Do You Favor Single Edge Over Double Edge Razors?

[Lockback]

Since I started this started this traditional shaving journey almost two years ago (I had my 600th shave two days ago), I've been fortunate enough to try a number of double edge razors and blades. With rare exceptions (I'm talking about you, Vikings Blade Emperor Meiji!), they have all rendered consistently excellent shaves. I now have over 800 blades at my disposal (hoarder!) and over a dozen razors, including 6 vintage Gillette Super Speeds/Flare Tips as well as modern 3-piece razors and a 2-piece adjustable (Pearl Flexi).
But on a whim a year ago, after seeing some YouTube reviews and one or two here as well, and seeing a sale on Amazon, I picked up a Leaf Twig. I was enamored with the idea of using half double edge blades and the mechanism, which includes a magnet to hold the blade in place as you spin the top cap down, fascinated me from an engineering point of view.
Long story short, it was love at first shave. Not long afterwards, the Thorn also went on sale and I picked it up as well. Although it's touted as the more aggressive brother to the Twig, I notice little difference. But both give me amazingly smooth shaves. Not perhaps the closest available (that would be the Flexi or the Rockwell with the R5 plate) but certainly a comfortable close enough shave. I also have a Yaqi Tachi single edge which is ... well ... aggressive. It's controllable but takes a steady hand.
I've thought of delving into the dark world of injector razors like the old Schicks or new Supply models or other single edge razors like the Parker Soloedge. I don't want to relegate my double edge razors to the back seat but there's something about single edge razors that I love: the ergonomics, the angle, the efficiency. They just really work for me.
Share your opinions and let me know if any of you are of the same line of thought or if you think I need to be committed to a guarded facility for serious counseling.

 

[AshleyC]

Well, I have ONE razor that takes an Artist Club type blade. A Mongoose B-3 I got for $8 at a flea market. I should've stopped right there and joined a monastery.

But of course, I did no such thing. That would've precluded me owning a Yaqi Ultima and a Blackland Osprey. And a bunch of other stuff...mostly targets of opportunity at antiques malls.

My other SEs are Schick injectors. And the Chinese Schick blade is maybe the best blade of any kind I ever tried. Casey at the bat, except this time he nails a Grand Slam.

I do not have an SE that simply takes half a DE blade. I'm not saying never...but it will take a complex matrix of drunkenness AND internet access to get something like that on the way to my front porch.

 

[Lockback]

Well, I have ONE razor that takes an Artist Club type blade. A Mongoose B-3 I got for $8 at a flea market. I should've stopped right there and joined a monastery.

But of course, I did no such thing. That would've precluded me owning a Yaqi Ultima and a Blackland Osprey. And a bunch of other stuff...mostly targets of opportunity at antiques malls.

My other SEs are Schick injectors. And the Chinese Schick blade is maybe the best blade of any kind I ever tried. Casey at the bat, except this time he nails a Grand Slam.

I do not have an SE that simply takes half a DE blade. I'm not saying never...but it will take a complex matrix of drunkenness AND internet access to get something like that on the way to my front porch.

I have yet to dip a toe into the Artist Club thing, although I hear they're terrific.
I can feel the tug at my wallet as we speak ...

 

[AshleyC]

I have yet to dip a toe into the Artist Club thing, although I hear they're terrific.
I can feel the tug at my wallet as we speak ...

Honestly, I bought the $8 Mongoose without knowing anything about AC blades. Now I've got three different AC blades in inventory to try out and post here as if I'm Gandalf imparting wisdom to Frodo.

A week later I went back to the flea market guy who sold me that for $8, and five other razors for equally absurd prices, to tell him he should've put them up on the Bay.

 

[Lockback]

Honestly, I bought the $8 Mongoose without knowing anything about AC blades. Now I've got three different AC blades in inventory to try out and post here as if I'm Gandalf imparting wisdom to Frodo.

A week later I went back to the flea market guy who sold me that for $8, and five other razors for equally absurd prices, to tell him he should've put them up on the Bay.

Just call me Frodo.

 

[AshleyC]

Just call me Frodo.

That vendor WAS Gandalf. He was a hippie warrior poet. Chatted him up and discovered we were both drawing disability compensation from the VA.

 

[johnnylighton]

I have 5 DE razors and 2 SE razors. My La Faulx SE with Classic (mildest) plate works so much better for me than all the others that it’s all I use except when traveling.

SE blades feel thick and solid, which I also enjoy in addition to how the La Faulx performs for me.

 

[AlphaFrank75]

I have pretty much abandoned DE razors in favor of AC razors. I still have a Wolfman, a Timeless Bronze and a Karve Overlander that I'll keep, but they're shelfware at the moment. I tried a couple of 1/2 DEs but they weren't my thing and moved them on.

 

[never-stop-learning]

I definitely prefer my AC blade razors and have accumulated a few. Gotta have some variety.

The Ti Vector SB is my favorite AC blade safety razor, followed closely by the ATT X1 Slant, Colonial Razors The General and Vector SS SB. The blades I prefer in these razors are the Schick Proline P and Kai Captain Titan Mild Protouch MG.

Also used somewhat regularly: ATT SE1, Alpha Shaving Claymore Evolution (Feather Pro Super blade), Shield Ti, RazoRock V3-A & V3-OC, Asylum Rx, Mongoose, Occam's.

My current infatuation, though, is with the Kai Kasho Captain Woody Folding Straight Razor. Awesome performance and results.

 

[DesertIguana]

DE blades are cheaper then SE.

 

[never-stop-learning]

DE blades are cheaper then SE.

True, but the cost difference is negligible on a cost per shave basis.

I'm willing to pay that very minor extra cost to get a better (for me) shave.

 

[Ted A]

DE blades are cheaper then SE.

Half DE razors, Twig, SoloEdge, take advantage of that.

The Schick injector blades last longer than DE almost always.

 

[Ted A]

I use, at this time, SE most of the time. The Twig is excellent. I also really like the Parker SoloEdge. And I have several injectors. I do have to be careful with my first SoloEdge shave after several days of injector shaves. The SoloEdge is considerably heavier than the Schick. Gravity tends to land the SoloEdge on my face more quickly and firmly than the lightweight razors.

 

[rudygu]

I think AC and Injector blades are objectively better than DE blades. Of course you can achieve great shaves with any format, but from a technical standpoint the thicker blades are just more durable and efficient. However, I currently own 6 SE razors and 20 DE razors. I’ve logged my last 224 shaves and the SE razors make up 25% of them. I like variety and enjoy playing with all the different combinations of razor and blades. In the regard DE is king as the choices are just so much more vast.

If I were in this strictly for utility I’d own the Vector and Kai AC blades - guarded and unguarded. Nothing beats it for me for shave quality, but I have way too much fun with my DE razors to do that.

 

[Lockback]

I may down the road try the Artist Club/injector razor route but for now am in the process of adding another SE razor. I ordered a Parker SoloEdge last night and should get it tomorrow. Obviously, I'll report on what I think of it after I give it a shave, probably Thursday morning.

 

[thombrogan]

I like razors that put the blade closest to parallel to the skin and that’s usually single edge razors, but some double edge razors that bend their DE blades mercilessly (most slant razors for example) are good, too. The Henson AL13+, Karve Overlander, and Blackland Blackbird all give me more of what I was expecting from an Injector razor than the Schick E3 Injector.

 

[nelsonic21]

Well a few years ago I would have said no. I had tried a couple injector razors and had never gotten consistently good shaves. They were either too mild (Schick L) or too harsh (Eversharp Hydromagic).

Later after trying some different injector blades and models I'd say I like them equally. DE offers a lower price per blade and more variety of razors, but I get longer blade life and more consistently good shaves with injectors.

As a bonus my Schick E and Eversharp Schick Hydromagic work so well that I have no interest in adding to my SE collection keeping my spending down.

 

[Lockback]

Here's the New Kid In Town ... a Parker SoloEdge.
I'll kick the tires and light the fire on it tomorrow morning. I'm going to start off with a Parker blade, against my better judgment. I probably should eliminate any variables and stick with a Perma-Sharp or Shark Super Stainless that I usually use in my SE razors. But I'll give it a whirl and see what I think.

 

[EclipseRedRing]

I like variety and also the idea of being able to get a good shave with pretty much any type of razor. I have about twenty vintage DE razors, plus one Schick Injector type J, one Ever Ready Chromium Jewel, a Feather Artist Club DX with wooden scales, and a couple of Weck Sextoblade razors. I use them all in rotation which keeps things interesting, if I were to downsize then I would keep the variety and lose a few of the DE razors.

 

[Fen]

I started with DE but went over to SE. From what I recall I can get good results from both, but I like SE more. My "daily driver" is a vintage schick injector razor. The whole system and ease of changing blades is just simply great, being pure change and forget. It may be because I have used it so much, but it is way easier to find the correct angle, so I can shave fast and almost just close my eyes.

I can't put my finger on it, but something just clicks when it comes to the blades too. They last a long time for me and the price of the blades aren't bad either (I use Personna). I have also tried injector blades and AC blades in shavettes. And even there I enjoy them.

Besides the schick I also got a: supply injector razor, ever-ready 1914, claymore evolotion (AC blades) and a shield gem-predator razor. So I think I am hooked... (perhaps I even have a problem).

Still got my DE's and blades for them and I am not planning to get rid of them neither, but they do see very little use and I am planning to put most of them (if not all) into storage for the time being.

At the end of the day, I always end up back at the schick. Wonder what that is gonna happen once I travel down the road of SR's.