Shave by Electricity

Occasionally I like to browse old Popular Mechanics magazines, it's such a treasure trove of information covering the past 100 years or so. It's also wonderful for comparing the "most technologically advanced product to date" with products from a century ago. It seems many things aren't really new at all, they're only rehashed ideas with a fancy new package and time appropriate buzz-words.

Today I stumbled upon the advert to the left; what appears to be an early model electric razor. The basic principle of this system is that it vibrates the blade in a slight horizontal motion similar to that of a jigsaw, only a bit less severe of course. I imagine putting a vibrating razor blade to bare skin would lead to a rather red result however. "No more pull, no irritation, thousands sold" these words are as at home then as they are now. It's quite amazing how little has changed from the advertising speak of then and now.

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Award Winning Merkur

Apparently my current razor, the Merkur 34C Heavy Duty Classic, is a pretty good razor, winning the About.com 2011 Readers’ Choice Award for best razor.  This is incredibly surprising considering it was stacked up against the likes of the Gillette Fusion ProGlide, Gillette Mach 3 and Shick Hydro 5. These "shaving systems" are a common sight in almost every store, with the Merkur only available online and in shaving boutiques. I guess people are finally beginning to value function and form over marketing hype.

From About's site - “Sometimes you hold a razor in your hand and it feels just right. The chrome finish 34C is one of those razors. The combination of weight, craftsmanship and looks make it the perfect entry into double-edged razor shaving. A true heavyweight classic!”

This is no surprise to me, the Merkur Classic HD has been around for nearly 100 years and is still a top seller. Check it out if you want to start shaving like a man and spend a total of $15 a year on razor blades at most.  Merkur Heavy Duty Double Edge Razor #34C + 5 Free DE Razor Blades

New Straight Razor

New razor coming in the mail soon as a gift from my fiance. This will be my first time giving a straight razor a try. About 5 years ago I was given a shave by a barber wielding one, and it was probably the best shave I ever received.

It sounds a bit crazy to hold one of the sharpest blades available to your face on a daily basis, but a hospital visit is still cheaper than a month's supply of the 5 blade only good for 1 shave razor systems they have on the market today. Besides there's just something about the whole ritual of old school shaving with the hot towel, making the hot lather with a badger hair brush and soap dish, the concentration needed. The whole thing really wakes you up in the morning.

Pick it up at Amazon if you're jealous - Edwin Jagger Cut Throat Razor