I got to thinking about this PSA while shaving this morning. I need to present a professional appearance to my clients, and I don't feel clean if I'm unshaven anyway, so I'm a bit obsessive about face grooming
So. I'd like to add a bit to my initial post.
I mentioned you can buy a high quality razor for $60. This is true, but if you're a broke dead dick, as our esteemed host might phrase it, I don't recommend you invest that kind of cash up front. You can spend far less to see whether traditional wet shaving will work for you.
Feather, a Japanese company that manufacturers top shelf gear, offers a plastic razor at a very reasonable price and is available through Amazon.
The Feather Popular
www.amazon.com/Feather-Double-Edge-Shaving-Razor/dp/B003YJ70NY/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?keywords=feather+razors&qid=1683469175&sr=8-17For $20.95 you can buy a Japanese razor with a metal head. It's nothing fancy but with reasonable care this thing would probably last decades. ( Don't fling it on the floor, don't lay it down to rust when it's dripping wet-- you get the picture. Be a sensible adult about it).
They recommend using Feather blades in the Feather razor ( because obviously). Feather blades are phenomenal, probably the sharpest you can buy, but they're pricier than some good alternatives.
If you're interested in trying, DE shaving, you'd do well to get a sample pack of blades. I've shaved my own face thousands of times, but I've never shaved yours once. Ergo, what works great for me might be real dog feces for you. Its best to experiment with different brands to see what works for
you.
Sample Blade Pack - $8.99
www.amazon.com/Double-Edge-Razor-Blade-Sample/dp/B01N6EEZ60/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=279I7YCRMH91B&keywords=safety+razor+blades+sample+pack&qid=1683469937&sprefix=sample+razor%2Caps%2C264&sr=8-3That sample includes Feather blades, so you can test them in your Feather razor, as well as some of the blades that work well for me. Bic-- they're nearly as sharp as Feather, love 'em. Personna, Shark, and Voskhod. Voskhod's are Russian blades; nice and sharp and only $10 for a pack of 100.
So for the razor and blades you're looking at $30. There's a total of 30 blades in the sample pack, and I get a week's shave out of a blade. So for nine dollars I can shave for 30 weeks, which is 7 months.
Finally, if you find you like traditional shaving you'll want to buy shaving soap and learn to whip up your own Tombstone Cowboy lather. For now,, though, you just want to experiment for Cheap, so I recommend you also get some Cremo Shaving gel.
Cremo Shave Cream, Original Scent
www.amazon.com/Gillette-Fusion5-Refills-Razors-Blades/dp/B001JQLNHS/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=6TGO89T4YSER&keywords=gillette+fusion&qid=1683470989&sprefix=gillette+fusio%2Caps%2C523&sr=8-3Cremo works great and the tube will last about 3 months. $7.50 a pop. Also, if you find traditional shaving isn't for you, Cremo will work just fine with your disposable razor too.
So, for a grand total of ( adds numbers frantically) $37.50 you can try this new method. If you like it ( and you will, if you give it a chance and understand from the start there will be a small learning curve), you can buy some better gear as you go along. Razors are like cars; transport is transport, but do you want a VW Rabbit or a Ferrari? Feather offers a $20 intro model, but they also make a razor from marine grade surgical steel that sells for close to $300 in the States. ( Jack, you live in Asia and can probably buy Feather products for far, far less than I can) .
$37.50 for a setup that will last you for 7 months. For comparison, here is an 12 pack of Gillette Fusion cartridges.
www.amazon.com/Gillette-Fusion5-Refills-Razors-Blades/dp/B001JQLNHS/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=6TGO89T4YSER&keywords=gillette+fusion&qid=1683470989&sprefix=gillette+fusio%2Caps%2C523&sr=8-3What have you got to lose?
Yeah, it'll cost you 2 or 3 hundred up front, to buy the razor setup you really want ( I'm talking about a razor, a razor stand, a good brush, soap, stocking up on good blades everything you need here.) But in 10 years you'll spend double that much on disposable junk. Gotta look at it long term. I spent $50 for a pack of 1,000 Shark blades. That is literally enough to last me for the next 20 years of my life. That works out to $2.50 a year. A box of 100 is about the size of a crossword puzzle magazine you find in the drugstore; the storage space it takes isn't even worth talking about.
If you're a younger guy, say 35 or under, you will literally save thousands in $$$ over your lifetime,
and you'll get a much, much better shave.
Hey, I called it a public service announcement for a reason.
For those who are interested, here is a link to West Coast Shaving ( located in Myrtle Beach, SC). Have a look at the truly mind boggling amount of products that are available to scrape the stubble off. These guys run fantastic salez, and offer kits that include the razor, stand, soap, and brush -- literally everything you need to get started.
www.westcoastshaving.com/?utm_campaign=6%20-%20May%20-%20Sat%3A%2030%25%20Off%20All%20WCS%20Shaving%20Soaps%20or%2010%20Off%20All%20Shaving%20soaps%20%7C%20SMS%20%2801GZHMDS3H6E3XEKNN22SY0PW2%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Klaviyo&_kx=hkUhGCfpRdSYySv_wi8Mf1YcdKPBRy14fbcnb7fc4w0%3D.hyyVH2