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Comment by brk | Hacker News Reader

I bought a Merkur Futur a year ago and haven't looked back.

The initial investment in going to an old-school shaving setup is about $100. Safety razor, some blades, badger-hair brush and saving soap. But the payoff is huge over time. A $5.00 bar of shaving soap can last 6 or 8 months with daily use. High-quality DE blades are $0.50-$0.80 ea, depending on quantity.

As the article states, it takes a little more time and finesse to get a full shave done, and I like that. It's been, for me, an enjoyable way to start the day with a routine that requires some craftsmanship and skill.

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The Futur, choice of Bill Adama! (Though most people think it looks like the Vision, I can't tell)

Anyway, you can probably get started on the cheap if you have any living male relatives born before 1950. They probably have some old vintage Gillette razor that works just as well now as it did when they got it. Or, if you live near an antique or consignment store, you can find razors there cheap, probably between $5 - $10. They're easy to clean, too.

I have the same razor. What blade are you using with it? I prefer Feathers.

I've been using the Merkur Platinum blades that came with it. In all honesty though, I've never tried any other blades, so maybe I'm missing out.

The one downside to the DE razors is that (at least in my area) local supply of blades is somewhat limited. The drugstores that do stock them just seem to carry whatever basic cheap-ass blades they can get. My guess is that they think these blades are only purchased by 80 year old men, probably passing up a good revenue opportunity.

I think I'll order some of the Feathers and give those a try next.

Merkur is a great blade, but then I came across the Feathers and I think the japanese have a leg up. It's one of the sharpest blades I've used. Definitely recommend you sample a pack.

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/906451.htm

I tried at least 6-8 different blades when I first started w/ a DE razor, and Feathers blew all the others out of the water. Every face is different, but Feathers are definitely worth a trial at least.

Definitely try a selection of different blades. If you can find a supplier which offers 'sample packs' that would be perfect.

There is http://connaughtshaving.com/samplepack.html in the UK but it sounds like you're US based.

I had quite a lot of problems with the Feathers blades when I tried them. I suggest you try them anyway as what works for me won't necessarily work for you and vice versa. Try a variety and find what works best for you.

Several months ago I switched to a Merkur 180 long and experimented with several blades. I found the Feathers to be my least favorite blade, even though they are revered on Badger and Blade. They feel too harsh. I settled on Derby's. I get at least 4 comfortable, close shaves. I won't ever go back the shaving 'systems'.

Can you speak to the additional time commitment? I have been considering ditching the Fusion for a Merkur, but I'm worried about adding more time to my AM routine. Are we talking double the amount of time? Triple? The thought of getting up at 5:30 AM just to get a better shave has been the primary reason I haven't pulled the trigger.

How long does it take you now?

Depending on things it would take me between 20-25 minutes to shave (using a Merkur, forget which one it was exactly) but I wasn't good at it at all, so you could properly cut it down to 15-20 minutes.

And there is nothing as good as getting out of bed at 5:30 to start a productive day.

The whole thing, from lathering to cleanup, takes me around 15 minutes. Many people can do it faster, but this gives me time to wake up.

Can you speak to the additional time commitment?

Keep in mind I haven't done any stop-watch studies...

Shaving with a normal razor takes me about 5-7 minutes (I still use a plastic 2-blade razor when I travel). The DE razor probably doubles that, maybe in the range of 10-12 minutes.

At first it was much longer, like 15+ minutes until I got the feel of it. But after developing a technique, it goes pretty quick overall. Either way, the additional time is still on the order of 10-15 minutes at most, and should be an extra 5-8 or so when you get the hang of it.

I can agree with both the potential savings, and the enjoyment. I've switched to a straight razor, and I'll never need to buy another blade probably for the rest of my life. Soap and possibly my waterstone are my only consumables.

As for time and enjoyment, it takes me probably 15+ minutes because I'm still getting the hang of it, maybe even 20 if I'm practicing a 3rd pass (for the perfect shave, you go with the grain, across the grain, against the grain, and your face will be smooth in all directions), but I feel good when I'm done.

Don't do it. I bought a Merkur two years ago and I just back the switch back to the Gillette.

Here's the issue: errors with a single blade safety razor are much worse. I didn't cut myself 99% of the time, but when I did, the cuts were large divots out of my skin. It sucks.

Go with the modern technology and leave the single blades to the obsessive.

Is that unique to de safeties? I am using a straight razor, and while I cut myself sometimes, it's always a slice, not a chunk.

It depends on how close of a shave you want. If you simply want to be presentable you can do one quick pass "with the grain", but if you want a perfectly smooth shave you can do several passes (perpendicular and against the grain). If I'm in a hurry I can shave in 5 minutes (though this is a good way to cut yourself), if I'm taking my time it's maybe 10 minutes.

I also only shave every other day, in large part due to how close of a shave you can get, though I also naturally don't grow hair quickly.

I switched to DE coming on a year ago. I didn't get a new DE but went for some of the older models (available off ebay for cheap).

My favorite one regularly goes for about 5 bucks (They are usually tagged with: Canadian 1932 "military issue" like these: http://cgi.ebay.ca/LOT-2-GILLETTE-SAFETY-RAZORS-3-PIECES-BLA...).

The first week I shaved before bed to get the hang of it. Went slow, paid attention to technique, beard growth direction, etc.

After that I shave almost every morning after my shower. Takes ~10 minutes including Lather, Shave and Cleanup.

For me, I like it. I have a small collection of some cooler looking old DE razors. Buy blades for incredibly cheap. And can enjoy a variety of shaving creams.

I agree. After reading this article a couple years ago, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6886845/, I only use my electric shaver for its mustache trimmer.

You shave every day? I thought I shaved a lot at once a week.

Shaving frequency seems to vary by person and age, but yes, I shave everyday, occasionally twice a day (if I'm going out at night and want to freshen up).

I have a feeling there is a significant amount of age and/or cultural difference between us, as I would never consider a weekly shave anywhere near "normal". Though when I was younger (18ish) I could go a few days without needing a shave.

Considering electric shavers have poor mustache trimmers, maybe you should find a real mustache trimmer?

Good heavens, once a week? My stubble isn't as fast as some, but I'd look like a criminal. Do you have visible stubble by the time you shave, and just tolerate looking decidedly unshaven, or does it grow slowly?

The brush & soap is still the most satisfying shave I've ever had. I'm not sure how effective it really was compared to others as it's been a while, but I certainly felt the best afterwards and itched a lot less.

On a friends recommendation, I recently switched to one of those cheapo King Of Shaves. It looks ridiculous and it was a bit fiddly to get used to, but it's doing ok. Prefer it to the crumbling Mach 3 anyway.

Same here. I got a Merkur HD about 6 months ago. The initial investment is a bit high, but I wouldn't be surprised if it has already paid off. The blades I got are ~$0.25 each, and last about 1-2 months if cared for.

More than that, though, the shave is just all around superior. It baffles me that people shave with Mach 3s or electric razors.

How do you make a blade last a month? Adamantium-infused skin? I use a new blade every 3 shaves. I can't imagine using a blade for over a week.

I did the same thing. The first couple times were a little tricky - longer time and some cuts - but now I shave almost as fast with the safety razor.

It's so easy to learn and so much cheaper than a Mach3 I can't believe more people won't give it a try.

It should properly be pointed out that while it is really easy to cut yourselfs, it doesn't hurt (I am normally really skittish around needles) - the worst thing is the sting that can happen when the cream touches the wound.

It is a weird feeling when you don't realize that you bleed until your hand touches your blood.

The cut is so clean that it also heals nicely.

Good point. A Mach3 triple cut is really a gash that can take a small chunk out of your face. A small slice from the safety razor stops being an issue in minutes.

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