The Razor’s Edge
Shaving. As you know, I don’t like shaving. Taking off a few layers of skin in the process of removing endlessly-growing protein filaments isn’t a fun pastime. A couple of months ago, I decided that I’d had enough and grew a beard. Just about everyone I ran into said it looked great and that I should keep it up. I thought I looked homeless, so I shaved it off and went back to my standard goatee.
Now I’m back in the hunt for my “perfect” shaving system. I’ve tried rotary electrics, foil electrics, two-blade, three-blade, and four-blade cartridge razors. Not to mention just about every shaving cream, gel, and oil on the market. The result is always the same.. What could possibly be left? I think I may have stumbled upon a possible answer: The double-edged safety razor. Yes, I’m referring to the one that your father probably used.
I’ve been doing some reading and it seems that if this tool is used properly, it can result in a superior shave. As an added bonus, refills are a fraction of the cost of modern cartridge razors (10 razors for $4!). It also helps if the razor is used in conjunction with barber-quality shaving tools, such as a badger hair shaving brush and a decent quality cream. These brushes are a bit pricey (about $50), but the general consensus is that they can easily last a decade if they are cared for properly.
Seems like overkill, but I’m willing to try just about anything at this point. If taking an extra five minutes with a double edged razor in the morning means I won’t shear my face off, then it’s a sacrifice I think I can live with.