40 Years of Electric, Move to DE Safety Razor? (2025)

47 years ago I began shaving and started with an electric shaver because that's what my dad used. Throughout those years I've tried standard razors with shaving cream, having little success. The last time was about 8 years ago.

The main problem I have are the two moles (one on my chin and one on my neck) that protrude...often I would cut the top of those off with a standard razor and they would bleed for what seemed like forever. Because of a blood clot I had a couple years ago, I take aspirin daily to help keep my blood thinner, so I'm sure those moles would bleed even more now.

So in your opinion, should I just stick with the safer choice of an electric shaver, or give a double edge safety razor a chance?

Thank you for any input you're willing to provide.

TripleB

What are you wanting to gain by making the change?

I used electrics for several years. They were convenient, but I did not get a real close shave with them. I can get a lot closer with DE or SE razors. I enjoy shaving more this way, too.

Seem to me facial imperfections are things you could learn to work around. I wouldn't let that be a big obstacle.

NorthernSoul said:

What are you wanting to gain by making the change?

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Great question!

I'm really wanting to get a closer shave and weird as it may sound, to enjoy shaving.

I currently can't stand to shave...even though the electric makes it so convenient and reasonably quick, I find myself only shaving about once every 6 days or so because it feels like a chore.

TripleB

Welcome to B&B! We are so glad you decided to join us! Greetings from Raleigh, NC.

I also electric shaves for decades up until almost two years ago. I was not happy with the results I was getting with the electric and I wanted to get back to the way grandpa used to do it. I have a mole on my right cheek and once in a great while I might nick it a bit, but I have learned to work around it. It is rare that I cut it anymore. I cannot even remember when I did last. It just takes a bit practice and you will be just fine. We all have our uniqueness about our faces so we have to adjust and adapt to that. Just try it out and see....

TripleB said:

Great question!

I'm really wanting to get a closer shave and weird as it may sound, to enjoy shaving...

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It might sound kind of weird, but it's really not (around here, anyway)! Why not try to make things you need to do a little more enjoyable?

People here can help you with questions and getting started. It doesn't have to be elaborate and expensive to shave with a DE, either.

TripleB said:

The main problem I have are the two moles (one on my chin and one on my neck) that protrude...often I would cut the top of those off with a standard razor and they would bleed for what seemed like forever. Because of a blood clot I had a couple years ago, I take aspirin daily to help keep my blood thinner, so I'm sure those moles would bleed even more now.

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Just throwing this out there, and not being judgmental or anything, but have you thought about having the moles removed? Once healed, they won't be in the way of any method of shaving.

NorthernSoul said:

It might sound kind of weird, but it's really not (around here, anyway)!

It doesn't have to be elaborate and expensive to shave with a DE, either.

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That's great hear...and sorry that it took me so many years to try and make it enjoyable.

I guess that would be a follow up question, and maybe I should go back and add to this question: what's a quality inexpensive DE safety razor to start out with?

I appreciate you responding!

blethenstrom said:

Welcome to B&B! We are so glad you decided to join us! Greetings from Raleigh, NC.

I have a mole on my right cheek and once in a great while I might nick it a bit, but I have learned to work around it. It is rare that I cut it anymore. I cannot even remember when I did last. It just takes a bit practice and you will be just fine. We all have our uniqueness about our faces so we have to adjust and adapt to that. Just try it out and see....

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Thank you. I appreciate the invite...from Hickory, NC.

I'm glad to hear they are something I can work around.

TripleB

TripleB said:

...weird as it may sound, to enjoy shaving.

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It's alright, this is a safe space. We are all weird here.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Starter kits are cheap. Go for it.

TripleB said:

That's great hear...and sorry that it took me so many years to try and make it enjoyable.

I guess that would be a follow up question, and maybe I should go back and add to this question: what's a quality inexpensive DE safety razor to start out with?

I appreciate you responding!

Thank you. I appreciate the invite...from Hickory, NC.

I'm glad to hear they are something I can work around.

TripleB

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Oh Hickory! How did you all fair out there in Helene? I was out west doing some work in Burnsville, NC last weekend. It was pretty heartbreaking.

TripleB said:

I guess that would be a follow up question, and maybe I should go back and add to this question: what's a quality inexpensive DE safety razor to start out with?

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Common starter DE would Merkur R89 or a Edwin Jagger DE89. Both of those are good quality, on the milder side and will get you started nicely into this. Get yourself some good staring out blades like Astra SPs, Dorco Primes, Dorco ST300/301, Derby Premium or similar. The blades are cheap.

Do you already have brush and soap? You can certainly start with canned foam or something. If you have not tried brush and soap I would recommend that.

Well my experience with Electric Razors was they did one thing great for me.

Gave me ingrown hairs, I became expert at pulling INGROWN HAIRS.

blethenstrom said:

Oh Hickory! How did you all fair out there in Helene? I was out west doing some work in Burnsville, NC last weekend. It was pretty heartbreaking.

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We faired pretty well. Lost power for 2.5 days but that's all. My wife is from Boone, NC - we went up there and drove some backroads and it was absolutely horrible. Bridges/roads washed away, debris everything, all the belongings of families piled at the road because they were ruined by water. And I heard it was even worse along the NC/TN border. Just heartbreaking...it will take some parts a decade to rebuild. Very sad situation.

blethenstrom said:

Common starter DE would Merkur R89 or a Edwin Jagger DE89. Both of those are good quality, on the milder side and will get you started nicely into this. Get yourself some good staring out blades like Astra SPs, Dorco Primes, Dorco ST300/301, Derby Premium or similar. The blades are cheap.

Do you already have brush and soap? You can certainly start with canned foam or something. If you have not tried brush and soap I would recommend that.

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Thanks for the recommendations. I've been trying to read up about the things to look for in one for a beginner...one piece or two piece, closed comb, fixed blade, textured handle, etc. Having specific model recommendations is a great help!!!

I do not have anything...been at least 8 years since I tried anything other than an electric so everything has been discarded.

I appreciate everyone taking time to respond!

TripleB

TripleB said:

We faired pretty well. Lost power for 2.5 days but that's all. My wife is from Boone, NC - we went up there and drove some backroads and it was absolutely horrible. Bridges/roads washed away, debris everything, all the belongings of families piled at the road because they were ruined by water. And I heard it was even worse along the NC/TN border. Just heartbreaking...it will take some parts a decade to rebuild. Very sad situation.

Thanks for the recommendations. I've been trying to read up about the things to look for in one for a beginner...one piece or two piece, closed comb, fixed blade, textured handle, etc. Having specific model recommendations is a great help!!!

I do not have anything...been at least 8 years since I tried anything other than an electric so everything has been discarded.

I appreciate everyone taking time to respond!

TripleB

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Yeah i heard that Boone got hit hard. It will take a long time with a lot of work to restore things.

If you want to try a brush and soap I would recommend an inexpensive synthetic brush. One place that is great to get supplies at is italianbarber.com. Get a Razorock synthetic 24mm or so brush and either a tube of proraso, Palmolive, cella shave cream or a tub of proraso or cella tub of shave soap. Grab a bowl from the kitchen and you are set.

When I think about the mechanics of an electric razor, I think this.

The electric is only going to cut to the length of a hair follicle the protrudes through the "foil" of the razor. And between the foil and the oscillating cutter head will be a further gap that will also not be cut.

As a soldier, that kind of thing wasn't going to pass muster at first formation. I've tried electrics in the past, and was never satisfied with the results. I shaved yesterday with a Gillette Super Adjustable, and got through today remaining presentable. Tomorrow will be time again for a shave. I don't think I could go every other day with an electric.

AshleyC said:

The electric is only going to cut to the length of a hair follicle the protrudes through the "foil" of the razor. And between the foil and the oscillating cutter head will be a further gap that will also not be cut.

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Theoretically, electric razors get close shaves via hysteresis. The foil presses down on the skin thereby exposing more of the hair than normal. This then gets cut, and it drops back down below the skin level. (Probably the reason why @DesertIguana ended up with all those ingrown hairs!)

Even though this is how they are supposed to work, I personally never got a decent or close to DFS shave with one of them, either rotary or linear. I would say maybe a CCS at best? But it never lasted long.

Welcome to the community! I too used electrics for decades. I got poor shaves and I hated shaving. I hear you.

I'd recommend getting a Henson mild. Map your grain, so you know which direction each section goes. First start by just doing a with-the-grain pass. That will not be north-to-south, it will change with each section of your face. Once you've mastered that, then add an acrooss-the-grain pass. That too wll not be east-to-west, it will change with the grain of your face. That will take longer to master. Once you have, try an against-the-grain pass.

By going slow, and not trying to do everything at once, you'll actually go faster to the end - knowing your face/whiskers and getting a good shave.

Enjoy an happy shaves to you!

TripleB said:

The main problem I have are the two moles (one on my chin and one on my neck) that protrude...

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Welcome to B&B! Glad yer here.

I understand. I have a scar on the back of my head that tends to slowly get bigger over time. I can usually shave over the top of it with either a smooth bar or open comb but about twice a year I hit it just right and then it's not a problem for the next six months. I've also removed a few skin tags painlessly over the years. Not to downplay the concern, but it can be worked around. One way to do that is to carefully shave around it, then just use the electric to do that one spot.

Have a look at RazoRock razors. They make some very nice ones for not much money. They're less expensive than a Merkur 34C or 38C (the difference is the handle length; 38C is the long handle version, same head). Pick blades in the milder end of the range at first.

For a starter I would avoid RazoRock's "Jaws" open combs. The spacing between the teeth is wider than most, and that can give you fits going over skin imperfections. Amusingly, I've cut myself way more often with a Jaws plate than with a shavette!

TripleB said:

So in your opinion, should I just stick with the safer choice of an electric shaver, or give a double edge safety razor a chance?

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The world ain't gonna fall off its bearings if you do both. Your face; your rules. I think you've got the skills to make a DE work for you. Then we can talk about slants, and single edge, and shavettes, and straights...golly, there's a whole world to explore! Sounds like fun to me.

O.H.

Hi and welcome to B&B from N.Ireland. Sounds like you'll fit right in here. As said above you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a good shave, there are plenty of good razors, soaps and brushes out there to get you started that won't cost a kidney and a lung.

The main thing is to have fun finding out what works best for you.