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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I tried one of those old school safety razors and they included some little sticks to help stanch the bleeding. And bleed I did. Not a super close shave but not bad either. Went back to the modern four blade things.
Safety razors are “better” than disposable because ironically the safety razors are more dangerous. The blade can be way more exposed and be right on your skin, you will nicked and bleed.
You can also afford to toss the blades very frequently. Even after every shave if you like for pennies. Which will average out “better. “
Again the “better” is subjective as potentially having a bunch of cuts on your face might be an issue.
If you put the cost aspect aside. Multiple blades means that it is easier to shave. Single blade means all the pressure you put on the blade is going through one sharp blade to your face. Multiple blades means the pressure is dispersed over the multiple blades. 3 seems to be the sweet spot for me.
So, if you were willing to be extra careful, then shave with one blade. If you need to just get it done, multiple blades.
I agree with the safety razor for the face, but curious how many people here have a beard that runs all the way down the neck. The grain of neck hair forward where as face and jaw hair is down and I find it really hard and irritating to shave with a safety razor. Same with the Adam’s apples and the contours that creates on either side too. Ultimately I went back to multi-blade razors but if I didn’t have a neckbeard I’d probably be in the safety razor camp.
It really is just nothing more than marketing and gimmicks. Modern multi blade safety razors are one of the biggest scams in the past few decades.
Here’s what’s what. Multiple blades offer some minor safety benefits. The small gap between each blade doesn’t allow for the skin to pinch in between them easily so nicks and cuts are rarer. However the same mechanism doesn’t allow for a close shave, at least compared to a one blade razor, and these gaps clog with hair. Single blade razors allow for a closer shave and they don’t clog as easily, and even if they do they can be cleaned very effectively, but you need to be a bit more careful with them.
People used to shave with straightrazors but it was a hard art to master and it was a bit dangerous. If you knew the technique, and were careful enough, you could get a good shave. But hold it at a slightly wrong angle, move it a bit sideways or use too much pressure and you’re cut fairly badly. But safety razors were invented and they were a hit, with a design that exposed a very small part of the blade and the shape of the head guided your hand more easily to maintaining the right angle. You could still cut yourself, as you can cut yourself with multi blade razors, they are razors after all. But safety razors were great, in fact too great, because even a “cheap” one was still a solid and simple metal construction that never really wore down or broke, aside from maybe rust forming or the threads wearing down but that took many years. The blades themselves were very cheap, costing mere cents. Some marketing genius thought of cartridge razors and marketed the hell out of them to give the impression that they were better. First it was about convenience and ease of use, then safety, then the gimmicks started. 2 blades, then 3, then 4, then 5, then lubrication strips, then articulated heads, then vibrators and whatever else. Each more expensive than the last and each touted as the best shave you can get. In reality all those did was justify a ridiculous increase in price. Every cartridge gets maybe 3-5 shaves before it’s trash and they cost 15-20 bucks per pack. Conversely you can get a safety razor handle and a year’s worth of blades for the same amount. But the marketing has been so successful that most people don’t even think about getting one, assuming it’s worse and more dangerous than cartridge razors but they’re not.
TL;DR multi blade cartridge razors are just gimmicks. They don’t actually offer a better shave but they’re making tons more money for razor companies.
The commercials computer generated animations to show it’s better. That’s not how life works
In reality they’re too thin and clog, I suppose it doesn’t clog if you have baby arm hair growing on your face. But if you have any thickness at all, it clogs. They’re just too close. Wow. 4 blades. Go screw
And they’re like $1 per blade. As in $4+ per razor. And it lasts maybe 4 shaves
I think I bought a pack or two of safety razors blades when my kids were born. One’s going into middle school next year. So that’s like 0.12 a year in blades so far
Wait you’re all changing blades, the razor i use, when i’m not rocking a beard, was made like 60 years ago. single blade, only cut myself well the one time, the others were just small little knicks.
Multi blades razors are an elaborate advertising scam is my take. Switched to safety and never looked back. Every time ive had to use the multis because Im traveling it has been miserable.
Uhh. They again like everything in life have their pros and cons.
As u/p28h already explained.
I consider myself pretty skilled with straight razor use. They are very dangerous as there’s nothing to protect you from cuts. However, there’s no build up and rinsing is way easy.
Multiple bladed razors (On me at least) I found to cause in grown hairs and cuts every time shaving. I still use them but not often.
Again like u/p28h said safety razors are cheaper and easier and obviously safer to use. As straight razors could cost a pretty penny. Like they said they’re cheap and easy to replace once dulled.
All of the comments feel like we are about to hear a message about today’s sponsor, Henson Shaving!
I won’t use a single-blade razor because I’m definitely going to wound myself with it. I’d rather grow a full beard than give up my Mach-3’s
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