Shaving Thread

I have been doing Safety Razer shaving for several years. Always on the search for a great product, whether that be soap, after shave, razor blade, handle, etc.

Here recently, one of the companies I bought my handle off of switched to a US based blade manufacturer.

I have used many different blades: Sharks, Personna's, Feather, some Russian ones, and a few others.

The handle is this one: https://battlebrothers.com/products/mkii-double-edge-razor

My first time using their blades made overseas, it was rough, and not as smooth as my Personna's. Personna, at least the ones I used were very smooth, but they changed, and the originals are really hard to find. The Feather's were great for the first couple of shaves, then they dulled quickly.

So my rotation was three: Feather, Battle Brother's (overseas version), and Personnas, if I wanted something nicer.

Decided I needed to buy some new blades, and as I said, they changed over to a US manufacturer. They make everything here in the US. Veteran owned as well. I like that.

Here they are: https://battlebrothers.com/products/premium-american-made-double-edge-safety-razor-blades-pack-of-50

I can say they are amazing! Very smooth, very sharp, and I have now done two shaves with two passes each shave, and the blade is still as sharp. Smooth? It, to me, feels like knife going through melted butter. This blade has now replaced all of my others.

I know shaving is so varied for everyone, but I wanted to share what I found, and say that I couple this with Proraso White, and I have finally found my kit. May try one of the brushes from them, but mine is working good right now and I have one that is still new. Do I really need a brush? I don't know.

But, if you use a safety razer, I say give them a try. I don't work for them, nor am I getting any kickbacks. I just found a product that is amazing and wanted to share.

I know there is a site that is dedicated to this kind of stuff but I don't want to join another forum. So, here I am.

I guess to also keep the conversation going, what do you use? What have you found? Do you have a massive stock pile that you rotate through? I don't. I use the same stuff each time because it just works. This is not to say I am not open to other shave soaps, as I have heard Arko is pretty good, but I really like my Proraso.

ETA: When traveling, I also carry this setup with me using this: https://spearheadshaving.com/products/spearhead-safety-razor-case.

Made in the USA as well.

 

Some 4 blade schick or whatever that I’ve had for 2 years and some foam hand soap for the neck and cheeks.

 

Now when you say "cheeks".....

 

Yup.

 

I got into safety razor shaving when I graduated college. I currently rock with Stirling Shave soaps and the Rockwell 6s and Feather blades. I've also liked their solid cologne and aftershave. I highly recommend Stirling as they lather relatively well, USA made and the scents are amazing. I typically buy their large tubs and they last me months for $15 https://www.stirlingsoap.com/collections/shave-soap

 

I started with a Gillette Mach 3 with the gel. It was several years ago I was tired of looking like I went through a meat grinder, and heard about safety razer. Never used one before, jumped in and fell in love with it.

It is a slower pace, less rushed, and a connection to the past. Then I started experimenting with different soaps and blades, and here I am.

 

Ok, let's keep the cracks out of the thread!!!

.


J/K. Alrighty, I'll see myself out.

 

I have heard of Stirling, and have not had a chance to try them yet. I'll have to check them out, thanks for the link.

Right now, I spent three years checking out some lesser known soap companies, and have come back to Proraso. I like the sensitive types because it feels very smooth as well, and Proraso does a good job with it. However, I am opened to trying some different kinds as well, so I will have to check them out.

Do you have a type you like from Stirling?

 

I have a bad tendency of ruining things.

On the shaving note, I forgot to add....

I shave my head every 2 days and (for now) my face every 3 for work. I've been using dollar shave club for about 4 years. I use their shave butter (soft, moisturizing, and transluclscent to see where your shaving easier...especially close to your shave lines), the 6 blade with the 1 edge blade on the other side, and their post shave lotion. I don't get any irritation, the blades are cheap AF compared to Gillette fusions I used to use, they deliver to me whenever I say like monthly or quarterly, and have been really happy with it. I spend about 30 bucks every 3 or 4 months on the delivered items. I don't have super coarse hair, but I do get the sand paper face/head about 12 hours after I've shaved.

Bonus, and possibly TMI, info....I also get their ball spray to use when I know I'm gonna be playing a sport, outside a lot, running, etc and it works great. No swamp ass and keeps dry.

 

You're fine . I thought you were making a joke so I played off it. If not, I misread!

I almost went with them as well. But shifted over to this. I just bought my blades but this is the first purchase, along with the soap, that I did in over a year. I spent, probably $40ish dollars or so. That should last me for another year or about. But having switched to shaving twice a week (because I am really enjoying the razers this time around), I may buy a little more, LOL.

Is the butter as good as they say? I've heard several mixed. How does it compare to say the shave cream in a tube or a puck?

 

It was a joke. I tend to ruin things with jokes haha.

I live the butter. Nice shave, no irritation, and easy clean out from the blades than foam and gels

 

Interesting! Thanks for sharing.

ETA: Nah, You're good.

 

$35.00 for a pack of 50? I get 100 Astra (my favorite brand) for 8 bucks and it takes me two years to use them all.
I’m genuinely curious. How does the company and your experience justify the price? I know they’re not all created equal but that’s nearly ten times what I pay.

 

No worries, and I appreciate the questions. Yes. Unfortunately, the blades are all subjective for each shaver. I did try an Astra, and while it was ok, it did not really hit it right for me. It pulled, was rough, and felt more like I was ripping out the beard, not shaving. Long story short, I found Personna's, and those were almost just right.

These ones, while they are more expensive, here is, for me anyway, how I justify the cost:

1. These are sharper than my Feather, and they are much smoother than my Personna's. I know, YMMV, but for me, these are the smoothest blades I have ever tried. There is another company I am going to try when they get theirs in stock, but for this, I have never felt anything better for me.

2. I don't burn through blades too quickly, so the cost is offset by how slow I use them. 50 may get me through almost a year and a half. But I will find out. This is my first order of blades in almost two and a half years or so (I did have some surplus, so that helped here).

3. I like supporting local companies if I can. They are made in the USA, so I try to support them when their product is better than what I had before. They fit that perfectly.

4. They are Veteran owned, so I do like supporting former military if I can.

5. The company owner is very responsive. I am able to text the number on the website, and he responds fairly quickly. Again, that is relative, but considering I used to buy my stuff from Classic Shaving, and I sent a couple of questions and I have yet to hear back from almost three years ago, I figure they were busy. He responds to requests, and questions fairly well.

6. Lastly, is honesty. I asked some questions because I was not as big on the older blades, and I was a little shy about paying this much for them. The owner was very honest, and I figured he had been upfront with me before, I would take a chance. I am so glad I did. They are just smooth.

Knowing I won't buy blades for over a year, I can spread that out. Will I keep buying? That depends. I could this time because my budget allowed me to get the personal needs I needed, so I picked them up. Usually I shave once a week, although I may add an extra day here, but I can get about four shaves from a blade with two passes, sometimes three each shave. That means I have 200 shaves in this box of fifty. That, if I am doing my math right, comes to about 50 months. Take some out for extra shaves in a month, and for dropping some or losing some, I figure I get about a year and a half or so out of a box of 50.

At least I will find out

Again, I'm not saying they are the cheapest, and their foreign made blades were much cheaper, but they were also more abrasive. Sharp, but abrasive. This one blade, to me, is really that much better. The other one I am waiting on is this one: https://westernrazor.com/shop/p/double-edge-razor-blades-50-pack-refill, and while yes, they are still a little more expensive, they still cover some of the above points as the first one.

 

I recommend doing a sample kit (they come with 5 small pucks for under $20) I did that twice before I got a few of my daily drivers in the larger $14 jar but I got two of those and it lasted me a year. I personally really like Haverford and Barbershop is a classic. Also like Campania and Triumph. I don't think you could go wrong with any of them. I do like it because it uses tallow and leaves my skin pretty smooth feeling.

 

Just the tip???

Sorry, I couldn't help myself....

 

Sounds good. I will try them when I finish my Proraso. I know there are some that have years worth of soaps, but I am fine with buying just one or two and using that till it is gone.

 

Do not give it much thought!
Dollar shave club, a five pack a month, some time I buy four or five extra. Hand soap, hot water, and the dollar shave club handle I have had for a very long time. Can not even tell you when I bought the handle, but it was the same time I started with them and it has been many many years!! Over ten years ago! same handle!

 

That is a good quality handle. I remember when they first came out and almost went with them. Then went with the Mach Turbo.

Yes, I was young.