I can well afford to buy Mach III razors for shaving with but, at about roughly £104 per annum (i.e £1 per blade at two a week), I could not bring myself to continue using them after one of the price increases about 6 months ago. Instead I opted for the Sensor Excel, better priced at about £0.65 a blade, which was a good shave. But they are now expensive at about £0.75 each. I considered my options and an electric razor was still not one of them, and a beard is incompatible with my betrothed I am led to understand.

I turned, in desperation, to what first appeared to me to be a Death Razor but better known as a safety razor. Second in age (in the history of facial grooming) only to the beard the Death Razor, with it’s brashly exposed razor blade, is not the conventional choice today even though dirt cheap.

Shaving for the first time with one of these is enough to make ones palms sweaty and heart pump under the influence of adrenalin: it has no safety wires, no longitudinal flex to bend to the curves of your face, and the blade, compared to the conventional razors of today, sticks out a mile.

I gently scraped the stubble from my face, neck and lightly around my lips. The lips are actually the hardest. But once complete, although not the most consistently smooth shave that week, I had to share this experience with Robin and pester him to follow suit. Suffice to say he did have a go (was a natural and loved it) and we continued to use the Death Razor, sharing it until he purchased his own rather fancy all metal German model.

I have since become better and more confident with the Death Razor and intend to use it daily. I just need to start using a moisturiser or try a shaving oil (as opposed to gel).