Euthyphrus
New Member
The Art of Shaving items certainly aren't bad, but they seem to be expensive only because they're cashing in on those drawn to atavism. If you're allured to older ways like myself, I'd follow Scoober's example and get a safety razor that's affordable. The replacement blades being dirt cheap add to this point, and are a nice extra.
Something I haven't seen mentioned here yet, but works quite well for me, is using ice cold water. I can hear the shouts through my monitor already, but I am not trying to make you cut up your face. On the contrary, using cold water has given me my closest shaves. If you have a really thick beard because you wanted to go lumberjack for a while, or were simply lazy for a month, I'd use an electric shaver to get the excess off before moving on to a razor. Excess hair from beards tends to clog the Mach's and the safety razors. The reason for cold water rather than hot water or hot lather is that the latter softens the hair. Some people here seem to want that, but when softened, the hair give less resistance, which in turn makes it harder for the blade(s) to slice. Warm water also softens the skin and the razor will pull the skin more. It's worked for me, I'd say give it a couple tries. Also, if you're planning on getting a safety razor, practice at night so by the time you wake up in the morning and mistakes will be healed and you wont be bleeding on your way to work.
Straight razors? My hat's off to you, Scoober; I tend to enjoy paying to let someone else do it for me.
Something I haven't seen mentioned here yet, but works quite well for me, is using ice cold water. I can hear the shouts through my monitor already, but I am not trying to make you cut up your face. On the contrary, using cold water has given me my closest shaves. If you have a really thick beard because you wanted to go lumberjack for a while, or were simply lazy for a month, I'd use an electric shaver to get the excess off before moving on to a razor. Excess hair from beards tends to clog the Mach's and the safety razors. The reason for cold water rather than hot water or hot lather is that the latter softens the hair. Some people here seem to want that, but when softened, the hair give less resistance, which in turn makes it harder for the blade(s) to slice. Warm water also softens the skin and the razor will pull the skin more. It's worked for me, I'd say give it a couple tries. Also, if you're planning on getting a safety razor, practice at night so by the time you wake up in the morning and mistakes will be healed and you wont be bleeding on your way to work.
Straight razors? My hat's off to you, Scoober; I tend to enjoy paying to let someone else do it for me.