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Comment by olliesaunders | Hacker News Reader

Yeah I do that too. Even then I shave as rarely as I can bare to, both to save blades and time. The old safety razors take some getting use to and practise but I consider that part of the fun.

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I got pretty obsessed with safety razors and wetshaving a little while ago. The blade is unquestionably less forgiving than your standard 3-5 blade Shave System™, and you have to unlearn some sloppy technique that pivoting-head razors promote. I.e. you have to pay attention to the angle at which you're placing the blade against your skin.

But I pretty quickly got to a point where cuts were even less common than they were before I started using the safety razor, and I think my experience is pretty much the norm for anyone who sticks with it for 5-10 shaves. It takes a bit longer, but it's a better shave with less irritation, and the ritual of it is a lot of fun.

And some of the shaving creams that you apply with a brush (I'm thinking specifically of Taylor of Old Bond Street's rose-scented one) smell absolutely incredible.

I am very obsessed with safety razors. Been hooked on it for about 2 years now and haven't gone back: 1) save a ton of money 2) feel like I have that "best shave of my life" at least once a week. 3) local product I use is much better for the face.

It is definitely an adjustment, I'd venture to say it took me about 3 months of experimenting (shaving 3-4 times a week) before I was getting extremely close shaves. The best analogy I've heard is that using a safety razor is like driving a manual sports car. It's a lost art of being a man.

I started with a basic $20 razor and common mekur blades... But about a year ago I upgraded to Markur Futur, and more recently switched to Feather (japanese) blades. If you haven't tried the Feather blades, definitely encourage you to do so.

http://www.truefittandhill.com/catImages/large_MerkurFuturSa...

http://www.fendrihan.com/images/feather_10.jpg

I personally like the Derby blades I picked up off of Amazon, they still get just as close as anything else I've used, but they somehow feel 'softer' than all the others. Perhaps more forgiving is a better phrase. What's so great about the Feathers?

I second the softer feel, the Feathers seem a lot less stiff than the common merkur blades I was using. They also feel sharper, I think the blade conforms better against my boney face and less irritation.

I've been meaning to order this actually, maybe I'll do it today.

http://westcoastshaving.com/index.php?main_page=product_info...

Feathers are made by a Japanese surgical tool company. They are considered by many to be the sharpest blade you can purchase.

That said, practice with Merkur or Derby's before you graduate to feathers.

I bought the Derbys on Amazon as well (100 pack for 15 bucks! Two year supply, basically, instead of a stretched 2 month supply for 30 dollar Gillettes) but I have to say I prefer the feeling of the Merkurs. Still, the price is right for the Derbys, though I do want to try feathers in the future.

I'd be interested in knowing how many of the safety razor using folk in here made the switch after this

http://www.shaveblog.com/2006/03/welcome-new-york-times-read...

did a lap of the internet a little while back.

I made the switch after coming across it, haven't looked back.

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