Hacker News Reader

Comment by catalogia | Hacker News Reader

I like the middle-ground; safety razors. They're exceptionally cheap and idiot proof. Mine really doesn't clog like cartridge razors either. Cartridge razors seem like a scam in nearly all respects, although I concede loading them is probably safer for the elderly or generally those with dexterity problems.

View on HN

Switched to a safety razor (Also called a Double Edge) after Mach3s had been out for awhile and they started jacking up the price. That must have been 2005ish and I've not really used anything else since. For quality of shave there is no comparison. Badger & Blade forum had a good process at the time where you started with a certain blade and worked up the sharpness ladder as your skin toughened up and you found the blade/razor combo that worked best for you. I'm a Personna Prep and Merkur 34C guy myself.

Shaving with a double edge instead of using a disposable is comparable to preparing your own dinner rather than going to McDonald's. It's a skill, it takes time, it's far for economical, there's a ritual to it, and it's enjoyable. It's also a uniquely positive masculine thing (and I think that that does matter) and one day I can pass the razor to my son or grandson.

> Merkur 5C

Another nice middle-ground is a shavette, which is a disposable blade straight razor, like what barbers use. Although it definitely requires a lot more care/practice than a safety razor initially, you can get a really close shave once you get used to it.

Shavettes are extremely affordable, like $10 for the base. Unlike a "real" straight razor, shavettes never require sharpening since they just use standard disposable single-edge blades, or a double-edge blade split in half.

Safety razor requires more time to shave than cartridge razor because it requires more strokes. But I actually prefer it because usually I don’t shave every day. Cartridge razor clogs up in this case. When I shave every day I use either cartridge razor (Dorco) or wet electrical (Braun 9000). Both work greatly for daily shaving, fail for shaving every few days.

> Safety razor requires more time to shave than cartridge razor because it requires more strokes.

Not sure about that. I generally do 2 passes with both cartridge or safety razor.

I had started with safety razor, then moved to cartridges for many years, and now am back to safety razor, with a better razor.

Safety razor probably take a couple of extra minutes since I'm slightly more careful with it than am with cartridges.

You can get a razor that has 3 blades and uses the standard double edge blades. You just snap them in half inside the wrapping and then load the 1.5 full size razor halves in.

Like this one? https://leafshave.com/

I read that it is hard to shave the upper lip area with one of these.

Also: entirely recyclable.

Yes, but I can't imagine scrap metal people like dealing with them.

This is a great way to do it if you don’t have a good local option: https://gillette.com/en-us/about/terracycle.

I fill up a coffee can with the used blades (it takes years to do so) and have a place I can take them locally.

Edit, to add: terracycle also takes a lot of other recyclable items that you can seldom-if-ever recycle curbside, like guitar strings. Most big cities have music stores that have partnered with the program and you can drop all musical instrument strings there. Here are all of their programs for those interested: https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades

Reply on news.ycombinator.com