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Note: if you want my thoughts on safety razors, you can skip to the section below, otherwise, directly following this is my background on how I got to using safety razors.
When I started shaving I remember asking my father how to do it. I remember thinking to myself this is some kind of father-son rite-of-passage to manhood and that he hadn't offered yet to show me so I figured I might as well ask. I think I had these visions in my head of a father showing the son to go "with the grain" and whatever other sage advice he could give. And while my father did tell me, it was less than climactic and I remember him giving me a look that said to me that he hadn't really thought about it and it wasn't all that hard because he'd been doing it for years. This has stuck with me all these years later but not because I was mad or disappointed, but it was still a defining moment in our relationship and my progressing towards adult-hood.
When I first started shaving the Gilette Mach 3 was still rather new, and - I may be misremembering this - but I think a free sample was either handed out or came in the mail. Regardless, I'd shaved for the majority of my young adult and then into my adult life with the same Mach 3 razor handle. In fact, I think I still have the handle in my travel toiletry bag for trips. It served me well for all those years and it gave a really good shave - and still does - but it was time to move on. (not to mention that it lives up to its name because it was fast).
However, some years ago I moved onto using safety razors. I think I read about them in a men's magazine back then, and it seemed to be trendy, and I was curioius. I soon found the subreddit (when reddit was only just starting to suck) regarding safety razors and then started diving into the different styles, soaps, etc., and was soon overwhelmed on what I should get. I'd read somewhere that the old razors could be found in antique shops for cheap, but that since it was beginning to be widely known to do this, there might actually be a shortage out there. So, I did seek out a few antique shops, and did find a few safety razors, but for some reason I could part with the money to buy one... I'm not sure why.
After a while I ended up going with a small business highly regarded at the time on the safety razor subreddit, and grabbed one with some soap and a brush. I first opted for the short handle and a pack of generic blades that were on the site and went about trying to shave with this razor for the first time...which I later learned was a mistake because what I really needed was a longer handle and some better blades because the setup I originally bought was good, but still kind of hurt my face. I went and watched some videos on how to properly shave and then tried that out but it wasn't really to my liking. After grabbing some merkur blades and a longer handled safety razor, I finally got the shave I was looking for.
The main reason I haven't gone back to a regular Mach 3 or disposable razor is simply that I like how a safety razor feels. The handle is designed to be heavy so that it weighs on your face for close and firm shave. When I go on business trips I tend to use the Mach 3 that's in my toiletry bag, and whenever I use it I think to myself: "it's fast, quick, and close" but I miss the heft of the double-sided safety razor, and the disposable razors just feel...cheap.
I also like shaving with the custom soaps; there's so many to choose from and it feels like an ancient ritual that I do every morning. Instead of compressed cans, they are simply small round pucks that you get. You get the boar's hair brush from its holder, open the cream, get some water on the brush and swirl it around to really get some lather. You apply it and then methodically shave with your razor. It's like having nostalgia that you've never lived through yourself.
Also, after the initial buy, shaving with a safety razor is SO CHEAP - even the high end blades are not as expensive as getting disposable razors. They last for a decent while, and you don't feel like you're breaking the bank buying them or feel bad disposing one for a fresh edge.
One of the drawbacks is that it takes slightly longer to shave, but after having done it for so long, shaving with a Mach 3 is barely faster for me now. Plus, a safety razor makes you slow down and enjoy the process of shaving, and care what you're doing to your face.
If you're looking to get into using a safety razor, I would say this: don't give up right away, you may just need to find the right handle. It could be short and wide, lighter, or heavier. Maybe you have handles for different days - people collect these things. Also don't skimp on the blades, you need quality blades to really enjoy it. I like ther merkurs. Also buy a few soaps and get the boar's hair brush...but regular shaving cream works just fine too - don't listen to the elitists saying it's custom soap or bust.
Maggard makes their own razors, and they're out of Canada. You have to sort by their brand on their page but they're there on page 2.
So that's it, those are my thoughts on safety razors. I say if you give it a month with a good combo you won't go back to your old setup.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on if you use a safety razor and what you think of it.
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2023-05-23
Tags: shaving, razors
Gritty
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