Shaving tips – Page 7 – Bald Guy Beard

New to shaving? You're probably looking for the best safety razor blades for beginner shavers. You're wondering what sort of razor blade to buy. How many blades do I need? How much money should I spend? Can I go with a cheap entry level disposable razor? Avoid the cheapest safety razor blades that tend to be single blade razors in plastic packs of 5-10 razors. In my experience, the cheapest single blade options are outdated technology and will cause you the greatest chance of cutting and irritating your skin as they normally contain no lubricant strip or other features like protective fins that more expensive razors have. They also tend not to last as long as slightly more expensive razors and your scalp and skin will notice the difference when you shave. Whether you're shaving your head and/or your face, you have plenty of razor choices. Here's a comparison with some specific suggested brands below that. Fun Fact A straight razor used to shave a man's neck. No sudden movements please... Disposable razors are also called safety razors because they came after the straight razor. A straight razor is a short blade that you (or a barber) use to shave with. It's also the type of blade often used in Hollywood movies to slit someone's throat while they sit in a barber's chair. So there's that, too. I've never used a straight razor nor do I have any desire to do so. I don't visit barbers but if I did, I'd never allow the use of a straight razor since I have no guarantee of its cleanliness. Single Blade Safety Razor Blades Think the old standby, the BIC Disposable razor with white handle and yellow protective cover. It has a single stainless steel blade, no lubricant strip, very basic. I shaved my head the very first time with one. Cut myself numerous times. Learned my lesson and didn't do use this style of blade again. You probably need to replace this style of blade after 4-6 uses or when you feel the blade dulling. Twin Blade Safety Razor Blades A typical disposable twin blade with lubricant strip Many major manufacturers make twin blade razors including Gillette, Merkur, Wilkinson and BIC. They feature two stainless blades and tend to include a small lubricant strip to rub against your skin right after the razor has shaved your hair. A better choice at this point in time over single blades. Some products come with an attached handle so you throw away the whole thing when replacing it. Other products come in individual cartridges (the razor part) that detaches from the handle when you wish to replace the blade. The detachable blades typically come with a pivoting head that moves with the contours of the skin. You pay more than single razors but you tend to get more too. Triple Blade Razor Blades Popular brands include Gillette Mach3, Gillette Sensor3 and BIC Comfort 3. These razors feature 3 self-pivoting blades stainless steel blades equidistant apart with a lubricating strip. Other features include a series of soft microfins that gently lift the hair, producing a closer shave. As you can see, you get more with these blades but you will pay more too. Four Blade Razor Blades Four blade razors are quite common now and are produced by the same big name manufacturers mentioned above. Popular brands include BIC Flex 4, Schick Quattro Titanium and Schick Extreme 4. The Quattro Titanium products feature 4 titanium-coated blades, built in trimmer, pivoting head and lubricating strip coated with Aloe, Vitamin E & B-5 to help lubricate and protect the skin. Schick claims the product will still protect after 2400 blade strokes, but who's counting? Five Blade Razor Blades Five blade razors are a newer level of shaving with 5 stainless steel blades spread equidistant apart, lubricating strip and pivoting head among other features. Popular brands include Gillette Fusion5, Gillette Proglide Chill and Schick Hydro Sense. The Gillette Fusion product comes with a blue lubricating strip that slowly turns white as it expires, indicating the shaver needs to be replaced. Gillette claims that you can shave for up to 1 month with one cartridge. Of course it depends on how much shaving you do (just your face? Your head too?) The Schick Hydro Sense comes with a handy built-in flip trimmer for precision styling of sideburns and goatees. Again, you see you are getting more features but they come with a higher price tag. Six and Seven Blade Razor Blades Amazingly there are now 6 and 7 blade razors most notably from Dorco. Armed with 6 and 7 stainless steel blades, these disposable razors come with features like built-in trimmer, dual lubrication strips - one strip before the blade to prep the skin and one strip after the blades to soothe the skin - coated with Vitamin E and Aloe Vera. The manufacturer also suggests that the closer spacing of the 6 or 7 blades together reduces the bulging of skin as you press the shaver to your skin. Are 6 and 7 blade products the best safety razor blades for beginner shavers? Having never used such a blade myself - or even seen them in a store - I question if that many blades is really necessary. Safety Razor Blade Maintenance Tips Rinse safety razor blades under running water to clean them quickly during use. Rinse the blade regularly under running water while shaving to loosen hair that easily clogs. Once the hair dries, it's harder to get out from the blade and makes shaving more difficult. While blades don't have an expiry date on them, they let you know when they need to be replaced. They dull with use. Each blade will tell you when it needs to be replaced. It becomes more difficult to shave and won't give you the close shave you previously experienced. You may press harder against your skin which increases the chances of skin irritation and razor burn. Keeping a blade too long that lead to cuts and nicks if you overcompensate for the dulled blade by pressing harder on your skin when shaving. Dull blades can also contribute to skin irritation and ingrown hairs. Best Safety Razor Blades For Beginner Shavers So, which blade is best for you? The best safety razor blades for beginner shavers who are about to shave their face or head for the first time satisfy the following: Cost Considerations Even if you can afford a blade that costs $2 per shaver, would you be happier with a package of 10 disposable blades that cost $2 for the whole pack? Buy the type of blade that you can afford and that gives you what you need. Keep reading to see what I mean. Skin Type Do you have sensitive skin? You may want to use a razor with at least one lubricating strip and also use a shaving cream for sensitive skin to be safe. Change your blades regularly before they become dull. Hair Type and Amount of Hair You Grow Some guys have thicker, fuller facial hair that others. The more hair you have to shave the more you're going to notice a higher quality razor. The coarser your hair the more you should pay attention to the type and quality of blade you buy, too. Also, are you planning on shaving your whole face or will you grow facial hair and benefit from having a built-in trimmer which some disposable blades come with? If you're planning on shaving your head too, a better quality razor is of greater importance to you given the increased shaving you will do. Use of Other Products I don't personally use moisturizers or aftershave following shaving but it's something you may consider depending on your skin type, personal preferences and skin sensitivity. There is a cost to each of these products of course and you may or may not find them helpful. If you have dry skin, a moisturizer after shaving can be useful to keep your skin moist. If you have oily skin and wish you to use a moisturizer, ensure you choose an oil-free product. Conclusion The best safety razor blade for beginner shavers is the one that meets several criteria specific to you.While you don't have to buy the most expensive razor with the most blades, don't go cheap either. Buy what you can afford that also meets your needs.Also consider your amount of hair, hair coarseness, skin sensitivity and other factors when choosing your razor blades.If you're planning on growing a goatee or other facial hair, a razor with built-in trimmer is handy for sculpting.Consider use of a moisturizer after shaving if you have dry skin but choose an oil-free moisturizer if you already have oily skin.