Personal Thoughts on SE Shaving

[Allison's Anarchy]

The last time I posted regularly here also coincided with my initiation into the world of SE shaving, and this thread is just my long overdue opinion of SEs as a whole.

First off, why don't more people shave with these? I was a bit apprehensive at first, but immediately following my first shave I was amazed at how damn well these things shave. I have found SEs to be cheaper, more efficient, smoother, durable and just plain cooler than DEs. Shaving with a GEM 1912 is phenomenal. I have twenty DEs of varying types and will probably rid myself of 95% of them, and the only reason I'm keeping one is because of purely sentimental value. I will continue to delve within these wonderful razors and am currently looking for the famed Lather Catcher and more should. Just the testimony of a LOSER convert.

Cheers.

 

[global_dev]

The last time I posted regularly here also coincided with my initiation into the world of SE shaving, and this thread is just my long overdue opinion of SEs as a whole.

First off, why don't more people shave with these? ..
Cheers.

is that a rhetorical question? i have tried only 2 SEs, a MMOC (admittedly missing a tab, but it still worked okay) and a 1912.. but still hold out hope that a different SE will have that profound effect...

 

[Niles]

As I become more familiar with my two Se razors, I like them even more.

 

[pipskicks]

OK I get the razors are really cheap, you can get 3-4 for the price of many popular DE's.

Are the blades really that cheap? Or is it cheap if you buy it online etc.? It seems like it's super convinient, the pharmacy has blades, but it seems like they are a bit more expensive than DE blades. They seem to last longer, but I'm not sure if that outweighs the extra cost/blade or not...

 

[Allison's Anarchy]

is that a rhetorical question? i have tried only 2 SEs, a MMOC (admittedly missing a tab, but it still worked okay) and a 1912.. but still hold out hope that a different SE will have that profound effect...

Its not rhetorical. I was unwaveringly obsessed with DEs and found a 1912 for 4 bucks and thought "What the Hell?" I was converted halfway through the shave. My G-Bar shaves better than any DE i've ever tried. YMMV of course, but this is just my personal tesimony.

OK I get the razors are really cheap, you can get 3-4 for the price of many popular DE's.

Are the blades really that cheap? Or is it cheap if you buy it online etc.? It seems like it's super convinient, the pharmacy has blades, but it seems like they are a bit more expensive than DE blades. They seem to last longer, but I'm not sure if that outweighs the extra cost/blade or not...

GEM blades at Walgreens and Treet blades at Rite-Aid last me around 8-10 shaves each. Imo, the razors, as well as the blades, are better in this case.

 

[razorx]

Its not rhetorical. I was unwaveringly obsessed with DEs and found a 1912 for 4 bucks and thought "What the Hell?" I was converted halfway through the shave. My G-Bar shaves better than any DE i've ever tried. YMMV of course, but this is just my personal tesimony.




GEM blades at Walgreens and Treet blades at Rite-Aid last me around 8-10 shaves each. Imo, the razors, as well as the blades, are better in this case.

I like this thread,it reminds me of my own initial discovery of SE shaving.About 15 seconds into my first SE shave I paused for a moment remembering all the DE razors that had passed through my hands in search of the the perfect shave and realized that none had performed as well as my first single edge.It's been 100 % single edge ever since.

200 GEM PTFE Coated Stainless Steel Blades from Connaught Shaving in the UK cost me about 19 cents a blade shipped to my door here in Illinois.I shave with an Ever-Ready Streamline most days and get 14 shaves per blade.

 

[mos6502]

I was not sold the first time. I had tried a short handle 1912 first - the one that's far more aggressive than the normal 1912. Got several cuts, couldn't get it to work on my neck at all for some reason. Put it away after a couple more tries. When I tried the Gem Junior 1912 later, everything worked perfectly and it became my main razor. I still have a Tech for under the nose though. I have a tiny near invisible mole that I simply cannot maneuver around with the 1912, but I can easily work around with the Tech. The TTO gems are more maneuverable, but they feel more "dead" in my hand, so I haven't really warmed to them despite the advantage of the smaller head.

 

[razorx]

I was not sold the first time. I had tried a short handle 1912 first - the one that's far more aggressive than the normal 1912. Got several cuts, couldn't get it to work on my neck at all for some reason. Put it away after a couple more tries. When I tried the Gem Junior 1912 later, everything worked perfectly and it became my main razor. I still have a Tech for under the nose though. I have a tiny near invisible mole that I simply cannot maneuver around with the 1912, but I can easily work around with the Tech. The TTO gems are more maneuverable, but they feel more "dead" in my hand, so I haven't really warmed to them despite the advantage of the smaller head.

The GEM Micromatics are mostly great razors but I agree there's less tactile feedback or as you say they feel a bit dead in the hand compared to the 1912 or 1914.....The price you pay for a TTO system.

 

[Mick]

Everyone has their own personal preference (DE, SE, injector, straight, even carts)...

What I think keeps a lot of folks away from SE is the "box cutter" mentality when it comes to the blades they use.

I have scores of SE razors and use one of them once or twice a week.

Today was a SE shave day. Non conventional SE as the blade are disposable straight razor blades but a SE razor non the less

 

[global_dev]

Everyone has their own personal preference (DE, SE, injector, straight, even carts)...

What I think keeps a lot of folks away from SE is the "box cutter" mentality when it comes to the blades they use.

I have scores of SE razors and use one of them once or twice a week.

Today was a SE shave day. Non conventional SE as the blade are disposable straight razor blades but a SE razor non the less

interesting, i loved the cobra, which felt very different than the other 2 se's tried.

 

[beisler]

I like this thread,it reminds me of my own initial discovery of SE shaving.About 15 seconds into my first SE shave I paused for a moment remembering all the DE razors that had passed through my hands in search of the the perfect shave and realized that none had performed as well as my first single edge.It's been 100 % single edge ever since.

Exactly what happened to me --but it was about 10 seconds into my first SE shave when I realized I would be selling all the
DE razors I had accumulated

 

[Allison's Anarchy]

I like this thread,it reminds me of my own initial discovery of SE shaving.About 15 seconds into my first SE shave I paused for a moment remembering all the DE razors that had passed through my hands in search of the the perfect shave and realized that none had performed as well as my first single edge.It's been 100 % single edge ever since.

200 GEM PTFE Coated Stainless Steel Blades from Connaught Shaving in the UK cost me about 19 cents a blade shipped to my door here in Illinois.I shave with an Ever-Ready Streamline most days and get 14 shaves per blade.

Yes sir. It has been 100% SE for me since my first shave with one as well and it's not going to change anytime soon. I'd love to try a Streamline. That's a damn beautiful razor.

Everyone has their own personal preference (DE, SE, injector, straight, even carts)...

What I think keeps a lot of folks away from SE is the "box cutter" mentality when it comes to the blades they use.

It is that very same mentality that kept me apprehensive about them as well. The "paint scraper" blade mentality.

Exactly what happened to me --but it was about 10 seconds into my first SE shave when I realized I would be selling all the
DE razors I had accumulated

True LOSER here.

 

[DougK]

I recently rediscovered the nirvana that is SE shaving. There's no need to agonize over blade choice, no need to fiddle around looking for the right blade/razor combo. You don't even really have to worry about blade angle much because it's built right in. Just lather up, stick a blade in the razor, mow down the stubble, and enjoy a shave that lasts and lasts.

Simple, efficient, economical...what more do you want from your shaving?

Yes, I am now a LOSER.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

I recently rediscovered the nirvana that is SE shaving. There's no need to agonize over blade choice, no need to fiddle around looking for the right blade/razor combo. You don't even really have to worry about blade angle much because it's built right in. Just lather up, stick a blade in the razor, mow down the stubble, and enjoy a shave that lasts and lasts.

Simple, efficient, economical...what more do you want from your shaving?

Yes, I am now a LOSER.

Very nice summary of SE shaving, welcome back!