No Daddy to Teach You Stuff?

[tofu]

Last August I got paid $500 to participate in a month long market research study on wet shaving. Each week for four weeks I was given a new razor blade. For a week I would use each blade and record my daily impression. Well I recognized the top of the line razors from the major blade companies, but there was a new one that was like no other that I had ever used. It shaved like nothing else I had or have used. I have to shave every day - this thing shaved so close and so smooth with ease that even I could have skipped a day. Better than the fine barber shaves I've gotten. It was just so well balanced and weighted in the hand. There were 5 blades and they were angled and edged differently then the current ones in use are. It had a motor in it but that seemed to be more powerful and smaller then the ones now in use. There was even a sideburn trimmer on the side that actually worked extremely well. I didn't want to give the razor back at the end of the week, but if you didn't you not only didn't get the $500, but since I had signed all this legal stuff about not sharing any info or the product with anybody else they could sue. So I gave it back, but have looked for it in stores ever since and have not seen it yet. It was so good that I would easily pay $100 for it plus the daily cost of cartridges.

[TMurphy]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35361141/ns/business/

Sounds like this, the Gillette Fusion ProGlide. I saw this posted on Badger and Blade the other day. According to the article, it will hit the shelves in June, at a markup from the current absurd cost for blades.

[steve_decker]

Hopefully it's a significant improvement over the current Fusion. For me, the thing does a terrible job. I can't get a close shave with it and blade life is dismal. Right now, I'll take a Mach 3 over any Fusion.

[Chadtuba]

Well after reading all of this (a couple of times) and doing more reading & research on the Art of Manliness and Badger & Blade I finally broke down and ordered my first safety razor. I'm a curious and hopeful about the shave on my face and my head, but am a little worried about the learning curve trying to do this right without slashing myself open

[SRanney]

I still don't understand the lure of electric shavers (even if in perfect-new condition).

Me neither.

I generally dislike shaving, but now that I am old enough to have a (very) gray beard that makes me look 10 years older than I really am, I have chosen to shave. The fancy cartridge blades never did much for me; I was always getting what I thought to be inordinate amounts of razor burn. I got a shave at a local barber from a straight razor and discussed with him what might be some good options. For the past few months, I've been using a Merkur safety razor and DE blades. It offers a great shave with zero burn and the blades are MUCH cheaper than any cartridge system.

Me likey.

Steven

[Chadtuba]

I still don't understand the lure of electric shavers (even if in perfect-new condition).

Stepping right out of the shower, I can Mach 3 my face down to smooth skin in about 20 seconds (no gel / no cream / no "bracer"). The blades last about 3 or 4 weeks (assuming a quick rinse and tapping on a dry towel when done).

Electric, haven't used mine in a couple of years so I would tend to agree with you on that one.

I have been using the Mach 3 for more than 10 years now, but I go through 10\-2 blade a week with shaving my head so I was looking for a cheaper alternative. Buying the Mach 3 blades in bulk on ebay I've been able to get them as cheap as $1.10 each, which isn't a bad price but after reading all of this I am really hoping that the Safety razor will fit that bill with DE blades costing me aroun $.10 each.

[tubatooter1940]

I never shave the whiskers, off my horny hide.
I drive 'em in with a hammer and bite 'em off inside.
toots

[JCalkin]

A friend taught me (about thirty years ago) that some "good stuff" is actually worth buying.

He pointed out that margarine can be bought for less than a buck a lb...but it tastes like crap. Real butter is sometimes three times as much, tastes wonderful , but (even though it costs geometrically more than margarine) it is still quite cheap (in the grand scheme of things) to buy.

I still don't understand the lure of electric shavers (even if in perfect-new condition).

Stepping right out of the shower, I can Mach 3 my face down to smooth skin in about 20 seconds (no gel / no cream / no "bracer"). The blades last about 3 or 4 weeks (assuming a quick rinse and tapping on a dry towel when done).

Electric, haven't used mine in a couple of years so I would tend to agree with you on that one.

I have been using the Mach 3 for more than 10 years now, but I go through 10\-2 blade a week with shaving my head so I was looking for a cheaper alternative. Buying the Mach 3 blades in bulk on ebay I've been able to get them as cheap as $1.10 each, which isn't a bad price but after reading all of this I am really hoping that the Safety razor will fit that bill with DE blades costing me aroun $.10 each.

I agree. In most cases you get what you pay for.

However, DE shaving works BETTER (for me) than the Mach3/Turbo/Fusion stuff AND it's cheaper. It's win/win.

With butter, you're paying for a better product. With Mach3/Fusion, you're paying for better marketing.

[Rev Rob]

I generally dislike shaving, but now that I am old enough to have a (very) gray beard that makes me look 10 years older than I really am, I have chosen to shave.

Same with me SRanney, and since I have started playing tuba, I decided I had better shave off the beard. So I am now clean shaven - it has been 20 years or so since I last was. People say I look a lot younger - the beard was snow white. So I am back to my Gillette "Sensor" and Edge shaving gel. However, thanks to this thread, when I use up my cartridges and shaving gel - I will invest in a Merkur safety razor and blades. I have used shaving soap before and will go back to it again with the use of a badger hair shaving brush. The one thing I will have to learn to do is be careful, be patient, and have a light touch, or it will look as though I have been on the losing end of a knife fight.

[MaryAnn]

I still don't understand the lure of electric shavers (even if in perfect-new condition).

I've seen two applications: one is the guy with the long commute who isn't awake enough to not cut himself before he leaves (and we won't comment on his ability to drive in that condition.) This is the guy whom you see shaving in his car on the freeway, with the portable electric. You don't need a mirror as long as you drive the mower over the lawn enough times.

The other is the guy who can't ever seem to allow enough time to get ready for anything, and he's the other one you see shaving in the car on his way someplace. Both are likely to be using that three-head Norelco.

MA