in mind, the shave is about the prep, not so much the product. Using a brush and hot soap lifts the hair and opens the pores to make it easier to cut. Even the pressurized stuff will work fine if you give your chin a good warm massage first. The shave takes some practice at first, but once you get it right, you'll feel more refreshed than you've ever felt using the cartridges. ------------- 
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Posted By: SSOK
Date Posted: 11 December 2011 at 12:09pm
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I am curious, does one really need a huge expensive setup like Tolgak mentioned? I have always wanted an old school razor, but I dont want to use random soaps and brushes and whatnot. I usually shave using a Mach3 right when I get out of the shower because my pores are nice and open. So long as I don't violently cut myself, Id like to continue using generic shaving cream and an old razor. ------------- 
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Posted By: Lightningbolt
Date Posted: 11 December 2011 at 12:39pm
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Still using the 8-10 year old Panasonic Linear. I keep it clean and it shaves down real smooth. The intricacies of the hobby of shaving does sound like fun though. |
Posted By: choopie911
Date Posted: 11 December 2011 at 5:38pm
| Yeah, cartridge is working nicely for me in terms of time and convenience, and giving me a good close shave. Most of my face is beard, so I dont need anything crazy. |
Posted By: Boss_DJ
Date Posted: 12 December 2011 at 1:14am
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just curious...what's the deal with the shaving soap and brushes? is this preference or required if you're using one of those safety razors...you cant just use a can of barbasol? ------------- 
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Posted By: impulse418
Date Posted: 12 December 2011 at 3:10am
Conformers use barbasol noob. |
Boss_DJ wrote:Posted By: DaveEllis
Date Posted: 12 December 2011 at 4:55am
You can but a lot of the shave is about the prep. With the shave soap you have a wide range of soaps and creams you can choose from in a variety of scents which is nice, I've used everything from Key Lime to Bay Rum and others. The brush lifts up hairs and works the lather into the skin and makes for a better shave. Also with the DE Razor blades you aren't paying for a loss leader like with cartridges. With carttridges sure, the razor itself is cheap but the cartridges are expensive. With DE blades you pay up front for the quality razor then you can pay 10 cents per blade for the rest of your shaving life.
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Posted By: tallen702
Date Posted: 12 December 2011 at 9:24am
QFT. Seriously. How much is a 5pk of "Fusion" or "Mach 3" cartridges going for at the grocery store these days? $13 for five Mach 3 blades is the best I could find at Walgreens. That's $2.60/ catridge, and how long do they actually last? Not long at all. Meanwhile, a 10pk of Feather double-edge blades will run you $0.59/ea and you get two blades for the price of one, which means you're really running at $0.295/ea. Also, since the safety razor blades are sharper, and held to a better cutting angle in the razor, they last longer, require fewer strokes, and don't tear up your face as much. The reason you find 3,4, & 5 blades on a cartridge head is that the cartridges don't allow the blades to flex and conform to the proper shape to shave in one go. Hence, to make for fewer strokes (and thus less irritation) they keep adding blades. All this does is combine 5 strokes (and thus 5 layers of skin being taken off) into one. Whereas with a correctly positioned and sharpened blade on a safety razor, you can get it done in one without the added irritation for less money. |
Posted By: Ceesman762
Date Posted: 12 December 2011 at 9:40am
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Straight edge razor or "Harlem Boxing Glove". Every so often I get a straight razor shave.
------------- Innocence proves nothing FUAC!!!!! |
Posted By: Apu
Date Posted: 12 December 2011 at 12:05pm
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I use Schick Xtreme 3 razors. I used to use a fusion, but as stated the carts are so damn expensive. These come in an 8 pack for like 5-6 bucks and they are actually decent if, again as stated above, you prep right. That being said, this thread has me highly interested in a straight razor/DE kind of blade. My facial hair is thick as nails and really hurts if I don't take the time to prep right. I would definitely be willing in investing in a quality razor, blades, soap, etc. Is it easy to slice your face open though? That's my only worry. ------------- I need a new Sig... |
Posted By: tallen702
Date Posted: 12 December 2011 at 12:12pm
Not really any more easy with a DE Safety Razor than with a cartridge razor. Hence the term "Safety" Razor. With a Straight Razor or Shavette, you've got a lot better chance of slicing yourself up if you don't know what you're doing. It used to be that nearly 75% of the curriculum at barber school was shaving using a straight razor. The other 25% dealt with cutting hair, etc. That should give you an idea of how important it is to learn the right way to take care of your straight razor as well as shaving. That's why Shavettes have become popular alternatives recently. They're a straight razor with a disposable blade. They work really well too. Simply don't need to be honed or sharpened. |
Posted By: Boss_DJ
Date Posted: 12 December 2011 at 1:23pm
I never had any problem with cartridges and Barbasol before but, as you stated, the price for replacements is ridiculous. If I got one of these safety razors, I shouldn't have any problem using Barbasol really? I'm not really that interested in the brushes and soap. -------------
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Posted By: tallen702
Date Posted: 12 December 2011 at 4:11pm
| Nope, no problem using regular shaving cream/gel/foam. However, I will say that squirting some cold foam from a can pales in comparison to the nice hot lather you get with a brush and mug. |