Foo - How come it's so expensive just to shave?

Just paid $8.21 for a package of 4 cartridges of the Mach Turbo III blades. :mad: Opening the package I find these cartridges made of plastic and light-weight metal. Why so expensive? It seems it shouldn't cost very much to produce.

What happened to the days of the old west when you would pay .15 cent and have barber actually do the work for you?

http://www.1americanatrail.com/images/BARBSHOP.JPG

Maybe I should just grow a beard?

Just paid $8.21 for a package of 4 cartidges of the Mach Turbo III blades. :mad: Opening the package I find these cartidges made of plastic and light-weight metal. Why so expensive? It seems it shouldn't cost very much to produce.

Profits me boy, Profits. That is why they give you a free razor so you will be suckered into buying their expensive blades. FWIW I use an electric razor during the week and typically only shave every other day.


What happened to the days of the old west when you would pay .15 cent and have barber actually do the work for you? yep and the average pay for a cowpoke was probably 25 cents a day...that is why they only got a shave once a month when they went into town:p

I also use an old straight razor and shaving soap from a mug when I really want to clean up:eek: :D

Aaron:)

Uh-Oh....wait until Catatonic gets to this thread....youz gonna get some shave lessons!!

Dude, www.classicshaving.com

Go buy a double edge razor (aka safety razor), and un-learn the bad habits cartridge shaving allows you to pull off. It may be easier to get cut, but once you get used to it, it's far cheaper, and far more comfortable. A 10-pack of Merkur blades is under $5 there. That's 20 shaving edges, since there is an edge on each side of the blade, so there is quite a value there.

And go to Target, towards the cosmetics section....around there will be a Men's spa area. Check out Proraso. Buy the brush, some soap or Creme (both will lather well), and if you get cream, go buy a basic mug or bowl for use in making lather. Oh, and get their after shave balm....it's alcohol free, so it won't irritate your skin, or cause discomfort in direct sunlight.

the brush and proper cream/soap (aerosol can stuff is crap), are the single largest factors in shave comfort. The brush makes the lather, pushes the lather under the hairs, and exfoliates the skin, while the cream lubricates, and in the case of the Proraso cream, also provides a nice skin-soothing effect.

Just paid $8.21 for a package of 4 cartidges of the Mach Turbo III blades. :mad: Opening the package I find these cartidges made of plastic and light-weight metal. Why so expensive? It seems it shouldn't cost very much to produce.
Maybe I should just grow a beard?

If you shave your legs as well, the blades wear out even faster and you end up replacing the blade one or twice a week.

Dude, www.classicshaving.com

Go buy a double edge razor (aka safety razor), and un-learn the bad habits cartridge shaving allows you to pull off. It may be easier to get cut, but once you get used to it, it's far cheaper, and far more comfortable. A 10-pack of Merkur blades is under $5 there. That's 20 shaving edges, since there is an edge on each side of the blade, so there is quite a value there.

And go to Target, towards the cosmetics section....around there will be a Men's spa area. Check out Proraso. Buy the brush, some soap or Creme (both will lather well), and if you get cream, go buy a basic mug or bowl for use in making lather. Oh, and get their after shave balm....it's alcohol free, so it won't irritate your skin, or cause discomfort in direct sunlight.

the brush and proper cream/soap (aerosol can stuff is crap), are the single largest factors in shave comfort. The brush makes the lather, pushes the lather under the hairs, and exfoliates the skin, while the cream lubricates, and in the case of the Proraso cream, also provides a nice skin-soothing effect.

Thanks, :) Can razors be returned? Will check it out...

Dude, www.classicshaving.com

Go buy a double edge razor (aka safety razor), and un-learn the bad habits cartridge shaving allows you to pull off. It may be easier to get cut, but once you get used to it, it's far cheaper, and far more comfortable. A 10-pack of Merkur blades is under $5 there. That's 20 shaving edges, since there is an edge on each side of the blade, so there is quite a value there.

And go to Target, towards the cosmetics section....around there will be a Men's spa area. Check out Proraso. Buy the brush, some soap or Creme (both will lather well), and if you get cream, go buy a basic mug or bowl for use in making lather. Oh, and get their after shave balm....it's alcohol free, so it won't irritate your skin, or cause discomfort in direct sunlight.

the brush and proper cream/soap (aerosol can stuff is crap), are the single largest factors in shave comfort. The brush makes the lather, pushes the lather under the hairs, and exfoliates the skin, while the cream lubricates, and in the case of the Proraso cream, also provides a nice skin-soothing effect.


How cool is this!!!
I use to shave with the safety razor and double edge blades, "Man O Man" some 30 years ago and just kind of went along the mainstream, switched and started using the crap that is being sold now.

Gonna put an order in right now. Big Thank-You

Wow just kind of forgot about how well and what a close shave these gave.

Dude, www.classicshaving.com



+1 Thanks for that link

Aaron:)

Dude, www.classicshaving.com

Go buy a double edge razor (aka safety razor), and un-learn the bad habits cartridge shaving allows you to pull off.

Some of us don't have an hour to shave before work/school everyday ... :)

Maybe I should just grow a beard?
You should grow a beard, but don't forget to trim the thing from time to time.

Dude, www.classicshaving.com

+1

You just got me hooked.... now the question safety or straight edge?

You should grow a beard, but don't forget to trim the thing from time to time.

or else you'll look like this...
http://home.online.no/~rsvensse/fun-catolddays.jpg

:D
Dude, www.classicshaving.com

Go buy a double edge razor (aka safety razor), and un-learn the bad habits cartridge shaving allows you to pull off. It may be easier to get cut, but once you get used to it, it's far cheaper, and far more comfortable. A 10-pack of Merkur blades is under $5 there. That's 20 shaving edges, since there is an edge on each side of the blade, so there is quite a value there.

And go to Target, towards the cosmetics section....around there will be a Men's spa area. Check out Proraso. Buy the brush, some soap or Creme (both will lather well), and if you get cream, go buy a basic mug or bowl for use in making lather. Oh, and get their after shave balm....it's alcohol free, so it won't irritate your skin, or cause discomfort in direct sunlight.

the brush and proper cream/soap (aerosol can stuff is crap), are the single largest factors in shave comfort. The brush makes the lather, pushes the lather under the hairs, and exfoliates the skin, while the cream lubricates, and in the case of the Proraso cream, also provides a nice skin-soothing effect.

Since I did grow up in the roadie forum before moving to FOO, I cannot resist the urge to yell

SHILL

J/k

My dad would send me razors when he got bored with them (he's compulsive) so I had 3 Mach3's including a turbo I also had a 4 blade by some other brand and I kept finding it wasnt doing the job. Then when I moved to shaving my head too, it took even longer. I moved to disposable bic's and have been very very happy with them. You dont have to worry about losing them, they are light, and for me have done quite a good job. When I shaved my head I had to replace them more often, but for having a pretty course beard they lasted a long time.

I'd love to learn how to use a straight razor though

Just paid $8.21 for a package of 4 cartidges of the Mach Turbo III blades. :mad: Opening the package I find these cartidges made of plastic and light-weight metal. Why so expensive? It seems it shouldn't cost very much to produce.

What happened to the days of the old west when you would pay .15 cent and have barber actually do the work for you?

http://www.1americanatrail.com/images/BARBSHOP.JPG

Maybe I should just grow a beard?
My brother was talking about this and doctors and how all docotrs should be shot in public.

I shave my head, face and neck every day. I go to Wally World and buy the Personna twin-blade pivot razors (Equivalent to Gillette Good News or Custom Plus) for $ 1.97 for a pack of ten. Target sells essentially the same item for $ 3.16 for a pack of ten. I use one razor per week and use either shave oil or Trader Joe's aloe vera shave gel. I used to use a high-end Panasonic wet/dry electric shaver, but that $ 105 shaver cannot do as good a job as the $ 0.20 razor.

I shave my head, face and neck every day. I go to Wally World and buy the Personna twin-blade pivot razors (Equivalent to Gillette Good News or Custom Plus) for $ 1.97 for a pack of ten. Target sells essentially the same item for $ 3.16 for a pack of ten. I use one razor per week and use either shave oil or Trader Joe's aloe vera shave gel. I used to use a high-end Panasonic wet/dry electric shaver, but that $ 105 shaver cannot do as good a job as the $ 0.20 razor.
Target - Get More Pay Less
:p

or else you'll look like this...
http://home.online.no/~rsvensse/fun-catolddays.jpg
mom?

Just paid $8.21 for a package of 4 cartidges of the Mach Turbo III blades. :mad: Opening the package I find these cartidges made of plastic and light-weight metal. Why so expensive? It seems it shouldn't cost very much to produce.

What happened to the days of the old west when you would pay .15 cent and have barber actually do the work for you?

http://www.1americanatrail.com/images/BARBSHOP.JPG

Maybe I should just grow a beard?

check out the dog on the right looking up at the cat!

Just paid $8.21 for a package of 4 cartidges of the Mach Turbo III blades. :mad: Opening the package I find these cartidges made of plastic and light-weight metal. Why so expensive? It seems it shouldn't cost very much to produce.

What happened to the days of the old west when you would pay .15 cent and have barber actually do the work for you?
quality... speed... low-cost
Pick any two...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/DannoXYZ/Humour/RazorQuintippio_2.jpghttp://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/DannoXYZ/Humour/RazorQuintippio_4.jpg


The Gilette business-model is highly profitable. Check out the same scheme they're doing with ink-jet printers & ink-cartridges... in many cases just a set of cartridges will cost you more than the printer itself! :eek:

I'm still using a 30 year old single-blade, single-edge injector razor. It still works as good as new and I've never had better results with any multi-blade cartridge razor. I've also got a couple of old school double edge razors around for backup, and I use disposables occassionally when traveling.

check out the dog on the right looking up at the cat!

and is that a raccoon in the far left second story window?

Bah, it doesn't have to take an hour....I use a straight razor, and can shave in under 30mins...and those require very careful movements. If it bugs you so much, shave before bed.

Just don't go for baby bottom smooth (BBS) the first few times, you have to learn the grain of your face to be effective with wetshaving.

and a good forum for wetshaving: www.badgerandblade.com

I'll slap you if you can't figure out who I am there, fo` shizzle. :p


edit: here's some links to some pics of my straight shaving setup:

My brush, cream, pre/post-shave cream, styptic pencil, splash and blam aftershaves. (all of those products can be found in either target, or a drugstore, with exception of the brush holder)...oh, and my razor :) (which also cannot be bought at Target....damn them)
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/catatonic_cyclist/badgernblade/?action=view&current=DSCN0092.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch5

My bathroom counter of whisker slaughter, note the leather strop hanging from under the counter (for straight razors), and the white porcelain mug I use for making my lather. The bottle is for adding water to the lather, since I lose a lot of lather when I re-wet the brush:
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/catatonic_cyclist/badgernblade/?action=view&current=DSCN0098.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch1

My dad would send me razors when he got bored with them (he's compulsive) so I had 3 Mach3's including a turbo I also had a 4 blade by some other brand and I kept finding it wasnt doing the job. Then when I moved to shaving my head too, it took even longer. I moved to disposable bic's and have been very very happy with them. You dont have to worry about losing them, they are light, and for me have done quite a good job. When I shaved my head I had to replace them more often, but for having a pretty course beard they lasted a long time.

I'd love to learn how to use a straight razor though


It's easy, just go find a nice used straight on ebay (NO blade damage allowed until you learn how to critque a blade edge...it must be perfectly smooth, no nicks in the photos)....avoid the "new" razors. Look for Soligen or shieffield steel, as they are both very high quality steel types, and indicitive of a good razor. Henckels, Dovo, Theirs-Isaard, Dubl Duck (p-r-i-c-e-y), philharmonica, Lakeside, Kain-Abel, Boker, and many others pu out great straight razors....well Dubl Duck and Philharmonica have stopped making razors, as have most of those brands, but a good straight can practically be an heirloom if maintained right.

Once you get it, go to www.straightrazorplace.com, and find a honemeister to talk to aobut getting it sharpened. While you are there read up on everything they talk about on straight razors. Many of those folks are experts in straight razor crafting and maintenance.

badger&blade (www.badger and blade.com) is another good place to read up some on straight razor shaving, but for the more technical maintenance issues, will often route you to straight razor place.

How cool is this!!!
I use to shave with the safety razor and double edge blades, "Man O Man" some 30 years ago and just kind of went along the mainstream, switched and started using the crap that is being sold now.

Gonna put an order in right now. Big Thank-You

Wow just kind of forgot about how well and what a close shave these gave.


Oh, and if you want some awesome shave creams and stuff at a local store, look for a crabtree & evelyn (very large beauty product chain) near you. I have their Nomad shaving cream, and the smell is amazing. I'm about ready to get matching aftershave balm and soaps.

Oh, and if you want some awesome shave creams and stuff at a local store, look for a crabtree & evelyn (very large beauty product chain) near you. I have their Nomad shaving cream, and the smell is amazing. I'm about ready to get matching aftershave balm and soaps.


You turning all girly on us, Cat? :eek: You gotta stop hanging with Slvoid and his sparkly lotion potion. :D

quality... speed... low-cost
Pick any two...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/DannoXYZ/Humour/RazorQuintippio_2.jpghttp://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/DannoXYZ/Humour/RazorQuintippio_4.jpg


The Gilette business-model is highly profitable. Check out the same scheme they're doing with ink-jet printers & ink-cartridges... in many cases just a set of cartridges will cost you more than the printer itself! :eek:


Hahahhahah! The look on that guy's face is priceless! :D

The amazing thing about BF'S is you post a question and almost always get a better answer than you expected. :)

I hate shaving....period

I use a mach 3 turbo.

I'm cursed with a tough beard and I kill a bic in 1.5 shaves :(.

I use an electric titanium bladed remington shaver. So far, the 15 dollar blades have lasted 3 months.

You turning all girly on us, Cat? :eek: You gotta stop hanging with Slvoid and his sparkly lotion potion. :D


Nah, I just like the scent, it's better than the smell of Dial. Heck, a beefy fart is almost better that the smell of Dial.

I use a mach 3 turbo.

I'm cursed with a tough beard and I kill a bic in 1.5 shaves :(.

Me too. I bought a pack of 20 or 25 blades at Costo last year and still have a few left.
Of course I shave every other day so that's why they've lasted so long.

I hate shaving....periodDon't shave then, wax instead! http://www.ebodywax.com

I use the two-blade Sensor excel blades. Think they're about $15 for 10. Between shaving my head and my face 2-3 times a week, I go through about 1 blade per week. I think I remember them being about a $1/blade, but I guess the price went up.

I tried some of those creams that 'burn' the hair a way, but they don't seem to work very well. I've used electrics but the quality of the shave sucks, even though I only shave every other day.

It's easy, just go find a nice used straight on ebay (NO blade damage allowed until you learn how to critque a blade edge...it must be perfectly smooth, no nicks in the photos)....avoid the "new" razors. Look for Soligen or shieffield steel, as they are both very high quality steel types, and indicitive of a good razor. Henckels, Dovo, Theirs-Isaard, Dubl Duck (p-r-i-c-e-y), philharmonica, Lakeside, Kain-Abel, Boker, and many others pu out great straight razors....well Dubl Duck and Philharmonica have stopped making razors, as have most of those brands, but a good straight can practically be an heirloom if maintained right.

+10

- i have a 7-day straight razor collection, along with many antique blades (one of my best shaves comes from a 150-year-old U.S.-made razor!)...

- a little badger brush and some Old Bay Rum soap, and my face is a smooth, happy camper!

- my favorite vendor (good folks):

http://www.shavingsupplies.com/

p.s. you can also ask the wife unit if she wants a nice shave too - smooth legs - and lots of fun!

Here's another way to shave: ShaveWithFire.wmv (http://dannoxyz.videobloggers.org/blog/dannoxyz/resource/miscvideos/download/ShaveWithFire.wmv)

I used to know a girl who shaved her pubes with fire. She swore by it. Said she would smack the fire out before skin got burned.

Dude, www.classicshaving.com

Go buy a double edge razor (aka safety razor), and un-learn the bad habits cartridge shaving allows you to pull off. It may be easier to get cut, but once you get used to it, it's far cheaper, and far more comfortable. A 10-pack of Merkur blades is under $5 there. That's 20 shaving edges, since there is an edge on each side of the blade, so there is quite a value there.

And go to Target, towards the cosmetics section....around there will be a Men's spa area. Check out Proraso. Buy the brush, some soap or Creme (both will lather well), and if you get cream, go buy a basic mug or bowl for use in making lather. Oh, and get their after shave balm....it's alcohol free, so it won't irritate your skin, or cause discomfort in direct sunlight.

the brush and proper cream/soap (aerosol can stuff is crap), are the single largest factors in shave comfort. The brush makes the lather, pushes the lather under the hairs, and exfoliates the skin, while the cream lubricates, and in the case of the Proraso cream, also provides a nice skin-soothing effect.

Yes, hell yes! I have shaved with a safety razor for a while now. $1.36 for 10 blades that last longer! I'll have to check out what target has.

Some of us don't have an hour to shave before work/school everyday ... :)

If it takes you an hour to shave, then something is wrong. It takes me five to seven minutes.

Oh, you'll like the Proraso line Target has. The brush is boar bristle, which is considered lower end than Badger (I'm on the verge of getting my first badger brush), but it's possibly the best boar brush out there (it's a repackaged Omega Professional...HUGE, but very nice when broken in). That's the brush that's in my shaving gear pic.

I have both the Proraso soap, and green tube creme (red tube creme is wheat germ based, for sensitive skin....for some reason Target doesn't carry it). The green tube gives me better lather, but the soap is far slicker. I do suck at making lather though, so it may get better as I do :p

Just hope you are fond of eucalyptus scents, since that's what the proraso line revolves around....eucalyptus oil.

OH, and for first time straight razor users....DO NOT BUy ILLINOIS STROPS. They are great once broken in, but they all need serious resurfacing work anymore due to QC issues there. Just get a Jamico, Dovo, or one from "wellshavedgentleman" (he makes very low price, extremely nice strops...I should have bought form him instead of buying a Dovo and an Illinois)

I used to know a girl who shaved her pubes with fire. She swore by it. Said she would smack the fire out before skin got burned.

She never had to worry about crabs, either!

I think there is a hygeine issue with respect to barber shop shaves. I don't know if it's real or imagined, i.e. if there are any documented cases among licensed barbers of transmission hepatitis or AIDS or whatever can presumably be transmitted. It seems no more of a risk than a public manicurist and they still operate in most beauty salons and a few barber shops.

As recently as last December, a barber in Ontario, Canada used a razor to neaten up my haircut, so it's not some big public health threat.

An antique shop (fancy thrift store) in Idaho, had a lot of barber shop stuff and I found a great old double strop with brass hardware for a few dollars. The $2.50 price was still stamped on it from some time in the early twentieth century.

I used to know a girl who shaved her pubes with fire. She swore by it. Said she would smack the fire out before skin got burned.

Yuck. Burning hair smells reaally bad.

I knew someone who once cut off a piece of his dread lock and burnt it for the fun of it... it stank so bad... looked as bad as well.

But maybe its the bacteria an residual oil in his hair thats causing the smell... don't htink he washses his hair ... :eek:

it's turbo
dahhh?

I think there is a hygeine issue with respect to barber shop shaves. I don't know if it's real or imagined, i.e. if there are any documented cases among licensed barbers of transmission hepatitis or AIDS or whatever can presumably be transmitted. It seems no more of a risk than a public manicurist and they still operate in most beauty salons and a few barber shops.

As recently as last December, a barber in Ontario, Canada used a razor to neaten up my haircut, so it's not some big public health threat.

An antique shop (fancy thrift store) in Idaho, had a lot of barber shop stuff and I found a great old double strop with brass hardware for a few dollars. The $2.50 price was still stamped on it from some time in the early twentieth century.

If you notice, most barbershop straight razors are either dipped or wiped down with antiseptics after each use.

I remember something about straight razor shaves being outlawed in new orleans though, as a result of concern about safety of using the same blade on multiple customers.

Plus many barbers now use replacable blade straights, like the feather AC, or the Dovo Shavette. That removes much of the sanitation issue as well as the blade maintenance issues.

If you notice, most barbershop straight razors are either dipped or wiped down with antiseptics after each use....


Also, they used to be put under ultra violet light in a glass case designed for the purpose. Haven't seen one of those in a while.

I've grown a beard since I last posted in this thread...

I feel sorry for guys sometimes...

Shave my legs maybe 3 times a week, underarms, etc - just no face! :) - Don't need to do that!

Mandy