In business school, we talked a lot about the "razor and razor-blade model". We also joked about the razor wars - one blade, to two blades, to three blades, to four blades...

I have a full beard and grew up with 2-blades. But shaving was not a perfect experience for me. I have a tough beard on my cheeks but a tender neck which often breaks out in a rash. When you are a kid, you dream of shaving but the reality of shaving pretty much sucks.

My grandfather used to shave with a single-blade. Do you remember those old razors where the blade was this paper-thin piece of metal that came in a little metal box and you would switch the blades every so often? When I heard that those razors actually irritate the skin less than the modern multi-blade models so I got curious.

For Christmas in 2006 I asked for an old-school razor and received one as a gift. (Thanks, Mom :)

After 6 months of using it, I can say that I'm done with the razor wars. The old-school single blade razor is by far the best shave I have ever had and I am happily sticking with it. No more $15 blade refills for me.

Steppin' Razor

The first few shaves were a bit unnerving. This is a real razor blade! The kind you normally keep in a tool box in the basement not the bathroom. Moreover it feels TOTALLY different from the disposables. After the first few harrowing shaves, it took about a month before I got used to the new system. Since that trial period, I have grown quite fond of the single-blade and have no plans to switch back.

My main issue with the old razor was razor burn. I almost never get irritated skin with this new single blade so that was a big win.

Another issue with double-blades was that they got clogged up. Long before the blades got dull, they would get full of whiskers and the blades would bend. Once bent, the new blade angle would totally irritate. This was an even bigger problem if i didnt shave for a few days (as in every week).

I am happy to say that this problem is moot with the single blade. Whether I shave once a day or once a week, the single blade cuts the same and never plugs up. In fact, I much prefer taking a longer period between shaves because it makes my whiskers easier to cut. Even shaving once a week with a thick beard is a breeze now (as long as you soften your beard in a hot shower first).

An added bonus is that the razor cuts body hair easily - something men in their late 30's and 40's might (discretely) appreciate.

Along with the new razor, I stopped using shaving cream. Instead of buying a $4 can every month, I bought a single brick of expensive, imported shaving soap. The soap was not easy to find but it works great. And I have used maybe a quarter of the bar in half a year -- rather economical.

The one downside is that this blade will cut you. I dont think I had ever bled with my 2-blade but that happens now. For me the main problem is my prominent adams-apple (Thanks, god!). This razor is very hard to shave an irregular shape like that and I occasionally pull out the 2-blade just for this operation.

So next time you are annoyed with your multi-blade performance (or the huge expense), check out your grandfather's old razor. Sometimes new is not the same thing as better.