Frugal shaving

[plor]

I would also like to suggest shaving with a straight razor as a frugal alternative. There are no replacement blades and a razor maintained properly can last more than a lifetime. There is an up-front cost which is rather high (razor, hone, strop, brush, etc), but all that needs to be replaced is the soap which as mentioned earlier can be done very cheaply.

Anyway, a great resource for this is at http://www.straightrazorplace.com

[lucille]

We tried to find the disposable Mach 3 razors others had told us about. Both Target and Sam's Club have quit carrying them. But we did find some three bladed disposables, I think they were Schick maybe. A huge box at Sam's was $18 vs. $36 for fewer Mach 3 blades.

We decided to give those a try since they were quite a bit cheaper. If they didn't work for the hubby, I can always use the on my legs since I have been using a lower quality more expensive two blade disposable that works well.

[bishop]

Originally Posted by plor

I would also like to suggest shaving with a straight razor as a frugal alternative. There are no replacement blades and a razor maintained properly can last more than a lifetime. There is an up-front cost which is rather high (razor, hone, strop, brush, etc), but all that needs to be replaced is the soap which as mentioned earlier can be done very cheaply.

Anyway, a great resource for this is at http://www.straightrazorplace.com

Maybe one day I'll graduate to straight razors - they're certainly cost-effective, and have a "wow factor" like no other. Right now, though, I'm getting superb shaves from my vintage Gillette DE's.

[bishop]

Originally Posted by lucille

I tried the old style razors back in the 70's and peeled a huge chunk of skin on my leg. I don't think I could bring myself to use the old single blade ones again after that. But I am so disgusted with the cost of most commercial razor blades. My hubby uses mach3 and they are something like $8 for maybe 4 blades. So far the cheapest I have found were bic soleils disposable for about $1 each in a pack of 4. I have problems with the super cheap ones cutting skin though. Would love to find a happy medium of cost effective and usable.

Find yourself a vintage Gillette Super Speed or Gillette Tech (ball end) and some Wilkinson Sword blades. Very, very gentle shave.

[bishop]

Originally Posted by EnergyBoomer

I use a mug with a round bar of William shaving soap too. The bar of soap costs about one dollar and lasts about three months. How much does your can of spray foam cost and how long does it last?

When traveling I leave the mug home and take a Round Tupperware type plastic container that has a snap on lid.

The brush is the problem. I love my old shaving brush but I have not been able to find a replacement that is as good. My old one is about worn out after 30 years of use. It keeps getting shorter. The bristles do not fall out like with the new brushes. I may have to find one at an antique store.

Any suggestions?

Check out Badger & Blade for brush reviews and prices.

[LDorado]

I've been shaving my face with ultra concentrated Dawn dish washing liquid / antibacterial hand soap (orange colored) for years - the same stuff we use in the kitchen. A large bottle lasts for months. If you try it, you'll want to keep it out of your eyes - it's not baby shampoo! I also use Personna Tri-Flexxx triple blade cartridges which fit their razor and any Gillette Sensor razor. Occasionally you can find them packaged as store brand in some grocery stores. Personna or their knock-offs always seem to be cheaper than Sensor cartridges regardless of where I buy them.

[Thatcantberight]

For years I have not used soap or shaving cream. I buy new razors infrequently. The one I am using now is about a year old, and I didn't pay for it.

I use a the same disposable plastic razor that I got free when I stayed in a hotel for a night last year.

I don't use shaving gel, or shaving cream, or soap, or dish Detergent, or anything else when I shave my face.

I don't get razor burn, or experience any other skin problems.

For ten years, I have been shaving this way...just using water. While the skin on the faces of my friends who shave with creams and soaps are beginning look and feel leathery, mine is soft and supple in comparison.

The old razor and water alone do the trick for a great close shave when I shave in the shower every morning.

Occasionally, I have even dry shaved with the same disposable razor. Just scraped it across my face.

You can save a bundle of money too. When you realize that the whole shaving industry is peddling a product that for centuries did not exist, why pay them for something that hundreds of generations of men did quite well without?

Shaving without any kind of lubricating agent for many men will seem like a heresy. But for centuries, men often used nothing but water, or dry shaved.

Some wimpy men in places like Spain, Italy, or Greece might have used Olive oil on their faces when shaving.

You can shave without Shaving cream too and save a ton of money.

Dry any razor well after use, and it can be used for a long time.

Here is one article that will shows you how to shave without buying expensive shaving cream :

http://www.lewrockwell.com/tucker/tucker65.html

[bishop]

Originally Posted by Thatcantberight

For years I have not used soap or shaving cream. I buy new razors infrequently. The one I am using now is about a year old, and I didn't pay for it.

I use a the same disposable plastic razor that I got free when I stayed in a hotel for a night last year.

I don't use shaving gel, or shaving cream, or soap, or dish Detergent, or anything else when I shave my face.

I don't get razor burn, or experience any other skin problems.

For ten years, I have been shaving this way...just using water. While the skin on the faces of my friends who shave with creams and soaps are beginning look and feel leathery, mine is soft and supple in comparison.

The old razor and water alone do the trick for a great close shave when I shave in the shower every morning.

Occasionally, I have even dry shaved with the same disposable razor. Just scraped it across my face.

You can save a bundle of money too. When you realize that the whole shaving industry is peddling a product that for centuries did not exist, why pay them for something that hundreds of generations of men did quite well without?

Shaving without any kind of lubricating agent for many men will seem like a heresy. But for centuries, men often used nothing but water, or dry shaved.

Some wimpy men in places like Spain, Italy, or Greece might have used Olive oil on their faces when shaving.

You can shave without Shaving cream too and save a ton of money.

Dry any razor well after use, and it can be used for a long time.

Here is one article that will shows you how to shave without buying expensive shaving cream :

http://www.lewrockwell.com/tucker/tucker65.html

True, drying a blade cuts down significantly on wear...but I just can't get past the dry shaving part. Call me a sissy or a big spender, but I will stick with my 50-year old razor, blades for $0.10 a piece, long-lasting shaving soap, and brush.

[spitchtara]

How about electric shavers? I have an electric womens shaver for my legs. I have had it for several years and I think I only paid $20. It recommends replacing some parts occaionally but I never have and it works great. My brother has some sort of electric razor and absolutely swears by it. Seems economical to me.

[lucille]

Are there any razors that use the cheap blades but still have some of the safety features you get with the disposables. I still get squeemish about using single bladed razors after peeling a big chunk of skin off my shin learning to shave in the days before Bic disposables.