So I’ve seen ones that’s use safety Razors and others that are just built into a handle. But I think there is more blades it is supposed to be safer? But one blade gets you a better shave, but all the commercials show more blades get better shaves.
How does all of this work?
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It’s purely a marketing ploy. Safety razors are ancient technology and there was no way to “innovate” the market when the handle + razor blade tech was essentially set in stone. Razor companies convinced consumers that more blades are better because they contact more surface area and thus allegedly reduce razor burn (not true!) and the companies kept increasing blade counts as their market shares stagnated and they needed an excuse to increase prices. Ironically more blades means the blades are all very close together and jam very easily with hair. Net, safety razors are much better, cheaper, and completely safe.
The best shave I’ve ever had was with a safety razor with a brand new blade.
The second best shave comes from one of those four or five blade plastic razors that was brand new. it was almost as close, and it did not require nearly the same amount of care when I was shaving. You are much less likely to cut yourself with one of those.
Either case, as the blades start to get dull, the quality of the shave decreases. But the plastic five blade razors cost like 10 bucks apiece, while the single blade in the safety razor cost like $.10.
One blade that is easy to replace (and loosen slightly) is *immensely* easier to rinse, which solves hair build up under the blade.
Multiple blades will tend to grab the hairs slightly and pull them, allowing the second blade to cut the pulled out hair, which then retracts back into the pores. This means the multiple blades will allow hair to be cut shorter while the blade itself is further from the skin (hence being theoretically safer), but at the sacrifice of each hair being pulled slightly and causing irritation.
Also, safety razor blades are much cheaper. I’ve seen cartridge razors going for $20 for a 5 pack, meanwhile most safety razor blade packs come in 20 blades for $5. This means there’s more freedom to replace the blade, which means a fresh one is used more often, which means a better shave (sharper/fresher blades mean more cutting of hair, less pulling of it).
Better is a relative term. What some people prefer, others won’t and vice versa. Both safety razors and cartridge razors (the one with the head that has the built in blades and you replace the head) have their pros and cons.
Having multiple blades allows the blades to be at different proximities to your skin, the first ones being the furthest to shorten the hairs before the ones at the end do the final closest cut they can. It also allows you to shave easier and faster without trimming first. This allows you to shave quickly with less chance of nicks. Most of them nowadays also have a moisturizing strip built in so you you don’t have to worry about lathering up as much either, which can also speed the process.
Safety razors offer you just the single blade, but that has its perks. One, since there is only the one, it’s easy to know which one is doing the closest shave and make sure it’s in the right position. Two, the blades cost maybe a nickel apiece, so you can swap them out as often as you like to make sure you’re only shaving with the sharpest edge possible. On the other hand, trimming first matters, as does making sure you get a good lather, so it is a longer process. And you still shouldn’t nick yourself if you’re being at all careful.
Truth is, you can get a super close shave with either. Most of the “closest” shave stuff is marketing to get you to buy one over the other. Cartridge razors are generally more convenient and cheaper at first, but safety razors give you bit more control and will cost less in the long run, especially if you like your blades to be nice and sharp.
mostly marketing bullshit. You can absolutely get a clean safe smooth shave off a single blade, millions of people do it every single day. I believe the main idea of multiple blades is that one pass can cut the hair with the first or second blade and the following blades supposedly cut the remaining stubble to get a closer shave in one go. But a safety razor with an angle and blade that works well for you will also cut very clean and close. Disposable multiblade razors and razors with replaceable multiblade cartridges make a lot of money because it is very easy to make a piece of cheap plastic with 4 thin strips of metal on the cheap but your proprietary handle can only fit your blades so they can charge a decent profit margin on them and you just have to deal with it. So there is a big incentive to market their proprietary and disposable stuff as better. Safety razors can be a bit more hassle to use but are super cheap over the coarse of a lifetime of shaving.
I know this!!!!
I saw this in The Economist a very long time ago and the title of that small article was “You re getting a fifth blade… whether you want it or not!”
Gillette had a graph that showed sales vs number of blades, and that graph went up. Marketing department forced them to add blades because “it increased sales”. Causality doesn’t matter: the graph was clear.
NOTE: here it is! https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2006/03/16/the-cutting-edge
Decent safety razors take good quality blades. Carbon steel, platinum coating. Yes, you could cut yourself if you are not careful but it’s not hard being careful.
Multiple blades in disposable cartridges are made from foil.
IMO: Safety razors are better when shaving longer hair, like if you wait a few days, weeks or months between shaves, cartridge shaves are better if shaving daily.
However, for cost, can’t beat safety razors.
I personally like up to 3 blades. At 5 blades my hairs are getting stuck between the blades and it is like epilating my beard. Same with bars in front of blades.
I find two blades a bit rough.
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