Equinox International, Professional Straight Edge Razor With 100 Single Derby Blades Stainless Steel Razor And Blades - Disposable Blades -Barber Straight Razor Kit - Gold & Black

Okay, I'm 55 years old, and I've Shaved through the years with electrics, disposables, cartridge razors, you name it. None are good. They either clog, are a pain to clean, and most are incredibly expensive in the long run. A few years ago I switched to a double-edge safety razor. I switched because of cost, and that research shows that the double-edge is easier to clean and gives a better shave. I absolutely love the double-edge razor, and a nice, close, smooth shave. In the interest of getting an even closer shave, I started researching the straight razor. It's the closest shave possible, plus there is the cool, nostalgia factor. That, and I get to brag that I'm a fearless, death-defying manly man. Alright, I'm not really into bragging but I hope I gave you a chuckle. I just love the old ways, and a simple life. I've read many of the reviews on this product. The main complaints seem to be rust, the blades, and balance. Here are my observations. Rust. Pretty much a no-brainer. Clean it after use. Remove the blade carefully, rinse and dry everything with tissue, and let it air dry for a while. Rub it with mineral oil once in a while and you should be good. Respect this thing! Don't get cocky! Don't leave it or the blades where kids can get them! Don't handle the edge of the blade. I've never cut myself handling these or double-edge blades. Use your head! Go slow. Balance. Yes, it could be better. It's not horrible, just pay attention and go slow. Pay attention to the angle, and use basically NO PRESSURE. Let the weight of the razor do the work. The blades. They're very sharp and do a good job. They're not my favorites, Astra blades are my favorite, they just work for me. I'm hoping I can split the Astras and use them, but if that doesn't work the Derbys are fine. In the end, my first shave with a straight edge was very cool and I got a good shave. I was very patient, used a very soft touch, kept my skin lubricated and pulled tight. I did get one small cut and a couple small nicks, but no worse than my initial transition to the double-edge. I'd recommend buying the cheap Chinese copy of the Mercur adjustable double-edge razor which is available on Amazon. Start with it closed to the most narrow. Use the double-edge, opening it wider and wider as your skills improve. When you can shave with it wide open you'll be very close to the straight edge experience because so much of the blade will be exposed. When you master that, transition to the straight edge. You will already have the light touch and angle required for the straight edge. Be patient. You are a man, and you will develop the skills in time. Relax. You've got nothing to prove to anyone. I hope this helps. God bless.

Disclaimer: I am not receiving compensation for my review, and I am writing this review after two uses. I have never before used a straight edge razor or a shavette. I am a mixed race male, so my hair is a mixture of course and soft. Opinion: I received my item today and almost instantly got to using it. I used a shave gel called Precision Shave Gel by Van Der Hagen, and a bit of warm water. I started by shaping up my eyebrows. This includes the nooks between the bridge of the nose and the inner portions of the eyebrow. I moved on from doing so to shave the hair on top of my nose. I didn't cut myself throughout this time. I wiped the blade off with a cloth and left it in place as I knew I was going to use it again in the day. Later, I used the same blade from before, and the same gel to shave my sideburns and jawline. I did end up cutting both jaws in the corners, but I'd believe this was user error and they were also very minor cuts that didn't hurt. Overall, for as many reviews as I read, I expected that my first time using a straight edge/shavette would end with a lot of cuts and scratches, and reviews on this specific item led me to believe this was a dangerous one in particular. I don't find that to be the case, and I believe a user properly shaving will have no issues. Shave gel is absolutely necessary, and being a bit cautious with the blade as well. Pros: Solid, easy to use design. Decently light, not a lot of weight to it. Comes with 100 razor blades. The blade did not wiggle in place for me, and my razor was also well aligned. Cons: Blade can be a bit hard to take out without cutting yourself if you aren't cautious. Found the best way to take it out was by releasing the clamp, sticking your fingernail in the very edge piece with a lip(above the blade, at the top of the razor) and separating it from there. All in all: I think this is a great budget shavette(it's not a straight edge since it has disposable blades) that will last if taken care of. I also think that the user of course must be cautious, and should never shave without shave gel. Male or female. If you have the money, buy a DOVO, but if you're like me and you had to settle, this is a pretty good option to do so with. I didn't see any issue with blade sharpness, mine proved effective on my course sideburns without issue. If you want it to last without rust, take the blade out each time, and dry all areas including between the two blade holders with a dry cloth. I think this is a good blade that will get the job done be it shaving your head, face, dermaplaning, or shaping up your eyebrows. My only complaint was that taking the blade out can he difficult without cutting yourself, but even my first time using it I didn't cut myself taking it out. I would rate this item at about a 4.7-4.8 simply because of that, but for simplicity I will give this item 5 stars. Also arrived in two days.

I got into straight razor shaving about a year ago. My wife bought me a "Grim Blades" set, which I loved. But once the blade dulled beyond what stropping could fix, I put it down. I said I'd send it off to get it sharpened. I said I'd get a whetstone and learn to sharpen it myself. I never did. I did hate going back to cheap, multi-blade disposable razors. When I finally got fed up, I went on Amazon and found these "shavette" style razors. "The close shave of a straight razor?" I said. "The convenience of a disposable razor for even less money? Perfect! I'm in." I had it delivered in two days. The product: When I first opened the box, I was blown away by the quality of the construction given the low price point. The razor is made of a high quality stainless steel. It definitely has more weight than I expected. The razor blades are individually wrapped and very sharp, so I'm well pleased with them, too. The scales fold up very snugly to the cutting edge and it does not simply fall open accidentally. The two sides that hold the razor blade in place are very tight and secure nicely. I have to use my fingernail a bit to pry them apart, but this has not been a real issue for me. The shaving experience: I get a very close shave with this razor. It works every bit as well as a good straight razor. My only complaint is the weight of the scales, which is why I'm deducting one star. They are much heavier than my old straight razor. They are so heavy that at times it's difficult to keep the razor at the appropriate angle against my skin. This is especially a problem when turning the blade at sideways angles like when shaving my chin or that little spot right under my nose. That said, by gripping the tang very firmly I have successfully avoided any nicks so far. But I do have to have what I'd call a "death grip" to feel comfortable with with and go very slow, even by straight razor shaving standards. Bottom line: I'd recommend this razor. For the price, you get a quality razor and a great shave. Just take extra care shaving with such weighty scales.

This is a great product I still use it to the day, way better than any regular razor.

This thing is the devils thumbnail. I don't know who got the idea of finding the sharpest piece of steel they could find and scraping it across your face. I have been using cartridges razors from one of those subscription type services that send you razors every month and I wanted to save money by switching to a straight razor. Luckily, blood is free and my body will replace it. The first time I used it, I looked like I got in a fight with a bobcat. The second time I used it I looked like I tried to baptize a cat. But it was getting better. I am sure I will become more adept at using this thing. I am using parker blades in it. It's so sharp you don't even feel the cut. You clean the lather off the blade, look in the mirror and there is blood. The shave is incredibly close. And the nicks are so small they heal quickly. I would suggest if you are new to the shavette world, start by doing the easy parts of your face first, like the sides of your face and maybe even your neck. Learn blade control and proper angle before attempting the difficult parts of your face like under your nose and chin area. All in all, the device is exactly as described. I too, have alignment issues where the blade does not want to close nicely in the handle. A slight little press on the counter top and all is well. What do you expect for a device under $15 bucks. The all stainless steel construction is a plus for longevity and maintenance. This is my first single blade shaving device so I could go on about handle length, balance etc... but it wouldn't mean much as I have nothing to compare it too. I think this is a great starter shavette to see if you want to venture deeper into the single blade shaving world. I will keep pressing on an the bloodshed will be less and less each time I use it.

The design itself is nice and looks and feels good in your hand. This is my first straight razor, and it was fun and enjoyable to shave with it--got a very close shave with no nicks. Derby blades are my favorite--sharp but forgiving. I watched some YouTube videos on how to shave with a straight edge and took my time--definitely a leisurely experience. I was a little worried by some of the reviews saying the machining wasn't the best and that some received a used product, but glad I gave it a try. As for the machining and construction, I'd give them a B+. It's not perfect, with a few scuffs here and there, and the blade doesn't line up perfectly when closed, but enough to cover the razor. When I do move the blade to go fully into the handle, the razor rests on metal, which isn't ideal, so I just let it close where it wants to. But the handle and razor arm hinge nicely together and stay in the position you want them in, rather than flopping around. Also, because of the way the razor fits into the blade, you are going to get water trapped in the blade every time you use it, so removing the razor and wiping the straight edge dry each time you use it to avoid rust is a little cumbersome--it's probably like this for any straight edge that uses disposable blades, not just this brand. But then again, you probably aren't shaving with a straight edge because you want a quick, no fuss shave. You're doing it for the nostalgic experience, right? Overall, not a bad intro to straight edges and certainly does its job well.

I’ve been wanting to get and learn how to use a straight razor for years. After learning how intense it is to care for a traditional straight razor, I decided to get one with a replaceable blade. I visited the Art of Shaving store in my local mall. Their razor was $60 and included no blade. I decided to look online first before spending the money. I found this razor on amazon and was hesitant because the price was low AND included 100 blades. I took a chance and bought it. Wow. This razor really impressed me. It feels heavy in your hand and the metal looks and feel high end. It is super easy to install a blade and the instructions do a nice job at explaining it. What the instructions don’t tell you is how to use it, but I had no issue finding YouTube videos on how to use it. I was a little nervous my first shave but it gave me the closet shave of my life and I didn’t nick myself once! I have used it for two more shaves and the blade is still sharp and gives a great close shave! This is an amazing straight razor for anyone looking to get into them. It comes with 100 blades that should last you months. It looks and feel professional and is easy to use! Great razor for the price!

I made the change to a safety razor a few years ago. I don't regret a single minute of it, and I'm trying to stay away from hoarding razor blades... (which might start happening now). I have always been curious about straight razors, but they look super scary. I'm a woman... so I am thinking about shaving my legs, armpits and brows area... but oh no... I am so scared! I've watched way too many videos of men shaving, reviews and women shaving... and I finally got brave... and bought this shavette. I didn't get a regular straight razor, because I don't know how to do the stroping and the other stuff to maintain it... AND with a shavette, I can try different blades, and that is quite interesting to me. The day that it came... I just looked at it. Then I looked at it some more and 2 days later... I braved it... went into the shower... and TRIED to shave for the first time. It definitely has a learning curve... and no matter how many videos I watched, it didn't prepare me for the how to hold the darn thing... and... guess what... it didn't matter, because my hands figured out how to hold it on its own. I did nick myself, but it was my error... Here are some things that I learned. 1. Be sure to be lathered well beforehand and stay lathered. 2. Go at it slowly... 3. Go with the grain on the first pass, then against the grain for the second pass, and you might not even need to go across the grain..... 4. For wrinkly parts, be sure to to pull the skin taught and then go at the skin slowly 5. For the face... pull taught, and then go to work... slowly. 6. Be sure to moisturize afterwards - whether it be oils (which I prefer) OR some lotion.... (I find that this is some different type of shave that I have NEVER experienced before even with those expensive 5 blade shavers before). If you are very scared.... I totally get it and understand. Try a safety razor first and see... what you think. BUT... the truth is... that this is going to be a FUN and Badass way to get you some seriously close shaves. My legs, armpits and other areas... were just beautifully shaved. The eyebrows area looked amazing. I have to say... that this makes me feel truly badass... and I want to try different blades, and can't wait to shave again. This shavette (albeit being my first one)... looks well made. The blade didn't move around, and it looks like it will last quite a bit. BTW... those blades ... the Derby Premium blades... are AMAZING. So much so, that I am very interested in purchasing the double edged razors for my safety razor which I will still use for my intimate areas. This was a great buy. I will update this later on... but right now... after 1 use... just wonderful....