Review on VIKINGS Vulcan Safety Swedish Platinum by Lisa Walker

EDIT SEPTEMBER 17, 2019: Sorry, downgrading to 4 stars. On a recent trip I had to change blades and the cocking mechanism stopped working. It seems something inside is "stripped". Luckily I had a disposable razor on hand, but I'm now optimistically cautious about using this handle in the future. I work in an area where I MUST shave every day. Waking up with a broken razor is not an option. After editing this review I will be contacting Vikings Blade for a warranty return but I am concerned that the next pen may get me in trouble. Carrying two razors (Vikings and a cheap disposable) is not what I expected. What about real blades? You are top notch. Conclusions Ahead: The Vulcan Soft Blade Razor is a great pair for the new DE Razors IF you take the time to get started. The quality of the razor handle is excellent and the blades are exceptional. 100% recommended for new users. (TANGENT) Tbh I've had DE safety razors for years and haven't used them. They were cheaper vintage razors that used to belong to my grandfather and were now gifted to my college son. Why did I look at safety razors? After the politicization of men's products in the US, I decided I'd rather just shave than feel like a poster child for someone's social campaign every morning. It's not just my razor and it's not just a political point of view, I avoid all products these days that promote political views externally through advertising. They charge consumers extra for ads, and then ignore the discussion of quality instead of discussing how your razor choice affects the Copper Mountain Hairless Dwarves. I can agree that those hairless gnomes shouldn't be ashamed if I shave, but... shouldn't be ashamed. See I just want a good shave without feeling like a criminal because I chose SHTICK over PENNYSHAVECLUB. So if you're like me or just want to save money and have a nice shave, give Viking a try. - REVIEW - This review is more about the new DE razors. WEIGHT: I used my grandfather's old razor. Bladed razors purchased from a local large store. The couple did well. Appropriate, I think, is a good word. However, the RAZOR HANDLE had no weight. It's really hard to explain if you've never used DE, but weight is important for control. You must "use" a disposable razor. With a good heavy DE, the weight, blade quality, and angle of the pair do most of the work. BLADE QUALITY: The shop starters I received were made in Germany and appeared to be of good quality. That is, until I used Viking "Mild" blades. In fact, there's nothing wrong with box magazine blades. You didn't specify the type (slightly aggressive). If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say they were soft. They just wouldn't let me shave properly. At noon I felt rough and by 5pm I had a 5 o'clock shadow. I'm usually there at 5 a.m. the next morning. The Viking and Vulcan blade combo gives me a shave superior to the best disposable razors I've ever used. After shaving, my face is incredibly smooth. ANGLE / AGGRESSION: characteristic of the Volcano / Soft combination. Vulkan is listed as aggressively soft. The blades I use are soft. I'm glad my wife chose this pen for me as I feel like it will 'grow' with me as my face/hair changes with age. The soft Vulcan blades cut snugly, but I feel they give the beginner a little room for error. Hold the handle at a 30 degree angle, allow the blade and handle to float, and keep the blade clean between passes. HANDLE LENGTH: Most DE handles are much shorter than you are used to. The Vulcan pen is about the same length as a regular disposable pen. They are indicated for people with "big" hands. However, I don't have what I would call big hands (long fingers). However, they form cinder blocks when I clench my fist. I prefer a long handle to a short one. OVERALL QUALITY: There are a lot of pictures on the internet so I won't bore you with mine. Suffice it to say that after a month of use the quality is far superior to other products I have used. You can feel it when you touch it in your hands and in the positive locking of the blade. VIKING SHAVING CREAM: I can't comment on that as I own a lot of shaving creams from other brands. The only thing I can say is that you must use a quality shaving cream and based on Viking's blades and handles I would have no hesitation in recommending their products should you need anything. 5 blades come with a handle that can be used. I'll be buying a set of 50 blades for $15 soon. I shave 4-6 days a week and have used the first blade for 3 weeks (see maintenance) and Viking advertises a 50 blade set for a 12 month lifespan. My old razor was over $20 for 10 blades that lasted about 2 weeks each. About 26 blades per year. About $60 a year just for the blades. This year I saved about $10 for a lifetime grip and blades for 2 years. Also for those wondering, I tried MONEYSHAVECLUB. It's cheaper, yes, but I'd rather shave with goose droppings and shave with a butter knife. CARE: I was once told that a razor needs to be dried after each use to keep it sharp for as long as possible. So, as far as caution goes, I'll admit I haven't even read what Viking recommends. I make sure to remove as much shaving cream, hair and moisture from the shaving block as possible and put it back in the original packaging. My blade lasted 3 weeks. HOW I SHAVED: If you've read this far, you're probably looking for "how to shave with DE razors". As my wife told me, based on her brother's research/beliefs, "You always shave." Well, BS. If this is the case, no one will use electric rotary razors. The way you shave resembles more of a religious tradition than a sock-sock-shoes-shoes decision. So I'm not going to tell you how to shave, just tell you how I shave and what I've learned. My hair is fine. It's growing straight down on my cheeks. Under the nose and on the lip grows laterally. on my neck? It looks like a meteorite impact. Some grow up, some down, and some sideways. I was able to get a good (reasonable) shave with a disposable razor until earlier in the day I started having problems with hackles pulling on my collar. The same goes for my Viking. If I don't shave my jawline and neck at an angle, I leave my hair there longer. In short, whatever you do now, try it first and change it if necessary. The biggest adjustment for me was the area just under my nose. Big "Roman" nose. The second biggest was when I shaved and preparing to shave. Using disposables, I showered and then shaved. I used hot water to prep my skin and hair. Viking blades are too sharp for that (for me). If I shower first and then shave, I scratch my face badly. These aren't bad cuts, but enough to cause some blood. Seems like I'm overusing a disposable (blunt) razor that pulls on my hair. My new routine has changed to emulate my father's. I put a hot washcloth on my face for about a minute. I lather my face and shave. Then I take a shower. I truly believe the quality of Viking blades means less prep for my skin and hair. The hot shower made both too soft. Since making this small change I haven't had a single scratch or cut. END OF REVIEW SUMMARY: If you've never tried a DE razor and want to try it, buy a Viking and don't look back. I highly recommend the Vulcan with soft blades. Buying a cheap pen is akin to buying a 1994 VW Rabbit when considering a 2019 Passat. If I bought a cheap handle and cheap blades and kept cutting myself, I would toss them in the trash and go for the goosebumps option. So my recommendation? Buy it. It costs less than a year of Air Force ultra-fast razors. Take a few weeks and experiment. If you haven't learned how to shave it by then, contact the Angry Robert Guy (he actually sounds pretty cool) who will email you about your experience. Regardless, buy with confidence.