Looks of your razor

[rbtsmpsn]

How do looks play a part in selecting one of your razors to use? Do you not use a razor much because it's not visualy appealing to you? I have a New that's in great shape. It's brass and copper and really shines up nicely. But, I tend to keep it in the very back of my display because I really don't like the look of the brass and copper together. Therefore I don't use it much because of looks. I bring it out every now and then like tonight, pretty good shave.

More interesting, we all like to see beautiful razors, but what about the ugly ones? Do you have a razor that is just down right ugly that you use all the time because it shaves great? What is it?

[Gwhunter]

I like shaving with the pretty ones best. But if I settle on an ugly one it will have to shave better than all the rest I have. Then it's off to re-plate.

Yeah, I'm fickle.

[rbtsmpsn]

I like shaving with the pretty ones best. But if I settle on an ugly one it will have to shave better than all the rest I have. Then it's off to re-plate.

Yeah, I'm fickle.


I was wondering if I was the only one like that. It has to look good to me too.

[IronHammer]

The only reason I will shave with an ugly one is because that's the only one of that type that I have. Otherwise, I just love looking into the mirror at my shiny old classic razor while I shave! Gold ones are particularly attractive to me, even though I know they will never outlast a nickel or rhodium razor.

[tmanqz]

I bought my Futur, just because I love the smooth clean look of it. I bought my EJ89L because its so pretty. Im a shallow guy I guess.
The Gillette's just have to take a back seat until Im in the mood for something different.

[GreekGuy]

If looks didn't matter I probably would have stopped buying razors oh....10 razors ago. They must be good shavers, but aesthetics make the difference for me between my $12 beater red tip and my way more expensive models

[doug1066]

Looks don't matter to me. I have five razors, a 1955 Superspeed, a Schick J-1, a Schick Golden 500, a Gillette Ball tip and a Gillette travel Ball Tip. None of them are in pristine condition but they are clean and shave well.

[BigMick]

I'm a poor boy. I can't afford pretty razors. All of mine are user grade, in good condition but not anything approaching new/mint looking. Honestly my two ugliest razors are the best shavers.

Now getting away from condition all my razors must be aesthetically pleasing, to me, shapes. I lean towards the classics, the modern futuristic razors like the Futur or Vision hold no appeal for me.

[Buck Melanoma]

About a year ago I bought a "well-used" fat handle Gillette Tech (triangular hole). The nickle is worn off each end of the head, all the way down to copper. The previous owner clearly liked this razor.

I can see why. It allows an easy against the grain pass, which results in a closer than normal shave that still feels good.

In the last two weeks I have found two more, both much nicer looking, one with fully intact and shiny plating, one with less shine, but still with full plating.

They are all very, very good shavers, but the well-used one is still the best shave.

I will keep whichever of the new ones which shaves best, and give the other to a friend.

I will keep on shaving with that ugly one. It is the ugliest in my collection, but, in this case, function wins out over beauty.

[JeffJ]

Performance first, looks second. Really like my EJ DE89 on both counts. If I was collecting/RAD, looks would end up being more important.

[huck1680]

We're guys. Look! Shiny! Ooooh. Want now. Sorry ugly don't work. That's why we scrub,polish, fix, replate and do whatever else we feel has to be done.:w00t:

[MacDaddy]

I'd say looks matter, but only as a third-place factor for me. The most important thing is how good a shave I can get out of it, and the second is how it feels in my hand.

Also, when it comes to my vintage razors I prefer an "honest" look. The plating can be pretty far gone before I'd consider replating it -- it has to be a case of, "It's too ugly," rather than, "It's not pretty enough."

[Old Man Army]

Looks are definately important for me. My first safety razor was a WWI military issue Gillette. I bought it because the case looked so cool. For some reason I let that one go. I bought a new Merkur 23C when I started wet shaving again. It's functional and gives a good shave, but it lacks charisma. That led me to pick up a Hoffritz slant at an antique shop. Between the way the metal case looked and the obvious quaility and heft, I was smitten.

[OkieStubble]

Will replating an older razor that shaves great change how it shaves?

[franz]

Once I get a razor I like, I look to get a prettier example. I like shiny.

I've yet to replate anything. But I don't really have anything that's rare or sentimental enough to justify replating.


We're guys. Look! Shiny! Ooooh. Want now. Sorry ugly don't work. That's why we scrub,polish, fix, replate and do whatever else we feel has to be done.:w00t:

Amen, brother.

[Slivovitz]

If I get a great shave with a particular razor, it starts to look good to me regardless of cosmetic factors. Nothing against mintiness, but a well worn razor has its own esthetic appeal. It looks like it has a back story, and didn't just sit forgotten in a drawer for fifty years.

[steve61111]

Golf clubs, writing pens, carpentry tools, or shavers, if they are not pleasing to my eye cosmetically, they don't get bought. I mean, who wants to own any tool that you can't stand to look at? Not me.

[Go West Young Man]

Will replating an older razor that shaves great change how it shaves?

Strictly cosmetic.

[drews50]

I guarantee you razor manufacturers have designers involved in product development. Looks are very important.