Just now, wil iam not said:

I use my electric daily, and Gillette twice a week.

I have never gotten a decent shave from an electric, and I've had a few

2 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

No, no alcohol. Running water to clean the cartridge after shaving, and a good shaking to remove it. Then 15-30 strokes on the strop before shaving. I’ve found that about less than half a teaspoon of ‘Gatsby’s Shaving Gel’ let’s the blade just slip along as if there is no hair being cut! I’ve been using this system for the past 10-12 years, and not found a better, more comfortable, more economical shave!

I use a hotel toothbrush to clean but I think I'll try a strop. Wish a were confident enough to use a straight razor but I've always been wooried about keep it sharp enough.

Just a quick addition... Stropping will improve ALL edges. It doesn't sharpen a dull edge, but it does 'recondition' a good one. Use it on any cartridge and see for yourself. Just cut the leather (you can use denim too. Just give it an extra 5 strokes), a millimeter shorter than the length of the blade (NOT the length of the cartridge!) so the edges make contact.
Done correctly, stropping before each shave can double the life of the edge.

Just now, Yellowtail said:

I do not think anything shaves as close as a double-edge with a good blade, but just too risky.

It's worth persevering, just got to go slow. There's a youtube channel called shave nation that I watched quite a bit while practicing. The main thing to remember is that you just don't need anywhere near the amount of pressure you use for a cartridge. Normally why I use the de safety for daily use and the other one for when I'm tight on time.

I also have a German Sweeny Todd razor but I need to get that sharpened and honed. That is a beast but very satisfying to use. Normally reserved for a lazy Sunday where I have plenty of time. I also learned how to use that one from the shave nation guy. Worth a watch if you use anything other than a cartridge.

4 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

I switched from 'Gillette' to 'Harry's', and I'll never look back!
While it's true I only shave my neck and part of my cheeks every other day, I've been using the same 'Harry's Razor' cartridge for the last four months, so about 60 shaves, and it still shaves clean and drag-free! I average 4-6 months per cartridge.
I will never again waste money on a shaving system that forces me to spend big bucks on cartridges that only last a handful of shaves!

There IS a trick to this longevity, above and beyond the quality of Harry's blades. And that is to strop your blades before every shave, just like a barber does! Stropping will prolong any cartridge, but when you start with really, really sharp, the stropping does amazing things! Daily stropping removes the oxidation that forms on the edge as soon as you stop using the blade. Given time, you'd see that as rust. But because we use the blades daily, and throw them away after a week or two, we never see the 'red' rust, but the oxidation continues to build up. That oxidation IS strong enough to cause blade drag, and unless you remove it, you will feel it on your skin.

I made my strop from a piece of leather (any vegetable-tanned leather will work... an old belt or a cut-up leather purse) cut to the width of the cartridge, and glued to a piece of wood. As long as it's flat and relatively smooth, it will work.
15-20 strokes on the strop, edge trailing, will noticeably improve the shave. Try it yourself!

I keep my Gillette in a cup of vege oil. It is oxidisation on the blade which blunts it.

3 minutes ago, FolkGuitar said:

(you can use denim too. Just give it an extra 5 strokes)

Can you not just rub it on your jeans? 555

2 minutes ago, FolkGuitar said:

Just a quick addition... Stropping will improve ALL edges. It doesn't sharpen a dull edge, but it does 'recondition' a good one. Use it on any cartridge and see for yourself. Just cut the leather (you can use denim too. Just give it an extra 5 strokes), a millimeter shorter than the length of the blade (NOT the length of the cartridge!) so the edges make contact.
Done correctly, stropping before each shave can double the life of the edge.

I used to have a double-edge blade sharpener with an oil-stone on one side and a strop on the other. And it looked like a silver cigarette case when folded up.

Just now, unblocktheplanet said:

I use a hotel toothbrush to clean but I think I'll try a strop. Wish a were confident enough to use a straight razor but I've always been wooried about keep it sharp enough.

I'm an ex-hobbist knife maker. I have NEVER had a straight razor shave as close or as comfortable as a good cartridge shave. They are fun. They do work. In fact, you can often hear them work (that's not good...) But these days, many/most? barbers have switched to disposable blades set into straight handles. For good reasons. 😂

2 minutes ago, FolkGuitar said:

I'm an ex-hobbist knife maker. I have NEVER had a straight razor shave as close or as comfortable as a good cartridge shave. They are fun. They do work. In fact, you can often hear them work (that's not good...) But these days, many/most? barbers have switched to disposable blades set into straight handles. For good reasons. 😂

Too much work

2 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Can you not just rub it on your jeans? 555

You can! Just so long as your leg is thin enough to fit between the little plastic endcaps on the razor cartridge, so the blades can contact the fabric. 🤣

7 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I have never gotten a decent shave from an electric, and I've had a few

I was answering the guy who said he used his Gillette FIRST, then trims up with a mini electric.

At my stage of life, and with my Mrs authorisation, two electrics followed by a Gillette on Wednesdays and Sundays is fine.

I watch UK a lot, and wonder why so many men have half grown beards, or full ones like our future King. Shaving it off knocks years off your looks.

3 minutes ago, FolkGuitar said:

I'm an ex-hobbist knife maker. I have NEVER had a straight razor shave as close or as comfortable as a good cartridge shave. They are fun. They do work. In fact, you can often hear them work (that's not good...) But these days, many/most? barbers have switched to disposable blades set into straight handles. For good reasons. 😂

1 minute ago, Yellowtail said:

Too much work

Yep! That's one of the reasons!

1 minute ago, wil iam not said:

I was answering the guy who said he used his Gillette FIRST, then trims up with a mini electric.

At my stage of life, and with my Mrs authorisation, two electrics followed by a Gillette on Wednesdays and Sundays is fine.

I watch UK a lot, and wonder why so many men have half grown beards, or full ones like our future King. Shaving it off knocks years off your looks.

Fasion makes most try, but honest, very few suits or look good in whats reckoned as fashion. Take hot pants for an instance

6 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Fasion makes most try, but honest, very few suits or look good in whats reckoned as fashion. Take hot pants for an instance

I just HATE hotpants on a bearded bloke! 555

The way to a smooth shave, is the quality of the shaving foam or cream, and alcohol free after shave balm, Clinique men's shaving gear is great, I use Gillette Mach 3 bought on Lazada Gillette outlet is fine

6 minutes ago, howerde said:

The way to a smooth shave, is the quality of the shaving foam or cream, and alcohol free after shave balm, Clinique men's shaving gear is great, I use Gillette Mach 3 bought on Lazada Gillette outlet is fine

I have run out of foam a couple of times and lathered up some soap, works a treat, begs the question........

5 hours ago, Hummin said:

Ordered the one I tried to link, wich seems invalid. So we will see if these gives a ok shaving

You need to order fom Gilette's official page, or at least from a vendor with a Lazada guarantee such as the Lazmall logo. They ship the same ones we have in Europe.

Otherwise there is a real risk of getting Chinese counterfeit ones.

Edited May 30May 30 by rattlesnake

6 minutes ago, howerde said:

The way to a smooth shave, is the quality of the shaving foam or cream, and alcohol free after shave balm, Clinique men's shaving gear is great, I use Gillette Mach 3 bought on Lazada Gillette outlet is fine

I think having your face wet with hot water for two minutes before you apply the cream is more important than the cream itself.

I like Cremo original shave cream, I used to love William's menthol, but it was discontinued.

I use this Gillette cream when I travel, the Cremo tube is too big.

9 minutes ago, rattlesnake said:

You need to order fom Gilette's official page, or at least from a vendor with a Lazada guarantee such as the Lazmall logo. They ship the same ones we have in Europe.

Otherwise there is a real risk of getting Chinese counterfeit ones.

This is guaranteed fake ones. So no worries

If I want a very close shave I use the fusion proglide 5 blades. Always try get people to bring them out from UK to me when possible and I use Mach 3 for daily use . I did have to buy some from Lazada a month ago and bought them from Gillette. But I kept checking the price and over 10 days the price went up and down like a yo-yo , eventually got 8 blades for 900bht . Wouldn't buy them anywhere else on Lazada apart from boots or Watson's as too many fakes around.

4 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

Just a quick addition... Stropping will improve ALL edges. It doesn't sharpen a dull edge, but it does 'recondition' a good one. Use it on any cartridge and see for yourself. Just cut the leather (you can use denim too. Just give it an extra 5 strokes), a millimeter shorter than the length of the blade (NOT the length of the cartridge!) so the edges make contact.
Done correctly, stropping before each shave can double the life of the edge.

I always soap in my razor after use, and always bring a cup with hot water to rinse while I'm shaving, as well I have always used my thumb for the same reason you do with your leather. And I haven't tinked about it before now, but my thumb should serve the same purpose ?

Edited May 30May 30 by Hummin

I've used a double-edge "safety" razor for about 20 years. The only way I could get a close enough shave with an electric shaver was by pressing hard on my skin, which caused redness and occasional ingrowing hairs. Rather than learn how to control myself, I bought a Merkur Solingen and I still use it. I've used Feather blades for at least 10 years. I decided many years ago that disposables were not good value for money and generate waste, etc. For the same reasons I use soap and a brush instead of canned foam.

8 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I always soap in my razor after use, and always bring a cup with hot water to rinse while I'm shaving, as well I have always used my thumb for the same reason you do with your leather. And I haven't tinked about it before now, but my thumb should serve the same purpose ?

Absolutely! In fact, your thumb has just about the same level of natural silicates as cow leather, and it's those silicates that are the abrasive when stropping (without using stropping compound). These natural silicates come from the plant matter that we eat, so herbivore skin would make a better strop than a carnivore's skin. Didn't the barber always give his razor a few passes over his palm?
Horsehide and kangaroo leather have a higher concentration of silicates, which is why the best barber strops in the past were made from horsehide. These days, people who care about such things are using either horse or kangaroo. Personally, I use THE finest shell cordovan horsehide on the market. It does not make the edge any sharper than your dollar-store leather, but it's a fun part of the 'knifeknut' culture. 😅

Gillette 3...just the blue plastic one. Good shave for maybe 3 times. The quality of the ones you quotes went downhill a few years ago. I used to buy loads of them at Big C when on half price sale but haven't had a sale for a very long time

9 hours ago, Hummin said:

Ordered the one I tried to link, wich seems invalid. So we will see if these gives a ok shaving

It is highly doubtful that they’re genuine products. I used to buy the same blades at Tops at over 800TBH. I was fortunate on my last visit to USA I found them in bulk at Costco for a fraction of cost in comparison. Btw I’ve been using the battery operated ones for years and believe nothing comes close.

17 hours ago, wil iam not said:

I use my electric daily, and Gillette twice a week.

Why do you need electric AFTER the blade?

smoothness

10 minutes ago, earlinclaifornia said:

smoothness

An electric razor leaves whiskers the length of the cover on the blades. A Gillette or similar can get right down to the skin.

I personally get a much smoother job done with my blade.

15 hours ago, howerde said:

The way to a smooth shave, is the quality of the shaving foam or cream, and alcohol free after shave balm, Clinique men's shaving gear is great, I use Gillette Mach 3 bought on Lazada Gillette outlet is fine

The balm will not contribute to the smoothness of the shave, as you have already cut the whiskers off.

The only reason I could see for using an electric after a wet shave, would be to knock off the spots you miss.

Use an electric most days, but the Mach 3 always gives me a very close, smooth shave. Anyone use the Henson's? I'm thinking of getting one.