Still Loving the LORD! (lp1822l)

I had one of these razors - and fucking loved it. So much in fact, that I set it free - and mailed it to a comrade I was trying to help out. I figured the inherent user-friendliness of the LORD would be ideal for purposes of conversion. I included a smattering of nice Egyptian, Russian, and Turkish blades. Well, it's been the better part of a year and the motherfucker still hasn't found the stones to even try the fucking thing. Are you kidding? So I was missing it, so much that I had to get a new one! Price is up a couple of bucks, but you get a pack of 5 Blue Bird blades as a bonus, so BFD!

It's pretty much my favorite DE because it works so well, and is super intuitive and safe - you can really go nuts, if you have some confidence! Additional plus and this is a big on for me is the sound - the LORD has awesome audible feedback which for me at least contributes greatly to the overall satisfaction and enjoyment of the shave. You will get the best deal (if you are CONUS) if you order from here:

http://www.ioffer.com/i/lord-premium-safety-razor-model-lp1822l+-bluebird-bonus-99354252

I started a new job recently so have really been doing just a quickie shave in the morning, and believe it - this is the razor you want in your hands, so light, nimble and forgiving. The Gillette TTOs are heavy and crampy in comparison. The tolerances are great on the LORD - you just put a blade in and screw it together - no fiddling.

Keepin' it real

One thing you can say about shaving with the marketed brands is that it keeps it real simple, there actually aren't a hell of a lot of choices if you're trying to 'be current'.

There are more dangers than just bleeding when you shave like a MAN. There are so many choices that you can easily spend a TON of money on the various ADs (Acquisition Disorders). Do you know how many kinds of cool/effective razors there are out there? Brushes? Soaps/Creams? Blades? After shaves?

How about the various combinations and permutations thereof?

The good news is that you can indeed keep it real, save money, AND have the closest/best/irritation-free DAILY shaves of your LIFE.

Take Razors: You can spend ridiculous coin on some stupid-assed vintage Gillette 'Fatboy', or just get a Yuma and learn how to drive it. Turn that fucking Fatboy up to 11 and it will not cut closer than a Yuma. Another good DE choice for beginners and experts alike if you can't handle a scabby used razor is the LORD L6, which features 'load-and-go' tolerances for about $10 delivered if you order directly from the vendor on B&B instead of his Ebay store - he will include a variety of blades to get you started. Another ridiculously cheap but wickedly effective razor that is an absolute pleasure to drive would be a 1912, which unlike a Yuma will easily outlast you and your children. Really, really nice minty ones can be easily found for under $15.

Blades: Again, you can spend stupid money and only use Feathers once in your Fatboy, but I have found that really ANY blade works in a Yuma or Lord, some just last longer than others - Any of the Egyptian stainless blades are a great choice, and they feature recyclable/compostable packaging. If you go the 1912 Gem route I think your best blade choice is one of the thick-spined 'vintage' blades - that REALLY takes care of the whole 'carbon footprint' thing. Of course you will need additional gear but you can indeed make your own effective strops...

Brushes: Someday when I strike it rich maybe I'll go for a badger of some kind, but until then I am more than satisfied with a $2.50 Turkish horsehair brush that holds 4+ passes of lather and feels great on the face.

Soaps: You can spend upwards of $60 for some stupid-assed soap in a bowl that isn't going to work any better than a stick of Arko. AND you need to find room to keep it. The 'footprint' of an Arko stick is as miniscule as the price. Besides, face-lathering obviates the need for any additional 'prep'. Better all the way around. At the risk of coming across as a shill for Arko, as a product it really is quasi perfect. Abundant, slick and nourishing lather - and I for one appreciate that there is practically no 'packaging' to end up in the bin. If you can't handle the smell, all I can say is that you have 'issues'. Can you handle the price? The performance?

After-Shave: Here again, you have an opportunity to drop major coin. All you really need is alum and/or witch hazel and maybe a tiny bit of some EV coconut oil from the kitchen if there is a 'dry skin' issue. I have oily skin - all I use is alum and almost never even rise it off. Shit works great and is practically free.

DE or SE?

There is an ever-growing horde of rabid SE users active on the boards, hell bent on converting people from DE to SE. If results and cheapness are your bag, SE is for you. The much meatier SE blades can be touched up and used over and over, and face it, the vintage SE razors are cool and relatively undervalued, although that is changing. Lots of pros, and a couple of cons: There are not nearly as many models of SE razors or blades as are there are in the truly international world of DE. To resume:

SE PROs
Utterly cheap if you are 'handy' and can touch up your edge without fucking it up (not difficult)

The really old razors are pretty gorgeous and steam-punky:

The rest of the razors will appeal to fans of the DECO - Moderne aesthetic:

The build quality of the all-metal models is truly first rate, it will outlive you no problem.

Even nice old ones are relatively cheap. I paid 15 USD for nice OCMM with a mint case and 30 blades.

SE CONs
VERY limited choice of razors and blades compared to DE.

At least on my face, SE blades out of the box are dull and pull like a MF

If you're not 'handy' enough to touch up the edge of SE blades, the blades are WAY more expensive than DE. You can still get decent Trac II/Atra carts for less.

CAVEAT - If you have a pre-Micromatic SE razor like a GEM 1912 which are cheap and plentiful you can pretty easily make a robust and effective holder for DE blades - so that's a real advantage over just about any razor on the planet if you ask me. Sadly, this will not work in Micromatics or later:
DE Blade Holder DIY
DE Blade Holder pics


DE PROs
HUGE, international variety of both razors and blades, to satisfy any possible budget and/or aesthetic.

DE is the original disposable "system" - one of Gillette's original pitches was "no honing, no stropping". If you have a TTO, switching out blades is a breeze. Even the 3 piece DE razors as a group are pretty easy and idiot proof assembly-wise. Blade gets dull, you pitch it. Easy.

QUITE cheap if you find a cheap blade you like and buy in bulk. I've had sublime shaves from the lowly YUMA - you can too.

Best for beginners.

DE CONs
Even the best blades are good for no more than a week or shaves before they have to be pitched.

Forget about any vintage Gillette other than the Tech - the prices are ridiculous. You'll never get one off the boards either unless you are lurking 24/7.

OK, somebody help me - I'm not coming up with any more CONs

I love the LORD! (L6)

OK, so you are not quite man enough for a straight or a YUMA - in that case you need to spend $10 on a LORD. This razor is really foolproof. You can indeed throw a blade in and go. It is fairly aggressive, very nimble, and gives great feedback. It is also very forgiving. You really don't need to spend more than $10 on a razor - the ease of use and undeniable performance of the LORD L6 is quite literally the best that a man can get for the money. You can spend 10+x on a razor and not get a better shave. I have used the crappiest Indian blades in it with superb results. It's made in Egypt, which is already pretty cool. The "LORD" lettering on the head is also pretty undeniable. Here is where you can buy:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lord-Premium-Safety-Razor-Model-LP1822L-aka-L6-/260735027974?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb504cb06

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=190672&highlight=Lord