Help Rufus shave...Come back here! I didn't mean it literally!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I know, I know: a boy is supposed to learn to shave at his father's side. And I did, but Dad was an electric razor man, and that's what I've been using for the last 25 years. But on a recent trip to the States I forgot my razor, and had to buy disposable blades and some shaving cream and do it the old fashioned way. Now I'm hooked, but perplexed. Are you really supposed to use a disposable once and throw it away? Even those expensive triple-balde disposables? If not, how long are they good for? Do you really need after-shave? Can something like the Gilette Mach3, which seems to combine expensiveness and wastefulness in an extremely counter-intuitive fashion, really be worth it?

Please, I'm begging. Help make a man out of me.

[Urban Ranger]

No idea. I am using a Gilette Sensor Excel, but I usually use the blade for about at least 10 times before I consider throwing it away. I also have a bottle of aftershave that I rarely use.

[Elok]

Generally speaking, once the bloody thing gets so hopelessly clogged with bristle that I can't use it anymore, I pitch it, and not before...but then again, I'm cheap. As for aftershave, well, try going without it and see for yourself. If your face feels like you've been using sandpaper as a washcloth, you need aftershave. It depends how rough you are on your own face, to some extent what shaving cream you are using, and so on.
On an off-note, where'd you get the name from? I've seen it once before as a pseudonym in the Washington Post's Style Invitational contest, but I'm guessing you don't get that out in Turkey.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Elok- It's the name of Groucho Marx's character in "Duck Soup."

[Aeson]

The Mach3 works well!

You can use the things for quite a while if you keep them unclogged. A quick couple of slaps through running water does the trick. Just figure out the proper angle to do it or you'll flip gunk all over the walls.

I often use a single 'disposable' head for 30-40 uses. Not that I actually shave anymore...

[Thoth]

I use Gillette sensor excell, they work well for me. I change blades every couple of weeks. Just make sure you rinse the stubble out of the blade as you go.

I've never used aftershave, and I haven't used shaving cream in about 10 years. I find hair conditioner works beautifully as a replacement for shaving cream.

[Urban Ranger]

How did you find out?

[Thoth]

Ran out of shaving cream one day, and had to make do with what I had on hand.

[Urban Ranger]

Did you just try random things?

[C0ckney]

yeah a mach-3 is great, you can use it about 30-40x before you have to change the blade. i forgot to bring it up with me when i came back to swansea, so i've been using bic razors, they're ****ing leathal.

[Thoth]

I tried regular soap (works, but not very well) and then conditioner. That worked, so I stopped experimenting.

[Spiffor]

I am a greedy bastars, and I use the same disposable for several months. The shave remains good after 5-10 uses, depending on how much hairs are in your blade.
Mach3 rules.

[HershOstropoler]

The more expensive blades are ok for 5-10 times, roughly. Then they start dragging the hair rather than cutting it, which is extremely ouch esp. on the upper lip. Depends on the beard growth and skin sensitivity, obviously.

The cheaper ones get useless much faster. As for whether it's worth it, I guess you'll have to run an experiment of your own.

[The Mad Monk]

One thing to watch out for, is as the blade dulls, you will find yourself changing your shaving style (speed, angle, pressure, etc)to get the same results. If you then switch to a new blade without remembering to use a lighter touch, you will end up using more tissue paper than usual.

[Adam Smith]

I use a Gillette Trak II, nothing fancy.

Rinse it after every use, change it once a month, and it works fine. No aftershave needed.