Safety Razor for the once a week shaver?

First off, thanks for providing great information so far...

However, I did not see any previous threads about shaving a beard once a week or less often. I only shave about every week and, by then, my hair on my face is usually about 3/8" long.

So far, I read that I should use an open comb razor for this. Is this true? If so, I am looking at the Mekur 11C or 12C. Are these good choices? What would be a good blade to match?

Lastly, is there a vintage razor I should try to find instead?

Thanks in advance!

 

:signs046 to TSD. Wow! You shave only once a week? Someone here may be able to help. Enjoy your stay at the site.

 

First of all, Welcome to TSD, I hope you enjoy your stay.

Be sure to sign up for the July Newbie Give-Away for a chance to win some great shave gear!

Now may I ask why you only shave once a week? I admit back when I used cans of gel and a cartridge razor, I was the same way, I absolutely hated to shave since it was a chore. :mad:

Now after getting into this as a"hobby" I love to shave, it has become a ritual that I enjoy doing, I actually miss it when I skip a day.

 

Welcome to TSD!I will go for a straight instead of a DE if you shave only once a week.Hope you enjoy your shaves and your time in the forum.

 

First of all, welcome to The Den!

I would try the Merkur 25c to get started. Maybe a Gillette New, or New Improved if you would like to go vintage. I used to be the same way when I was using cartridges, but now I really enjoy the shaves.

One thing to remember is that you shouldn't try to just hack it all off. Don't use any pressure, just take your time and reduce the beard a little at a time. Rinse the razor regularly, and re-lather before shaving over spots again.

Best of luck with the journey, I hope you enjoy it!

 

You are correct. It is currently a chore. But, with the recent acquisition of a basic shave set from art of shaving (I know not the best, I will get some better gear soon) I decided it is time to ditch the cartridge sets.

I love metal and solidly built things, so a DE razor seems like a good investment. I admit, I might end up shaving more often as I grow to like it. But, I still don't have to and am always running late, so I will likely stick to once a week for quite some time.

 

Hey, sounds like your AD's are kicking in. You're going to like it here! :happy102

 

What are AD's?

 

Acquisition disorders. Some of us have gotten bitten pretty bad.

 

Welcome to TSD!!!


AD stands for Acquisition Disorder...you start acquiring more and more things and before you know it you have enough shaving equipment to shave a battalion for 5 years!

Related terms:

SSAD - Shaving Soap AD
SCAD - Shaving Cream AD
RAD - Razor AD

etc...

 

Don't worry, though. Debtor's prison isn't all that bad. :rofl

 

You may end up shaving more often, but I definitely believe that you can continue to shave DE if you shave once a week.
Start with Mantic's recommendation of just using 2 WTG passes. Search Mantic59 on youtube to find his info videos.
Even after that break in period of just 2 WTG, you can start all your shaves with 2 as opposed to 1 WTG pass. You can then move on to your XTG, and possibly ATG.
If you wait a week between shaves, you'll need really good prep (shower, perhaps towels, perhaps preshave creams or oils, and definitely a good amount of time spent applying lather to your face) and 2 WTG's on the days that you do shave, that's all. Unless you have a really really tough and long beard by the end of one week, you'll be fine

 

I like the Gillette NEW from the 1930's. It's old enough to have a comb, but new enough to have a slot in the head to hold the blade. The head is new enough to work well with modern thin blades.

Previous Gillettes called "New" didn't have a slot yet. They were made in the 1920's. I don't remember if there was only one, the "New Improved," but I think it's likely. (There are various model names like Tuckaway, but the heads were the same design, just different finishes and metals.)

With a beard that's 3/8" long, there may be some kind of electric clipper to use first, to knock down the hairs to make the wet shave easier.

Sometimes when I let my beard grow a bit more than usual, I use a single edge razor, maybe a Gem Micromatic. It's easier to open in order to rinse out the accumulated hair. Either that or a TTO (twist-to-open) model, which will rarely have a comb. With a 3-piece, it's easier to rinse if you unscrew the head a bit to loosen it.

 

A DE razor will definitley be easier to use on a week of growth than a cartridge. AOS stuff is good, but overpriced IMO. I'd try to get an open comb or agressive exposure razor, several have already been mentioned above. Either a new or vintage razor is fine.

Go for a blade sampler pack. West Coast Shaving (www.westcoastshaving.com) and Connaught (www.connaught.com) both have good websites to order these. How people like each blade is very personal and will vary depending on the razor it's in. Overall, just avoid the sharpest blades(Feather, 7 O'Clock, Astra Superior, LORD) for a few weeks and you'll be fine. Some good first blades are Crystal, Red Personna, Dorco 301 (don't bother with 300s), and Derby. Blades to avoid IMHO are Tiger and Merkur (good razors, bad blades). Hope this helps.

 

When you say a "3 piece" this is a standard safety razor right? Something like a Merkur 11C or 12C...

 

First of all, welcome! I'd say a Gillette NEW would be ideal or an older Injector like a type E or G would make quick work of a weeks worth of growth.

 

Welcome to the den.

I bet you end up shaving more than once a week after you make the switch to wetshaving.

There are different kinds of safety razors so there is no standard safety razor. 3 piece refers to how many pieces make up the razor when disassembled. TTO (twist to open) do not come apart rather when you twist the bottom the heads come apart to open where you place the blade.

 

Do these (on average, I know every face is different) shave better than a new Merkur?

The NEW is open comb, right?

 

Yes a NEW is open comb and I definitely think they shave better and are of a higher quality as well. The Gillette NEW and NEW deluxe were the pinnacles of open comb development IMO.

When I have 4 or more days growth either a NEW deluxe or one of my older Injectors take it off without clogging.

 

You'll find people split over vintage vs. newly manufactured razors. A small majority seem to prefer vintage, but I think that's the effect of those who learned with a vintage DE. The younger crowd is closer to 50/50. I'd say it's more of an issue of finding and cleaning an vintage razor vs. paying more for something recently produced. If you do go with a new (not NEW) razor, I'd stay away from bargain brands. Merkur and Edwin Jagger are the most common and well regarded new razors. Of course, I'd go vintage (NEW over new).