Shave and shave alike

I want to come back here to Richard's earlier comment about the "let's add another blade" strategy of marketing razors. It's of particular interest to me because I use an old-fashioned safety razor like the one pictured. I love it for all sorts of reasons; but mainly because it reminds me of my grandfather.
Grandad John was born in Bow, within the sound of the famous church bells, which made him a genuine cockney. He was a sheet metal worker, and during the war he moved to Surrey to work at a factory where they made Spitfires. Even though he only served in the Home Guard, he always claimed that he and his mates won the war. "They'd 'ave been in a right state at the Battle of Britain without any bleeding planes, wouldn't they?" he observed.
The only bristles he ever sported came in the form of a spivvy little moustache. The rest of his boat race was never less than impeccably smooth. Occasionally as a small boy I'd stand on the lavatory seat watching him shave in his white vest. I liked the way the cream made him look like Father Christmas. I liked the way his chrome razor winked in the morning light, and the way the blades came in little rectangular parcels that I was never EVER allowed to touch. Wet shaving, then, was both dangerous and slightly illicit.
When I was finally old enough to shave, going electric seemed the safest option. But it always felt like a noisy, hot and depressing experience, and finally I switched to blades. There were only two of them in those days - although the marketers were already pushing the "swivel head" quite hard. It was only a couple of years ago, when the branded female bought me a safety razor for my birthday, that I finally got to emulate Grandad John.
Having swallowed the marketing-speak of people like Gillette, I'd come to believe that using a safety razor must be a time-consuming and possibly painful experience. I imagined the buds of reddening toilet paper that would adorn my chin after wielding one of them. How wrong I was. Handled carefully but with confidence, a safety razor is a precision tool that leaves you with a jaw as smooth as an infant's posterior. But hopefully better looking. Certainly, the branded female always moves in for a nuzzle when I'm done.
Not only that, but the safety razor transforms shaving from a banal experience into a moment of stylishness and nostalgia. And those things are not easy to find in a bathroom before nine in the morning.

PS: I nicked (no pun intended) the picture from a blog called This Sporting Life which is not half bad.

Comments

[philippe mihailovich]

What I would like to know is why Gilette always make ugly razors? I use them - esp the vibrating Mach something but hate to have it in my bathroom because its so downmarket. Looks as bad as a Nike shoe - which I also buy and hate but they're great for marathons. Yes, I would be happy to pay more for a half decent design but I cannot believe that men in general love ugly designs!

By the way, on men's trends, was in a bar with some New york journalists (male) last night and it turned out that we have all stopped using after-shaves and EDTs. I used to make them! Now I only use Dior Homme skin products because they are fragrance free and look good - thanks Hedi Slimane. No, we do not want to smell like women and when we do smell strong after-shave, we think 'sales rep'. So its back to being men again. I believe gay men are doing the same.I also heard the word 'Jetrosexual'. I like that.

[David]

I used to suffer terrible razor-burn, but now confidently use a triple-bladed wet razor. Would you recommend going the whole hog and opting for the old-fashioned safety razor? I like the fact that the blade is 100% recyclable, unlike the blades I use.

D

[Mark]

Hmm, I have a feeling that the safety razor might exaggerate your razor burn. Originally it was an aesthetic choice, but it works for me because my beard is quite thick and the blade seems to slice through the hairs more easily. I can't take the safety razor on holiday any more - the security guys at airports think I am going to hijack a plane with it - and I really notice the difference when I go back to a Sensor Excel. Lots more drag. Having said that, I also have a feeling that razor burn is more about what you do before and after your shave than during. We're supposed to make sure we wash in plenty of hot water, to make the hairs stand up and soften them. There's plenty of sensitive skin shaving lotion around. And then I find Clinique M Lotion great for cooling the skin after a close shave.

[Peter]

An old style double-edge razor, won’t pull the hairs and cut them below the skin level as is the case with multi-blade catridges, taking better care of your skin and your beard. Also, with an old style razor you have the luxury of choosing the sharpness of the blade; so you can find the one that fits you best.
As for me, I am using my double edge Merkur razor and I love it.
This is how my merkur razor looks like:
http://www.fendrihan.com/merkur-classic-1904-doubleedge-razor-p-78.html