Daily Driver Razors

+100

 

I love it!!!!! You mean the OCMM?

 

I love to take my time too. It's the whole routine that makes the day!!

 

That's the one!

 

Used one yesterday. Just a great shaver!!

 

Used on today, great shaver!!

 

Looking on eBay there's none in the UK and two from Italy, the rest are all USA.

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I have a theory for why R41 shaves as close as it does. With R41 I have noticed the most comfortable angle is slightly tugging, thus pulling up the hairs from the follicles. This already happens at the first pass. Then on the following pass(es) they get sliced at skin level. Some time later the follicles are pulling the hair back in, resulting in what I would call a BBS+ shave (each hair is cut under the skin level). Several times I have noticed that a shave that was not fully BBS suddenly after some time becomes BBS and this is the only explanation I can find to this.

R41 was the razor I learned to shave with, the first razor I bought myself. While I have been a big fan of iKon X3 the latest time (maybe 1.5 years, I do not remember anymore when I got my first X3), I still have done more shaves with R41 than with any other razor. R41 can be used as a daily shaver, it is all about technique. As a matter of fact, my face was calmer after an R41 shave than after R89, Gillette NEW and many other popular razors, maybe because it was the razor I was most used to. I even loved R41 so much that I begun trying to create a 3D model of it, so I could have one made in stainless steel. Those times I had been over-shaving with R41 I used Merkur 15C to give my face a rest.

Somehow I was still wondering if there could be a better razor out there, so I was still buying razors and trying them. I ended up going through about 30 razors and most were a disappointment comparing to R41. When I bought iKon X3 I finally found a razor that completely replaced R41 (I still keep it and I will use it for special occasions). Now when I have been using almost only iKon X3, I have noticed one thing: while BBS is not lasting the same long as the stubble is not cut under the skin, the stubble is not the same sharp when it grows out. I notice this effect myself and my wife is less complaining about me being scratchy. I do not know if this is because of shaving angle or if the constant tugging made the whiskers more rough.

If you find R41 being too much for daily shaving, and if you are too fond of the BBS+ effect consider this: you might get to be BBS two mornings in a row, if you find another razor you like, rather than being scruffy every second morning. At the same time your stubble, once grown out, might be less sharp.

EDIT: I just wanted to add that in the beginning, before I really learned to use R41, I also thought it is too aggressive for daily shaving.

 

Sooooooo. The first pass pulls the hair out some and then it stays out long enough for the second pass to cut it. THEN it pulls back under the skin.


All the different razors mentioned here work the same. If your razor is tugging it is not at the proper angle or you need a new blade.

 

Check for Ever-Ready razors. There should be plenty in the UK. Also, if @Billyfergie is still around, I am sure he can help point some some out.

 

I believe it, i cant shave with the r41, it tugs so bad my face hurts for 3 days, it does not feel like razor burn either, i have been de shaving for some time and have never experienced this with any other razor.

 

My face doesn't really like riding the cap judging by the rash.

How can you get as close a shave with an r89 as with a r41. That just does not make sense. Doesn't all the discussion about aggressiveness demonstrate that all razors are different as will be the results in using them?

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No. Just demonstrates that some people would rather blame the razor.

 

My guess is that you're using pressure, even though you think you aren't. I've been there. It took me a long time to get what "no pressure" really means. Cart habits are hard to break for some of us.

All razors do the same thing. They hold a blade. In use, they all cut hair off at skin level. You can't go any closer than that. That's what I mean by saying the R89 & the R41 will give you the same shave. One doesn't cut any closer to the skin than the other. Unless the razor is defective, all razors will do the same thing - straights, SE and DE. I don't like the term "aggressive". No razor is aggressive. Yes, different razors have different blade gaps, and in the case of an adjustable, different gaps in one razor. There is more blade exposure with the R41 vs: the R89. But, one does not give you a closer shave vs: the other.

Keep in mind, razors are dumb. They can't think or act for themselves. We are what makes the razor do its thing.

There is no reason that the R41 can't be a daily driver. Nor is there any reason an R89 can't be. In my case, I shave every day - I don't need a huge blade gap for the little bit of stubble I face in the morning. Even if I skipped a day - no big deal.

Too many people insist that they can't shave with a certain razor and/or brand of blade. That's 100% BS. Are there differences? Yes - but, they're minor differences. With proper technique, a person can get a great shave with any razor and/or blade combo. That's not to say that some razors aren't more enjoyable to use than others - which comes down to personal preferences (like weight, for example).

I'm not picking on you, rather, I'm trying to help you. Technique is everything. Don't get hung up on the razor itself. Drop into the 30 Day Focus thread. It really is possible to get a great shave with ANY razor.

 

Whilst I appreciate that technique is everything, you have to admit that manufacturers design some razors to cut closer than others by the amount of blade exposure they give and weather the blade is positively or negatively exposed.

If all razors produced the same results there would be no market in razors. The fact that you can adjust settings also pointed to differing results.

I do take and value your point that my technique requires some work and different razors require a different; or nuanced to that razor; technique.


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That means you only have one razor as they all churn out the same results?

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I have to disagree. Sure, they can market however they want. Certainly, they aren't going to say "It's not the closest shave you'll ever get, but it'll be smooth.". Everyone claims to be The Best Shave Ever.

It's all marketing.....

YOU are in charge of the best shave ever.

 

The question wasn't addressed to me, but I'll answer it. I have MANY razors and they all produce the exact same results.