Razor Blades

[Powers77]

I've been using Gillette Sensor blades for longer than I care to admit. I've always been pretty happy with the results.

The last batch I bought have been crap. I've always used them for quite a while and they would eventually start to wear out. This set, use them a couple times and they go from working pretty well to ripping the hair out of you face from one use to the next.

 

Anyone else notice a dramatic change in these?

Perhaps I just got a bad batch?

Or has Gillette modified the product in order to increase sales?

[George Brown]

Or has Gillette modified the product in order to increase sales?

This has been my experience with Gillette in the past - once they have added one or two generations of newer systems, quality seems to drop off with the older products. P&G now owns Gillette and I havd been wondering if this pratice was going to continue.

[enfoman]

Gillette Products IMO sucks! I went to Shick injector blades when I was welped and growing hair in 8TH grade and kept with them. I have had the same issues above with Gillette and it seems that If the store has no Shick ST2 blades (which I use now) I would tend to purchase .... EDGADS!!.... a BIC single edged razor.

[RodB]

Speaking of razor blades, I'd like an opinion from anybody who uses the traditional double edge safety razor blade; what is your favorite?

[Redbrick]

My favorite........

 

[Quinn]

Rolls Razor.

 

http://www.shaveworld.org/home/images/RollsPage2.html

 

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[Redbrick]

Rolls Razor.

 

http://www.shaveworld.org/home/images/RollsPage2.html

 

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My dad had one of these handed down from his father....Really a work of art in metal......Wonder what happened to it?........

[yabadabapal]

Im getting ready to plunk down some coin for a stright edge razor with a leather strap for shrpening. My barber, ( a real barber, I do not go to hair salons) is going to show me how to use it. Ill take a picture of my face before I use it for the first time just in case.

[hANNAbONE]

pANASONIC makes a very interesting powered razor.

 

A friend let me try his and it was ... stellar

 

I come from the Norelco camp myself, but might consider changing.

 

I've had "Braun" but didn't like it.

[barryd]

Speaking of razor blades, I'd like an opinion from anybody who uses the traditional double edge safety razor blade; what is your favorite?

 

I use a Merkur Futur that I bought a few years ago. Finally got fed up with the product churn and the costs/hassles of locating the right cartridges for Gillete system razors.

 

The razor was expensive, but paid off in lower "operating costs" in less than a year. Even premium blades are a fraction of the cost of any of the "system" blades.

 

The only downside is that I'm not sure what TSA would make of it in a carry on, so I take my old Gillette or disposables traveling.

 

Anyone else who uses a brush too?

 

 

[RodB]

I use a Merkur Futur that I bought a few years ago. Finally got fed up with the product churn and the costs/hassles of locating the right cartridges for Gillete system razors.

 

The razor was expensive, but paid off in lower "operating costs" in less than a year. Even premium blades are a fraction of the cost of any of the "system" blades.

 

I started using the safety razor blades for pretty much the same reasons and I'm now also impressed with the quality of shave. I have never tried a brush, but it would pack smaller for traveling , I suppose. What are your favorite premium blades?

[Smoky]

I have a light beard, and I shave every day.

 

I used an electric shaver for many years, wore out about 3 Brauns.

 

Then I switched to a Gillette Mac3, and a pack of 6 blades lasts me more than a year.

 

I have a can of shaving gel, but most of the time I just use a bar of soad to wash my face, then shave with that. If I'm camping I sometimes just wet my face and shave.

[JayW]

My favorite........

 

 

+1. I have been using a Norelco 950RX for 26 years. Other than changing the rechargeable battery and blades a few times, it seems indestructable. It shaves very well. I don't know if the current versions are as robust.

 

Jay

[barryd]

Favorite blades are Wilkinson or Merkur, which based on the packaging, look to be the same.

 

[SageRider]

I had been using Gillette Mach 3, but blades were only lasting a week.

I recently switched to Shick Hydro 5 (Wonder how many more blades they can go. 5 is pretty ridiculous) after using a 2 blade pack that had a rebate which made it free.

Blade lasted for 6 weeks each!

I can get the Hydro 5 blades for less than the Mach 3 blades.

 

I also use a shave oil instead of shaving cream or soap. a couple really work great:

 

King of Shaves AlphaOil Shave Oil

available at most drug stores.

 

Shave Secret found at Walmart.

 

Both products come in bottles of about 0.5 Oz. and last for many months as one only uses a couple of drops (4 drops works for me).

The Shave Secret bottle seals well so safe for travel.

The King of Shaves bottle will leak if not kept upright.

[Redbrick]

My favorite........

 

 

+1. I have been using a Norelco 950RX for 26 years. Other than changing the rechargeable battery and blades a few times, it seems indestructable. It shaves very well. I don't know if the current versions are as robust.

 

Jay

 

I've used a 7886 XL Norelco for about 14 (?) years with same experience....Just change the blades once in a while...

 

 

[Jeepster]

I use a Merkur Futur that I bought a few years ago. Finally got fed up with the product churn and the costs/hassles of locating the right cartridges for Gillete system razors.

 

The razor was expensive, but paid off in lower "operating costs" in less than a year. Even premium blades are a fraction of the cost of any of the "system" blades.

 

I started using the safety razor blades for pretty much the same reasons and I'm now also impressed with the quality of shave. I have never tried a brush, but it would pack smaller for traveling , I suppose. What are your favorite premium blades?

I have a nice Badger brush I use at home and a cheap Boar bristle brush I take on trips.

Try and find a small Tupperware or similar container for your shaving soap. And a small shaving kit/Bag and your set to go.

Blades? I use Merkur Platinum, Good for 10-12 shaves. Or try a variety pack and find your own favorite Here.

[Mike]

I've switched to a Merkur 180 with Merkur blades and King of Shaves gel.

 

For the longest time I used Gillette disposables (still the easiest option for travel), but the shave is not nearly as close as the Merkur safety razor and the Gillette blades seems to get almost instantly dull.

 

The multi-blade thing always seemed a little nuts to me, more of a gimmick to justify price increases than anything that actually contributes to a better shave.

 

Long ago I tried soap and a lather brush. It just seemed like too much of a hassle. The King of Shaves gel is great--you use a tiny amount, which goes on clear. You can see exactly where you're shaving and it lubricates better than anything else I've used.

[RonStewart]

I've been using Gillette Sensor blades for longer than I care to admit. I've always been pretty happy with the results.

The last batch I bought have been crap. I've always used them for quite a while and they would eventually start to wear out. This set, use them a couple times and they go from working pretty well to ripping the hair out of you face from one use to the next.

I have been having identical experience for a year now. I have a full beard, but shave my sensitive neck daily. I had been thinking that maybe blades have a shelf life, and there was poor stock turnover on older model blades. But maybe you are right and P&G has deliberately downgraded its older blades. Last month I gave in and got their latest greatest (without battery power {what's that about?}), and they are only marginally better, for three times the cost.

 

Thanks to the push from you lot, I'll check out some local stores for safety razors.

 

hANNAbONE, Panasonic makes a bewildering array of electric shavers. Any idea which one you tried? And can I get a distinct boundary between beard and shaved area?

 

Ron

[Tony_K]

Country of origin "Made in... fill in the blank" has a lot to do with production quality.

Manufactures switch production plants from one country to the next to follow the cheapest cost.

 

Often times cheaper means cheaper across the board.

[ryan_a1982]

I have been using a straight razor for about 6 years now. I have one from the early 1900's and one from the 1870's that I use. I also just got a Merkur 'Progress' Double-edge razor. I really like it. http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/284028.htm

 

The feather brand blades: http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/906451.htm

Don't cost too much and I think you could get a weeks worth of shaving from one blade. So about 10 weeks of shaving for $5.99, not bad!

 

If you guys are interested in straight razor shaving check out: http://straightrazorplace.com/content/

 

That is the forum to learn how to shave. It isn't hard. Just make sure you get a nice strop and blade. You may also want a Norton 4K/8K stone. This is what you would use to actually sharpen the blade every few months when the strop no longer keeps the edge sharp enough.

[squints]

I had been using Gillette Mach 3, but blades were only lasting a week.

I recently switched to Shick Hydro 5 (Wonder how many more blades they can go. 5 is pretty ridiculous) after using a 2 blade pack that had a rebate which made it free.

Blade lasted for 6 weeks each!

I can get the Hydro 5 blades for less than the Mach 3 blades.

 

I also use a shave oil instead of shaving cream or soap. a couple really work great:

 

King of Shaves AlphaOil Shave Oil

available at most drug stores.

 

Shave Secret found at Walmart.

 

Both products come in bottles of about 0.5 Oz. and last for many months as one only uses a couple of drops (4 drops works for me).

The Shave Secret bottle seals well so safe for travel.

The King of Shaves bottle will leak if not kept upright.

 

THANK YOU X3, tried the Shave secret you suggested and found it to be great. Never had a shave as smooth or as close. Great stuff!

 

 

 

[Shaman97]

Reviving an old thread.

 

has anyone tried the Dollar Shave Club?

 

An article in the WSJ mentioned them. I got tired of spending $$$ on the latest Mach9 or whatever razor and $pendy replacement cartridges.

 

I went the double-edge route, with mixed results on blades (hint: don't use the el-cheapo blades. Merkur is the way to go.)

 

I like using the shave cream, but miss the convenience of the cartridge razors.

[RonStewart]

Inspired by this thread, I bought a Merkur Futur. $100, which I couldn't afford, but I was in the midst of a bathroom reno with lots of chrome, and I couldn't resist. Bathroom farkles - who knew? Thanks barryd for steering me to the Futur.

 

I have not tried the Dollar Shave Club, but I did order a sample pack of blades from West Coast Shaving. Excellent price and fast shipping. Fot $30, I probably got enough blades to last a year.

 

So far, I have liked the Crystal blades best, but they are a bit inconsistent.