[asdff]

The thing is it takes skill and time to get there. Look at the reddit groups with everyone having some favorite brush or soap lather. The first few times you do it will probably go terribly too, maybe even ongoing. Meanwhile, 3 blade gillete can do an OK job with only a splash of water and a dozen strokes if you were in a true pinch. the skinguard is even better than old man mach 3. in a world where a pint of beer at a bar is now $15, i don't mind paying the $35 or whatever for a pile of cartriges that will last me a long long time. maybe i wait too long on changing the cartridge though so ymmv but i find you can be sloppy and get away with a dull head for longer with that skinguard too than the stuff i was using a dozen years ago.

[this_is_eline]

> it takes skill and time

Yes, and, as I probably haven't said, I've been doin' it for 'years', and I do have a favorite soap/razor brand/razor handle... you name it... And I rarely ever (1/10 prob) get cuts, and the end result _is_ better, purely quality wise (double-edged razor is just sharper and can access spots, like under your nose, that 4-blade razor, let's say it's 4-blade, just can not).

My point is that after a while, you realize that you can get 80/90% of the quality with less than 20% of time invested. (Un)fortunately enough, the calculation is not that simple. You need to include the money factor, the frequency of shaving factor, the energy/focus factor (you can't just shave using a double-edged razor at 6am with your eyes still half way closed, and also expect no to cut yourself; you just can't, no matter how experienced you are - it is still 'razor' sharp :), with next to no safeguards, depending on your razor handle)... And I get that in many cases, the money factor is more (or the most) important, but you still can't just ignore all other factors.

That said, I strongly believe that modern 4-blade cartridges can/should be less expensive.

Also, I have next to no experience with electric razors, so take that into consideration. (Also, if anyone knows some electric razor model/brand that is well worth the money, I will really appreciate the suggestion)

[jka]

Although I've used a few electric razors over the years (and much prefer using them to buying and keeping track of disposables), it's probably worth referring to a more detailed analysis of the options out there, so here's Wirecutter's writeup of recommended brands and models as of Dec 2021:

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-electric-raz...

[hombre_fatal]

I think people who buy DE/SE razors often just like to partake in the accessories because they're selected from people who care enough in the first place to move beyond the cartridge razor. You certainly don't need brushes and nice lathers to use a DE. No more than you need them with a cartridge razor.

I have sensitive skin and a fresh DE blade cuts better with just water than a cartridge razor because it's sharper.

But before I got a DE razor, as an outsider, I also assumed you needed to take shaving seriously and be an accessories guy to use one, and thankfully it's just not true.

[pmoriarty]

"The thing is it takes skill and time to get there."

This is what I fretted over to no end before I actually tried shaving with a double-edged razor.

Turns out I needn't have worried, as shaving with a double-edged razor turned out to be exactly the same as shaving with a cartridge razor.

No special techniques needed.

"Look at the reddit groups with everyone having some favorite brush or soap lather."

All that stuff is completely unnecessary.

I just lather up some ordinary soap with my hands and smear it on my face before shaving with my double-edged razor and it works great. No need for any fancy equipment, creams, brushes, pre/after-shave, etc.

[mikestew]

Look at the reddit groups with everyone having some favorite brush or soap lather.

Better yet, don’t look. Just because dweebs want to spend their time fluffing their feathers in front of other shaving dweebs doesn’t mean that any of that is required. (And if shaving accessories is your schtick, go with my blessing as I tend to my own dweebery.)

And the first few times I shaved with a DE safety razor, it went fine. It’s a safety razor, not a straight razor, what are people expecting to happen?

[molszanski]

> The thing is it takes skill and time to get there.

This is interesting too, because it worked for me on the first / second try. Didn't have any learning curve at all. And I didn't use any fancy foam or anything. Just a regular cheap ~$2 foam / gel from the supermarket