Shaving subscriptions

[islandbass]

Thanks for the review. I was straddling the fence on all those radio shaving deals but didn’t feel sold enough to pull the trigger. 

 

The MACH III just flat out rocks, but I seem to have more precision with the old school plastic double bladed and disposable plastic ones, or my dad’s  (he’s 78) old school Gillette single blade razor that you inserted a cartridge, swiped the thingy that pushed the new blade into the handle that ejected the old blade simultaneously. I haven’t seen those in decades. 

 

I am still using the mach 3 and I can get perhaps 6-8 months out of them and sometimes longer. I learned from someone that ensuring the blades are completely dry after use helps to allow the blades to live a little longer. Can’t tell you why but I think there is some truth to it because I don’t seem to need to change it as often when I didn’t dry them. 

 

I only need to shave about every 1.5 days and do maintain a goatee. 

 

I always preferred clean shaven since day one for many of the reasons mentioned. However, I met this woman who said I should try a goatee. I tried it and wasn’t comfortable with how it looked but she told me I looked good with it. Heck, she said she liked me with it more than without it. Well, 22 years later, I still employ the goatee and haven’t looked back and goodness gracious, she even married me. So while the preference is still there but in the back burner sort of, it’s a goatee for me. 

 

Mach 3, and I maintain the blade as I described akin to how I take care of my gear, lol. And while the price seems steep, I suppose it isn’t if each and every blade lasts a long time. 

 

So what about shaving cream now, lol?

[Boomstick]

I used to have pretty good luck with the original Mach 3 years ago, but lately I get a handful of daily shaves out of one and the blade is dull. The 5 blade ones are even worse. And the blades are very expensive.

 

So I went out and bought an old school safety razor. The first one I got was a Parker with those overpriced blades you can often find in a store that have divots in them -- I cut the **** out of myself. So I did some research and people said the Merkur razors are less aggressive, and a friend tried Feather blades which are super sharp, Astra blades which are decent (both brands are around $10 for 100) and that Merkur blades which are fairly mild but slightly more expensive (50 for around $25).

 

So I bought the Merkur safety razor (the short handle is generally recommended if you tend to cut yourself because it's easier to control) which cost me around $35, and 50 Merkur blades for $25 and that was the best investment I could have made. The razor should last me a lifetime, and the blades will last me at least 4-5 years. I get at least a solid month per blade and have gotten several out of one blade before. Also if you flip the blade, it extends the life out of it.

It takes a little bit getting used to it as even with the Merkur model, you can cut yourself. The trick is to use short and even strokes but once you learn what you're doing, there's no going back.

[burrows]

3 hours ago, Boomstick said:

I used to have pretty good luck with the original Mach 3 years ago, but lately I get a handful of daily shaves out of one and the blade is dull. The 5 blade ones are even worse. And the blades are very expensive.

 

So I went out and bought an old school safety razor. The first one I got was a Parker with those overpriced blades you can often find in a store that have divots in them -- I cut the **** out of myself. So I did some research and people said the Merkur razors are less aggressive, and a friend tried Feather blades which are super sharp, Astra blades which are decent (both brands are around $10 for 100) and that Merkur blades which are fairly mild but slightly more expensive (50 for around $25).

 

So I bought the Merkur safety razor (the short handle is generally recommended if you tend to cut yourself because it's easier to control) which cost me around $35, and 50 Merkur blades for $25 and that was the best investment I could have made. The razor should last me a lifetime, and the blades will last me at least 4-5 years. I get at least a solid month per blade and have gotten several out of one blade before. Also if you flip the blade, it extends the life out of it.

It takes a little bit getting used to it as even with the Merkur model, you can cut yourself. The trick is to use short and even strokes but once you learn what you're doing, there's no going back.

sounds pretty tricky to using this on my head? however intriguing and have put some thought into these type blades before.

[Boomstick]

5 hours ago, Burrows said:

sounds pretty tricky to using this on my head? however intriguing and have put some thought into these type blades before.

It's not bad, just takes a little bit getting used to (like learning a baitcaster). Like I said the secret is very short strokes, especially around the chin -- that keeps it from changing angle on you.

 

The single blades is so much sharper than all of the blades of any multi bladed shaving razor they sell in stores combined, and stays sharper so much longer. It's like night and day!

[NYWayfarer]

On ‎12‎/‎12‎/‎2018 at 12:48 AM, islandbass said:

So what about shaving cream now, lol?

I use Cremo original formula with a light layer of Gilette Foamy lemon lime shaving cream on top when shaving. The Cremo makes the razor glide and the foamy helps me see where it's going, plus I dig the smell.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, NYWayfarer said:

I use Cremo original formula with a light layer of Gilette Foamy lemon lime shaving cream on top when shaving. The Cremo makes the razor glide and the foamy helps me see where it's going, plus I dig the smell.

 Creamo is my product of choice as well - really good stuff.

 And if you haven't tried it already - I recommend the Bourbon.

A-Jay

[NYWayfarer]

44 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 Creamo is my product of choice as well - really good stuff.

 And if you haven't tried it already - I recommend the Bourbon.

A-Jay

I have. Awesome barbershop smelling stuff. Smells just like the Clubman talc my barber uses after a haircut.

 

The original Cremo smells like oranges in case anyone is wondering.

[islandbass]

Alright, I'm going to look out for this.  I am currently using barbasol, nothing fancy, just classic shaving cream. I have also liked using gel creams like edge in the past.

 

[A-Jay]

11 hours ago, islandbass said:

Alright, I'm going to look out for this.  I am currently using barbasol, nothing fancy, just classic shaving cream. I have also liked using gel creams like edge in the past.

 

Shave one time with any of the Creamo products - 

You may be hard pressed to use anything else.

This stuff is completely different from most anything out there and worlds better.

A-Jay

 

[NHBull]

My OCD kicked in a few years ago

[greentrout]

 

 

Use Harry's with this...for yrs...great for heavy beards...have used creams...clog your blades...not this...it is not the most expensive but a lot of it is sold...great basic shave...with no pretense...

 

have tried double edge blades dorco ... very forgiving ... wilkinson ...better ... and astra platinum ...sharper ... be more careful...

 

can't beat a soap lather...shave...

 

good shaving...

[islandbass]

What have we done here?!!!!!

 

Through either the slow process of evolution, the shave monkey has been born or he was dormant and has finally awaken. 

 

I have so many honey do things today and now feel compelled to have to get a tube of Cremo... TODAY. Right now, lol. 

 

Question. Is the original formula (and is it scented) a good choice or do I have to get the bourbon one? 

 

 

[NYWayfarer]

On ‎12‎/‎15‎/‎2018 at 5:12 PM, islandbass said:

What have we done here?!!!!!

 

Through either the slow process of evolution, the shave monkey has been born or he was dormant and has finally awaken. 

 

I have so many honey do things today and now feel compelled to have to get a tube of Cremo... TODAY. Right now, lol. 

 

Question. Is the original formula (and is it scented) a good choice or do I have to get the bourbon one? 

 

 

Sorry for the late response.

 

They are the same formula, only the scent is different. If you like the smell of oranges go with the original. If you like the smell of vanilla and powder go with the bourbon.

 

Bourbon Cremo is a Walmart exclusive if I am not mistaken.