Not better, different. The open comb shine when it come to shave a 3-4 days growth, it chanel the rebel whiskers (Or if you have a beard that grow in random directions). That's my IMHO
Yup, spot on. An open comb razor will fly through longer growth no problem at all. I can go a week or longer without shaving and my open comb merkur will get me back to super smooth in 2 passes with no need for trimming or reduction first.
On the other side, it's not a daily driver. It's not meant for those who shave everyday, see it as a grooming tool.
I have to agree, its great at taking off a few days of growth but way to harsh for daily use. I may try it with an astra blade and see if that makes it more usable on a daily basis but for now, its my ej 89 for anthing less than 3 days growth. Still, its a bargin and well worth trying out.
Just did a 3 pass shave trying a new merkur blade and proraso shaving soap. Best shave I've had yet. The first lather with Proraso was okay (didn't soak the brush long enough) but it had a nice tingly feeling and 1st pass felt normal. 2nd and 3rd pass were amazing, once the brush had soaked for long enough it lathered very well and the tingly feeling was awesome. The smell reminds me of a barber shop that I used to go to when I was a kid and though I'm not crazy about the smell, aftershave can take care of that. The Proraso is also cheaper than the other stuff that I was using, and works much better so I am very happy.
Here's a trick, I always soak my brush while i'm In the shower. Like so, its ready when I get out Simple and obvious but efficient. On another note, I'm heading for the post office right now. I have to take delivery of 50 vintage 'Gillette Française Inoxidable' from 1971 and meantime I'll post a Fatboy and Super Speed for restoration. I'll post a pic of these 2 when they'll be back.
So everyone, I'm finally going to need to start shaving soon, and I've always had my eye on this safety razor thread. What I want to know are the advantages of a safety razor, and if I'm able to start shaving with one straight away. If so, any recommendations would be nice please. Something old would be nice. Can you also recommend me a good pack of blades and lather to go with it please? Thanks.
The main advantage is in how different razors work. The modern, multi blade jobbies work on a process called hysteresis whereby they pull the hair out of the follicle, cut it then let the cut end slide back under the surface of the skin (you can clearly see this on the ads for them). This is a great recipe for a very smooth finish and also a fantastic recipe for infections, spots and ingrown hairs. A safety razor works by simply cutting the hair as cleanly as possible, as close as possible to the skin and they do this by having blades that are soooooo much sharper than the multi blade ones. Another HUGE advantage of a safety razor over a cartridge one is in terms of cost. Sure the razor itself will cost more but it will normally be made of either brass or stainless steel so is built to last (my go to razor is over 50 years old and still looks like new) but the blades cost pennies and often last just as long as a cartridge. A lot of guys also grow to love the ritual that goes along with a proper wet shave, it's a time to relax, take your time and have some you time. There is a definite art to doing things the right way, be that whipping up the perfect lather or preparing your skin beforehand to the various techniques of actually using the razor. Having said that, this also means that there is a lot to get hung up on for the new shaver and this is one point that you may come unstuck on. Just take your time, practice and give your skin time to recover in between shaves. Also, hoover up any and all information you can on the subject, watch videos, learn and read from people with experience and enjoy yourself. Oh, one more thing, you will cut yourself. Plenty. To start with that is, then you will cut yourself less until a nick or scratch is a rarity and you are just left with a smooth finish and better skin as a result of doing things properly.
if you want to begin with something vintage, take something mild like a Tech or a Super Speed. PS: Mild doesn't mean bad, some shaver need something agressive because they have a coarse beard while other have a soft beard and need mildness.
A pack of blades worth getting to start out with is a sample pack with plenty of types in. What works for one razor might not be great with another, even if both razors are the same model. As for razors to look at, new ones I would look at merkurs and as the swordsman says, a tech or superspeed are ideal for vintage ones, nice a simple, mild gap setting (I started with a '70s aluminium handled tech) and pretty easy to get hold of. For lathers, my current favourite is Talyors of Old Bond Street with a badger brush. A pure badger brush is a good starting point, they are relatively cheap and work very well. You can always upgrade to a best badger or silvertip as you go along.
About the blades, I say be bold ! Get a bulk of Polsilver Super Iridium, there is no possible way you'll regret it. As for the soaps, my current favorite one is 'Monsavon au Lait - Bol à Raser' it's tallow based soap from France, I know it's available in UK for 3 or 4quid. You could also get Mitchell Wool Fat or Taylor of Old Bond Street (as Almightyrastus suggested) the Sandalwood version is a solid value.
I'd also like to add that many people have had a more comfortable shave with safety razors. In my experience, The extra 5 - 10 minutes that the safety razor takes is worth it, I find the process much more relaxing than using the cartridge, and no razor burn or any real tugging / irritation anymore. I'm very happy I made the switch a few months ago.
I've been using proaso red for the last few days. So far I'm not quite as impressed as I thought I would be.
badgerandbalde is the holy bible of wet shaving. I'll try find something for you. EDIT:http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Interactive_Guide_to_DE_Razor_Shaving Geofatboy does some great youtube videos. You should have a look at them as well.
