Help me pick out a safety razor (female)!

[betsybee13]

Hi everyone,

I'm brand new to the forum and pretty new to the idea of using a safety razor- I bought my boyfriend his about a year ago (I think it's this one from Art of Shaving) and he loves it, but only now when I'm reluctant to shell out for more razor cartridges am I thinking about trying a safety razor myself.

A little bit of research suggests to me that a Lady Gillette might be a good option, and I like the way it looks. I found this gold one and this blue one and another blue one- what should I be looking for when buying on eBay? All of those looked clean and rust-free. This pink one looks even better but the number of bids suggests I won't win it.

Any recommendations for blades to start out with?

Thank you!

 

[LiveOak]

Unless color is of paramount importance, the blue will be your best, affordable bet. You can find them easily. All the colors are exactly the same razor.

Buy some Astra SP blades. You can find them on Amazon and they are maybe $9-$10 for 100. Big time cheap and an excellent blade.

Someone here I'm sure will tell you that you are not supposed to post live ebay auction links. But that gold Buy It Now is a relative steal. Grab it now while it's still there. It will clean up very well.

 

[Clutch Cargo]

kgirl91, welcome to the forum! The old saying is that Ginger Rogers had to do everything that Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels! Similarly, your criteria of choosing a double edged razor may be completely different from the male viewpoint. We guys shave straight on looking into a mirror and leaning forward to get a closer look when necessary. Women, on the other hand, need to be able to shave all sides of their legs without the benefit of the closeup mirror and the best lighting, and you require a longer reach. That's one of the reasons the Lady Gillette has a longer handle (about 4" as shown in the photo) than most razors while it weighs in as a lightweight at 55 grams. Choice of blade will make a big difference, and that's a completely personal choice based on trial and error. You may or may not opt to mix up your own lather using either a shaving cream or soap. If, on the other hand, you'd prefer the simplicity of an excellent cream that doesn't require application by using a shaving brush, my wife swears by Lady Creamo, available from many of the online vendors.

As a new double edge shaver, expect some nicks and/or irritation until both your technique improves and your skin becomes accustomed to the incredible closeness of the shave as compared with cartridges. With double edge razors, use little to no added pressure. The weight of the head of the razor is designed to provide a perfect shave on its own, and go slower than you're used to with cartridges. Your technique will improve over time and you will find the experience rewarding. Good luck.

 

[betsybee13]

Oops, didn't realize about the links. I bought the gold, hope you're right! I'm excited.

 

[OkieStubble]

My SWMBO likes and uses Shark Super Chromes in her blue Lady Gillette and her Super Adjustable.

 

[betsybee13]

Thanks for the shaving tips! This will definitely require a mentality change from my normal 2-minutes-I'm-late shave, but I'm looking forward to the improvements for my skin and my wallet!

 

[bakerbarber]

Oops, didn't realize about the links. I bought the gold, hope you're right! I'm excited.

It's a good one to practice with. I would have waited for one in better shape. It has brass showing on the cap and bars. That won't effect the performance.

It's actually 'Champagne' color. A nice choice.

You will need something that can do the job buy not slice your ankles.

I think you would be well rewarded to buy some high end shave soaps.
http://www.italianbarber.com/razorock-artisan-shave-soap-125ml-mughetto-di-bologna
Lily Of the Valley Shea Butter.

I bought that for my wife because I love the smell. She likes how it performs, but she will not use a DE.

 

[dcobranchi]

I think you would be well rewarded to buy some high end shave soaps.

+1 As your boyfriend can no doubt attest, half the fun of traditional shaving is the wide variety of soaps, creams, croaps, etc. A nice smelling lather, applied with a warm brush is one of life's simple pleasures.

 

[celestino]

Great info, here. Good luck with the razor. Clean it up nicely, get some good blades, or just use your partner's blades. Astra SPs are good to start and some good soap and you should be set to go. Have fun and be patient while you learn good technique.

 

[Pkrankow]

Look for a long handle Super Adjustable as your next razor purchase. You can wait though. It is similar dimensions to the Lady, but is adjustable. Very nice.

Phil

 

[Niles]

Welcome to B&B!

 

[RailroadMan]

Welcome to B&B! That Champagne Lady Gillette was a steal. I think you will love it. My wife and 2 step-daughters use Lady Gillettes, mostly with Personna Israeli reds. Each one has a different colored one. My wife actually just uses Ivory soap, and now that she has been at it for a while, shaves just as quickly as she used to. Enjoy it!

 

[alex2363]

Welcome to B&B...sent PM on live eBAY links

 

[rxonmymind]

Welcome to B&B. Definately you'll save from buying carts getting into wet shaveing*cough*. So um, oh razors, you save a ton on wet shaving right, good luck searching. As for blades ironically, try any of the Gillette blades such as the Gillette silver blues, Glillette 7'oclock or Polsilvers. A good place to go is West Coast Shaving in the vendors section here in B&B or google it and get yourself a sampler pack. Good luck!

 

[betsybee13]

Thanks for all the tips and welcomes! The champagne (thanks for the correction, bakerbarber) razor isn't perfect as far as finish goes but with a history of leaving my razor in the shower, I can always get a better one later on. Off to get some blades. I'm looking forward to giving this a try.

 

[LiveOak]

When you get it, scrub it with some hot soapy water and a toothbrush. You can get a bit more meticulous with toothpicks in the grooves if you want. The champagne color is much in demand, second only to the pink. Watch that pink auction and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Your razor is a bit over what we call user grade. That little bit of brassing on the head is minimal and will totally not effect the razor's performance. The long handle is really great.

If you love it, you can search for a really nice version. You can get the blue one's fairly easily in great shape.

 

[JonM]

My wife loves her Lady as well. However, she seems to use it only when she has the time to take her time. She really likes the results it gives though. But, if she's pressed for time, she'll still bust out the cartridge. Also, she won't go anywhere near her underarms with it. She tried it a few times but the geometry of that area just makes a DE less than ideal (hence the vintage underarm razors you may have seen out there). As for blades, the men around here may shudder but she actually prefers Derby blades. She gets a great shave from them without flaying the skin from her bones. Congrats on your purchase!

 

[VintageLady]

Welcome to B&B. I use the lady Gillette as well and love it. Invest in a nice shave brush and some quality shave soap and you will start to look forward to shaving and think of it as a time for pampering.

 

[Sledgehammer39]

Gillette Lady or Knack gets my vote!

 

[CGW409]

Thanks for all the tips and welcomes! The champagne (thanks for the correction, bakerbarber) razor isn't perfect as far as finish goes but with a history of leaving my razor in the shower, I can always get a better one later on. Off to get some blades. I'm looking forward to giving this a try.

Welcome to B&B and just get use to to the idea that you're going for a better shave not a cheaper shave and that should negate any concerns over any AD's that may develop.
I would recommend you reconsider the leaving the razor in the shower as you'll want to keep the razor as nice as possible and the constant moisture in the shower proper is not the best storage area.
Guess you'll just have to shanghi a bit of med cabinet razor space for yourself.