Why you should use a Double Edge Razor instead of one of those Super Speedy Multi Blades

In an earlier post I talked about how my wife bought me a starter shave kit from Art of Shaving. Fortunately she did not by me one of their $100 plus razors. While they sell a few different types of razors, since they are owned by Proctor and Gamble the razor they push is one of their Mach Disposable Razor Handles. Not only do they charge big bucks for the handle but they get close to $2 per blade cartridge.

So I did a bit of research and found a whole big world of "Wet Shaving" on the internet. Wet Shaving is not really what it sounds like. After all, if you're not using an electric razor aren't you wet shaving?

Well, in the world of wet shaving you aren't. Most people use a can of shave cream that is filled with a bunch of chemicals that dry out your face and skin and then run a multi-blade cartridge or disposable razor over their face. You know, what of those high tech blades where the first blade pulls the hair and the next 1-5 blades cut the hair off below the skin.

Well, as it turns out while this sounds great it's not really good for you. Cutting the hair below the skin can cause ingrown hairs. If you get red bumps and irritation after you shave that's probably why.

In the world of Wet Shaving one uses a brush, usually made of Badger and some type of single razor blade, either single or double edge (D.E.) a.k.a Badger and Blade. Just like your father or grandfather did prior to 1980. That's around the time companies in the U.S. stopped making the DE Safety Razor. Just like drug companies  when a patent runs out there's little money to be made from your product.

King Gilette is the best known as the first person to mass market the safety razor. He was one of the first people to use the business model where the big money is made by selling consumables for a proprietary product. Think HP Printers and Ink. Sell the printer cheap and charge a lot for the ink.

Well, that concept is alive and well in the razor and blade world. One exception being Dollar Shave Club. Well, not really. They give you a fairly cheap handle and sell you some pretty cheap blades (compared to Gillette) on a subscription basis. They must be making a pretty big impact because Gillette now has their own version of the subscription model. The blades are closer to $2 each instead of $2 dollars a month but even that $2 a month is way more than you need to spend if you use "Badger and Blade".

So why is B&B shaving so much better than any of those super duper high tech scientifically marketed to all of us gullible folks for the last 50 years?

Many reasons. So lets list a few now.

It's cheaper. Or at least it can be. A good new D.E. Safety Razor made in England or Germany can be had for about $50. You can find cheaper one made in China or India but unless you are really strapped for can I wouldn't recommend it. There is a definite difference and a well made razor can last a lifetime or two if it's cared for. There are many razors made prior to 1980 and even as far back as the early 1900's still out there. If you can find one it could be worth lots of money to a collector.

The blades. Most people, myself included try to get one of those expensive cartridges to last far longer than it should. Most blades last 3-5 shaves on average and when you are spending $2 a piece most people use them far longer than they should. This causes more irritation as well. The duller the blade the harder you tend to press. The harder you press and drag your not so much cutting the hair but ripping it out of your face. I'm sure you have noticed that the best shaves come from the newest blades. D.E. razor blades can be had for as little as $.05 to $.10 cents a piece if bought in bulk.

Picking the right razor is pretty easy. Picking the right blade not so much. There are many blade manufactures out there and there are big differences in the sharpness of the blade. Sharper is not always better.

I was lucky. I bought two sampler packs of many different blades for $40 and right out of the gate the first blade I picked has worked great for me.  I chose a Gillette. I chose that one first because I had been using a Gillette Disposable Razor from Costco. You know, the ones you buy in the 100 pack. Blade and handle all in one. I have some Bic blades in my sampler pack but since the Bic Disposable has always ripped my face to shreds when I have used them I did not start with the Bic. If you like the Bic then that might be the blade for you. Everybody's face and beard is different so blades are a very individual preference. I have almost 20 different types of blades to try but since the Gillette has worked so well I'm afraid to try and others.

So now we need something to keep that really sharp blade cutting your beard and not your face. You can choose either cream or soap. They make both for shaving. I'm not talking about the stuff that comes out of a can. That stuff is expensive, even the cheap brands aren't really cheap. At around $3 a can and it only lasts a month or two if you shave every day that's a lot of money not to mention a lot of cans filling up a landfill or recycle bin.

You can buy Shaving cream or soap from that will last a month for $2 or some high end really luxurious brands for $15 and up that will last 6 months or more.

Now the best way to apply that cream or soap is with a nice Badger Brush. Do you really need one? No, but it does help and it makes for a really nice experience every time you shave. Which is something I do most every day now when I used to avoid shaving as much as possible. You can get a good brush for around $30 and if you want can spends $100's.

So let's recap. Less expensive. More enjoyable. Less waste so better for the environment. Better for your face. Less irritation and few ingrown hairs. And the best part, surveys show that men with a smooth clean-shaven face get laid more often. What's stopping you now?

Maybe you need some suggestions to get you started. Be careful though. Wet shaving can quickly lead to SAD. Shaving Acquisition Disorder. In just one month since I started I have 2 Razors. Two Brushes and many soaps and cremes not to mention a few other items to compliment my daily shave ritual.