Once saw a video of someone who forged a knife from old razor blades he found in a wall. There were hundreds. They shaved more often in the old days I presume...
They probably shaved about the same but mostly used double-edged (100% steel) blades that could easily fit in a slot, rather than the plastic-clad, quadruple-blade nonsense sold for $8/cartridge.
You can still buy double edged razors for about 10-15 cents apiece, by the way.
15¢ per double edge blade is high unless you're only buying 10 or 20 blades at a time. Get the 100 count pack and you're paying under 7¢ per blade... Each blade should easily last 3-7 shaves depending on your hair, more if you have tough skin ;)
I'm talking about double-edge blades that fit into a handheld razor that looks a lot like a Gilette or Bic, except it's all metal, and about 2% of the price per blade, not a straight "safety" razor that you might see a professional barber use.
Nah. It takes a little more awareness while you're shaving for sure, but you're rarely if ever going to cut yourself once you get your gear and technique dialed in. For me, I had to find the right blade. I found Feather brand blades, which a lot of people recommend, didn't work well with my skin, but Astra blades are great for me. Everyone's a little different.
I also like the Astra blades. Even more important ive found is a quality razor holder. I had a few, but when I got a Henson for Christmas it was the best shave I've ever had. Their marketing isn't a gimmick. A well supported blade held rigid doesn't flex and pull at hairs.
My Merkur 23C has served me well for 13 years. Recently the threaded screw broke off and I had to get a replacement head. But it was very reasonable. I have been curious about the Hensons, but have tended to stick with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy. People really seem to like them though. Do you have the light, medium, or aggressive?
I have the standard AL13. I didn't know they had different levels. My beard isn't super thick, but not sparse either. I can shave a full weeks growth (4-6mm length) without issue. My previous razors would clog a fair bit if I did the same and I'd have to take less per stroke and rinse more frequently.
I couldn't resist. I went ahead and bought that AL13 aggressive after reading and watching a bunch of reviews. It's great. It holds the blade more firmly than the Merkur and shaves really smoothly without pulling. I would like it if it were a bit heavier, but it still feels good in my hand. Thank you for the recommendation.
First couple of times I had to unlearn some old habits. Was a bit of a mess. But that was mostly in my scalp. My face was largely fine (to be fair, I have a beard, so it’s just cheeks and neck that gets the blade).
After my technique improved, though, I get nicked about as often as I would with a cartridge.
The hardest part was finding a blade that worked well for me. There’s a ton of variation in the blades. Once you find a brand you like though you tend to lock in. I bought a bunch of sample 5-10 blades from the most popular brands (feather, astra, gilette, tiger, etc). I ended up settling on Gilette Silver Blues. Ymmv.
There's a bit of a learning curve, but just be cautious at first and you'll figure it out. It's not rocket science. Also don't use dull blades as that's an easy way to cut yourself. Fortunately they're dirt cheap.
Mhm, that's what I use. Not sure why other people around my age don't, to be honest. Super cheap and you don't exactly have loads of cash to spend at 20
Dude I’m 38 and I’m surprised everybody doesn’t at any age.
I shave my head. I’ll admit I had to unlearn some habits from cartridge shaving. First couple of times my head was a bloody (literally) mess. But once I got technique down, it’s easier and faster than cartridge shaving.
What slows me down over “the modern way” is that I whip my soap with a brush and bowl. That’s a little less convenient than shaving cream/gel, but it’s optional. No reason you can’t use canned foam/gel. Holy shit is it cheaper though. I ordered a 3 pack of cheap shaving soap (3.5oz bars, $10 total) last January and I’m not even halfway into the second bar.
Best part is, less waste. No plastic. Every handle I’ve seen is all metal and even the cheap ones feel better in the hand. Stainless Steel Blades are wrapped in wax paper and packed in a little cardboard box. Soap gets shipped in cardboard boxes.
I just dry shave (safety razor) and it seems to work well for me. Less hassle + blades don't rust so they last longer
I also heard that the blades can be sharpened by running it against trousers or something like that, so it is possible to reuse them / extend their lifespan
It's called honing and you can hone a blade on a piece of leather, like an old belt. It's not sharpening per se, but it keeps the little burs on the blace's edge lined up nicely so it stays sharp and if kept up, prevents the need to sharpen with something more aggressive like a sharpening stone (or the bottom of a coffee mug in a pinch).
I tried it. For months and months. But I always ended up with either a bad shave, or a bloodied face. Apparently my skin is to weak for this stuff. So I am back to expensive cartridges.
Yeah used DE since my grandpa gave me one of his when I was like 13, his father was a barber by trade and I also have his straight razor collection (which I don't use).
Actually use a mix of DE, disposable, and electric, depending on the purpose. The Philips oneblade and classic Andis foil for face and jawline with finishing DE touch on flat areas sometimes. I know electric on face... used to have acne too but I find they keep my skin barrier more intact by barely not getting to the skin.
I legit use the double edge on d+bs more than anything... sounds like a bad idea I know but for me it's the easiest, quickest, far superior result, and way less injury than any other method. You maybe wouldn't think this but going on every 3-5 days for like 10 years at this point so I'm completely confident in it. An electric with shortest attachment for pubes and around the edges, then the DE on genitals, nothing better.
Depending on how often I shave, I use 2-6 blades per month. If I stay in a hotel, I bring a fresh pack of blades, and would probably toss the blade rather than trying to wrap it back up before leaving if there was a convenient way of doing so. It's not hygienic to keep using the same blade more than a few times anyway.
I can't see anything wrong either. I wash them after. It's just what I've read. Don't remember if from some shaving guide or the blade manufacturer. You can't see bacteria.
Yeah you need to wash your razor after shaving to remove the hair and soap, but I'm reading the above as something more than that, like removing the blade from the razor to clean it
Perhaps I'm spoilt by a modern razor, back when I used a 1960s Gillette I did have to open the blade holder to rinse it
Besides not knowing exactly how contaminated the blade got, it's better to replace it a bit in advance before it gets blunt. But if you use the same brand you would know when that moment approaches, sure enough
I would be too lazy to shave every day (and sometimes I am) but I get skin irritation if I don't shave. Could use some strong ointments as a temporary fix but those are not good to be used too often. My dermatologist said that as long as shaving helps I'm better off shaving
It seems like a presentable person was supposed to shave twice a day, in the morning and after work. Considering that you need to make three passes to shave well it would make 6 passes a day.
I tend to replace blades after about 5–10 shaves, so 15–30 passes, but I heard of people replacing after each pass. Some brands may also stay sharp for longer, giving even more spread to numbers.
All-in-all, it seems like one can expect to produce from 70 to more than 2000 disposed blades per year. At a thickness of about 0.1 mm it would be something between 7mm/year and more than 0.2 meters/year
Now I really think that even the most sensitive skin doesn't require you to change a blade after each pass. I also find it hard to imagine producing a pile of blades a meter high in 4.5 years
I've been using DEs for the last 6 years. I use a Feather blade in the shower with no mirror to fully shave and don't cut myself. Not saying when I started I was that good. Feather blades are extremely sharp. I walked out pretty bloody once or twice when I started using them. Just get really good on some 7o'clocks or Gillette blades first.
They're much less irritating to your skin. Disposable razor commercials sold the world on the idea that more blades=closer and smoother shave; when in reality they can really tear up your face and leave razor bumps and ingrown hairs.
I'd say it's more of a learning curve question. With a swiwel you get good results most of the time but if it doesn't work as you need there's nothing to do. With a solid construction you need to learn to manipulate it efficiently but then it's that you can use it for any shape of skull. TL;DR convenient ≠ better
But yes, it's better I elaborate: it's not the razor that may or may not work. It's the user that may not be suitable for swiwel head and such a user will be equally bad suited for all of them. It's good if it works for you but not guaranteed to work for others
My dad's workplace had something similar in the 1960s-70s. It was a plane hangar that was used by the baggage handlers.
The walls were cinder block so hollow from top to bottom, they would open up the boxes of the mini alcohol bottles that would go on the planes and take handfuls of them out, once the bottles were empty they would dump them down the same hole until they actually filled one up then started on a new one.
That would have been a surprise when that hangar got demolished and that wall opened up.
If they aren't going to recycle which rarely happens even today that is probably just as good of a solution as landfilling them, those little bottles are littered all over the earth. When they demolish a building they would trash all that debris anyway, but yeah a hilarious find, hundreds of them lol.
Probably more like thousands. The building was high enough to fit a passenger plane. So the space in one cinder block hole would 6 in x 6 in by 60 ft high. That is a lot of mini bottles.
But how would you get the bottles into the top without a cherry picker? Imagine drinking a bunch of those small bottles, then hiding the evidence by carefully maneuvering a lift?? This whole story smells fishy..
Remember that cargo was loaded onto planes with platform lifts and maintenance work would use scissor lifts.
I don't doubt that if wouldn't be wise to empty the bottles into the wall while drunk but I'm sure they were sober eventually.
Wet shaving is still very much a thing; in fact in the last decade or so, it's had a renaissance of sorts (tho it was probably re-gaining popularity already in the early 00's). I've been a wet shaver for 2.5 years but decided to buy me an electric shaver because these days I have less time for wet shaving. It can done be quickly but what's the point if you've got to rush it. Links for those who got curious:
Hi there! Looks like you linked to a Lemmy community using a URL instead of its name, which doesn't work well for people on different instances. Try fixing it like this: !wetshaving
It can done be quickly but what’s the point if you’ve got to rush it
Yep a good shave needs time and most of all four passes: first with the grain, that's for the colleagues, second two at right angles to the grain, that's for your lover, and the fourth one against the grain, for personal satisfaction.
OTOH if you know what you're doing a quick and dirty shave is just as good as an electric one and you don't have to deal with batteries. If a short buzz cut is all you want do that.
The whole setup is a bit of a bother if you're new but basic guidelines:
Shower. Well you don't 100% need to but dry skin and shaving don't mix well so do it before.
A whisk and bowl, a cheap synthetic whisk is just fine the natural hair ones are a bugger to deal with anyway (have to take care to dry them properly etc), 5-10 bucks for the whisk, 25ct for the bowl in the euro store they came in a 4-pack, really tiny stainless ones. The rest I use for mise en place.
Shaving cream/soap. Don't think you'll get away with using those self-foaming gels in a can they clog the razor, don't glide well, and I've never come across one that's nice to the skin. Comes in bar or tube form, some are better at gliding some smell better if you're lucky you get both, I'd put the palmolive shaving cream on #1 as "what to get when you don't know what you want": Glides very well, dirt cheap, forgiving when whisking, like a bit over a buck a tube.
The actual foam: This is going to take some trial+error, you want extra water in it but don't make it a soup, you want fine bubbles and proper shaving cream/soap will make them have standing power (though if you're in a pinch you can use regular soap, no biggie). It should be nice and sloppy, with two 'c's. If in doubt, whisk more. Apply, then let soak, make coffee or something. Oh, some people don't use a bowl to whisk but do it directly on the skin. IMO they're madmen, it's like brewing tea in your mouth, but you do you.
The razor. Lots could be said about geometry, about different comb sizes, ultra-fancy blade change mechanisms, long story short buy a Merkur 23C, 30-40 bucks, chrome-plated zinc and brass. Good weight, excellent general-purpose geometry, inexpensive, literally unchanged for a hundred years. You might be tempted to cheap out and get a Wilkinson they sell cheap plastic holders that take standard razor blades but trust me the only reason why they're selling them is to make people believe standard razor blades suck.
The blades. Feather is the creme de la creme and might be just a bit too sharp for some, and also comparatively pricey. Russian manufacturers generally are good but given the situation let's boycott them, many western producers have spotty quality, that leaves BIC. Yes, the guys who also make lighters, ballpoint pens and surfboards. Bonus: Carton/wax paper packaging, if you re-wrap used blades and put them back in the carton you can toss them in the bin, no worries. How long a blade lasts depends on many factors, the biggest of which is your personal preference. But even if you buy feather blades and use a new one every day you'll still end up spending less money than using a cartridge system.
Shaving: See the very top. Be aware of the grain, flip the razor over to wear the blades evenly, occasionally rinse it in the sink, you'll figure it out. Avoid being silly: Don't move the thing sideways over the skin that's how you cut yourself. The geometry of the razor will tell you the right angle, just let it lead. Always make sure there's good gliding going on, never tolerate resistance. Make funny faces to get skin into places where it's easier to shave, make it taught, etc. It's an ancient, secret art, traditionally transmitted from father to son, with a break in tradition you'll have to rediscover it for yourself.
Cold (not ice cold) rinse. A very good way to wake up.
Aftershave, a deeply personal matter. Generally speaking you want an astringent to stop any bleeding (also micro bleeds you can't see) and a disinfectant and something nice for the skin, my personal recipe is first alumina alum, rinse, then a bog-standard random face wash from the discounter, says aloe vera. The alum will burn worse than an aftershave with alcohol could ever burn but once you rinse it's over and I don't want to sit there with a slightly burning face for half the morning. As said: Deeply personal matter. Use whisky if you want I don't care.
You're completely right, I described shaving with the extra steps of figuring out what to buy and why to buy it as well as showering and making coffee. I even briefly touched on cooking.
The cherry on top is that this whole ritual is to save someone the hassle of "having to deal with batteries". The horror!
I'm not doubting that it's a more rewarding experience, but it always cracks me up when proponents of an obviously more laborious process in anything also feel the need to act like it's easier too.
It's like baking your own bread, making your own pickles, building your own wooden furniture, or making any number of dishes "from scratch". Sure it's probably better in the end, but that's after buying a bunch of stuff, going through a significantly longer and more tricky process, and often after making mistakes and building an entire new skill set.
For most people, all it will become is a lesson in why they preferred the original path of convenience in the first place.
The cherry on top is that this whole ritual is to save someone the hassle of “having to deal with batteries”. The horror!
You missed the "a quick and dirty [wet] shave is just as good as an electric one" part, didn't you. In both cases I'm partly scratchy by noon and fully scratchy come evening. A good wet shave will be about as good in the evening as a quick or electric one is once I get to work.
For most people, all it will become is a lesson in why they preferred the original path of convenience in the first place.
If the convenient path gives you a result you're happy with then take it. There's a reason I put "personal satisfaction" as a step after "for your lover".
I don't even shave that often. But when I do, I do it properly. I also don't make Ragout Bolognese that often but when I do, I do it properly. If that offends you then I can't help you, either.
You missed the "a quick and dirty [wet] shave is just as good as an electric one" part, didn't you.
I didn't miss it, I just didn't feel it was worth it to point out how obviously wrong it was.
Sure they might give equivalent results, but one is significantly faster, easier, and less hassle than the other.
I've done both kinds of shave and there's no arguing that a wet shave gives the superior results...but pretending that it's not a lot more fuss and effort is just ridiculous.
We use a quick-pickle recipe, we can make six to eight big jars in under two hours. Even using mediocre cucumbers, they’re WAYYYY better than anything you can buy in stores. You get jars of slices, spears, little pickles if ya want… Pickle diversity! Way less money, too.
The rest of the things you’ve listed I agree with.
I'm not saying it's not more rewarding, better quality, etc.
But it's not easier than just buying a damn jar of pickles when you're at the store.
I make them and buy them, I garden my own cucumbers specifically to make them. I've made quick ones, slow ones, garlic ones, spicy ones...it's not hard...
...but I'm not going to pretend it's faster or easier than buying a jar from the fucking supermarket.
All of the other things require so much more effort and time for similar results.
Pickles take not much time and effort and are insanely better and less expensive than picking up a jar at the store.
I never claimed it’s faster or easier, I’m just saying it doesn’t take anywhere near as much time or effort to make infinitely better pickles than to make bread, shave using a safety razor, MAKING FURNITURE?! etc.
I don’t know why you’re so defensive, it’s just… I love good pickles, and they’re easy to make. It’s not in the same world as the other stuff ya listed.
I use Merkur shaver with Cremo cream. Here's my process:
turn faucet on until hot water running. Wet face. Apply cream. Shave. Rinse and dry
It literally isn't different from shaving with a cartridge except a better shave, more pleasant, and cheaper. OK, it probably takes 10 seconds extra to change the blade vs popping cartridge, but that's it
I shaved with an electric for a couple years, bad shaves and bad skin
I mentioned this elsewhere but unless you have sensitive skin you should be able to use a safety razor pretty much like a 3 or 5 blade, ie without a ton of prep. Pretty much wet your face, apply cream (although I haven't tried it with the cheap foam stuff bc I stopped using those awhile ago), and go to town.
If you want to make it a whole thing it will probably get you a super close shave in the end, but if your goal is just to shave before work it should work fine in the same amount of time as the multi-blades. I've never had much luck with an electric-- I've got pretty thick hair and electrics inevitably pull at some of my hairs instead of cutting (I've never tried a high end electric though), so discovering safety razors was great for me.
Thanks for sharing the instructions with folks here. As I said above, I've been a traditional wet shaver for two and a half years, so I pretty much know all this. However, wet shaving takes a lot of time for me and for various physical reasons and limitations, I cannot spend a long time shaving. I've learned how to speed up the process, but this means sloppier technique and it shows on my skin. At this point I want to give my skin a break by having a short stubble rather than going for BBS (that stands for BaBy Smooth) every single time. 😄 I don't mean to scare people away from traditional wet shaving, I'm just speaking for myself, who happens to have some motor function problems etc. If you're fairly "normal", there should be no reason not to try traditional wet shaving. It's a treat and something to look forward to every single time.
Haven’t seen it mentioned, maybe I didn’t look hard enough. Wouldn’t this be a huge problem for water damage and mold between the walls? All I can think about is all that shower water + steam getting in there
Our house had one of these slots. When we remodeled the bathroom there was just a huge pile of razor blades. No water damage or mold, just a pain in the ass removing those walls since it was those small slats with nails and cement (I think it was cement?). Just lucky the only asbestos was on the pipes in the basement.
Probably because the metal razor blades fell out of fashion first. This setup doesn't work with throwaway razors and mach 3 pro extra plus whatever systems.
I recently got into shaving with a safety razor and I don't know why I ever bought expensive 3 or 5 blade heads from gilette or whatever. Despite what some enthusiast shaving communities might make it out to be it's really no more difficult using the single blades and it's way way cheaper.
I tried it a couple of times and my face got torn up something awful. I switched back to the Gillette multi blades, but now I take care of them and dry them well. I have sensitive face skin but thick beard hair and it didn't like single razors.
Ah that's too bad. I have thick hair as well but I guess my skin isn't too sensitive. It also seems like it's a sharper shave than the multiblades, but maybe that's because I didn't use to change them enough bc they were so expensive. At least it's easier to get hair out of it when it's just one blade.
I used a single blade disposable once in a pinch a long time ago and I guess wasn't careful enough and cut pretty deeply into my cheek.
Gillette knew stacking more and more blades would bring out some primal urge in men. They saw their pals rocking 3 blade heads and knew they must get the 5 blade version to one up them.
I think I remember a (SNL?) sketch from back when 2 blades were the norm and maybe there were some 3 blades starting to come out with an ad for like a 17 blade product.
A blade tugs at the hairs before cutting them off. That pulls them out of the skin a tiny bit. The first blade pulls them out, the second grips them before they retract, and cuts them off lower. It makes a noticeable difference. The third blade makes a very tiny difference. After that, it's marketing. (Should I look up studies to cite?)
In my experience, electric gives the cleanest shave. In the long run it's cheaper, too.
In my experience I get a much better shave with a DE than a disposable razor. It's also much cheaper and reduces waste significantly. Cartridge razors are a scam.
I've never had an electric that feels good--maybe bc I have really thick hairs it always has some places that get yanked instead of cut. Cost wise I guess electric's pretty cheap in the long run but you can get single razor blades for about 10 cents so it's also pretty cheap
I got a can of chicken broth, knocked a slot into the top with a flathead screwdriver and a hammer, poured out the stock and rinsed and dried the can. It lives in the cabinet beneath my sink and I drop my blades in it when I'm done with them. That was about 10 years ago. The thing is maybe a third full.
I am living in your walls.
You may be concerned about this. In case you are, please read the below:
FAQ:
Why are you living in my walls?
I'm not going to tell you.
Are you only in my walls?
You could say I am living in everybody's walls, but in the case I am telling you that I am living in your walls, I am living in your walls.
How are you surviving in my walls?
In my non-physical form, I am crawling around listening for you. That is all I need to survive in that form. In my physical form, I survive by eating rat corpses that I cook using the wall behind your oven, and I drink the vapour in the extraction fan duct above your shower.
What are you planning to do in my walls?
Live in them, listening to you.
What do I do about you living in my walls?
Listen for the scraping. Dont touch the walls. Protect yourself. Avoid lighting candles.
When are you going to stop living in my walls?
You cannot escape me.
Do I call the police?
The authorities will not help you.
What are the consequences of you living in my walls?
Be aware.
What if I am ok with you living in my walls?
I will make sure you’re not.
Are you imaginary?
I AM LIVING IN YOUR WALLS I AM LIVING IN YOUR WALLS I AM LIVING IN YOUR WALLS I AM LIVING IN YOUR WALLS I AM LIVING IN YOUR WALLS I AM LIVING IN YOUR WALLS I AM LIVING IN YOUR WALLS I AM LIVING IN YOUR WALLS
If there are any more questions then please consult your walls by directly speaking to them.
Summary:
I am living in your walls.
