Salvation

**Lemur** · 09-12-2009, 05:42

Originally Posted by Whacker

1. I couldn't find a can of shaving cream that wouldn't rust all over the @#$(* place, 2. couldn't find any decent cheap mirrors that wouldn't eventually get gunked up or last long, and 3. razor blades did NOT last long for me, if I used them more than a week or so it'd end up destroying my face completely, so they'd only last maybe 5 days at best, not cheap.

Speaking as a hard-core shower shaver:

You don't use shaving cream in the shower; instead, you use either shaving soap or a high-quality normal soap (I shave using this stuff and it works perfectly)
You get a hand-held glass mirror (preferably with a hook so you can hang it from the curtain rod) and clean it once a month with glass cleaner
You buy your razor blades in bulk packs

This should address all of your problems ...

**Whacker** · 09-12-2009, 06:20

Originally Posted by Lemur

Speaking as a hard-core shower shaver:

You don't use shaving cream in the shower; instead, you use either shaving soap or a high-quality normal soap (I shave using this stuff and it works perfectly)
You get a hand-held glass mirror (preferably with a hook so you can hang it from the curtain rod) and clean it once a month with glass cleaner
You buy your razor blades in bulk packs

This should address all of your problems ...

Eesh.

Been there, done most of that. You should get a kick out of this, what I initially tried doing was 'waterproofing' the cans of shaving cream with a single pass of clear acrylic spray paint. It worked fine, except down inside underneath the plastic nozzle. That rusted like hell and got rust all over my shower. I had two crappy hanging mirrors that we got from Bed Bath and Beyond, one didn't survive the trip south from the wall, and both had lots of gunk on them even with reasonably regular cleaning. I was thinking about RainXing them because they fogged up like crazy, but that's almost too much effort. I also bought a metric poopton of blades from Sam's Club when I was on this kick, it wasn't cheap but it did save us a boatload.

If anything I'd probably like to try getting an old fashioned straight razor as I mentioned. That seems pretty damn cool and manly, plus it's supposed to be the best by far and the modern blades rarely ever needs sharpening. The only thing that does worry me slightly is maintenance of the blade. I never was very good at sharpening knives as a boy scout, never got the hang of it. If I'm going to spend the big bucks on a nice straight razor, I damn well want to know how to take care of it first.

The problems are twofold; 1. cost, which initially is going to be awful, and the biggest problem by far is 2. time.

In regards to cost, my current electric razor cost about $100 new, and new blades are about $35-40 every 6 months. A really nice old razor set can cost upwards of $300 or more, or as little as $100 depending on what you want. The only real expense beyond that is shaving cream or powder mixture, and I have no idea what that runs or how long it lasts but it can't be bad.

The biggest problem that I can see is time. It takes me about 3-4 minutes to get a complete shave with my electric razor and I'm done. From turning it on to finishing with the skin lotion when I'm done, 4 minutes tops. Even shaving in the shower added 5-10 minutes of time because rushing always, always == destroyed, bloody face. Shaving outside of the shower was a 15+ minute affair. I could see doing it maybe on the weekends to kinda treat myself when I'm not rushed, but probably not on a permanent basis.

Oh well. I might still ask for one for Xmas.

**Lemur** · 09-12-2009, 07:25

Originally Posted by Whacker

In regards to cost, my current electric razor cost about $100 new, and new blades are about $35-40 every 6 months.

Ignoring the fixed cost of the razor, you're spending $37.5 (I'm averaging) per six months, or roughly $1.44 per week. I use one disposable razor blade per week, averaging $1 per week, and my fixed costs are zero, since the handle thingy was bought for me by a girlfriend about fifteen years ago. It's not like they wear out.

A straight razor is certainly an option.

I can't do an electric razor because of a cruel genetic joke; my father had a thick, curly beard, while my mother had soft, tender white-girl skin. So I got her skin and his beard. It's like growing barbed wire over rice paper. I've never met the electric that could handle my hair/skin combo. So it's shave with a razor in the shower or grow a tangled afro on my face.

Also, try the soap I linked to if/when you shave in the shower again. It's great stuff, a single bar will last you about six months, and it kicks shaving cream's booty.

**LeftEyeNine** · 09-12-2009, 15:37

I'm amazed it made this far.

**naut** · 09-12-2009, 17:46

Shick razor for the face and neck. Electric trimmer for the task of manscaping. Not a fan of hair on the shoulders, chest, stomach, cobblers, etc. Also, I like my women to be... uh... shaven, so I assume they'd appreciate reciprocal behaviour in the hair department.