NOS88

My youngest son was mystified at my excitement when my new double edge razor finally arrived yesterday. He couldn’t believe I would take, in his words, such a relic to my skin. I tried to convince him that if used properly, a good double edge razor will give as good, or a better shave than any of the modern razors out there. And, yes, we are talking about faces and legs. He did, however, show some interest when I told him how much I’ll spend on blades versus what he’ll spend on cartridges. I then made the argument that a good double edge razor will last 30+ years. His response was to look at his mother and say, “Dad thinks he’s going to live forever. He buys titanium bikes and 30 year razors.” What surprised me the most was my pitch that shaving should be a Zen kind of experience was the thing for which he showed the most interest. My wife watched this entire interaction with a grin on her face. I finally asked her what she was grinning about. Her reply, “It really must be spring; you’re getting ready to shave your legs again.”

Just out of curiosity, how many of you use a double edge razor?

Retro Grouch 

After reading the title I thought "I'm definitely going to agree with this." Alas, I tend toward retro, but I have to draw the line someplace. I have hairy legs too.

qcpmsame 

Agreed, I am looking around at some double edged razors to return to them, I learned to shave with one. My dad swore I would regret using one for some reason. I helped our son find a nice DE set up and got him started using his DE. I have my shaving mug and brush still, I got him into the soap/brush/mug activities too. he now swears by his DE razor and a good lather from his brush. No shaved legs for me, I would need a lawn mower to cut the thick and heavy wires I have.

Bill

jimmuller 

Razor? What's that?

I prefer a double-edged wrench!

Dudelsack 

If you ride L'Eroica you can only take a straight razor with you.

BlazingPedals

I'm firmly in the 'new' camp for razors. I usually use a cordless rotary shaver; but when I use a blade, the multi-blade systems are much more comfortable. In fact, my favorite blade is those 5-blade cartridges.

Dudelsack 

Truth be told, the best shave I've gotten is when I used my wife's Venus razors.

Biker395 

You mean something like this?



I didn't know they were still sold!

My favorite razor is the Gillette Fusion:



Yes, it has ... count 'em ... FIVE blades. But that's not why I like it. I like it because it lasts a LONG time. I typically use one every day for a couple of months before it's too dull to use anymore. Disposable razors ... maybe a week or two, at best.

I dunno why they outlast the others by such a wide margin, but I think the difference is that they expel shaved material a lot more efficiently than the others. Look into the blades there and you can see right through to the other side.

Shamrock

What museum sells DE Smithsonian?I use what ever disposal is on sale but I don't like BIC.It seems when I find a razor I like after a while the blades or razor are unavailable.For the past couple of years I've been shaving like this.My son showed me.In the shower lather face with soap and shave.At first it is strange not looking at a mirror but you get used to it.Haven't bought shaving cream in years.Yet I shaved some time off the AM bathroom routine.

NOS88

When traveling I use the Fusion. I think it’s not a bad razor at all; it’s just a bit expensive. I only get about 5 or 6 decent shaves out of a cartridge. Part of the reason many people experience this razor as better than some of the other multiple blade systems is that the blades are locked in so they can’t flex. If you look at other systems you’ll see that it’s possible for the blade to flex because there is nothing stabilizing the blade along its length. All in all, I get a much closer shave with the double edge safety razor

NOS88

Actually, they're plentiful and pretty easy to get.

https://www.amazon.com/Double-Edge-Sa...R3QN1ZGDLLQ3RX

mtn.cyclist

I have been, somewhat reluctantly, using an electric razor for the last 3-4 years. I have a goatee and mustache but as of tomorrow I am going to grow a full beard.

JohnDThompson 

What!? I can't use my Campagnolo folding razor from the 1981 trade shows?



That settles it, I'm getting a refund!

JamieElenbaas

Seriously? I do not miss the little bloody piece of toilet paper on my chin three out of five days and disposing of those deadly little pieces of metal every week. I get 15 or 20 gloriously smooth shaves out of fusion razors and would never go back to the 'good old days' of 'safety razors'.

John E

Yup -- just my trusty Wahl Groomsman beard trimmer. At 25 years, I guess it is starting to qualify as retro.

fietsbob

even just 2 blades in a cartridge is retro, judging by the current marketing machine.
I got the handle and a pack of cartridge-blade spares on closeout.

[shave in the shower, myself]

Shamrock

My first house a victorian had a hole in the bottom of the med cabinet.Took awhile to figure out what it was for.It was a slot for used razor blades.

Gerryattrick

A bit like my bike collection, a mix of retro and modern and styles.

Electric shaver daily for convenience.

A Fusion for getting that bit closer than the electric will do or when I haven't shaved for a few days.

But I also use an old double edge Gillette that belonged to my Grandad, is at least 50 years old, and shaves as cleanly as the Fusion but is much better for accuracy in areas such as sideburns and neck shaves.

NOS88

I've lived in four different houses with slots for used blades. I've since wondered if such houses would qualify as medical waste hazards sites.

spoiledone

Started using a DE about 4 years ago after frustration with the 2 - 4 blade razors that would leave my face a mess.
I have real stubble and the disposal cartridge razors would just leave me with razor burn and in-grown hairs.
Nothing beats a good DE razor with some Proraso shave cream whipped up in a mug with a shaving brush!
My face has been smooth and razor burn free for the last 4 years.
I use a Edwin Jagger DE89L or a Merkur Futur (Futur shaving brush as well) with Red Personna blades or Feathers depending on how careful I want to be.
I get 100 blades for about $10 - $15.00 that last well over 6 months.

qcpmsame 

I am using a Fusion right now, I get ripped up no matter how carefully I shave with it. Buying a new DE razor is easy, Amazon, eBay as well as several on-line stores for men's shaving products have them. Some of the high end retail department stores carry them too. My son and I used a men's specialty on-line store for his Merkur set up last year. Blades are available, too, easily. Their are even trimming DE razors for beards and mustaches if that is you need. The good blades make the difference in the quality of the shave. Metallurgy has brought the blade into the 21st century. Watch for most of the Russian made blades, however, their quality is questionable and reputation is really bad.

Electric shavers have not ever shaved me well, I had a nice triple head Norelco as a teenager, at my father's insistence. It dulled faster than I thought possible, the store he bought it from told him some beards are just too heavy. Mine is exceptionally heavy and wiry, I could shave twice a day if I had to, easily, it is a pain to keep a neat appearance for my taste. I own one now for when I am in hospital so I can shave without a lot of extra effort while I have multiple IV in my arms and chest/neck. I have let things grow in hospital while I was in serious or critical condition and could not realize where I was let alone shave, my beard grows very fast, and I try to keep my hair cut and my face shaved, neatly and well. I'll gladly take a little extra time shaving to do it right and I only use a men's barber shop with experienced barbers (for many, many years now.)

Bill

Rick@OCRR

I use a Gillette Mach 3, which is about 15 years old, so not really old enough to be "retro" but not Fusion new either.

Guess it would be about the same vintage as Shimano STI 8-Spd.

Works for me! Shave my head, my face (okay, technically my face part of my head!) and my legs . . . all in the shower.

Rick / OCRR

TiHabanero

Been using an electric rotary unit since 1992. The first one cost 25 bucks, plugged into the wall and the original rotary blades lasted 12 years. Couldn't buy replacement blade for that model so I bought a new one for 35 bucks in 2004 that plugs into the wall and still on the original blade head. Seems to me 60 bucks for the convenience and no facial cuts is the way to go.

EdgewaterDude

I use a 1960's Schick Krona which I have inherited from my grandfather. I prefer Derby blades, as well.

I also have a Dovo straight razor which I use once a week or so, too. While it does provide a nice shave, I believe using these 'vintage' pieces with the lather and brush is therapeutic in a way (which is why we ride bikes, too, right?)

Sixty Fiver

I use a Gillette Fatboy which is 63 years old, the blades are inexpensive if you know where to look, and the stropper extends their life even further.



My wife likes things drag queen smooth... my stubble can be used to scour pots and pans.