[nkozyra]

I did the same until I got a safety razor and found some good blades.

Smoothest shave of my life, refills come out to about $.50/week. The first shave wasn't pretty, but after that it was smooth sailing and I'll never look back.

Makes things like DSC seem quaint; people think safety razors are either:

- archaic - dangerous

But the truth is they are a fantastic, cheap way to get a high quality shave and I don't mind being an evangelist about them if it gets people away from fully disposable razors.

[geoka9]

I did the same, until I saw a tip that somebody posted here :) Since then I've been using the same Gillette cartridge (it's been over a year) and it's still as sharp as it was when I bought it.

The trick is to rub it against your bicep or forearm (effectively stropping it) before use. I also do that after use, which helps to dry it up (keeping it even sharper).

I've already saved a small fortune on cartridge refills. Best shaving tip I ever got!

[girvo]

Interesting: http://lifehacker.com/5502841/extend-the-life-of-your-razor-...

I'm going to give it a try, cheers for passing the tip along!

[pchristensen]

Ditto - I get ~50 shaves per Gillette Fusion Power cartridge, so I'm still working on an 8-pack I got for Christmas 2013.

[kissickas]

I do the same with my safety razor, and just always make sure to store it in a dry place, not in the bathroom, just to be safe. I don't remember the last time I replaced the blade.

[_asummers]

I bought a double edged about 2 years ago and haven't looked back. I shave my head with them every 1-3 days and find the closeness unparalleled. I am generally less diligent with shaving my face, but it's terrific for that as well. There's a really nice thing about the whole ceremony of it all; making the lather, making the strokes from the different angles, fixing any mistakes.

[puranjay]

I live in India and I can get a shave from the local barber here for around $1. These guys use straight razors. I tell you, the shave is closer than anything Gilette or Aldi or DSC or Harry's can do.

[gambiter]

> I did the same until I got a safety razor and found some good blades. > Smoothest shave of my life

I have an honest opinion about that... I've done the disposable refills most of my life, but recently was balking at the amount of money I was spending. Did a lot of research, and decided to give a good electric a try. I'm rocking the Braun 790cc. It's actually a great shaver, and in the last year it's cost very little to maintain. Even buying cleaner cartridges and replacement heads periodically, it's MUCH cheaper than disposable blades.

Problem is, the electric DEFINITELY doesn't shave as close. I totally can tell... the few times I've switched it up and used a blade again, the difference is incredible. That said, I am a white guy with very dark, dense stubble. No matter how close I shave, you can still see my beard line. It's Homer Simpson syndrome.

So I'm left thinking in the end that if the electric shaves close enough that I don't look unshaven, it's good enough. Basically, when I get formal in the evening, I just do a quick followup shave with the electric to make sure I'm 'presentable', and I've never had an issue.

[nvarsj]

I like safety razors as well (it's what I use at home). The blades are cheap and give a good shave.

But they take way longer to shave than a cartridge or disposable razor. I use a gillette mach 3 when traveling, and it literally takes a minute or less in the shower with a bit of soap suds to shave. Using a safety razor is a much longer process and requires more gear.