I switched to DE a little over 8 years ago. I had used all the cartridge Gillettes from Atra to Fusion to Sensor and my razor burn/irritation kept getting worse. I now have a collection of vintage Gillette DE as well as modern DE razors and actually enjoy shaving, something I had come to dread with cartridge razors. I guess I'm using the money saved from not buying those expensive cartridge razors to buy wonderful DE razors using 8 cent Astra blades.
When I first started shaving, it was with a DE safety razor. As the year passed, I switched to cartridge razors. And then came the electric razors because they were fast with not much prep or cleanup. My shaves were so-so and after I retried I only shaved 3-4 times a week. When the pandemic hit, I ran across some DE wet shaving videos like yours and decided to give DEs another go. Shaving is enjoyable again. I look forward to shaving and have become a mostly every day shaver. While I don't have any vintage razors, I do have some vintage clones for the Gillette Tech, the Fatboy, and the Futur. They all gave me closer and more comfortable shaves than the cartridges or electrics. As far as modern-day DEs go, I went down the rabbit hole and tried Vikings Blade, the Henson, the Twig, your Ambassador, and the Rockwell 6C. When I settled on the Rockwell 6S as my daily driver, I stopped looking for a better DE. Now I enjoy all the other wet shaving products that were not available when I started shaving 60 years ago. Your video comparison today confirms that I was right to switch back to the tried-and-true DE safety razor. Good luck with your future wet shaving endeavors.
When I was a kid my father always used a de razor and I know he enjoyed his shaves because he would shave every day. I never saw my dad with a five oclock shadow. Fast forward to my teen years. My father tried to get me to use his de razor because in his words it was the best shave he's ever had. I decided to go with a cartridge razor instead. After so many years of shaving with a cartridge razor at the age of 50. I decided to give it a try, and I can honestly say why did i spend so much money on cartridge razors I always thought shaving was such a chore,and why haven't I done this before. I recently started de shaving, and I really do enjoy my shaves now. Sometimes I cant wait for my next shave. I went on ebay picked up a few gillette vintage razors, and I love the way they shave. Thankyou for all the great info you share in your videos. Love your channel.
Hi Matt! So glad your back to making frequent vids. My father shaved with a Fatboy which, when it came time for me to start shaving, scared the hell out of me lol. I grew up watching him hate shaving and bleed every time he did. I assumed it was the razor. Looking back, he used bath bar soap and probably stretch the life of a blade too far. Any any rate, I went straight to a Trac 2. Then tried electric. Then onto the Atra, Mach whatever, and so on, hating them all. In 2012, at the age of 49, I bought a Merkur 34C to save money. Well the wet shaving rabbit hole went far deeper and steeper than the high cost of cart blades, but what a tremendous difference in shave quality and enjoyment! By the way, two years ago I purchased a beautiful rhodium plated Fatboy from Razor Emporium to honor my late father!
I came back to DE shaving approximately 3 years ago during which time I tried different razors and I have finally settled on my daily shaver the Envoy. Used with a quality soap and blade I get fantasticly smooth and comfortable shaves. Since returning a job that used to be a chore has now become something I look forward to and is now become a pleasure. Keep well and keep safe. Happy New year to everyone.
I just started shaving with a double edge razor and would never go back to a cartridge. I.get a better shave and with 50 blades I can get a 150 shaves. Thank you Razor emporium.
Love the DE shaves the best. Cartages can not compete with the single DE Love your shop your Old School soap was the best I’ve used in a while. And love the scent all year round.
You have made me sell safety razors , also restoration of old gillette razors. Its coming back for sure with barbers and all the good old shaving is for sure making it a pure enjoyment to shave again. :) thanks for your great work
I have been a straight Razer shaver for over 10 years now, but, I have a co-worker that is a DE shaver and both of our opinions, vintage/old-time/grandfather type shaving has ALWAYS been the best. Very good video, thank you.
Another great video. Got hooked on the subtle details and art of wet shaving that you present so well. So looking forward to my vintage 1965 Slim arriving. Have almost all the other bits, sample pack of blades, brush, cup, Phoenix Gondolier soap etc. and mostly thanks to watching your videos and gaining insight and comparisons. We have a seller of your Rex Ambassador (out of stock), here in NZ but sadly they don't stock your T-shirt. Wishing everyone a better 2022!
Been cartridge shaving for 30+ years and started down the DE TH-cam rabbit hole. About to run out of cartridges so asked and got a DE safety razor for Christmas with sample pack of blades. Still getting the hang of it but really enjoy brushing the lather on my face and the closer shave. Even when I have cut myself I have done far worse with a cartridge over the years.
I started DE shaving just a few months (just turned 18) ago, but I've been enjoying the process of shaving. My first razor is a DE razor from Bombay Shaving Company. I've cut myself a few times but I'm experimenting new styles and enjoying it. I was inspired to buy a DE razor after watching your channel and am also interested in investing in such quality razors. I really enjoyed how you explained the history of the Gilette company.
I initially bought my first DE at Walmart 1 year ago. I knicked my face up horribly, missed patches of facial hair, and found the whole process unenjoyable. I put it away and kept on with my cartridge. 3 months ago I decided to get back on the horse, and am I ever glad I did. I enjoy the process Now so much more than before. Once I found the appreciation that comes with the craft, I knew I was hooked.
I was a cart user for around 40 years. Got into DE shaving about 2 years ago. And I definitely love DE shaving more. I no longer have razor burn issues. And the process is way more enjoyable these days. But like you said, to each their own. I like being part of this niche group.
Thank you, Matt, and best wishes for 2022! I recently switched from a Dovo shavette to safety razors and DE blades. Really a pleasure to reconnect with the old days and to luxuriate in wet shaving. Your videos are fun, well made and helpful; thanks!
Hi Matt- Great shave and razor comparison; thank you! I used to use the Trac 2 and Mach 3 for years. But once I made the jump into wet shaving, I never looked back at cartridge razors. Great to see you back with RE videos. Have a great weekend. Be safe and be well. Best regards, as always, Matt!
I'm glad you called out permasharp blades. Often on these type of channels, folks prominently call out feather - which are sharp for sure, but dull. Permasharp may not be the sharpest or the smoothest blade but in my opinion they are in combination the sharpest smoothest blade you can purchase today. And they last a long time. For me, half man/half werewolf, I get 7 super smooth shaves.
When I was a kid I asked my Dad about shaving, and I wanted to mimic him. He let me use his 1920s brass handle , similar to the one you have in this video , ( without a blade ), and I thought I was the coolest kid on the block . When I joined the military , we had to shave every morning whether we had a beard or not . And the "injector" razor that we had to use felt like it was skinning my face . I'm still shaving with my Gillet double edge "Safety Razor" that my Dad gave me for my birthday back in 1971. It hasn't failed me yet . The only "issue" I find is that DE blades are getting more difficult to find . Not many places handle them anymore .
Thank you very much for a great video Matt! I grew up looking at my grandfather shaving with DE. Skin irritations and ingrowing hair made me quit cartridge razors and join the DE hobby! ... And well... "a routine became passion"! I will never look back to catriges! Have great shaves everyone!!!
I started shaving in 1965 with a Gillette Super Speed DE. I briefly tried an electric razor but found it too involved (the disassembling and cleaning) while producing unsatisfactory results. I stuck with the Super Speed until 10 years ago, when I retired and started buying old Gillette razors on Ebay. Then as a challenge, I took up straight razors and found them to produce outstanding results. Today, I switch between the old Gillettes and the straights. I have to agree with you on the old DEs: You can't improve on something already excellent.
Used Cartridges when I first started shaving. In the military switched to disposable razors. Once I returned from overseas started with DE razors that I got from art of shaving (AOS) but switched back to disposables because DE blades were harder to find. After years found my cheap clone Knack TTO. Started to use it and it broke went back to AOS after finding your channel. Bought a new King Gillette to try out and found GEM micromatic that I have not tried yet. Waiting on a I-1 super speed to be my new device of choice. Agree there is nothing better that a good old DE razor. Thank you for getting me back into a true art.
I'm a recent convert (4 months in) to DE shaving now in my late 40's! Cartridge was all I knew - I did like my vibrating Mach3 but even then I got razor burn -having gone down the DE rabbit hole (even single edge with my 1912 GEM Junior!) I have to say I prefer the old tech - some of the best shaves have been from fat handle's 1939-1945 but then even newer razors like Henson or the Parker adjustable are just great -my son is only just beginning to shave and I'm starting him off in the DE world!
@RazorEmporium Matt this video was the love child of a Masterclass and TedTalks rolled intro a history class in shaving 101 class. WOW!!! This video is a classic and needs to be watched more than once. I really enjoyed it all the way through.
Matt is right when he says that the pinnacle of shaving technology was reached 100 years ago. When I look at photography, I see a similar story. People today think they have to have the most advanced digital camera with the most advanced features. When they ask me for my opinion, I tell them, "photography is NOT a new technology...it's been around for over a hundred years." Even with today's highly advanced digital cameras, almost no one is going out and taking photos to match Ansel Adams. That's because Adams had all the technology he needed way back in his day. All he had to do was to apply his considerable talent to the "ancient" technology he had available to him. Five-blade cartridges are akin to a digital camera that can focus on faces only. Every "advancement" we've seen lately in the shaving world, is almost no advancement at all. Okay, so you stick a battery into a razor handle and vibrate the razor head so the blades can more efficiently saw through hairs. In other words, the vibrating head is doing the exact same job as a slant-bar razor, invented almost 100 years ago. Is the modern razor reducing razor burn or ingrown hairs? Is it reducing shaving time to ten seconds flat? Now, those would be REAL improvements. If you're Gillette and you know that a practically perfect shave was achieved 100 years ago, what are you to do? You're going to invent multi-blade cartridges, vibrating heads, lube strips, heated strips...anything you can pass off as an "advancement," and hope you can fool the public into thinking they truly are advancements. Otherwise, how are you going to stay in business?
The vintage Gillette double edge razors will always remain tops imo. I consistently get effortless, really good shaves from my Super Speeds and both NEW long & short comb razors but lately the Tech delivers me the best shaves I've ever had when I ride the cap with a Derby Premium blade. Ymmv.
Great vid, Matt. I've been DE shaving for about 7, maybe 8 years now and cannot remember what shaving with a cartridge razor was like. But I remember I would go through a cartridge once a week. I honestly dipped into DE shaving to save money, and I would of! But I started to really enjoy shaving that it's now become a hobby, and finding myself collecting razors and amassing soaps that I will probably never use in my lifetime. But it's worth it. I enjoy it, I'm always clean shaven, my wife enjoys the soaps too, so hard to complain. Would be awesome for Gillette to re-introduce a DE in their 1920s design.
Oh yes, I also collect vintage Gillette razors. The neat thing is, for me anyhow, is that I can use any razor in my collection whenever I want. They're not just shelf decorations, even though they still look really cool and the NEW long comb is a beautiful razor, not to mention it can still match or exceed any modern counterpart.
Great comparison, you can see the work from both razors. I was having trouble with disposables before I made the switch to DE, which I leaned into more cause I thought the proglide was so expensive. Happy to have made the switch :)
Hey Matt. Am I glad I came back to DE shaving. I have used a cartridge razor when I traveled and after returning home to my DE or SE razor really know I will never go back. Thanks for the Gillette history it was very interesting. I have several vintage Gillette razors and love each of them. I would not have believed back in the '60s when I 1st started shaving that I would again be shaving with same razor now called vintage, good then, great now. Take care, be safe. Maybe go up and visit the snow in Flagstaff.
I have been trying to work on the perfect shave. So I use both the Gillette black beauty and the fusion. But I’m at the point where my when I have time, I can get a close clean shave dialed up to 5 with a Gillette 7Oclock yellow, that does compete with the Gillette fusion. It’s technique and time needed. And I’ve been working on this for a couple of years. I could not get there without yours and the platoon on wet shaving instructors on TH-cam.
Hi Matt, i dont know what happened in the US but right here in Poland we still have the same polsilver razor blades made in Russia with Gillette licensing. Very unfortunate they're no longer avaible in the US tho
Old is good. New old even better. So much choice these days in shaving world. I switched to DE last year and somehow once a week chore become daily pleasure. Skin irritation gone, ingrown hair no problem anymore . Life is beautiful :)
Great vid Matt. As you said, it is all about profit, that's why the marketing targets us to believe we can get a better more efficient shave. I switched to DE shaving about 10 months ago, after using disposable or carts since I was 16, so 37-ish years. During the first UK lockdown I bearded it out and when I decided to take off the beard had just been watching a documentary on how the blight of plastics and the disposable mindset is having such a negative impact on the environment and our food chain. So, I started looking into ways of reducing my plastic use, or being more recyclable. DE shaving was one answer. Since then, it has become more of a hobby than the chore it used to be and I have started to collect many vintage Gillette, Ever-Ready, Gem, PAL, Schick, etc. Opening up new rabbit-holes each month! Hopefully I'm easing off on that and only have a few things on my wish-list (a REX Ambassador is one!) 😀. I can safely say that some of my best shaves have been with razors that are over 100 years old, thankfully there are still blades available for them. Keep up the good work
Thanks for another great history lesson on Gillette and wet shaving. I think most people who know RE and wet shaving are converts from cartridge razors. Besides the DE “old technology” providing a better, closer shave, there are so many other benefits. Cheaper DE blades (as you said it’s a blade game), no irritation/ingrown hairs (why I changed to DE shaving 12+ years ago), less waste vs plastic handled razors and plastic razor cartridge. And the overall zen experience. Nothing beats using old school soap/cream with a brush and hot/cold scuttle. Looking fwd to seeing more of your videos. Happy New Year 🎆 to all.
New subscriber and commenter here! I recently switched over to DE shaving almost 8 months ago now. Previously used that same fusion razor. I would always hate shaving so I'd push as long as I could usually once a week. Always got ingrown hairs on my neck area and was overall not a very enjoyable experience. Now that I've switched to the traditional style of shaving I always look forward to a shave! Also I'm in the rabbit hole. Have since bought 2 razors and 8 full tubs of soap since purchasing my starter kit from Stirling lol
MATT!!!! You’re back!!! Wooooohooooo!!!!!!! 😁😁😁 Keep up the videos! We love ‘em! Soapbox and all!!!! Side note: you’ve got to trim the goat a little!! It was driving me crazy thinking you still had soap on your beard after the shave!!! 😂😂😂
I got a cartridge razor in boot. Gillette Mach something it was orange. Horrible razor bumps etc. myself and a few others were told once you hit the fleet get into wetshaving De or straight razors to prevent that. Have not looked back. Way better shaved for inspections and the like. Takes a little more time but that ritual really helps in the morning
I wonder how the shave of a Gillette's 2022 ProGlide Power (or Trac II) would compare to the shave of a 1935 'Mvltiplex' (which had 5 blades), GIP TwinBlade, Simbatec Razolution 4Edge, Böker Razolution 4-Edge or Leaf razor -- or where Gillette might be today if one of those alternate multi-blade safety razors were available in the early 1970s. Were alternate razor manufacturers dwindling out of business in this period? Still amazing to see the number of manufacturers there once were in Robert K Waits' "A Safety Razor Compendium".
The best shaves I've been getting are from classic GEM razors. The 1912 and mmoc.... Up to twenty shaves on my first blade right now and still going STRONG!!
My Father used to use DE razors when I was a kid. Then we switched to modern Gillette (fusion, Mach 3 etc.) They are okay. I recently switch to DE shaver back this year looking to more close shaves and less razor burns in the future.
Always going to stick with DE, the razor bumps I used to get were insane and I have to be clean shaven for work. I even ordered my first little box of feathers to try out
Nice to see you again! And Happy New Year to you. Matt I don't get razor bumps since I switched to DE shaving. But it is not really cheaper. I have spent a lot more money in DE shaving because of the addiction to all of the wonderful products! Yes I went down the rabbit hole. So now I have over 100 soaps and at least 10 razors. But I get much better shaves and enjoy shaving much more than before. Thanks a lot. Haha 😄!
I have been using my Gillete Fusion power for almost 8 years and Philips electric razor and I wanted change. I switched to DE razors Gillete slim and Merkur 34c. Now shaveing is my hoby and part of the day i enyoj
When I was 18, I was gifted with a Gillette cartridge razor for my birthday from my sister. Clearly a newby of the shaving realm at that point lol. Throughout my early and late 20s, I’ve been using electric razors but realized, too much maintenance. I was in ahh of wet shaving when I saw some youtube vids 3 years ago on DE razors and I haven’t looked back. I enjoy wet shaving more with DE razors and so on. Still learning a lot as I go on.
Great video. I like the DE shave best. I grew up using the sensor for 30 years and hated it. It was so painful. Switched a few years ago and never going back. Still using your adjustable at 1.5 setting. Looking forward to getting your slant razor soon. Feel free to send it before February.
Hello from Russia. In Russia, it is very rare to find men using a safety razor. These are mainly elderly people who do not have the money to buy Gillette cassette razors on time. Pensions in Russia are very low and people living only on them make ends meet. However, if a person has a job, then he will buy Gillette cassette razors. I think there are a lot more men in Europe and the US who use safety razors. In the USSR, they did not know how to produce high-quality double-sided shaving blades, in the 80s the quality fell so much that shaving with them was very problematic and traumatic. With the collapse of the USSR, a wide variety of cassette razors appeared in the markets of the countries formed after the USSR, and men massively switched to them. There was simply no alternative. Many years have passed and the production of double-sided blades in Russia has improved, but the Russian blades Voskhod, Rapier and Ladas are still inferior to foreign blades, which in Russia are slightly cheaper or the same as the cassettes for Gillette razors. I was presented with R89, R41, 3ONE6 and I have been using classic shaving for two years, but I am not happy with it. I am only satisfied with the Wilkinson Sword blades, which cost us $ 19-20 for a block of 100 blades, and this is the annual cost of the cassettes Gillette. I am unhappy with domestic blades Voskhod, Rapier and Ladas. I think they are bad and I don’t understand why they are popular in the USA, but maybe I’m just mistaken about popularity. From a classic shave I shave worse and the skin is more irritated, it is much easier to get severe irritation than from cassettes. Having the money to switch to a classic shave, there is no point. In Russia, supporters of classic shaving are viewed as a sect.
The first time I used my old type Ball End razor I knew that I had something special. Here I am with this cracked up tarnished thing. I cleaned it up and glued the handle back together and shaved with it for the first time and realized that Gillette had perfected shaving over a hundred years ago. Today however the Fusion seems like an attempt to just make something that seems better then what they used to have. I did own the Mach 3 Turbo and actually really liked using it. I always would get a good shave with it. Not as close as the old type Ball End. But good enough, the Fusion however I found that the head clogged easier and finally the price hikes with their cartridges killed it for me. I switched to electric foil shavers then finally to DE. DE has been allot of fun, so much to explore. I also picked up a Gillette Heritage and have been really enjoying that razor as well.
You speak the truth. Gillette had to do what they had to do to stay in business. That said, I used a cartridge razor for over 40 years. When I switched to a DE razor about 1 1/2 years ago and got proficient at it, that's where the magic of traditional wet shaving really began. I love making a lather either in a lathering bowl or on my face, I love the feel of a soft brush, I love the closeness of a DE blade, and I love the fact my skin feels great after I apply after-shave balm. So for me, the transition from a cartridge to a DE razor opened up a whole new world. I shave every second day and look forward to it whereas with a cartridge razor, it was a chore. I also like the fact that DE razors have a much lower environmental impact. The thought of all that plastic from cartridges going into a landfill makes me shudder.
I could never get a perfectly comfortable shave when I used the Mach 3 and newer platforms from Gillette. I'm so happy I delved into the wet shaving community and became acquainted with the tools my great grandfather and grandfather used. I'll take the de over carts anyday.
Hey Matt, you stated that you believe the PermaSharp to be a replacement for PolSilver blades. I would love to get your opinion on the Wizamet blades, which are labeled as Super Iridium just as the PolSilvers were. Even the stamped graphics on the two blades look very similar.
I started to shave in 1997 and my very first razor was a Sensor (still got it). I switched to DEs in a fortnight or so because I couldn't afford cartridges back then (my first and only one dove into the sink accidentally) and also because of how easier it was to achieve a good result with a much cheaper and simpler DE-blade. Never looked back since then.
I am 22, switched 2 years ago because I just couldnt sahve with cartridge razors because of my sensitive skin. 3 of my friends have already switched to them too because most of us just get terrible irritation using cartridges. Most people I know either wetshave or use philips machines.
It's all really just up to preference, I prefer going with the DE mainly because it's cheaper and gives me less irritation. But I do understand people who use cartridge razors they are easy as hell to use and get the job done quickly.
I think the reason why he did it with the ProGlide was because the cartridge razor is the "modern" razor of our current time, whereas back in the 1920's the vintage DE razor was the "modern" razor of that time (as cartridge razors weren't invented yet). As he said, DE shaving is a small market now as opposed to back then. Nowadays, you can walk into any drugstore or grocery store and pick up a cartridge razor. You can't do that much with DE razors as only select places may carry them.
Nice video and insight on the Gillettes. I started up with DE shaving 3 months ago and I do not see myself going back to cartridges at all. I don't miss the skin irritation or not as a close shave feeling. DE all the way!
DE shaving is the way to go for me. I am a proud owner of a Rex Ambassador razor and I absolutely love it. Traditional shaving is the best way to get a great shave. Plus it puts us in touch with the past which I think is very important. DE shaving makes one slow down for a moment and really take care of ourselves. I think it’s important in this overly fast past world that we live in. I enjoy using the products from small companies because through using there products they are telling there story. Small business is very important to me . All in all I’m very happy I switched to DE shaving some 7 years ago. My skin feels so much better and I truly enjoy my morning shave.
Hey Matt! Great video! Cartridge razors have their place. I use them for the back of my neck and shoulders! They are easier to use for those areas. For my face though, I definitely prefer DE razors! They get the desired shave I like with less irritation if any at all! There is so much more variety as well than there ever was before! Between the classic vintage models to today's modern DE razors, it's the way for me! Happy New year to you!
I switched to DE on my time (weekends). I still use an electric during the week for speed but the save is rubbish in comparison (once you can get BBS smooth without chafing, it is hard to accept second best). That said, it can get out of hand. I need to keep my DE collection in check - I seem to be constantly on the lookout for my next treasure and considering the razers are often close to 100 years old, it is easy to justify swapping the blades quite often. It was odd re-learning how to shave in my 40s but once I did, I can't imagine adapting back to today's blade concept. It is a ritual for me and one that I truly appreciate. Sometimes legacy is better, the results speak for themselves.
Best overall shave I've ever gotten is with the Gillette Skinguard cart. I can whip it around as fast as I want to, almost recklessly, with no issues at all. Why do I still use the 75 year old Gillette Tech DE then? Cost of course. I'd rather slow down, still get a great shave, and save a pile of money.
I started on a Mach 3 and continued for about 10 years on it but have been doing de for about 8 years and have found the best shaves are with the adjustable Gillette razors. My daily razor is a 1966 Gillette adjustable slim with platinum plus blades or a derby blade
I recently went on vacation where I had to fly and took a Mach 3 instead of my de. Oh man. It was smooth and all but my skin did t like it and I felt it was too close.
To me, the pinical of shaving was the reaction of the adjustable DE. I'm glad Gillette is still in business, I use many of their products, just not their cartridge razors. If you really want to know which type gives the best shave, comfort often depends on the other shaving products used. Shave half your face with a cartridge and the other half with a DE, then ask a lady to judge.
I'm using a 1925 Gillette, serial no. 491238B. I inherited it from my mother (no, she wasn't the circus bearded lady; she used it to shave her legs). I agree with you that it is better than today's "modern" razors. I have the original wooden box and a brass blade holding container.
Oh for sure, DE and SE shaving using traditional techniques and hardware has been far better for my skin than modern carts (though I still mostly use a Defender on my head). I’ll have to go grab my old Richwood out of the collection and give it some love. 😁
I think the comparison needs to be made with fountain pens. The experience of writing with a well-prepared fountain pen is heavenly. Yes, it requires more work than a disposable Bic, but the experience is so worth it. Similarly, you choose the pen and ink separately and there's huge differences in the characteristics of each. I wish I used them when I was studying for med school -- they write so effortlessly and are far more enjoyable. I'm just about to dip my toe into the world of DE shaving thanks to videos like this. Currently using an electric twice a week with a beard trimmer. I don't enjoy shaving at all, but I don't want to look like a mass murder or Jack Dorsey (same difference) so I begrudgingly shave twice a week to keep things tidy. I'm hoping a nice DE razor & shaving accessories will turn it into the same treat writing with fountain pens is.
Sometimes when I am in a hurry or have to travel for a few days due to my office work I take my Mach 3 turbo. Other than that I prefer my Parker closed comb razor with a feather blade
Shaving with DE razors full time over six months ago & will never go back to cartridge razors. My old Mach 3 gave me bumps all over my face and itching and irritation. Threw it in the garbage after i switched to DE shaving. Got my Mekur 23c and my Muhle R41 & the accessories creams,brushes ect,I love shaving now,hated it before with the cartridge it was once a week now w/ the DE its every two days.
I recently had a comparison shave with a Pro Glide and a 1967 Slim Adjustable. The result was quite the same, but the cartridge razor left me with an irritated skin. Man I tell you, it was the worst AS burn I had in a long time. My favourite razors are the Greencult with a Personna, Slim Adjustable with a Nacet and a Henckels Rapide with a GEM SS PTFE coated blade.
You should compare ProGlide Power to a vintage wind up Stahly DE razor. I've got several of them and other than the handle being the diameter of C battery they are really fun to use. And the head of the Stahly is really quite nice and worth using on a conventional handle as the thread size is compatible with modern razor handles. Otherwise love your videos and I have a REX or two in my 500 razor collection.
As cartridge razor go, the battery powered versions really aren’t bad. I used them for years. The problem is getting new blades! I think I paid $18 for 4 blades. I had to make those things last! I started using a safety razor last year and have really enjoyed it. It does give a much better shave.
I'll tell you what all that pivoting and turning does... For me using a Mach 3 for several years it has took me about 6 months to unlearn all the bad habits and technic problems I learned while shaving with the Mach 3. I went back to my original shaver I learned with, and went D.E. again and will likely never go back to cartridges razors. William C. central Indiana
Exellent video. I'm new in this world of safety razors, I got a Fatboy model on a second hand store and I notice a little rust on it. Can anybody tell me how to take off the rust? It is necesary or can I use it in these conditions? Thanks.
A child of the 80s, grew up on an electric razor. Remington. Great, as long as you wanted to shave twice a day, or live with 5 o'clock shadow. Then I went to the multi blade razor. I mean why not more blades, and all those ads during football games. Sick of never really getting a close shave, and the expense of those multi-blade heads, I gave DE a try. Never have I gone back. Leaning to straight raor shave. Which is cool, and as close as you will ever get, but takes more time. DE is the closest shave you will get for the balance of time, energy, effort and money.
I switched over to, finally, a Gillette two blade cartridge razor back in the 1980s. I regretted it and decided to grow a beard and had it for years. Finally got tired of the beard and had a barber shave it off in the mid-90's. That guy knew what he was doing and he gained a new customer for my haircuts. Sadly the shop closed because the barber retired. Anyway, from then on, it was me trying to figure out how to get a close, smooth shave. Electric razors didn't do it for me. Switched over to blades, at first a 2 blade Sensor type, next came a Gillette 3 blade cartridge, whatever that's called. When Gillette came out their fiendishly expensive 4 or 5 blade cartridge system I realized 4 or 5 blades didn't shave any better than three blades, which didn't shave any better than 2 blades which didn't shave any better than one DE blade and cost a bunch more. I saw that Walmart was still selling Personna DE blades, so somebody out there was still using the good old DE. That lead me to find on the internet a Merkur 34c razor and that lead me into collecting old Gillette razors which shaved very well despite their age. Add in a brush and some quality soaps and creams and I was hooked on wet shaving. Now I shave with mostly a few currently made DE razors and few NOS Gillette Techs and settled on Dorco blades. I like Dorco's because they are more than sufficiently sharp and the quality is consistent. That's problem I found with other blades, a lack of consistency.
I happen to own a Gillette New Standard, silver, just like the one on the left of your video, 1921 I think. Missing tooth on the border of the plate, no box, but very very beautiful and an authentic beast shaving! So good that I can't use it with modern very sharp blades (like Permasharp, or Feather, for example). Instead I have to use milder blades. But I love it! Yours are much more beautiful, though 😋
What was the soap that you used? How does Cella Red suit you? Cella goes bad real quick. My Cella Red makes my skin dry now. Really disheartening. I entered De Shaving in 2020. This year I entered Straight Razor shaving and I am full in on going Only Straights.
I switched to DE a little over 8 years ago. I had used all the cartridge Gillettes from Atra to Fusion to Sensor and my razor burn/irritation kept getting worse. I now have a collection of vintage Gillette DE as well as modern DE razors and actually enjoy shaving, something I had come to dread with cartridge razors. I guess I'm using the money saved from not buying those expensive cartridge razors to buy wonderful DE razors using 8 cent Astra blades.
When I first started shaving, it was with a DE safety razor. As the year passed, I switched to cartridge razors. And then came the electric razors because they were fast with not much prep or cleanup. My shaves were so-so and after I retried I only shaved 3-4 times a week. When the pandemic hit, I ran across some DE wet shaving videos like yours and decided to give DEs another go. Shaving is enjoyable again. I look forward to shaving and have become a mostly every day shaver. While I don't have any vintage razors, I do have some vintage clones for the Gillette Tech, the Fatboy, and the Futur. They all gave me closer and more comfortable shaves than the cartridges or electrics. As far as modern-day DEs go, I went down the rabbit hole and tried Vikings Blade, the Henson, the Twig, your Ambassador, and the Rockwell 6C. When I settled on the Rockwell 6S as my daily driver, I stopped looking for a better DE. Now I enjoy all the other wet shaving products that were not available when I started shaving 60 years ago. Your video comparison today confirms that I was right to switch back to the tried-and-true DE safety razor. Good luck with your future wet shaving endeavors.
I’ve missed videos like this! Good to have you back Matt
When I was a kid my father always used a de razor and I know he enjoyed his shaves because he would shave every day. I never saw my dad with a five oclock shadow. Fast forward to my teen years. My father tried to get me to use his de razor because in his words it was the best shave he's ever had. I decided to go with a cartridge razor instead. After so many years of shaving with a cartridge razor at the age of 50. I decided to give it a try, and I can honestly say why did i spend so much money on cartridge razors I always thought shaving was such a chore,and why haven't I done this before. I recently started de shaving, and I really do enjoy my shaves now. Sometimes I cant wait for my next shave. I went on ebay picked up a few gillette vintage razors, and I love the way they shave. Thankyou for all the great info you share in your videos. Love your channel.
Hi Matt! So glad your back to making frequent vids. My father shaved with a Fatboy which, when it came time for me to start shaving, scared the hell out of me lol. I grew up watching him hate shaving and bleed every time he did. I assumed it was the razor. Looking back, he used bath bar soap and probably stretch the life of a blade too far. Any any rate, I went straight to a Trac 2. Then tried electric. Then onto the Atra, Mach whatever, and so on, hating them all. In 2012, at the age of 49, I bought a Merkur 34C to save money. Well the wet shaving rabbit hole went far deeper and steeper than the high cost of cart blades, but what a tremendous difference in shave quality and enjoyment! By the way, two years ago I purchased a beautiful rhodium plated Fatboy from Razor Emporium to honor my late father!
I agree. You just inspired me to go shave tonight with my 1921 New Standard. Still a great shave. 100 years later.
I came back to DE shaving approximately 3 years ago during which time I tried different razors and I have finally settled on my daily shaver the Envoy. Used with a quality soap and blade I get fantasticly smooth and comfortable shaves. Since returning a job that used to be a chore has now become something I look forward to and is now become a pleasure.
Keep well and keep safe.
Happy New year to everyone.
I just started shaving with a double edge razor and would never go back to a cartridge. I.get a better shave and with 50 blades I can get a 150 shaves. Thank you Razor emporium.
Love the DE shaves the best. Cartages can not compete with the single DE Love your shop your Old School soap was the best I’ve used in a while. And love the scent all year round.
You have made me sell safety razors , also restoration of old gillette razors. Its coming back for sure with barbers and all the good old shaving is for sure making it a pure enjoyment to shave again. :) thanks for your great work
You got me into wet shaving and I haven’t looked back, it’s a tradition and preference and I love hearing about the history of it! Thank u 🙏
I started using d.e. Razer 2 months ago thanks to you I accidentally whached a video of yours and I desid to try, and I love it.
I have been a straight Razer shaver for over 10 years now, but, I have a co-worker that is a DE shaver and both of our opinions, vintage/old-time/grandfather type shaving has ALWAYS been the best.
Very good video, thank you.
Another great video. Got hooked on the subtle details and art of wet shaving that you present so well. So looking forward to my vintage 1965 Slim arriving. Have almost all the other bits, sample pack of blades, brush, cup, Phoenix Gondolier soap etc. and mostly thanks to watching your videos and gaining insight and comparisons. We have a seller of your Rex Ambassador (out of stock), here in NZ but sadly they don't stock your T-shirt. Wishing everyone a better 2022!
Been cartridge shaving for 30+ years and started down the DE TH-cam rabbit hole. About to run out of cartridges so asked and got a DE safety razor for Christmas with sample pack of blades. Still getting the hang of it but really enjoy brushing the lather on my face and the closer shave. Even when I have cut myself I have done far worse with a cartridge over the years.
welcome to a whole new world!
I started DE shaving just a few months (just turned 18) ago, but I've been enjoying the process of shaving. My first razor is a DE razor from Bombay Shaving Company. I've cut myself a few times but I'm experimenting new styles and enjoying it. I was inspired to buy a DE razor after watching your channel and am also interested in investing in such quality razors. I really enjoyed how you explained the history of the Gilette company.
I initially bought my first DE at Walmart 1 year ago. I knicked my face up horribly, missed patches of facial hair, and found the whole process unenjoyable. I put it away and kept on with my cartridge. 3 months ago I decided to get back on the horse, and am I ever glad I did. I enjoy the process Now so much more than before. Once I found the appreciation that comes with the craft, I knew I was hooked.
Switched a year ago to DE. I can’t see going back. Shaving with a museum worthy birth month Fatboy never gets old! Thanks for the new video!
I was a cart user for around 40 years. Got into DE shaving about 2 years ago. And I definitely love DE shaving more. I no longer have razor burn issues. And the process is way more enjoyable these days. But like you said, to each their own. I like being part of this niche group.
Thank you, Matt, and best wishes for 2022! I recently switched from a Dovo shavette to safety razors and DE blades. Really a pleasure to reconnect with the old days and to luxuriate in wet shaving. Your videos are fun, well made and helpful; thanks!
Hi Matt- Great shave and razor comparison; thank you! I used to use the Trac 2 and Mach 3 for years. But once I made the jump into wet shaving, I never looked back at cartridge razors. Great to see you back with RE videos. Have a great weekend. Be safe and be well. Best regards, as always, Matt!
I'm glad you called out permasharp blades. Often on these type of channels, folks prominently call out feather - which are sharp for sure, but dull. Permasharp may not be the sharpest or the smoothest blade but in my opinion they are in combination the sharpest smoothest blade you can purchase today. And they last a long time. For me, half man/half werewolf, I get 7 super smooth shaves.
When I was a kid I asked my Dad about shaving, and I wanted to mimic him. He let me use his 1920s brass handle , similar to the one you have in this video , ( without a blade ), and I thought I was the coolest kid on the block .
When I joined the military , we had to shave every morning whether we had a beard or not . And the "injector" razor that we had to use felt like it was skinning my face .
I'm still shaving with my Gillet double edge "Safety Razor" that my Dad gave me for my birthday back in 1971. It hasn't failed me yet .
The only "issue" I find is that DE blades are getting more difficult to find . Not many places handle them anymore .
Thank you very much for a great video Matt! I grew up looking at my grandfather shaving with DE. Skin irritations and ingrowing hair made me quit cartridge razors and join the DE hobby! ... And well... "a routine became passion"! I will never look back to catriges! Have great shaves everyone!!!
AWESOME video! The while premise of 1922 vs 2022 in itself was cool!
I started shaving in 1965 with a Gillette Super Speed DE. I briefly tried an electric razor but found it too involved (the disassembling and cleaning) while producing unsatisfactory results. I stuck with the Super Speed until 10 years ago, when I retired and started buying old Gillette razors on Ebay. Then as a challenge, I took up straight razors and found them to produce outstanding results. Today, I switch between the old Gillettes and the straights. I have to agree with you on the old DEs: You can't improve on something already excellent.
Used Cartridges when I first started shaving. In the military switched to disposable razors. Once I returned from overseas started with DE razors that I got from art of shaving (AOS) but switched back to disposables because DE blades were harder to find. After years found my cheap clone Knack TTO. Started to use it and it broke went back to AOS after finding your channel. Bought a new King Gillette to try out and found GEM micromatic that I have not tried yet. Waiting on a I-1 super speed to be my new device of choice. Agree there is nothing better that a good old DE razor. Thank you for getting me back into a true art.
I'm a recent convert (4 months in) to DE shaving now in my late 40's! Cartridge was all I knew - I did like my vibrating Mach3 but even then I got razor burn -having gone down the DE rabbit hole (even single edge with my 1912 GEM Junior!) I have to say I prefer the old tech - some of the best shaves have been from fat handle's 1939-1945 but then even newer razors like Henson or the Parker adjustable are just great -my son is only just beginning to shave and I'm starting him off in the DE world!
@RazorEmporium Matt this video was the love child of a Masterclass and TedTalks rolled intro a history class in shaving 101 class. WOW!!! This video is a classic and needs to be watched more than once. I really enjoyed it all the way through.
Started using a Merkur 33c last year. Haven’t looked back since!
Happy New Year Matt, and it's great to see you back doing videos again 👍🏻
Matt is right when he says that the pinnacle of shaving technology was reached 100 years ago. When I look at photography, I see a similar story. People today think they have to have the most advanced digital camera with the most advanced features. When they ask me for my opinion, I tell them, "photography is NOT a new technology...it's been around for over a hundred years." Even with today's highly advanced digital cameras, almost no one is going out and taking photos to match Ansel Adams. That's because Adams had all the technology he needed way back in his day. All he had to do was to apply his considerable talent to the "ancient" technology he had available to him. Five-blade cartridges are akin to a digital camera that can focus on faces only. Every "advancement" we've seen lately in the shaving world, is almost no advancement at all. Okay, so you stick a battery into a razor handle and vibrate the razor head so the blades can more efficiently saw through hairs. In other words, the vibrating head is doing the exact same job as a slant-bar razor, invented almost 100 years ago. Is the modern razor reducing razor burn or ingrown hairs? Is it reducing shaving time to ten seconds flat? Now, those would be REAL improvements. If you're Gillette and you know that a practically perfect shave was achieved 100 years ago, what are you to do? You're going to invent multi-blade cartridges, vibrating heads, lube strips, heated strips...anything you can pass off as an "advancement," and hope you can fool the public into thinking they truly are advancements. Otherwise, how are you going to stay in business?
Well said sir
The vintage Gillette double edge razors will always remain tops imo. I consistently get effortless, really good shaves from my Super Speeds and both NEW long & short comb razors but lately the Tech delivers me the best shaves I've ever had when I ride the cap with a Derby Premium blade. Ymmv.
Great vid, Matt. I've been DE shaving for about 7, maybe 8 years now and cannot remember what shaving with a cartridge razor was like. But I remember I would go through a cartridge once a week. I honestly dipped into DE shaving to save money, and I would of! But I started to really enjoy shaving that it's now become a hobby, and finding myself collecting razors and amassing soaps that I will probably never use in my lifetime. But it's worth it. I enjoy it, I'm always clean shaven, my wife enjoys the soaps too, so hard to complain. Would be awesome for Gillette to re-introduce a DE in their 1920s design.
Oh yes, I also collect vintage Gillette razors. The neat thing is, for me anyhow, is that I can use any razor in my collection whenever I want. They're not just shelf decorations, even though they still look really cool and the NEW long comb is a beautiful razor, not to mention it can still match or exceed any modern counterpart.
@@nicetna2010 I agree. My GEM Junior is one of my favorite razors and gives me one of the best shaves. The vintage razors are still work horses!
Great comparison, you can see the work from both razors. I was having trouble with disposables before I made the switch to DE, which I leaned into more cause I thought the proglide was so expensive. Happy to have made the switch :)
I am always up for another Razor Emporium tee shirt. Like the DE razor the 1911 has also stood the test of time.
Hey Matt. Am I glad I came back to DE shaving. I have used a cartridge razor when I traveled and after returning home to my DE or SE razor really know I will never go back. Thanks for the Gillette history it was very interesting. I have several vintage Gillette razors and love each of them. I would not have believed back in the '60s when I 1st started shaving that I would again be shaving with same razor now called vintage, good then, great now.
Take care, be safe. Maybe go up and visit the snow in Flagstaff.
I have been trying to work on the perfect shave. So I use both the Gillette black beauty and the fusion. But I’m at the point where my when I have time, I can get a close clean shave dialed up to 5 with a Gillette 7Oclock yellow, that does compete with the Gillette fusion. It’s technique and time needed. And I’ve been working on this for a couple of years. I could not get there without yours and the platoon on wet shaving instructors on TH-cam.
Hi Matt, i dont know what happened in the US but right here in Poland we still have the same polsilver razor blades made in Russia with Gillette licensing. Very unfortunate they're no longer avaible in the US tho
Happy to see another shave!
You're finally back!
Old is good. New old even better. So much choice these days in shaving world. I switched to DE last year and somehow once a week chore become daily pleasure. Skin irritation gone, ingrown hair no problem anymore . Life is beautiful :)
Great vid Matt. As you said, it is all about profit, that's why the marketing targets us to believe we can get a better more efficient shave. I switched to DE shaving about 10 months ago, after using disposable or carts since I was 16, so 37-ish years. During the first UK lockdown I bearded it out and when I decided to take off the beard had just been watching a documentary on how the blight of plastics and the disposable mindset is having such a negative impact on the environment and our food chain. So, I started looking into ways of reducing my plastic use, or being more recyclable. DE shaving was one answer.
Since then, it has become more of a hobby than the chore it used to be and I have started to collect many vintage Gillette, Ever-Ready, Gem, PAL, Schick, etc. Opening up new rabbit-holes each month! Hopefully I'm easing off on that and only have a few things on my wish-list (a REX Ambassador is one!) 😀.
I can safely say that some of my best shaves have been with razors that are over 100 years old, thankfully there are still blades available for them. Keep up the good work
Thanks for another great history lesson on Gillette and wet shaving. I think most people who know RE and wet shaving are converts from cartridge razors. Besides the DE “old technology” providing a better, closer shave, there are so many other benefits. Cheaper DE blades (as you said it’s a blade game), no irritation/ingrown hairs (why I changed to DE shaving 12+ years ago), less waste vs plastic handled razors and plastic razor cartridge. And the overall zen experience. Nothing beats using old school soap/cream with a brush and hot/cold scuttle. Looking fwd to seeing more of your videos. Happy New Year 🎆 to all.
New subscriber and commenter here! I recently switched over to DE shaving almost 8 months ago now. Previously used that same fusion razor. I would always hate shaving so I'd push as long as I could usually once a week. Always got ingrown hairs on my neck area and was overall not a very enjoyable experience. Now that I've switched to the traditional style of shaving I always look forward to a shave! Also I'm in the rabbit hole. Have since bought 2 razors and 8 full tubs of soap since purchasing my starter kit from Stirling lol
MATT!!!! You’re back!!! Wooooohooooo!!!!!!! 😁😁😁
Keep up the videos! We love ‘em! Soapbox and all!!!!
Side note: you’ve got to trim the goat a little!! It was driving me crazy thinking you still had soap on your beard after the shave!!! 😂😂😂
I got a cartridge razor in boot. Gillette Mach something it was orange. Horrible razor bumps etc. myself and a few others were told once you hit the fleet get into wetshaving De or straight razors to prevent that. Have not looked back. Way better shaved for inspections and the like. Takes a little more time but that ritual really helps in the morning
I wonder how the shave of a Gillette's 2022 ProGlide Power (or Trac II) would compare to the shave of a 1935 'Mvltiplex' (which had 5 blades), GIP TwinBlade, Simbatec Razolution 4Edge, Böker Razolution 4-Edge or Leaf razor -- or where Gillette might be today if one of those alternate multi-blade safety razors were available in the early 1970s. Were alternate razor manufacturers dwindling out of business in this period? Still amazing to see the number of manufacturers there once were in Robert K Waits' "A Safety Razor Compendium".
"maybe i said too much...." Nope! Talk away Matt, that's why we tune in.
The best shaves I've been getting are from classic GEM razors. The 1912 and mmoc.... Up to twenty shaves on my first blade right now and still going STRONG!!
My Father used to use DE razors when I was a kid. Then we switched to modern Gillette (fusion, Mach 3 etc.) They are okay. I recently switch to DE shaver back this year looking to more close shaves and less razor burns in the future.
Always going to stick with DE, the razor bumps I used to get were insane and I have to be clean shaven for work. I even ordered my first little box of feathers to try out
Nice to see you again! And Happy New Year to you. Matt I don't get razor bumps since I switched to DE shaving. But it is not really cheaper. I have spent a lot more money in DE shaving because of the addiction to all of the wonderful products! Yes I went down the rabbit hole. So now I have over 100 soaps and at least 10 razors. But I get much better shaves and enjoy shaving much more than before. Thanks a lot. Haha 😄!
A fantastic conclusion! Thank you very much.
I have been using my Gillete Fusion power for almost 8 years and Philips electric razor and I wanted change. I switched to DE razors Gillete slim and Merkur 34c. Now shaveing is my hoby and part of the day i enyoj
When I was 18, I was gifted with a Gillette cartridge razor for my birthday from my sister. Clearly a newby of the shaving realm at that point lol. Throughout my early and late 20s, I’ve been using electric razors but realized, too much maintenance. I was in ahh of wet shaving when I saw some youtube vids 3 years ago on DE razors and I haven’t looked back. I enjoy wet shaving more with DE razors and so on. Still learning a lot as I go on.
I switched to DE shaving in 2019 trying to combat hair bumps. I got my son (18) to switch to DE shaving from Dollar Shave Club.
Great video. I like the DE shave best. I grew up using the sensor for 30 years and hated it. It was so painful. Switched a few years ago and never going back. Still using your adjustable at 1.5 setting. Looking forward to getting your slant razor soon. Feel free to send it before February.
Hello from Russia. In Russia, it is very rare to find men using a safety razor. These are mainly elderly people who do not have the money to buy Gillette cassette razors on time. Pensions in Russia are very low and people living only on them make ends meet. However, if a person has a job, then he will buy Gillette cassette razors. I think there are a lot more men in Europe and the US who use safety razors. In the USSR, they did not know how to produce high-quality double-sided shaving blades, in the 80s the quality fell so much that shaving with them was very problematic and traumatic. With the collapse of the USSR, a wide variety of cassette razors appeared in the markets of the countries formed after the USSR, and men massively switched to them. There was simply no alternative. Many years have passed and the production of double-sided blades in Russia has improved, but the Russian blades Voskhod, Rapier and Ladas are still inferior to foreign blades, which in Russia are slightly cheaper or the same as the cassettes for Gillette razors. I was presented with R89, R41, 3ONE6 and I have been using classic shaving for two years, but I am not happy with it. I am only satisfied with the Wilkinson Sword blades, which cost us $ 19-20 for a block of 100 blades, and this is the annual cost of the cassettes Gillette. I am unhappy with domestic blades Voskhod, Rapier and Ladas. I think they are bad and I don’t understand why they are popular in the USA, but maybe I’m just mistaken about popularity. From a classic shave I shave worse and the skin is more irritated, it is much easier to get severe irritation than from cassettes. Having the money to switch to a classic shave, there is no point. In Russia, supporters of classic shaving are viewed as a sect.
Never heard of those brands so I doubt that they are popular here in the US.
The first time I used my old type Ball End razor I knew that I had something special. Here I am with this cracked up tarnished thing. I cleaned it up and glued the handle back together and shaved with it for the first time and realized that Gillette had perfected shaving over a hundred years ago. Today however the Fusion seems like an attempt to just make something that seems better then what they used to have. I did own the Mach 3 Turbo and actually really liked using it. I always would get a good shave with it. Not as close as the old type Ball End. But good enough, the Fusion however I found that the head clogged easier and finally the price hikes with their cartridges killed it for me. I switched to electric foil shavers then finally to DE. DE has been allot of fun, so much to explore. I also picked up a Gillette Heritage and have been really enjoying that razor as well.
You speak the truth. Gillette had to do what they had to do to stay in business. That said, I used a cartridge razor for over 40 years. When I switched to a DE razor about 1 1/2 years ago and got proficient at it, that's where the magic of traditional wet shaving really began. I love making a lather either in a lathering bowl or on my face, I love the feel of a soft brush, I love the closeness of a DE blade, and I love the fact my skin feels great after I apply after-shave balm. So for me, the transition from a cartridge to a DE razor opened up a whole new world. I shave every second day and look forward to it whereas with a cartridge razor, it was a chore. I also like the fact that DE razors have a much lower environmental impact. The thought of all that plastic from cartridges going into a landfill makes me shudder.
I could never get a perfectly comfortable shave when I used the Mach 3 and newer platforms from Gillette. I'm so happy I delved into the wet shaving community and became acquainted with the tools my great grandfather and grandfather used. I'll take the de over carts anyday.
Hey Matt, you stated that you believe the PermaSharp to be a replacement for PolSilver blades. I would love to get your opinion on the Wizamet blades, which are labeled as Super Iridium just as the PolSilvers were. Even the stamped graphics on the two blades look very similar.
I appreciate that you know your history. I was vibing 😂
I started to shave in 1997 and my very first razor was a Sensor (still got it). I switched to DEs in a fortnight or so because I couldn't afford cartridges back then (my first and only one dove into the sink accidentally) and also because of how easier it was to achieve a good result with a much cheaper and simpler DE-blade. Never looked back since then.
I am 22, switched 2 years ago because I just couldnt sahve with cartridge razors because of my sensitive skin. 3 of my friends have already switched to them too because most of us just get terrible irritation using cartridges. Most people I know either wetshave or use philips machines.
It's all really just up to preference, I prefer going with the DE mainly because it's cheaper and gives me less irritation.
But I do understand people who use cartridge razors they are easy as hell to use and get the job done quickly.
It would probably be a more accurate comparison if you compared the 1922 DE to the King C. Gillette DE that they just released.
I think the reason why he did it with the ProGlide was because the cartridge razor is the "modern" razor of our current time, whereas back in the 1920's the vintage DE razor was the "modern" razor of that time (as cartridge razors weren't invented yet). As he said, DE shaving is a small market now as opposed to back then. Nowadays, you can walk into any drugstore or grocery store and pick up a cartridge razor. You can't do that much with DE razors as only select places may carry them.
Wow I haven’t seen these videos in awhile and I’m so happy 😃
Nice video and insight on the Gillettes. I started up with DE shaving 3 months ago and I do not see myself going back to cartridges at all. I don't miss the skin irritation or not as a close shave feeling. DE all the way!
DE shaving is the way to go for me. I am a proud owner of a Rex Ambassador razor and I absolutely love it. Traditional shaving is the best way to get a great shave. Plus it puts us in touch with the past which I think is very important. DE shaving makes one slow down for a moment and really take care of ourselves. I think it’s important in this overly fast past world that we live in. I enjoy using the products from small companies because through using there products they are telling there story. Small business is very important to me . All in all I’m very happy I switched to DE shaving some 7 years ago. My skin feels so much better and I truly enjoy my morning shave.
Hey Matt! Great video! Cartridge razors have their place. I use them for the back of my neck and shoulders! They are easier to use for those areas. For my face though, I definitely prefer DE razors! They get the desired shave I like with less irritation if any at all! There is so much more variety as well than there ever was before! Between the classic vintage models to today's modern DE razors, it's the way for me! Happy New year to you!
I switched to DE on my time (weekends). I still use an electric during the week for speed but the save is rubbish in comparison (once you can get BBS smooth without chafing, it is hard to accept second best). That said, it can get out of hand. I need to keep my DE collection in check - I seem to be constantly on the lookout for my next treasure and considering the razers are often close to 100 years old, it is easy to justify swapping the blades quite often. It was odd re-learning how to shave in my 40s but once I did, I can't imagine adapting back to today's blade concept. It is a ritual for me and one that I truly appreciate. Sometimes legacy is better, the results speak for themselves.
Long Live the Straights.
Happy New year!
Double edge. All day. I absolutely love the vintage razors.
Best overall shave I've ever gotten is with the Gillette Skinguard cart. I can whip it around as fast as I want to, almost recklessly, with no issues at all. Why do I still use the 75 year old Gillette Tech DE then? Cost of course. I'd rather slow down, still get a great shave, and save a pile of money.
Another great history lesson, love it!
I started on a Mach 3 and continued for about 10 years on it but have been doing de for about 8 years and have found the best shaves are with the adjustable Gillette razors. My daily razor is a 1966 Gillette adjustable slim with platinum plus blades or a derby blade
After using cartridge razors to electric razors I came back and sticked to shaving with DE razors 👍👍👍
I recently went on vacation where I had to fly and took a Mach 3 instead of my de. Oh man. It was smooth and all but my skin did t like it and I felt it was too close.
Ive gor a Merkur long handle DE and it runs circles around a cartridge razor and I get 4 or 5 shaves from a blade that costs $0.25.
To me, the pinical of shaving was the reaction of the adjustable DE. I'm glad Gillette is still in business, I use many of their products, just not their cartridge razors. If you really want to know which type gives the best shave, comfort often depends on the other shaving products used. Shave half your face with a cartridge and the other half with a DE, then ask a lady to judge.
I'm using a 1925 Gillette, serial no. 491238B. I inherited it from my mother (no, she wasn't the circus bearded lady; she used it to shave her legs). I agree with you that it is better than today's "modern" razors. I have the original wooden box and a brass blade holding container.
Oh for sure, DE and SE shaving using traditional techniques and hardware has been far better for my skin than modern carts (though I still mostly use a Defender on my head). I’ll have to go grab my old Richwood out of the collection and give it some love. 😁
I think the comparison needs to be made with fountain pens. The experience of writing with a well-prepared fountain pen is heavenly. Yes, it requires more work than a disposable Bic, but the experience is so worth it. Similarly, you choose the pen and ink separately and there's huge differences in the characteristics of each. I wish I used them when I was studying for med school -- they write so effortlessly and are far more enjoyable.
I'm just about to dip my toe into the world of DE shaving thanks to videos like this. Currently using an electric twice a week with a beard trimmer. I don't enjoy shaving at all, but I don't want to look like a mass murder or Jack Dorsey (same difference) so I begrudgingly shave twice a week to keep things tidy. I'm hoping a nice DE razor & shaving accessories will turn it into the same treat writing with fountain pens is.
Sometimes when I am in a hurry or have to travel for a few days due to my office work I take my Mach 3 turbo. Other than that I prefer my Parker closed comb razor with a feather blade
Shaving with DE razors full time over six months ago & will never go back to cartridge razors. My old Mach 3 gave me bumps all over my face and itching and irritation. Threw it in the garbage after i switched to DE shaving. Got my Mekur 23c and my Muhle R41 & the accessories creams,brushes ect,I love shaving now,hated it before with the cartridge it was once a week now w/ the DE its every two days.
Is the proraso white any better than the green? I'm not a huge fan of the green but the scent is great.
It's a decent all around soap.
I recently had a comparison shave with a Pro Glide and a 1967 Slim Adjustable. The result was quite the same, but the cartridge razor left me with an irritated skin. Man I tell you, it was the worst AS burn I had in a long time.
My favourite razors are the Greencult with a Personna, Slim Adjustable with a Nacet and a Henckels Rapide with a GEM SS PTFE coated blade.
You should compare ProGlide Power to a vintage wind up Stahly DE razor. I've got several of them and other than the handle being the diameter of C battery they are really fun to use. And the head of the Stahly is really quite nice and worth using on a conventional handle as the thread size is compatible with modern razor handles. Otherwise love your videos and I have a REX or two in my 500 razor collection.
As cartridge razor go, the battery powered versions really aren’t bad. I used them for years. The problem is getting new blades! I think I paid $18 for 4 blades. I had to make those things last! I started using a safety razor last year and have really enjoyed it. It does give a much better shave.
I'll tell you what all that pivoting and turning does... For me using a Mach 3 for several years it has took me about 6 months to unlearn all the bad habits and technic problems I learned while shaving with the Mach 3. I went back to my original shaver I learned with, and went D.E. again and will likely never go back to cartridges razors. William C. central Indiana
Exellent video. I'm new in this world of safety razors, I got a Fatboy model on a second hand store and I notice a little rust on it. Can anybody tell me how to take off the rust? It is necesary or can I use it in these conditions? Thanks.
We have a video about diy restoration
...great vid...great insight...👍👍👍
The way it vibrates would make me think my phone is freaking out
A child of the 80s, grew up on an electric razor. Remington. Great, as long as you wanted to shave twice a day, or live with 5 o'clock shadow. Then I went to the multi blade razor. I mean why not more blades, and all those ads during football games. Sick of never really getting a close shave, and the expense of those multi-blade heads, I gave DE a try. Never have I gone back. Leaning to straight raor shave. Which is cool, and as close as you will ever get, but takes more time. DE is the closest shave you will get for the balance of time, energy, effort and money.
Great video Matt! Permasharp and Polsilver... That's the first time I heard of the conspiracy. 🤔🤔🤔
I switched over to, finally, a Gillette two blade cartridge razor back in the 1980s. I regretted it and decided to grow a beard and had it for years.
Finally got tired of the beard and had a barber shave it off in the mid-90's. That guy knew what he was doing and he gained a new customer for my haircuts. Sadly the shop closed because the barber retired.
Anyway, from then on, it was me trying to figure out how to get a close, smooth shave. Electric razors didn't do it for me. Switched over to blades, at first a 2 blade Sensor type, next came a Gillette 3 blade cartridge, whatever that's called.
When Gillette came out their fiendishly expensive 4 or 5 blade cartridge system I realized 4 or 5 blades didn't shave any better than three blades, which didn't shave any better than 2 blades which didn't shave any better than one DE blade and cost a bunch more. I saw that Walmart was still selling Personna DE blades, so somebody out there was still using the good old DE.
That lead me to find on the internet a Merkur 34c razor and that lead me into collecting old Gillette razors which shaved very well despite their age. Add in a brush and some quality soaps and creams and I was hooked on wet shaving.
Now I shave with mostly a few currently made DE razors and few NOS Gillette Techs and settled on Dorco blades. I like Dorco's because they are more than sufficiently sharp and the quality is consistent. That's problem I found with other blades, a lack of consistency.
I happen to own a Gillette New Standard, silver, just like the one on the left of your video, 1921 I think. Missing tooth on the border of the plate, no box, but very very beautiful and an authentic beast shaving! So good that I can't use it with modern very sharp blades (like Permasharp, or Feather, for example). Instead I have to use milder blades. But I love it! Yours are much more beautiful, though 😋
What was the soap that you used? How does Cella Red suit you? Cella goes bad real quick. My Cella Red makes my skin dry now. Really disheartening. I entered De Shaving in 2020. This year I entered Straight Razor shaving and I am full in on going Only Straights.
Proraso white. Cella is ok for me
Thanks.