Which DE safety razor blades should I buy.

A good question and fairplay to myself for asking it. The more expensive Safety razor blades on the market are Feather, but does it mean they are the best? Certainly the two above are high quality in terms of material. This will lessen any oxidation build up inside a dormant razor which is a positive. Also these two razors are certainly firm, however a firm razor blade is less forgiving than a flimsier blade. Feather are the sharpest of DE blades I would confirm, Muhle are also very sharp. The combination is a great shave although I would not recommend either to beginners. I use Muhle and Feather and I am obviously pro Muhle as they are the most sold goods on the site. But the less expensive blades like Crown, Big Ben or 7 oclock create a safer shave. I think this is down to the added flexibilty in the blade, my theory follows. We always advise wet shavers using a safety razor to apply the razor onto loose skin. This creates a bit of slack that stops the blade getting purchase to cut skin. I shave like this everyday and fully back this technique. Today I used a 7 oclock blade for the first time shock horror. The Industry of a lot of blades like Crown or 7 oclock is based in the middle East. The English machinery has been bought and transported to such countries as Egypt and Dubai for your information. 7 oclock is a Gillette product and made in Russia. I am not sure if this St Petersberg company has bought the franchise. I would suggest not due to the psychopathic business model that is Gillette.

7 oclock DE blades

My 7 oclock shave was spot on, it was such an efficient shave of one day growth. I also felt very safe with it’s flexiblity, so much I could shave quickly. The branding of 7 oclock is pants, I have avoided this blade souly because of how rubbish the box is. Advertising is everything there is such little brand depth to these blades it looks like they are a tiny pack of cornflakes. Turns out the shave is top draw.

Which DE safety razor blades should I buy. By Edward.

Feather blades HI

Safety razor blogger

Today I awoke from my slumber realizing i needed to shave yet again. This time it seemed I had not shaven for 2 days. I filled the sink with hot water and splashed my face and neck. Sometimes I shower prior to the shave, so it heats up the grain and soaks it. This is probably the best method other than the hot towell treatment at your barbers. Let’s face it, you aren’t going to do that every morning. Fully heated and prepared I chuck my shaving brush and safety razor into the sink. I always leave my razors unscrewed. I have explained this in previous post’s, it will stop any rust build up or at least most. Lets face it nobody cleans there safety razor everyday, so leaving it unscrewed seems to help stop build up.

Shaving tips

Now I use a Muhle soap in my Edward’s bowl, I put the hot brush in it and whip up a lather. I then apply it too my gallant face in a whipping motion until it is thickly coated. My opening strokes with my safety razor of current choice being a Fatip Gentila are important ones. I can be quicker with my cheeks as opposed to my throat which is a knobbly old thing. So I employ a solid J turn, yes akin to the teenage joy ride maneuver. Basically you pull down the razor in a long stroke then curve it into a J movement. This actually slides the razor slightly down your face which seems like a risky move. However it seems you can get a fair bit of control on the stroke and can just trust the movement.

I spend a fair time on my jaw line and actually shamfer it in line. I also re apply lather until I am content with the shave. I then arch around  the back of the jaw below the ear which is often a place I can easily miss. My grain goes backwards down my throat, so I shave the opposite way to my face on the initial pass. My throat i always lather well and pic individual hairs of my Adams apple.  I then jump in the shower like a boss.

Safety razor

Everyday wet shaving has been an Important ritual for most of the male population since Edwardian times. Before that the Moustache was a popular choice and also for the military, compulsary. Barbering and wet shaving came around in the 18th century where you could inexpensively have a shave. Although seemingly time consuming, the higher class gent would certainly have this treatment more regularily than the lower. The barber as still do, would use a straight razor. The safety razor came about in around 1860, although at the time the name was probably somewhat ironic.

Beards were before all the shaving, although shaving goes back to the ancient Greeks. It was time consuming and done will a lump of sharpened metal. Beards came back into fasion in the 1960’s to embrace the hippy culture. These seemed to have hung around until the late 1970’s. In and around 2010 we strarted seeing a rise in vintage fasion. I was scornful of this due to finding it thoroughly unimaginitive but looking at history this seems to be an occasional occurance. For example the renaissance which went on for around 800 years.

Vintage shaving too became popular in around 2012, but not with the Hipsters of East London and Berlin. It became apparent through collating data that there was a great difference between fasion and lifestyle culture. Most buyers were people who were facinated by how beautiful traditional shaving is. To compare a Muhle R89 to a Gillete fusion is impossible. Handling this chrome razor you realize the craftmanship and machining that goes into this flawless piece. People love the process of assembling and cleaning a safety razor, it’s a far cry from the disposable non esteem razor.

Birds like it

The girls which i occasionaly convince to spending time with me, definitely like the fact that I have a fancy shaving kit. I think because shaving is such an ordinary thing, they don’t expect to see a few high end pieces of metal in the bathroom. They thing wow this guy is pure class, he has nice stuff. They might even let you off having a pony car. The Edward’s home brand safety razor is shiny bit of kit, which will give you a boyant shave that will take off any length of stubble. At £25 it’s a steal, or you could buy a disposable and 3 packs of blades for £40? It’s your call wingnut.

Edward’s lifetime safety razor

Safety razor maintenance

Even though I use nice safety razor and other shaving kit, doesn’t mean I don’t neglect it from time to time. If you leave a blade in a safety razor in a humid environment. Like a hot bathroom for a long period of time, that razor blade will rust. People try to get around this by using stainless razor blades. This will only stop the blade corroding through and essentially disintegrating. With an enclosed razor head it will create some oxidation leading to a rusty film inside the head. I certainly find this on my Fatip razor which is zinc. Chrome safety razors have less of this process it seems, but still you will get it. I put this down too the general disposable nature of razor blades therefore being a less quality metal than certainly the safety razors we sell at Edward’s.

I get upset at myself when I let a razor fall into disrepair. Finding myself furiously rubbing off any rust inside the head. Trying to remove any marks. If you are at this stage though, I would recommend using newspaper and fairy liquid, as paper is slightly abrasive. Fairy liquid is lightly alkaline which should shift most stains.  If you have a more intricately made razor, use a pipe cleaner and salt. It’s good to condition your razor as you will find grime and limescale in it, also you will find bits of yourself. Generally shaving happens in haste and if you were to clean a razor  in the morning also you will certainly miss the 755. So take a bit of time on a Sunday to do this process.

Safety razor maintenance

Generally for Safety razor maintenance. I leave my razor slightly opened, that’s right unscrewed. I rinse it loosened to clean it well and then leave it to dry like that. Only tightening it when I shave. This method seems to massively reduce any build up of grime and also stops this film of rust on the blade. Also not leaving a old blade in the razor is another way around any corrosion.

Clean your kit guys, remember the reason why you purchased high end shaving gear. It is now your duty to maintain it and keep it in a good condition. Otherwise go back to the Bic’s me old fruit.

Safety razor

Alum and safety razor shaving to me is a must. In that you need to have an astringent of sorts in order to stop any cuts. Which you will probably recieve at a very Inconvenient time. Like my friend Paul who used a R41 Muhle for the first time for a quick shave before an acting  audition. He severed his jaw and on the bus holding his face together he googled coagulents, then tried to find a barbers that might have had some styptics. To little to late the poor guy didn’t get the part as it was not a horror film. The most effective I have used is the Cyril salter styptic pencil. You can pinch pieces off and ram it in a wound. Now Alum block is for the every day shaving nicks. Those specs of blood, I rub it over my under chin and throat as it also works as a sealent from any bacteria. I use a product that we sell at Edward’s sell which is Osma Alum block. It seems to last forever and is an essential piece of kit. A very upperclass friend of mine has always used a quick spray of cologne, which I have tested. The alcohol and whatever chemicals within the after shave is a pretty effective astringent.

Alum and safety razor shaving

Styptic pencils are often far harsher than alum block and are for the more direct action taken by a barber to stop a cut. Often making the customer whince and I have once seen complain. I suggest proffesionals give prior warning before application. Men rock styptics are rather light in harshness it seems so if you can’t take the short sharp burn then those are for you. The alum in which we use in gent’s grooming Is pottasium alum.

Traditional shaving Alum block Osma 75g