Somebody "in the know" against DE's and Straights!

[MRoney]

A coworker of mine is 65 (Paul). When another guy (Josh) brought in his Superspeed Adjustable to show me, Paul and I got to talking. He claims that "Those double edges are like self sacrifice... injectors? they were great, never had to touch the blade! Shaving with them though? Also self sacrifice! If cartridges weren't better they wouldn't sell them right?" Paul currently shaves with a mach 3 and says he always gets a great shave.

Not really much to say, just had to share my experience. All the older guys (50+) I work with think i am crazy using a DE, all the younger guys barely understand what a DE is.

 

[SkipH]

OK. I am 62. I used DE razors when I started to shave because that is all that was available except for electric razors. I used one for a bit, but gave the electric up because it really irritated my face. The reason I went to multiple blade razors is that I never learned how to use a DE properly. My father did not know how to use one so I never did. He used canned goo and pressed hard on his face. I pretty much did the same. I have always been a wet shaver, and about 20 years ago picked up a brush and soap. about 3 years ago I did a search of shaving soaps and came across several shaving forums, one of which was this one. I learned how to use a DE properly and am getting the best shaves of my life. My thinking is that most of my generation did not learn, or were not tought how to use a DE properly because our fathers did not know. At any rate, I would not go back to a cartridge unless that was all there was.

 

[Mick]

At any rate, I would not go back to a cartridge unless that was all there was.

If that was the only choice I would grow another beard.

 

[NCJack]

I'm also 62, and think the shave wikis here are FAR more instruction than most men ever got on DE shaving, even in the 1920s,'30s, etc. When I was a kid it was a cliché joke on TV for Joe Salary to show up at the office with little patches of toilet paper on his face, so I assumed blade=blood.

 

[mopar440_6]

If that was the only choice I would grow another beard.

I'm pretty sure with a half decent stone and an old leather belt I could get a good enough edge on one of my hunting knives before I'll go back to a cartridge...

 

[smalltank]

even in the untrained hands.....Mach3 and Fusion razors can make anyone "nervous"......

 

[Beerhunter]

I know the feeling I got a buddy at work who's uncle or grand dad. Was a barber from the 1930's to the 1950's
so he has some old barber stuff hand clippers, de's and some old bottles. He isn't interested in any of it.
He is happily content with his dollar store disposable razor. Go figure.

 

[Kevan]

My father is 69 and when I started, he thought I was crazy too. "Why the hell would you use the old razors? I hated those things."

But we shouldn't evangelize. Let the cartridge guys use carts if they like them. 95% of men don't give a rat's butt; they just want to get shaving over and done with in less than 3 minutes. And y'know? That's their choice.

 

[mftoms59]

... The reason I went to multiple blade razors is that I never learned how to use a DE properly. My father did not know how to use one so I never did...

Probably the two most common reasons most Cart Shavers shun DE,SE and Injector Razors.

 

[Legion]

My father is in his 70's. He has never used anything but an electric, at least since I can remember. There is just no helping some people.

 

[JDTTO]

My father is 69 and when I started, he thought I was crazy too. "Why the hell would you use the old razors? I hated those things."

But we shouldn't evangelize. Let the cartridge guys use carts if they like them. 95% of men don't give a rat's butt; they just want to get shaving over and done with in less than 3 minutes. And y'know? That's their choice.

My thoughts exactly.

I would not even force traditional shaving on my sons when they are old enough. Sure, I would try to guide them as best as I can but that's it.

I use carts (Trac/G2-style and Guard) and disposables (Bic Sensitive) every now and then and get decent shaves with them. The way the blade is exposed in the Bic is very similar to a DE and I could not get a good shave with these when I tried one when I was a teenager and now I find them excellent. I think the way I looked at this razor when I first tried it is the same way someone looks at DE's without knowing how to use them.

There is just a lot more room for error (thus injury) with DE's (and Bic's) than with carts for people who do not know how to use them but they definitely have benefits for those who do.

 

[wagstaff]

I'm also 62, and think the shave wikis here are FAR more instruction than most men ever got on DE shaving, even in the 1920s,'30s, etc. When I was a kid it was a cliché joke on TV for Joe Salary to show up at the office with little patches of toilet paper on his face, so I assumed blade=blood.

This is a great observation. My earliest memories of my dad shaving were with a Red-Tip SuperSpeed.

A forum brother here just sent me a cased red tip just because I mentioned this. (Unbelievably great people here!). I called my dad to tell him. He loves his Schick Hydro with 5 blades and can't believe I would use a SuperSpeed. And he remembers the blue tip, the red tip, the injectors.... (My first razor was an injector, and then it got worse all the way through a Mach 3 before I got back to The Old Ways).

I tried to tell him how much better it is.... he wouldn't have it. But I think you're right that I got better instruction. And I remember the "Joe Salary" ads, too.

 

[Arcadies]

Some folks just like carts, and others are a bit naive and follow the herd, as they think that is what's modern and it should be the best. They don't know the whole story about Gillette and blade patents being their bread and butter and the "evolvement" of cartridge razors is just how they keep people under their thumb. I'm only 37 but I plan on using safety razors until I'm too feeble to do so or I croak. My 80 year old uncle is the only other family member I know of that still uses the "old stuff" he still uses his old soap scum encrusted Fatboy and Surrey mug and boar brush, he also will only use VdH soap...now anyway..he rose a hell of a ruckus when they stopped making Surrey.

 

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Just about every person I have talked about Classical wet shaving has looked at me like I was crazy. Most can not grasp the concept that traditional wet shaving is a pleasurable experience akin to a woman going to a spa. (At least for me it is.) The shaves I have received with my old Gillette DEs and now Ever-Ready and GEM SEs are the closest and smoothest I have ever given myself. Lathering up with one of my amazing Silvertip ER restores, or my amazing B&B Essentials boar brush is just a great time for me. Experimenting with Shave creams, soaps, after-shaves, etc. is a great experience. Remembering that Pinaud Clubman's scent was the smell of the old barbershop of my youth was amazing! I have had so many enjoyable experiences since I first thought of trying to shave like my grandfather did and found this site. (Truth be told, without B&B, I would have not known the proper techniques to angle, pressure, lathering, etc. I would have given up soon after trying it and agreed that cartridges are better.)
I just love my traditional wet shaving, and I thank everyone on B&B for their kind and friendly advice/help when I needed it.

 

[Snuff-Belgium]

Some folks just like carts, and others are a bit naive and follow the herd, as they think that is what's modern and it should be the best.

I love wet shaving but I have long given up on trying to convince others to try it, it's all good, they can't convince me either to use facebook and whatever else is in these days.

 

[Jaatinen1982]

I don't know about all older people but my father thought I'm gone nuts when he heard that I had ordered straight razor and he still thinks I'm nuts. My father is 60 and all advice for shaving was when I was fourteen was a Mach and can of shaving foam in christmas package He use himself disposable BIG razors and hand soap Younger than me don't even know what is straight razor

But I guess older generation didn't get even tiny bit of that information what is now available for any wetsaver or beginner.

 

[n2hql]

Tried electric, nothing but burn, used carts up to two blades, injector, techmatics (remember those ?) and DE shaving. Used canned goo until I got out of the navy, got a brush & soap, never went back. I always end up back at the DE so I think I'll finally stay here. Never tried a straight, no desire, unless it's from a barber, finding fewer & fewer willing to do one. The younger guys are all cartridges, maybe they'll learn some day, it did take me a long time to settle in.

 

[volleymh9]

out of all my grandfathers that i knew, only 1 of the 3 that were still alive when i was a kid still did traditional wet shaving. he loved shaving that way and did so until he got very old and couldn't keep a steady hand. the other two grandfathers admittedly said that they were never really taught properly how to use one and that's why they switched.

what's a good sports car worth if you don't know how to drive manual transmission...

 

[aihpcfl]

The canned shaving cream or gel and a cartridge razor has advantages: convenience and a close shave without thinking about it. My only problem is the cost, and the waste of throwing away an empty can, though I do agree the wet shave routine is pleasurable, if one is inclined to enjoy it.

There is no denying that traditional wet shaving has lost in the marketplace. The big corporation is not forcing cartridges on people anymore than the safety razor was forced on straight razor users back in the day.

 

[Beerhunter]

I'm also 62, and think the shave wikis here are FAR more instruction than most men ever got on DE shaving, even in the 1920s,'30s, etc. When I was a kid it was a cliché joke on TV for Joe Salary to show up at the office with little patches of toilet paper on his face, so I assumed blade=blood.

useless tv trivia time ppl.
They still use that sight gag saw it on one of theses shows. How I met your mother, Big Bang,or two men. I don't watch these shows GF does( why? I don't know) and the scene w/ bits of TP on face I caught. By now it's played to death