My encounter with a Double Edge / Safety Razor

I first bought my $4 Rimei safety razor on impulse as a novelty. It is a simple 3-piece razor that is quite nicely constructed. I was intrigued by the way people do things in the past. Typically, older things typically require the user to read instruction manuals and procedures to follow. Shaving with a safety razor was one such affair.

I was scared to use it at first because I had to handle the blade and put it into the handle. What if I cut myself? Will it give me many cuts on my face while I shave?

I followed the advice from forums and youtube videos and it really needs more care to shave compared to a cartridge razor. The biggest difference is the length of the blade exposed and the fact that the head does not pivot. This meant that holding the razor at the wrong angle result in cuts or a disappointingly ineffective shave.

See that sheet protruding from the top cover? That is how much the blade protrudes out.

In a nutshell, it worked great. It wasn't too difficult to shave despite being completely new to it and I didn't cut myself and managed to get a clean shave. Not particularly well done, but it was acceptable. My electric shaver could have done a better job in less time though. I respect the way technology has advanced to allow consumers to do carry on with their lives with so much ease, but there is something fun about taking the time to shave with an old school safety razor.

The two pieces form the head of the razor, with the foreground plate serving as a safety barrier from the blade. Hence, the naming of the razor.

Another point to note is that shaving with a safety razor can be very inexpensive. The design was very economical since the only thing that needs replacing is just a thin sheet of metal while the razor will last forever. Each blade costs in the range of S$0.40 to as low as $0.08. It typically gets cheaper when you buy a 100 blade pack instead of a 5 or 10 blade pack. I started out buying small packs, while it is more expensive, it allows me to try out different brands to see what works the best for me. Also, while most people, presumably westerners, managed to get 4-8 shaves off each blade on average, I find that my blade lasts longer than that, probably because my stubble is not that coarse.

 

According to online reviews, this sampler blade included with razor is rather high quality. The stains are due to a couple times of use.

As I read further, I got to read that shaving with a safety razor was actually be done as an indulgence though painstakingly slow, but sophisticated procedures. I think the technology of the yesteryear is interesting in the sense because they required some skill and knowledge to bring out the best in their tools. Whereas now, consumerism has focused on making products that are convenient and simple to use.

With that said, that is not to say that modern day technology had made shaving worse, in fact, I feel that even inexpensive electric shavers such as the one I reviewed earlier largely reduced the chore of shaving and gives a close, smooth shave without fail.

I urge you to try it out for the fun of it. Traditional shaving has its charms and I've been trying to improve my technique in hope that it can one day be as good as shaving with my electric shaver.

Gillette Foamy Lemon Lime shaving foam

Ok, Here is my little review of the shaving foam I'm using for my shaving with a safety razor.

After reading forums and blogs about shaving, it seemed unanimous that anything that comes out of a can is terrible. Most shaving enthusiasts, if there is such a thing, will recommend creams and shaving soaps that would require him to spend some time to whip up the rich lather you see on shaving commercials. According to most writings on the net, that is the only way to get nourishing, rich lather that enriches your shaving process. But is that the case?

I started off from shaving foams because that was one of the first things I saw in Watsons when I first started shaving. The price is reasonable. A can for less than $10 that lasts about half a year.

One of them I tried was this:

 The Gillette Foamy Lemon Lime Shaving Foam! It is the 175g can.

Simple Honest Classic were the 3 words Gillette described this foam.

I've used almost half the can before I neglected it for a year after getting my first electric shaver, the Braun MobileShave M-90. Only recently, did I picked it back up.

After picking up shaving with a safety razor, I also got myself a Schick Hydro Shaving Gel and an old skool Tabac Shaving Soap (an inexpensive soap that received high praise from the net). So, I'm going to compare my experience of this foamy stuff against them.

Convenience

In terms of convenience, nothing can be easier than using products from an aerosol can. Simply shake and use. Its advantage comes in the speed and ease of use compared to shaving soaps. I can see its use in travel situations, although you might want to get the smaller can to fit into your travel toiletries kit.

Smells and Notes
Well, it has the artificial Lemon Lime smell. It is a faint smell that is only confined to the foam. It goes away the moment you rinse your face. This is good when you use an artisan aftershave product and do not want a strange mix of smells on your face. The smell is easily tolerable if you don't like the smell of lemon, heck, there are other flavours if you want.

Quality

Well, it is foamy and smooth when it is wet and it certainly does the job of letting the blade glide over without much sensation. However, like the shaving gel, it does dry out quite quickly, requiring a constant re-wetting of the area before continuing shaving.

In summary, it is a really simple foam, nothing more. I probably won't buy it again now that I discovered shaving soaps and creams. The convenience is not exactly an advantage for me as I shave at night and there so many soaps and creams that provides a much higher quality feel at the same inexpensive pricing.

Shaving soaps and creams may be a little more tedious, requiring a shaving brush, high quality soaps and creams are rather inexpensive and very value for money because they last very long while offering lovely long lasting smells and nourishes the skin. My skin feels super every time I use the Tabac shaving soap. In fact, it feels so good that I may use it as my face wash!

Just so you know how I apply my shaving foam, here are the steps I follow:

Procedures for shaving foam

1) Shake well before using

Well, firstly, before you even squeeze the nozzle, you'll have to shake it quite a bit to ensure that the foam comes out nice and bubbly. It took me about 30seconds of shaaaking each time in order to get a decent foam.

2) Wet your face

Wetting your face is important because the foam dries out very quickly, leaving your face sticky and the razor will not be able to glide over your skin at all. I use warm water to help open up the pores and soften the hairs for an easier shave later on.

3) Spray it directly on your face or on your hand

My can is slightly old and doesn't give a rich expanded foam no matter how vigorously I shook the can. In order to spread it evenly on my face, I usually spray it directly on my face and massage it all over my bristles.

4) Start shaving

At this point, there should be no problems having a close shave with a cartridge or a safety razor.

5) Re-wet the skin

After shaving one side, the other side is bound to get dry after a while, leaving your skin unsuitable for shaving unless you re-apply water - just wet your hand and swirl around your face again will do the trick and that's all to it.

An average guy talks about his history of shaving

For the longest of time, I thought that the only 2 tools available in the market to get rid of facial hair - electric shavers and multi-blade cartridge razors. It is a ritual that most guys to keep them from looking unkempt, so shaving tools are a must. Let me walk you through my shaving journey that made me think that way.


My JC days
I first started off using disposable razors during my Junior College days because they were affordable and easy enough to use. Those razors had 2 or 3 blades in them and I only needed to use it every once a week or so. I re-used them many times until they become a little too blunt for comfort (when going past an area many times to achieve the same "closeness" in shave". I rarely used any shaving foam or gel as I only had to remove only a little facial hair.


My National Service days
Then I was introduced to the premium multi-blade razors during my army days when I was given a Gillette Mach 3 Turbo for free as part of the equipment army required me to have. It felt really good during the first few times I used the blade. They were really sharp and more comfortable than the disposable ones I relied on in the past. They were very smooth over my skin and was really close in shave. However, after a few weeks of using it, the blade quickly became dull and there was some tugging and pulling.

I bought new cartridges and a can of Gillette shaving foam. I only used it during the weekends because it was troublesome to use it in camp. Besides, I only had to use it on Wednesdays. Without the shaving foam, the razor was a little less effective in still gives shaves enough to pass parade inspections. But there was one problem, every replacement cartridge was kind of expensive. About $20 for 4 cartridges and each one starts deteriorating after a month or so. While they were better than disposables, the price premium was too high to justify the product.


My Post-University / Working days
When I graduated a year ago, I had the impression that the way it worked wasn't effective. I wanted to try an alternative to a razor because of the price premium. Hopefully, I will be able to get more cost effectiveness from this category.

So I read reviews about them online and it turns out there were many video reviews and tests by curious people all over the world. I learnt that the vibrating comb of electric shavers actually work like a pair of scissors, which was supposedly effective in snipping off those little hairs. Different shavers have different features and some even have a self cleaning dock that uses proprietary cleaning solution to rinse the shaving head. These features typically makes if faster and more convenience of shaving for the fast paced men of modern society.

Unfortunately, electric shavers were also on the expensive side, starting from $50 for a basic AA battery operated shaver to several hundreds of dollars depending on the amount of bells and whistles it has. Although the upfront cost of shavers can be high, it is likely to last long enough to cost you less in the long term compared to those multi-blade razors.

Feeling experimental, I bought the $50 Braun MobileShave M-90 and have been using it for more than a year now.


Recently
A week ago, I discovered safety razors. I knew I saw them in old movies before, but I never thought that I would see people selling them at a pasar malam I visited. Hey, it was a cheap China-made $4 item and shiny. Who could resist that? Even if it was rubbish, it would still work well as a decorative item, right?

Shall talk about it after trying it out!

My workhorse: Braun MobileShave M-90

I have been using this electric shaver for more than a year now. I use it once every 3 days, mostly in the morning as I get ready for work. It provides quick, convenient and comfortable shaves of reasonable closeness. If I take time to swirl it around my skin longer, it is possible to obtain the highly regarded Baby Butt Smooth (BBS), a term often used by razor enthusiasts.

Wet shaving enthusiasts often claim that electric shavers are inferior compared to traditional razors as the hair seem to grow back faster. Well, this is because of the different concepts used to remove hair. A razor is simply a knife edge that not only slices hair, but also removes a thin layer of skin around it, which causes skin irritation and soreness to a certain degree, but also means that the hair is cut down to a shorter length and as the hair grows, the skin around also grows back, resulting in a more lasting shave.

An electric shaver, on the other hand, is like a pair of scissors. As the hair is guided through the perforated foil, the vibrating comb under it slices the hair against the edge of the foil, creating a cutting action. This, typically hurts the skin lesser than a razor, making it more comfortable.

To me, the different shaving methods are just different strokes for different folks.

In summary, if you are looking for an electric shaver and your facial hair is of average coarseness, the Braun M-90 is a good choice.

What is an M-90?
The Braun M-90 is an entry level shaver from Braun. Several reviews mentioned that it works great for thin and averagely coarse hair, but does badly for really coarse or long hair. To deal with longer hair, the M-90 comes with a hair trimmer that makes short work of long hair that cannot be sufficiently guided through the foil. Using the hair trimmer followed by the shaver fulfills my shaving needs.

It features a turning cover that acts a shield to protect the foil when not in use and a lock-out to prevent you from accidentally turning it on while it is in your toiletries bag.

Oh look, a hidden trimmer that sticks out. Don't worry, the trimmer only works when it is in this position.

Being a cheap shaver, it runs on replaceable 2x AA batteries that are easy to find. Other expensive shavers typically make use of a non-replaceable lithium-ion cell, sealing the lifespan of the shaver to approximately 3 years. Rechargeable batteries are still consumables and I do not like the fact that the whole shaver would need to be replaced once the batteries are worn.

 Twist to open the battery compartment. The construction feels quite sturdy and can keeps out any unwanted splashes from entering the battery compartment.

The M-90 provides adequate shaves in less than 3 minutes. Sideburns are eliminated within a few motions and it mows through the difficult chin area with minimal fuss. If it doesn't remove hair after a few passes, changing the direction usually does the trick. However, do note that it does cause some irritation after prolonged repeated passes over the same area, especially the chin and neck.

Close up of the small but effective hair trimmer.

Price
I bought it at $45 at from the Best Denki at Junction 8. Most other electric shavers come in at above $100 and quite a significant initial investment for anyone starting out with an electric shaver. The impression I get from reading reviews about this little tool is that it is inexpensive enough for a newbie who has thin to averagely coarse facial hair and provides most of the quality and features expected of a decent shaver. In short, provides quite some value for its price, which is why I got it.

Close up of the foil pattern.

The Use
Being a dry shaver, it requires little preparation. In fact, I think it works better on a slightly oily face after a night's rest. The oil acts as a lubricant to allow the foil to glide over the skin while protecting the metal comb from rusting. The manual actually states that a little light oil should be applied onto the comb if the shaver was to be kept in storage for a long time.

The Maintenance
Even with such convenient product, it still requires some periodic maintenance. Thankfully, there isn't much the M-90 requires you to do.

Cleverly concealed slot to keep you from losing the brush. Great thinking there.

1) Open up the cover holding the foil and brush away bits of hair stuck along its comb. If you haven't been cleaning if often enough, a strong spray of water at the comb will remove just about all the hair bits there. Don't worry, it is waterproof at the business end.

Unfortunately, the foil and comb head are not replaceable parts. The good news is that they last long.

2) Rub away all the oil and skin residue from the cutting foil and let the individual parts dry out before putting them back together.

Oh yes, a pair of AA batteries last many months so I didn't bother performing a power consumption test on it. I would recommend that you use rechargeable batteries as you can charge them up to full capacity every few months or so to keep the shaver in tip top condition shaving condition.

Recommendation?
Yeah, why not? It is a no frills electric shaver that promises a no fuss shave, everyday.

An average dude talks about shaving.

Just a little introduction about me before you continue reading about my shaving posts. I am a Chinese with relatively sparse and uneven facial hair growth and because of that, I need to shave every 3 days as I would start to get some stubble by then. And no, having uneven facial hair does not add anything to my manliness.

As there are many different facial hair types, do take note that my write ups and reviews would be slanted towards my thin facial hair type and may not always apply to you even if you are the same race as me. The thickness of my facial hair meant that almost all kinds of shaving equipment would work sufficiently to get the job done. So, even the cheapest of shaving equipment would be good enough for me - so far, I've tried disposable multiple blade razors (even those where the entire handles are disposable) and cheap electric shavers and these were able to give me a shave close enough to return me to revert my face to its baby smooth state.

In Singapore, typical brand name electric shavers can cost a few hundreds (my friend who has thicker and faster beard growth bought a $400+ Braun to suit his needs) and disposable razor cartridges can add up to quite a lot in the long run.

In the beginning, I didn't thought much about shaving since it was a chore that I simply had to deal with and wanted to get it over and done as quickly and painless as possible. I have been using a sub $50 electric shaver for more than a year now and it works fine for me. It was fast, painless and low maintenance. A review for this will be coming soon.

It was until I encountered safety razors on sale at a pasar malam (temporary night market). I was curious that these things are still available in Singapore. The last time I saw one was when my late grandfather was still around. I vaguely remember seeing some Gilette dual edge blades in the toilet when I was a kid. The razor was on sale for $4 and a pack of 5 blades were going for 90 cents. It was cheap enough to be an impulse purchase and if it didn't work out, there is no heartache throwing it out.

And that's when became intrigued by the old shaving methods with a safety razor...

Look out for some reviews in the horizon!

Happy Lunar New Year to all!