Has anyone found a generic 5 blade razor head that will work with a Gilette Fusion handle? Used them for years and like the single blade on the back for hacking at the sideburns but jeez they ain't cheap are they!
Like you, SHG, I got fed up with forking out a fortune on Gillette blades - and I switched too but not to disposables.
I got myself a relatively old fashioned double-edged safety razor. These are comparatively hard to find on the high street but are easy to find online. I also kicked the shaving foam into touch and resurrected the brush and soap/cream method which I think really favours a safety razor.
The razor I have is an Edwin Jagger (not overpriced but not bargain basement) and I prefer Derby razor blades. For soap I use either Proraso (like the sandalwood fragranced one) or Arko which is a Turkish soap.
The razor and Proraso came from https://shavelounge.co.uk and the blades and Arko from Amazon. Blades are seriously, seriously cheap if you hunt for the non-prime vendors on Amazon.
Hope this helps.
I take my hat off to you mate.If I used one of those razors I'd look like I'd done a couple of rounds with Edward scissor hands.
Gillette Mach 3 with Gillette Gel. I’ve been using the Mach 3 since my son bought one for me for Father’s Day way back. Use it once a day every day. They aren’t cheap but Sainsbury’s do them or Wilkinson. I can’t be bothered to shop around.
Mrs Guru after listening to my moaning about cheap razors and cost of Gillette or Wilkinson Sword unilaterally decided to buy me a new razor and blades from Lidl. Cien Shark Razor System and 4 pack of blades. Has 5 blades plus trimmer. Quality of the actual razor body itself is impressive. Heavy and with good ergonomics. Blades look the business but time will tell.
First shave this morning combined with Gillette sensitive gel and I’m seriously impressed. The difference in closeness between the Shark and the disposables I’ve been using is marked and felt completely different.
Mrs Guru after listening to my moaning about cheap razors and cost of Gillette or Wilkinson Sword unilaterally decided to buy me a new razor and blades from Lidl. Cien Shark Razor System and 4 pack of blades. Has 5 blades plus trimmer. Quality of the actual razor body itself is impressive. Heavy and with good ergonomics. Blades look the business but time will tell.
First shave this morning combined with Gillette sensitive gel and I’m seriously impressed. The difference in closeness between the Shark and the disposables I’ve been using is marked and felt completely different.
All for less than £8:00
I tried these and ended up looking like I'd been attacked by a shark.
Joking aside, if anyone was to start up a new razor business, they could do a lot worse than choosing that name.
I use a Gillette Mach 3 and am very happy with it. I was once bought razors with five blades; my son swore by it, but it was useless for me the gap between the blades wasn't deep enough for my old-man stubble.
I use Gillet disposable razors but before I shave, I put shaving oil on the stubble and then I use Kent shaving soap. That way I get a very close shave with no irritation. To finish, wash face and put on after shave balm
I remember reading a book years ago by Adam Hart Davis. I can't remember what it was called, but it was all about shaving and pissing (individually - not as part of some synchronised sport).
His key advice on shaving was as follows: 1. Use olive oil as a lubricant - I tried this and it did work, but it was horrible trying to wash the oil from my face afterwards. Back to foams and gels for me. 2. Ensure that your whiskers have been soaked in warm water before applying foam/gel/Mediterranean cooking ingredients - I tried this and it is very good advice. Always gives a better shave. 3. Always pat your razor dry after use. Apparently the biggest cause of bluntness in old razors is a build up of water-borne residues. He claims that this explains why razors last longer in soft water areas - I now do this and it does seem to work.
His key advice on pissing was as follows: 1. If you put a hay bale in your back garden you can piss on that. It will filter the waste from you piss and make fresh clean water. The big environmental bonus is that there isn't the wastage associated with traditional water closets - I tried this from my twelfth floor flat, but the downstairs neighbours complained about smelly seepage from the upstairs balcony and the council made me stop.
I use a Gillette Aristocrat butterfly opening safety razor made in 1949 inherited from my dad, used with proraso pre shave cream,proraso shaving soap and astra razors about £9 for a hundred. The old way is best.
He says he makes sure the stubble is properly softened with hot water, then a good moisturising soap rubbed into it. Then he just uses Gillette Fusion. Apparently one blade lasts for around 10 shaves before he notices that it is getting a bit blunt, so not unreasonable cost effectiveness.
Then he made me bacon and eggs and read my correspondence to me while I had breakfast in bed.
Mrs Guru after listening to my moaning about cheap razors and cost of Gillette or Wilkinson Sword unilaterally decided to buy me a new razor and blades from Lidl. Cien Shark Razor System and 4 pack of blades. Has 5 blades plus trimmer. Quality of the actual razor body itself is impressive. Heavy and with good ergonomics. Blades look the business but time will tell.
First shave this morning combined with Gillette sensitive gel and I’m seriously impressed. The difference in closeness between the Shark and the disposables I’ve been using is marked and felt completely different.
All for less than £8:00
This for me. As good as Gillette and I have a shave virtually every day.
Age is a great provider. Being naturally blonde i spent most of my early teens to twenties wishing i could grow a decent beard. Now at 55 i have grey hair growing from every bloody oriface and having to shave again in the evening if i am going out. If i leave it two weeks i look like fuckin Santa Claus, it really ain't a good look!
I switched to an electric shaver about three years ago, no regrets whatsoever.
It wasn't cheap but I have sensitive skin so bad that often when I used razor blades I would get quite a lot of razor burn, so bad I got into the habit of shaving at night instead of the morning. It would be even worse if I switched razor blade style so I always used Gillette Sensor Excel until the shops made it difficult to buy blades without buying a whole razor.
The electric shaver I now use dispenses a Nivea For Men cream while I shave and that's all I now pay for. An expensive outlay but minimal maintenance costs.
Comments
I’ve been using the Mach 3 since my son bought one for me for Father’s Day way back.
Use it once a day every day. They aren’t cheap but Sainsbury’s do them or Wilkinson. I can’t be bothered to shop around.
Does it for me.
Mrs Guru after listening to my moaning about cheap razors and cost of Gillette or Wilkinson Sword unilaterally decided to buy me a new razor and blades from Lidl. Cien Shark Razor System and 4 pack of blades. Has 5 blades plus trimmer. Quality of the actual razor body itself is impressive. Heavy and with good ergonomics. Blades look the business but time will tell.
First shave this morning combined with Gillette sensitive gel and I’m seriously impressed. The difference in closeness between the Shark and the disposables I’ve been using is marked and felt completely different.
All for less than £8:00
I use a Gillette Mach 3 and am very happy with it. I was once bought razors with five blades; my son swore by it, but it was useless for me the gap between the blades wasn't deep enough for my old-man stubble.
His key advice on shaving was as follows:
1. Use olive oil as a lubricant - I tried this and it did work, but it was horrible trying to wash the oil from my face afterwards. Back to foams and gels for me.
2. Ensure that your whiskers have been soaked in warm water before applying foam/gel/Mediterranean cooking ingredients - I tried this and it is very good advice. Always gives a better shave.
3. Always pat your razor dry after use. Apparently the biggest cause of bluntness in old razors is a build up of water-borne residues. He claims that this explains why razors last longer in soft water areas - I now do this and it does seem to work.
His key advice on pissing was as follows:
1. If you put a hay bale in your back garden you can piss on that. It will filter the waste from you piss and make fresh clean water. The big environmental bonus is that there isn't the wastage associated with traditional water closets - I tried this from my twelfth floor flat, but the downstairs neighbours complained about smelly seepage from the upstairs balcony and the council made me stop.
Then he made me bacon and eggs and read my correspondence to me while I had breakfast in bed.
It wasn't cheap but I have sensitive skin so bad that often when I used razor blades I would get quite a lot of razor burn, so bad I got into the habit of shaving at night instead of the morning. It would be even worse if I switched razor blade style so I always used Gillette Sensor Excel until the shops made it difficult to buy blades without buying a whole razor.
The electric shaver I now use dispenses a Nivea For Men cream while I shave and that's all I now pay for. An expensive outlay but minimal maintenance costs.