Double Edge Shaving Update, 3 years into it.

I don't know why it came to mind, but it seems it's time for an update on my shaving experiences. You can find all my posts on the topic here. To recap, a bit more than three years ago, I became interested in simplifying. When cartridge razors got to five blades, it became ridiculous enough to me to react. I bought a used Gillette Superspeed on EBay, one of those butterfly opening ones, and picked up blades at Walmart. When I moved to Washington, the box the Gillette was in got misplaced, and I bought a Merkur Classic, with comb edge for heavy beards. I also order a box of 100 Turkish Derby double edge blades for $25 online.

Now, three years later, I still have some Gillette Fusion blades that are now over 3 years old I haven't used. I'm just finishing up the box of 100 Derbies. (I have about 10 blades left.) The Gillette Superspeed reappeared. Once when I was shaving with it, it opened up a little bit, not enough for me to see, but enough to make the shave be a bit bloody. Since then I've stuck with the Merkur. My technique has gotten to the point where shaving cuts are rare (maybe once every couple of months), and shaving with the Gillette Fusion is by comparison uncomfortable. I use it once in a while, since I have the blades, and I figure sometimes I just want to shave quickly without being so careful. It's not much quicker, though.

I've been using Trader Joe's Honey Mango Shaving Cream. This is as much because my family objects to any unfamiliar scents, and they are used to this one. In the shower, I spread the cream on with my hands. At the sink, I wash my face and head with hot water, and then spread on the shaving cream with a shaving brush. I use many short strokes, stroking the same area repeatedly until the blade slides smoothly across my skin. I used to try to keep track of how long I had been using a blade. Now, when the blade feels like it is pulling to much, I change it out.

The cost savings have been considerable. I have a heavy beard, and I shave my head nearly as often as my face. I've probably saved about $250 over the last 3 years, maybe more. If I get lazy, and let my beard go a couple of days, it's OK now, the double-edge doesn't mind, and doesn't get clogged the way the cartridge blade would. This experiment has been a decided success.

WSJ on men's razors

Razor Burn. -- The Wall Street Journal has a piece on men feeling the pinch of the artificially expensive market for the latest razors. If you've been reading this blog, you've heard my own opinions on this matter, so it seems it's time for an update. I've been using my Gillette super speed for the most part for over two years now. I also picked up a Merkur classic with the comb edge when it seemed my Gillette had disappeared in a move. The Merkur is a bit aggressive for me, I tend to cut myself more often with it, especially on my head. I picked up a pack of 100 Derby razors on ebay for about US$25. After two years, I still have about 15-20 left. I typically generally shave every other day, but I have a very tough beard that grows fast, and I shave my head as well. It takes a bit more care than using cartridge razors, but I'm at the point that I can pretty reliably shave almost as fast, and without cutting myself.

When I was shaving with a five-blade solution, I was paying about $3.50 per cartridge. I see I can get them for about $3 online. If we assume one cartridge per week, I was paying $156/year just for blades, and now I am paying about $10/year.

Double-edge shaving update

In my move up to Washington, my Gillette Super Speed seems to have lost it's way. I didn't want to get another used rig, so I picked up a Merkur Classic. That has been working out splendidly, and I have been shaving with it exclusively now for about a month, now. Unlike the Gillette, it has no moving parts. A little bit more cumbersome to replace blades, but I have the assurance of no possible mechanical breakdown.

Double-edged shaving update

It's now been a few weeks since acquiring my Gillette Super-speed, and after a rough start, I seem to have developed enough of a feel for it that I can shave both face and head (I do most of my head by feel) without unpleasant incident. I also did some objective testing on quality of the shave (wife and daughters). The majority ruled that the difference between the double-edged and a Gillette Fusion (five blades) was not enough to matter, especially considering how fast my beard grows. However, the most sensitive of the group insisted the Fusion shave left my face smoother.

Shaving the old fashioned way

Inspired by a post on ZenHabits on wet-shaving, I decided to take the plunge myself. I figured that the cost of a double-edge handle on ebay, and a pack of blades, I would have made my money back if I managed to spare myself only three Gillette Fusion blades. You know, the five-blade wonders.
My previous approach was using a gel from a tube, in the shower, and the five-blade cartridges, in the shower. This included shaving not only my face, but my head, as well.

Now, I'm using a Gillette Super-Speed. It was rough at first. I don't know whether it was a matter of habituating my skin, or developing the technique, but there were a few cuts, and it felt a bit rough. This was working with a boar-hair shaving brush and some old-fashioned shaving soap. After a few times, I find I can get a very smooth shave, without hacking myself up, and without feeling roughed up, in a reasonable amount of time. This includes shaving in and out of the shower. I even ventured to shave my head over the sink. That was a bit touchy. I shave my head by feel, and I was worried about hacking my scalp up. Came out OK, though.

I have yet to do a side by side comparison. At some point, I have to shave either side of my face with the five-blade and the double-edge, and get an independent opinion (my wife) of the quality of the shave.

The likely scenario now is that I will use up my supply of Fusion cartridges, but keep a supply of twin blades on hand for travel (I don't want to try to get double-edged blades past the TSA), and use the double-edge for every day shaving (maybe even my head, if I get more proficient). 15 cents a blade versus $3.50 is a very compelling argument.