Big Razor is a Sham

[Kyle]

After being a fool and spending a ton of money on razor blades that have between three and five blades per head, I decided a while ago that I was going to just move to disposable razors because they were cheap (at my local store, I can get them for about 25 cents each). But then I thought- "Damn, that's pretty wasteful." and I heard Kumail Nanjiani talking about how he moved to an old-school butterfly safety razor, and it was cheaper and a better shave than any other razors he used.

Oh my god, he was so right. I bought a cheap safety razor on amazon for $12 and it came with 5 razor blades:



Here's the thing- the razor blades are sharper and better quality than what you get in a disposable (or even a quad-blade face scraper) and last longer. And here's the other thing I discovered: you don't need more than one blade on your razor. All that double blade shit is a scam. I'm getting the smoothest best shaves OF MY LIFE. And I don't even use shaving cream, I just soap my face up with Irish Spring in the shower and shave with that.

Even better- replacement blades run about 10 cents a piece on amazon.

Big Razor has been lying to us. Stop being sheep and shave like your dad used to.

[Mike]

I'm convinced. I will try this.

[El Jefe]

I switched to some grocery store available Scandinavian safety razor like four years ago. It was a great choice. Of course, I only remember to shave like every 10 days. And then swear I'll do it again more regularly, and never do. I think my pack of 5 blades has been around since X-mas of 2017. There's a new one on the razor, and two left.

[Mike]

[Phoebe]

I congratulate you on this choice! I looked into this a while ago for investment purposes, and Gillette was dominating the market before the club services sprang up unexpectedly just over the last decade and pulled out ten percent of the sales. It's interesting - how could it be that such a basic and simple need is not efficiently and effectively provided for by businesses after all this time? I mean in women's products that's a given, but it's not clear why in men's shaving! The point is, it looked like a bad investment long term, because why? (It worked out for Warren but that was earlier.) Mystifying that they keep on with the struggle when you can buy a razor and cheap blades and solve it all, just as you say! I don't think my husband has ever gotten a new razor the entire time I've known him. Thus his razor is scary to look at but very effective. Ever since grandpa and dad would let us slap the shaving cream on their faces (even better when it was the little boar bristle brush sometimes), I have enjoyed this whole ritual. When my husband shaves to go out in the evenings he will have one of the kids put on the shaving cream and it's hilarious. They take the duty very seriously!

[Zen]

What is this "shaving" of which you speak?

[Tahlvin]

I tried one of those razors in the past. Didn't work well for me at the time, but who knows.

I use one of those mail order clubs, Dollar Shave Club, and get a set of new disposable blades once a month, and a shipment of shave butter every couple of months. I prefer the shave butter to shaving cream. But that's just me.

Perhaps I'll give a safety razor another try at some point. But not right now.

[Phoebe]

Ooh, so what is shaving butter all about? I take it it's more like a lotion and less foamy? I think the best is when you get that little jar of stuff and swirl around in it with the little boar bristle brush, and it puts a soft foam on your face. But that's speaking from the perspective of the person doing the brushing and not the person doing the shaving!

[Tahlvin]

Yes, shaving butter is more like a lotion rather than a foam. It goes on clear and, IMO, makes it easier to see where you're trying to shave. I believe it was intended for folks who only shave part of their faces, leaving a goatee or something like that, as it allows them to be more precise in where they shave and where they don't. But I think it does a better job, at least with my skin and facial contours, of providing a smooth shave than gels, creams, foams, etc., provide.

Although, I would love to try a heated, brush-on shaving cream sometime and see how that feels.

[Phoebe]

How interesting. Hmm, did not expect this to be such an intriguing topic.

[Zombie]

Shaving butter is the only thing that prevents my neck from getting razor burn. The foams never do it for me. Sensitive neck skin I guess.

[Tahlvin]

I have a lot less razor burn with the shave butter as well. DSC also offers a "repair serum" that I occasionally use when I'm traveling and have to shave every day, rather than my usual every-other-day, that helps prevent razor burn.

[Phoebe]

Tomorrow I'm going to have to be googling the darned shaving butter, you know it. What could this be? Maybe it's the thing I'm thinking you put on with the little brush, hey ho! My husband shaves all the time so surely there will be at least one chance to try it.

[Tahlvin]

[Phoebe]

Barbasol is the Chosen shaving cream, full stop.