Series No 1 The Razor Wet Shaving Substance Truth vs Hype Marketing
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- This is the first in a series of videos and blog articles covering the basics of Razor selection for the beginning wet shaver, plus some nuggets of information about wet shaving in general.
Here is the blog article:
vintagerazorcol...
Hi Big John, great information. What attracted me to traditional wet shaving, is that it is ecologically sound, more so than disposables, and it reminds me of my Father who is now gone. Take care.
Shavingnovice
I never stop learning when it comes to the Wet Shaving community. The series has a wealth of information. I liked it when you started showing the older razors very interesting lesson. Thanks for your time and keep teaching
Thanks Donald. I like your icon. I love the Mad Men series.
Thanks, Yes its sad the show is ending. I like the time period the show was in.
I'm so glad that I'm not using those multi blades type razors anymore because i don't feel an idiot anymore! Now i am enjoying shaving and i feel that I don't throw money to the garbage anymore! Thank you sir for your videos and for teaching us newbies!
Good, common sense, logical thoughts throughout of entire video. Thank you for sharing John.
I never get tired of watching your great videos John.
I did not think I would stick around for a 30 minute vid. This was worth the time.
This is an outstanding video - thank you for making this series!
Thank you.
This is an outstanding video indeed ... sad to say but I am (or was) one of the sheeple who use crappy multi-blade razors because I had never put any thought into it.
I'm now going to look into purchasing a good quality DE safety razor so that I can finally stop destroying the skin on my face.
Many thanks to the author of this video for the history and tips on shaving properly.
Hello, I've been DE shaving for about a month now, used the plastic Wilkinson sword classic, and a Edward X Jacob razor. Started out wet shavings (16yrs old) for about 4yrs then electric for 8yrs, then back to wet shaving with a cartridge for 25yrs, I'm now 53yrs old. Whether it's the blades, the razor, the soaps, my facial hair or my technique but I'm now getting a rash and a number of cuts over my face. Incidentally, I shave my head and there isn't a problem, i use blades that Ive already used a few times, the logic behind that thinking is that the blades aren't going to cut my head because they are less sharp.
But I have to say with honesty this Traditional wet shaving method is more time consuming and the results aren't that much more better then shaving with a multi blade cartridge. But I'm committed now, its more enjoyable for one thing & I like using the various products. I think this method will eventually compete with the modern way, simply because of the cost savings and will become the norm once again. Thanks for the information videos.
Regards Darren - Wolverhampton - England
these are by far the best videos I've encountered on this topic
I was in Asda (I'm in UK, think its Walmart in US) and I was looking at DE blades, the only ones they had were a pack of 10 personna for £1.85. At the same time there was a gentleman and his wife looking at gillette cartridge heads and the guy picked a pack of 6 which were reduced to £17 from £50. I shave around every 3 days and if I change the blade after 5 shaves that's 2 blades per month, so a 10 pack should last 5 months, that's a fiver a year vs daylight robbery for catridge
Very informative video. Bought a Parker 68S. Couldn't be happier. It's local (for me), costs much lesser than other well known brands. Full Stainless Steel, comes with 5 blades and 0 lectures on anti masculinity.
Hi John,
Great to see you making videos again!
Excellent topic, hype verses truth, I recently fell in this trap.There is a major player in the wet shaving accouterments that we use, that offered a "new" razor around Christmas. It was unique looking and simply by looks alone I just had to have it. I went onto TH-cam to see what others were saying about it and found many guys raving about this razor, so I ordered one. For me, this particular razor it turns out to be more hype that truth. I have used it 8 - 10 times and have not gotten 1 good shave, I've been disappointed every time. Which makes me wonder why so many reviewers are so quick to jump on the band wagon and start touting a particular product. Now, I understand that wet shaving, like everything in life, is a personal and subjective experience, but to me more truth than hype can only enhance and elevate this community rather that it being / becoming 1 big commercial.
Really enjoyed this video and can't wait to see more...
Thanks Anthony. If you want to better understand what is happening, has happened in the social and mass market media world a good place to start is to google "7 types of propaganda". If you understand them better you can protect yourself from them.
Great video john, as usual. I've been using noxema to wash my face before my shave for about a year now. It's the single largest improvement I've received from any hardware/software since I started. I rinse my face, apply noxema, let it sit for a minute or 2 while I get the rest of my stuff ready, then I rinse it off and dry my face to remove all oils from my whiskers. I then wet my face again and prepare my lather.
Thanks Dean. That's the way to do it, which is what works for you.
MadScientist .OfWetShaving I use a real liquid soap, as opposed to the petrochemical products sold as soaps these days, to prepare my face for shaving. Does Noczema offer an advantage over this?
dalriada842 Don't really know not actually experienced what you are using. Noxzema was created over 100 years ago to treat exzema (chronic skin dryness). What I have found is that is a very good basic cleanser but is super slick. Using it as a pre-wash and as a pre-shave results in excellent results and adds slickness to any soap or cream...adding a level of additional protection. It's relatively inexpensive too, which also helps elevate it in my mind.
MadScientist .OfWetShaving I'll give it a try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! I see it's quite a bit cheaper than what I've been using.
Great Video!!! I only wish I had been able to watch this over a year ago when I first started Wet Shaving. Very Happy you made this for all the Nubies, and Im so happy your back to making videos, I have looked up to you and your videos for help in learning the skill. Thanks so much!!!
Thank you very much.
Looking forward to the series.
I am a newbie in the wet shaving thing and after much research I went with the de89 but I don't recommend canned shaving cream it's worse than using it with a cartridge or electric razor. I then used tobs shaving cream and it's no comparison even if the cream version is very dry and leaves no sickness for me. But thanks alot for this video.. You learn alot even if you already kinda started.
If you haven't already, get a brush and a bowl. The brush will get lather under the hair and using a brush just feels soooo good when relathering after that first pass
Hi John, I've been watching you and Paul H for a couple of Months. Between the two of you I have been inspired to revert to DE shaving. Using Wilkinson sword classic daily
with Wilkinson sword blades. Have Parker 22r 26c, 65r & 96r waiting until I've got really used to the new routine. Keep up with the excellent advice on all aspects of shaving and physical and psychological wellbeing. Much appreciated. Kind Regards Peter L F Martin. North Devon, UK.
Thanks for watching Peter. May your journey into traditional wet shaving be a good experience.
Well done, as ever, John. I like how you go through many of the different razors of the day. It's a great beginners video and one I'll point the friends I convert to. Keep it up, good to see you back in the saddle.
Thanks Ant.
You are wise and very cool guy John. I always look forward to the knowledge i learn in your videos. 😊
Thank you Luvin. Glad to be of service.
Your welcome John i look forward to more of yourvideos
Good info - Looking forward to the next in your series!
I think this was very interesting video, thank you! I think a lot of people also forgets that while the razor itself hasn't gone through a big development. The blades have! Can you please post a video/blog post detailing the history and evolution of DE blades.
Excellent video and great advice, you sir speak the truth!
Thank you I have used the information in your videos and turned something I hated to do and turn it something I enjoy.
Steven Fish
Thanks John....great info. The brief history lesson was interesting.
Great video. That was one of the most informative things I have watched in regards to wet shaving in general. I'm still fairly new to the hobby and learned alot of cool things from it.
Thanks Andrew. Boiling down the essentials and stripping away all the "static" that's out there now confusing many is my primary purpose with this series.
I kinda found that as a beginner, the best shaves came from straight bars with deep scalloping but not a full open comb. The soap for me cascades up to the blade but not in quantity that would start buffering the blade reducing the 'cut' - that's just me though. After the first 3 months or so, I could use just about anything and get a decent, comfortable shave.
Great 1st episode! I'm looking forward to the next one. Tell 'm how it is BIG John, I agree on most of your vision about wetshaving except for the part of the irritation and multiplying of the 2 passes with the 5 multiblades. I don't think it's really that bad because they are designed not to cut very close so you don't get nicked and barely touch the skin and if you use a cream or soap they get so fast clogged up that the blade just glide on top of the whisker without touching the skin. That's why on tougher beards of older guys like us they give not as close a shave. I used a Mach3 for many years just with water (no shaving cream or soap) in 2 passes without any skin issues or irritations. Until I last year went back to my first DE razor from 35 years back and boy was I pleasantly surprised how babysmooth my skin was after that shave. Never going back to multiblades! :-) Keep those videos coming! :-)
You are right in that the five blades aren't very efficient and most of them don't have much impact in reality than in theory, but if they did as the advertisers want you to believe they would be irritating your skin five times as much with one pass over the skin. In theory you can't have it both ways.
If they don't really irritate the skin then they don't really cut whiskers. You and I know the errors of the advertisers in foolishly stacking multiple blades on top of one another. If a five blade razor head is suppose to be five times as efficient then in theory you are being exposed to five times the potential irritation. Regardless the potential for five times the irritation is there if all the stars align and all the blades work as advertised. We know they don't.
For illustrative and educational purposes I have to present the counter argument that goes hand in hand with what the advertisers want you to believe...five blades is more efficient and comfortable in removing whiskers than 4 or 3 or 2 or a 1 blade razor. If that statement is true then it also exposes the skin to five times the potential irritation.
Probably a Trac II and maybe a three track razor meets some of the claims but the big boy razor marketers couldn't leave that alone and had to keep one upping in order to generate more sales with the "new and improved" angle.
This is also why dermatologists recommend using no more than a two track razor. The potential for irritation and in-grown hairs in particular significantly rises beyond that. More whiskers are sliced long ways which leads to in-growns when they are being cut with blades 3-5 than blades 1 and 2. Make better sense now?
Makes 200% sense and I totally agree with you. I just wanted to add that the disadvantages of multiblades as claimed by the wetshaving community aren't really that much as the multiplication by the number of blades because they just barely touch the skin. That's why I still shave my head with the Mach3 because I can scratch like crazy in the blind and don't have to worry about the angle or nicks. For the rest I totally agree with you and the lubrification strip comment that you mentioned had me rofl cause I always thought the same thing :-) btw your 1904 old type looks brandnew! I have a 1907 :-)
Big thank you for making this video, it's obvious that marketing hype is getting people tricked.
Had a good laugh because you called that people idiots... ok ok they're just unknown until they've seen a video like this or someone have them explained them the hype.
I do know now because of you and other blogs en video's. Thanks for sharing this information clearly!
+Delano Velthuis Well, I got a little carried away...by bad ;)
+MadScientist .OfWetShaving (BigJohn) im only 21 and i only get 3 comfortable shaves from a feather because my hair is so thick
@@thatguyyouknow1366 ok? How many u getting now?
Thanks for the video! You certainly know your craft!
Love the TIMOR blades.
I am a woman and I started shaving my face...the entire face...even my forehead....I love it. my face is smoother now at 51 than it was at 15. I plan on starting a youtube channel to help other women get into the practice. you can call it de-planning or shaving. either way it is awesome. I love your videos. ty
btw, I saw a 6 bladed razor for women at walmart...why in the hell do women need that many damned blades? gimmick as all get out.
Good luck and good shaves or whatever you choose to describe it.
Hi. I import razors and have to take issue with certain things. Edwin Jagger did NOT invent the head that you toute as being theirs. It certainly is not!
It is a head that originates in India and has been used both in India and Pakistan for well over 70 years! When Edwin Jagger started in business in the late 1980s there were still patents on the Gillette Tech style head and the Merkur head designs. So they opted for the design that they brought to market as it was not patented.
Also, you are quite right about India and Pakistan.
Most razors (but not all razors) made in Pakistan are made by Treet. They do manufacture about 80% of all of the razors that the country exports. Sometimes many are off the shelf Treet models. A few are original designs by the sales people "or so called manufacturers".
India is very different however. Parker does now make many of their own razors. They only do chrome plating however, and that is why there are very few razors that they offer with gold plating, which they do elsewhere. There are three plants in India that actually manufacture razors. I have visited most of the factories mentioned above. Parker and Pearl BOTH produce100% original designs. In fact, the owner of Pearl used to be a razor design engineer for Gillette!
Finally, China is amazing once you understand it.
For those uninitiated, China is divided into economic zones. They produce 90% of their razors in the port city of Ningbo. In fact most Chinese men use DE razors come from Ningbo.
Many parts used in the razors that you purchase from other countries (including Germany) have castings that are subcontracted to Chinese companies. The quality is high, the costs are low. Production is done by the most modern machinery there is.
Ningbo is home to 250+ razor manufacturers, 30 of whom own CNC machines.
One thing that most people do not know is that China has its own indigenous razor head which looks similar to the Edwin Jagger style of head except its geometry is different and its base plate is almost straight. It is a great head, super efficient, and provides amazing, although not the most comfortable, shaves.
Even some of the Feather razors have parts cast in China. In fact, the current Wilkinson Sword razor is a Chinese Weishi 9306P and can be purchased on Ali Express for under $10. Also don't fall for the products that Solingen makes under their own brand. They are all made by Weishi. They say "made in Germany," but they are not!
Now it IS true that the Chinese can copy just about anything. But what most of us do not realise is that plenty of innovation also happens there as well.
After manufacturing some of our original designs in all three countries we have settled on India. Tooling costs less in India, and if you invest in first class manufacturing and don't cut corners, Indian quality to price ratio cannot be beaten, even by China. Also India has 400,000,000 men who shave. Many with very little water. Many with heavy, thick beards unlike the Chinese who have much more lenient shaving requirements.
Awesome Series. Thank you for doing these videos.
Just discovered your video's, they are great - thank you!
if you could show all us beginners with Gillette adjustable slim and fatboys razors, shows us the setting vs newer razors.
Very nice and intructive
I agree with you that the hair follicles should be hardened, but other than engorging the hair with water, what is your recommended pre-shave treatment? Hot water or cold water? Thanks.
J Wal I've found no better pre-shave treatment than lathering up, rubbing the lather in with your fingers and letting it sit on your face for 2-3 minutes and then freshing the lather with your brush. For additional effect wash your face with Noxzema Deep Cleaning Cream, rinse and reapply (rub over face with fingers) and then apply shave soap. Hot or cold water is a personal preference basically. I prefer hot. Cold water shaving I feel personally is less comfortable because my skin is less pliant and flexible using cold water.
Simply brilliant.
Wow! Just Wow! Where to begin to comment and laud this video?
This is a 'must see' for all shavers (beginners and advanced). Great explanations and also a great history lesson.
Can't get my head around this amazing collection of razors you have. Envious as heck...
One question though: Gillette is still popular amongst classical shavers with their vintage razors. So what went wrong? As you pointed out the 5 blade folly is for idiots, but once upon a time they had it 'right', right?
Second and last question: when and where was the current (standardized) design for the double edged blades signed and sealed? If it wasn't for this industry standard everyone would have to choose one razor and it's accompanying blade... Now I can choose a Merkur razor and dozens of blade without worrying about compatibility.... (compare this to the tech world...)
As I presented in videos using the late 1940's early 50's Gillette Aristocrat and Super Speed razors, I believe the pinnacle of razor design was achieved during this time frame and these razors. All the elements came together in a good balance resulting in a wide sweet spot for a wide range of shavers. After that, in order to bring new products to the market they tried to build and tweak these products...making good products but not as good as in that period. Then the early 70's brought about the multi-blade cartridge design...again not for performance but market share increase with "new" being advertised as better.
The DE razor blade essentially evolved out of which razor producers dominated the market...i.e. Gillette. Essentially after WWII the DE razor design solidified and proprietary razors died out. Then SE razors like the injectors became more popular and ultimately brought about the multi-blades. There were a few other "experiments" in efforts to gain market share, but by then the DE format dominated until the 1970's.
+MadScientist .OfWetShaving Thank you for this extensive answer! And thank you for making these great videos! All the best from Ronald (The Netherlands)
Great video John. thank you.
Thanks John, very interesting!
Jeff, really new to this and just wanted to say thank you for all this. I am still looking to see if I need a shaving bowl, or what kind to get. I have ordered a Parker 96 and the Parker bush to go with it. Still dont know the right kinds of soap that I will need. Any help?
Thanks for all the info!!!
Excelent video, thank you!
fantastic to listen to
What do you think about flipping the blade after each shave? Do you think it either can improve the life of the blade, or the quality of your shave from day to day?
Don't think flipping has any benefit.
hi Big John, your videos are really nice. but I do have a question, why do you advise an open comb razor for beginners? lots of forums advise a close comb razor to begin with. thanks. sorry if you have answered that question before. sorry for my english.
+eotmb I said that I would recommend the right open comb razor for a beginner, like a Parker Open Comb because many soon find once they have the basic techniques down that they require a little more aggressive shaving razor. Many "beginner" razors are very mild. An open comb allows for a more aggressive shaving razor with the added protection of the Open Comb that leaves a little of the shaving lather to remain on the skin. A closed comb straight bar razor removes most of the lather before the blade contacts the skin. I've changed my view a little and my top recommendation for a beginning razor is a vintage Gillette SuperSpeed (preferably of the 1940's style) or a Weishi Razor that is made from a copper alloy like the 9306-I that I recently reviewed. They have the right level of aggressiveness and smoothness for anyone, beginner or experienced.
thanks for your answer.
Thank for info ,help out alot.
Any opinions on using Dove bar soap to wash my face in the shower?
Jeff Lamberton women have used it for decades. If it feels good go for it. Soap is soap for the most part.
Hey John, honestly, send me your Gillette Atra you don't like! ;-)
Very good video, thanks, Dan.
Thanks Dan. But I need my Astra as a video aide lol.
Appreciate the video, cheers :)
The great shaving conspiracy, dude you are wacked
Have you ever tried a straight razor?
Norman Grimm Yes but my shoulder arthritis prevents me using one though.