Ok, I learned to shave with a Gillette double edged razor, you know, the metal kind that are so popular again. Used a brush, cup with soap, etc.

When I went to college, I had the metal handle razor that clicked in to double bladed cartridges that were disposable. I kind of liked that system and used it for years.

Later, in the Army when being shaved properly every day was important and time was short, like Dylan, I went electric. Used a Norelco with the three head design for years. Went through three of them, until after the last one, the prices were out of control, and I decided I wasn't going to pay that kind of coin for very modest reliability and a sub-par shave.

So, back to all plastic disposables and Barbasol. I had a batch of 60 plastic disposables from BJ's that were awesome. Shaving occasionally (I work from home now, and care less) they lasted me 5 years. Yep, one razor per month. Loved them. When I ran out, I bought the same looking pack at BJ's again, but these are not the same razors. They are good for one shave if growth is heavy, at most two if growth is light. In short, they suck.

I am not a shaving fetishist. I just want to take the stubble off once or twice a week. I don't want to spend good gun money on shaving stuff, but I don't mind solving my problem once and for all if it costs a bit.

What are my best options? I really don't want to go back to electric. I'm not fond of the shave I get, and if the stubble is long, I find them uncomfortable.

I'm happy with disposable, but I'm not paying the crazy prices for 5 and 6 blade cartridges. If disposable, must be cheap. Is there a good disposable option out there?

I'm happy to go back to a bladed razor. I no longer have that old Gillette, but I'm willing to buy a decent handle, and blades if that is the best option.

Help a brother out here. I was happy with the 60 pack from BJ's until the quality dropped off. I want a simple, reasonably priced solution that doesn't involve complex engineering or the slaughter of a goat at midnight.

What do you recommend?

Thanks for your help.

Artie,

I've been using these for the past 6-7 years:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q...dt_b_product_details

I've settled on Dorco 6Plus; 4 and 5 are okay but 6Plus is where I've settled. It's a Korean brand.

Available on Prime. Hard to find in stores, even in Korea.

ETA: BTW, I use one cartridge for months (3-6 months). I shave maybe 3x per week. But a cartridge, for me, is usable for months, well beyond just 3-5 shaves. Gillette - I was changing after every 6 shaves or so. YMMV.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: konata88,

I have used the Gillette Trac II system for 50+ years now. I find the twin blade gives a cleaner, more comfortable shave than single blades, or the triple+ cartridge systems, as well as being reasonably economical. A couple of years ago I bought an economy pack of 100 cartridges for about $10, I don't expect to ever have to buy blades again, although I'm not sure my handle is going to last. I went through four or five handles early on, including one of solid brass, before rebuilding two broken handles into my current one. That was at least 30 years ago. The Gillette Trac II has been knocked off as the Personna Twin Plus, the former being of slightly higher quality, the latter being cheaper and a little easier to find.

I had a three head Norelco, one of the good models. Bought it reconditioned at a small appliance repair store.

It died after many years of good service. The store was out of business so I went to Walmart and bought the cheapest Norelco there. Years later it still works just fine.

I use a DE razor. Once the upfront cost of the razor is covered, blades are cheap. Quality of shave is better than disposables or cartridge razors too.

I used to be a cartridge razor guy until I started shaving with a safety razor about 3 years ago. I love it.

My bought a Merkur 34C and used that for a while, fine razor. I now use a 1957 refurbished Gillette red tip super speedy. It is very smooth. I use Feather blades and Gillette "yellow box" 7'Oclock sharp edge razors. Both are the two sharpest blades I've tried.

I also use a shaving brush and soap. Makes for a nice shave.

I have recently been using a pre-shave oil and that is really nice.

I really got tired of the cost and crappy shave quality of cartridge razors. After asking a bunch of questions of the membership here, I bought myself a couple safety razors and experimented with blades until I found my match. This is what I shave with today and really enjoy the experience. Excellent shave, my face feels great, and I didn't break the bank in any way with my choices.

Razor - QSHAVE Adjustable Really like being able to adjust the aggressiveness of the cut.

Blades - Personna Red I change blades every second or third shave so I'm always shaving with a sharp blade.

Shaving brush - Perfecto Badger Brush

Shaving Cream - Taylor of Old Bond Street- Sandalwood The bomb when it comes to a comfortable shave. Lasts me at least 6 months.

After Shave Balm - Viking Revolution - Sandalwood Love this stuff and the scent is very subtle. Also good for about six months worth of shaves.

For many years I have been shaving with a 1960 Gillette fatboy using Feather blades and love it !

Sometimes I use foam cream, brush/mug soap or tube OC Bigelow (Italy) ... depending on my mood.

I have a few nice straight razors I got from my grandfather I want to learn to use someday. Had the sharpened by Albert of Seattle Edge.

https://dorcousa.com/private-l...ds-brand-oem-tra1000

Dorco Pace 3 Shaving System

Available from Amazon. They stopped selling direct off their website a couple of years ago.

Amazon Link

I shave while in the shower. Since Gillette went full woke, I switched to Target brand that mimics the Gillette two blade disposable. I use the cheap target foam or just soap while in the shower.

I have a DE safety razor and use the only one Target sells that aren’t Gillette. They work fine.
I shave daily and have since boot camp in 1988. Even going one day drives me batty. I don’t know how people grow those big beards nowadays.

The answer to this question is a Schick injector.

Dirt cheap. Damn near impossible to cut yourself. Blades last forever.

I’ve tried it all. I’ve been using my dad’s old handle and go through about one razor blade a month shaving 4+ times a week. Badger brush, good cream, but that simple razor is the key.

Tried double edged, straight, all the multi blade monstrosities, electric.

Nothing beats the single bladed injector in my experience.

Simple DE handle, Feather blades and if in a rush, Edge Gel shaving cream. Rinse it well, pour a little alcohol over it to help displace water and germs.

Merkur and Jaeger handles for DE. Bought 200 Astra blades off Amazon for $19 three years ago and still have over half of them. Shave pretty much daily with a fairly heavy beard. Use Creamo or Shave Secret. Also rinse razor with hot water and a touch of isopropyl alcohol to sanitize and displace water. Change blades weekly and could easily go longer but they're so freaking cheap I don't see the point of sacrificing any performance.

Man I don't know, but I'm disgusted with the price and lower quality of the mass market razor blades nowadays.

I was in Costco yesterday and they had an orange box of Harry's with 13 blades and a handle. I've not tried theirs before but figured for $19.99 it was worth a try.

I've been using Dollar Shave Club for the last 5 years, I think it is, and it seems to me that the quality has gone down and the price has definitely gone up.

Personally I'm of the opinion that shaving is a pain in the neck. Buying blades and the other stuff and wasting my time shaving my face, while the hair on my head is getting thinner and thinner, well it's just not right, lol. It'd be better if our facial hair went bald and the hair on our head stayed nick and thick and not gray.
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after gillette lost their minds I switched to a Merkur and it has been great. Works way better when I let everything go for awhile and in the end substantially cheaper.

https://www.amazon.com/Sensor-...a-522130841990&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Gillett...4B8F8MM%2CB00EB9ZWWW

I still use those. Prefer them by far.

I used to use Dorco blades (they are the same as what Dollar Shave Club uses) but switched to Harry’s after Dorco raised prices and went Amazon only and stopped direct sales.

IMO Harry’s are superior, sharper and last longer.

I use them to shave my face/neck below my beard and my head and they are good.

quote:

I was in Costco yesterday and they had an orange box of Harry's with 13 blades and a handle. I've not tried theirs before but figured for $19.99 it was worth a try.

I got the Harry's kit at Costco in an effort to get away from the Gillette stuff. It is several steps above Gillette and I won't look back.

Dorco Pace 3. Nothing else even comes close for me.