Thanks for the input everyone; I think I'm going to have to try out a double-edged safety razor.

I've pretty much only used electric shavers in the past, only occasionally using a disposable razor, which I was never that keen on. I didn't really know about all the different forms of manual razors, and it looks like the double-edge safety razor might be a bit more serious and more up to the task than the crappy disposables that I've tried.