I just got into safety razors and boy i wish i have gotten one earlier. It's so much better than my usual mach3 and i don't get razor burns anymore thanks to it not needing as much pressure to cut the hair, and the blades are much cheaper as well, which saves some money
I've been clean shaving with a safety razor for a few years now. I go through blades every couple months. I don't usually do a full double pass with it against the grain so it usually leaves at least a bit of shadow. You can get pretty smooth if you're careful with it though,
I’ve been shaving with a safety razor now for 5 years. I also bought a brush and bowl of shaving soap. I still have not had to buy new razors or soap. This stuff lasts a really long time.
My man. Safely razors are great. I have rather sensitive skin, so multiple-passes with multi-blade cartridge is murder. These you can get through rather rough growth without issue and one, maybe two passes. You trade skill for so much more control, since not having a pivoting head is actually an advantage. Re: blades, I don't replace mine more than every few months, as I have a similar (but less long) beard. If you shaved every morning your entire face and were very coarse (and liked having it sharp as new), two weeks maybe, but easily twice that for someone who uses it daily. I wouldn't bother sharpening unless you have a very wide blade clamp, since part of the characteristic of a safety razor is their flex, and I can imagine that it would contribute to changing not only the edge geometry but the contour of the blade, making it less safe for minimal life extension. Beside the plastic waste you spoke of, the blades are steel and can be recycled. If you keep your eye out, you can find really high quality blades for dirt cheap without going to specialty stores. Not just where I live in Europe, but when I visit the States to visit family (which are by no means in urban, cosmopolitan places). Some brands have different characteristics (and can be more pricey, but a 5 pack box is still less than 1-2 mass-market cartridges that do less well). I like Feathers, which is very thin and flexible, but they require zen-like concentration when they are fresh, since they are very very good at getting right to the skin and holding tight [i.e. you move horizontal, it is a nick], but I usually am able to find 5 packs of Russian-made Gillette safety razors for a couple Euro here in Finland, so that is what I do. That lasts me a couple of years, even with being persnickety with liking to change them when they start to dull "somewhat." I have two handles myself... One that I got with a kit [mug, soap, brush, and stand] that is nice, but later I spent maybe 40 Euro (on sale) on a really nice, really heavy-weight stainless steel one. I will probably have the thing until the day I die. I remember my grandfather, who passed away about 5-6 years ago, used to shave nearly daily with a safety razor and I think he had the same brass and enamel razor as long as I can recall... and I am in my 40s. I felt like when I found the right one, I was buying the razor I was likely to have for the rest of my life, and there was something comforting about that.
Thanks for the detailed comment, I appreciate you sharing some extra tips from your experience! I probably won’t bother sharpening safety razor blades - I just don’t require it enough for it to be a consideration. Agreed about the good feeling from getting something you know if going to be with you for the long haul 👍
Old safety razor blades were made from a different material, and could be sharpened with tools and stones, but modern blades are made from a thinner material and from what I understood, cannot be sharpened without heavily altering the blade shape. With how much they cost, most people just recommended replacing them once they dull.
Really curious to hear about your beard care routines/products/thoughts! Trying to grow mine out and looking for ways to carve a minimalist path as I go
I bought a shavette and the Viking revolution starter kit with a safety razor, a brush, and a bowl for the lather. picked up some simple after shave, pre shave oil and lather. all sandalwood scented. those cartridge packs are so rough on the skin, a warm hot lather, well oiled skin, and a nice sharp straight razor is so much healthier for the skin
the reason i went for a shavette opposed to a proper straight razor is because the single sided shavette blades are super sharp and much easier to just swap out then having to sharpen, strop, and hone the blade.
I’ve seen those shavette kits, they look pretty awesome! Having the ability to replace blades like the safety but the form factor of the straight razor is great. I don’t use a lather right now just because I shave my neck so little. But in the future when I maybe do a stache I’ll pick up some Proraso or something!
I like Leaf Shave razors. They have a similar form factor to the modern day cartridge razors we're used to, making shaving technique very easy but with the cost saving benefit of safety razor blades
well gillet had made a new safety razor that i actualy good , gillet king c , i also try with straight edge but was not able to keep it sharp enough , so i buy a straight edge with disposable blades that use same blade as the safety , just need to snap them in half , cool tip , use a dice to remind you when to change the blade , blade is good for 6-10 full shave ,
This is a very, you, video Spencer I love it 😅👊 very interesting as always, I just shave using a Phillips one blade I think it's called and just replace the blade every few months, works well for me. I hate wet shaving so don't bother there
Wow, I'm starting to be a fan 🪭 Never loved doing haircuts, but it's necessary 2 times a year. Now I'm kinda in full minimalism because of my life circumstances now I'm sleeping on the floor don't spend much money because of living in the village
Loved this. AOM has been the biggest cultural influence of my life! Do you have an insta or a professional email? Patreon? Just curious about some of your current tech methods more than what your videos explain. Loving this content.
My email is linked in the “about” section of my channel, you can reach me there! I’m setting an Instagram up soon too, but email is best for now. I read so much AOM back in the day, and I find myself going back there quite often to dig up an old article or two. Glad I’m not the only one who still has tons of love for it!
Harrys has me locked in unfortunately LOL I am werewolf, with proof being a Cancer the Moon is my planet and I am a dog in the chinese Calender. I feel like Michael J Fox in Teen wolf in front of the mirror at times. I want to learn the straight razor, but am terrified after watching High Planes Drifter with Clint Eastwood of having a razor against my neck like that. My uncle reusues those single use ones for months LOL, I have combination Skin of Viking and Italian going on so, LOL Crazy black and blonde fur. I need super sharp German Steel Tech, that is why I keep with Harrys. Gillette is horrible, Old Spice to these days. I make up with the HArrys Shave cream, it takes very little and I make it last. Keep on Retrotech'n!
The Teen Wolf reference is awesome lol. I remember the Clint flick but I wasn’t as affected by the scene I guess - my Clint neck trauma was in Hang Em High!
@@spencers-adventures Hang em' High with the Skipper from Gilligans Island LOL even as a kid I thought it was funny he was a bad guy, or at least a good guy tied to a bad situation. The scene in High Plains Drifter is at the start in a barber shop, an anxious looking barber is shaking really bad and about to hit Eastwoods neck because he sees the local "law" coming to kill Drifter Eastwood the very moment he is getting about to get a shave. Straight Razors are best traditonal cleanest way, I am going to try it out at some point here because I hate the $$$ on disposable razors, we could keep sharpening blades with a fine griding stone instead. Got a count and a short up on my Disney / Animated VHS 700 tapes in that section alone. Way more to come. Keep on Thriftin' You are helpin' me save more money to spend on tapes LOL
Manscaped is a big ripoff. Had their 2nd gen lawnmower die on me after just a couple months from an $80 kit. Bought a $20 buzzer from Target going on a few years now and its waterproof too.
My philosophy is to buy less but always look for highest quality products. Even if they are expensive. Why? Buy things that last for years. It's good for the environment and makes oppressive communist China poorer.
Yeah I agree that buying the best (quality) products you can afford is the way to go. It costs less over time because you don’t need to replace it and if it’s a good name it holds value longer so you can resell it for most of the money you spent if you choose to. Thanks for the comment Steve!
I just got into safety razors and boy i wish i have gotten one earlier. It's so much better than my usual mach3 and i don't get razor burns anymore thanks to it not needing as much pressure to cut the hair, and the blades are much cheaper as well, which saves some money
I’m glad you’ve made the switch and you’re enjoying it! The blades are so much cheaper and I really appreciate the reduced waste too
When the design if focused on the handle you can see which one is a toy.
I've been clean shaving with a safety razor for a few years now. I go through blades every couple months. I don't usually do a full double pass with it against the grain so it usually leaves at least a bit of shadow. You can get pretty smooth if you're careful with it though,
I’ve been shaving with a safety razor now for 5 years. I also bought a brush and bowl of shaving soap. I still have not had to buy new razors or soap. This stuff lasts a really long time.
My man.
Safely razors are great. I have rather sensitive skin, so multiple-passes with multi-blade cartridge is murder. These you can get through rather rough growth without issue and one, maybe two passes. You trade skill for so much more control, since not having a pivoting head is actually an advantage.
Re: blades, I don't replace mine more than every few months, as I have a similar (but less long) beard. If you shaved every morning your entire face and were very coarse (and liked having it sharp as new), two weeks maybe, but easily twice that for someone who uses it daily. I wouldn't bother sharpening unless you have a very wide blade clamp, since part of the characteristic of a safety razor is their flex, and I can imagine that it would contribute to changing not only the edge geometry but the contour of the blade, making it less safe for minimal life extension.
Beside the plastic waste you spoke of, the blades are steel and can be recycled.
If you keep your eye out, you can find really high quality blades for dirt cheap without going to specialty stores. Not just where I live in Europe, but when I visit the States to visit family (which are by no means in urban, cosmopolitan places). Some brands have different characteristics (and can be more pricey, but a 5 pack box is still less than 1-2 mass-market cartridges that do less well). I like Feathers, which is very thin and flexible, but they require zen-like concentration when they are fresh, since they are very very good at getting right to the skin and holding tight [i.e. you move horizontal, it is a nick], but I usually am able to find 5 packs of Russian-made Gillette safety razors for a couple Euro here in Finland, so that is what I do. That lasts me a couple of years, even with being persnickety with liking to change them when they start to dull "somewhat."
I have two handles myself... One that I got with a kit [mug, soap, brush, and stand] that is nice, but later I spent maybe 40 Euro (on sale) on a really nice, really heavy-weight stainless steel one. I will probably have the thing until the day I die.
I remember my grandfather, who passed away about 5-6 years ago, used to shave nearly daily with a safety razor and I think he had the same brass and enamel razor as long as I can recall... and I am in my 40s. I felt like when I found the right one, I was buying the razor I was likely to have for the rest of my life, and there was something comforting about that.
Thanks for the detailed comment, I appreciate you sharing some extra tips from your experience! I probably won’t bother sharpening safety razor blades - I just don’t require it enough for it to be a consideration. Agreed about the good feeling from getting something you know if going to be with you for the long haul 👍
Old safety razor blades were made from a different material, and could be sharpened with tools and stones, but modern blades are made from a thinner material and from what I understood, cannot be sharpened without heavily altering the blade shape. With how much they cost, most people just recommended replacing them once they dull.
Really curious to hear about your beard care routines/products/thoughts! Trying to grow mine out and looking for ways to carve a minimalist path as I go
I bought a shavette and the Viking revolution starter kit with a safety razor, a brush, and a bowl for the lather.
picked up some simple after shave, pre shave oil and lather. all sandalwood scented.
those cartridge packs are so rough on the skin, a warm hot lather, well oiled skin, and a nice sharp straight razor is so much healthier for the skin
the reason i went for a shavette opposed to a proper straight razor is because the single sided shavette blades are super sharp and much easier to just swap out then having to sharpen, strop, and hone the blade.
you probably should start using a proper lather, its very important to avoid ingrowns and nics. even our grandparents used soap or creme haha
I’ve seen those shavette kits, they look pretty awesome! Having the ability to replace blades like the safety but the form factor of the straight razor is great.
I don’t use a lather right now just because I shave my neck so little. But in the future when I maybe do a stache I’ll pick up some Proraso or something!
I like Leaf Shave razors. They have a similar form factor to the modern day cartridge razors we're used to, making shaving technique very easy but with the cost saving benefit of safety razor blades
well gillet had made a new safety razor that i actualy good , gillet king c , i also try with straight edge but was not able to keep it sharp enough , so i buy a straight edge with disposable blades that use same blade as the safety , just need to snap them in half , cool tip , use a dice to remind you when to change the blade , blade is good for 6-10 full shave ,
This is a very, you, video Spencer I love it 😅👊 very interesting as always, I just shave using a Phillips one blade I think it's called and just replace the blade every few months, works well for me. I hate wet shaving so don't bother there
Wow, I'm starting to be a fan 🪭
Never loved doing haircuts, but it's necessary 2 times a year.
Now I'm kinda in full minimalism because of my life circumstances now I'm sleeping on the floor don't spend much money because of living in the village
Full minimalism is a good way to go. It makes you ready for whatever life throws at you, so good on you!
I've used one box of Astra safety razors over the course of 6 years, they're a fantastic deal and shave better in my opinion.
Loved this. AOM has been the biggest cultural influence of my life! Do you have an insta or a professional email? Patreon? Just curious about some of your current tech methods more than what your videos explain. Loving this content.
My email is linked in the “about” section of my channel, you can reach me there! I’m setting an Instagram up soon too, but email is best for now. I read so much AOM back in the day, and I find myself going back there quite often to dig up an old article or two. Glad I’m not the only one who still has tons of love for it!
I use an electric razor and do a cleanup shave with an old razor I had laying around my house. I spent 0 dollars on shaving supplies in 2023
Harrys has me locked in unfortunately LOL I am werewolf, with proof being a Cancer the Moon is my planet and I am a dog in the chinese Calender. I feel like Michael J Fox in Teen wolf in front of the mirror at times. I want to learn the straight razor, but am terrified after watching High Planes Drifter with Clint Eastwood of having a razor against my neck like that. My uncle reusues those single use ones for months LOL, I have combination Skin of Viking and Italian going on so, LOL Crazy black and blonde fur. I need super sharp German Steel Tech, that is why I keep with Harrys. Gillette is horrible, Old Spice to these days. I make up with the HArrys Shave cream, it takes very little and I make it last. Keep on Retrotech'n!
The Teen Wolf reference is awesome lol. I remember the Clint flick but I wasn’t as affected by the scene I guess - my Clint neck trauma was in Hang Em High!
@@spencers-adventures Hang em' High with the Skipper from Gilligans Island LOL even as a kid I thought it was funny he was a bad guy, or at least a good guy tied to a bad situation. The scene in High Plains Drifter is at the start in a barber shop, an anxious looking barber is shaking really bad and about to hit Eastwoods neck because he sees the local "law" coming to kill Drifter Eastwood the very moment he is getting about to get a shave. Straight Razors are best traditonal cleanest way, I am going to try it out at some point here because I hate the $$$ on disposable razors, we could keep sharpening blades with a fine griding stone instead. Got a count and a short up on my Disney / Animated VHS 700 tapes in that section alone. Way more to come. Keep on Thriftin' You are helpin' me save more money to spend on tapes LOL
Manscaped is a big ripoff. Had their 2nd gen lawnmower die on me after just a couple months from an $80 kit. Bought a $20 buzzer from Target going on a few years now and its waterproof too.
My philosophy is to buy less but always look for highest quality products. Even if they are expensive. Why? Buy things that last for years. It's good for the environment and makes oppressive communist China poorer.
Yeah I agree that buying the best (quality) products you can afford is the way to go. It costs less over time because you don’t need to replace it and if it’s a good name it holds value longer so you can resell it for most of the money you spent if you choose to. Thanks for the comment Steve!