Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money • Hacker News Board

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#881

Post by DonaldFisk » Sat, May 07, 2022, 11:42 PM UTC

chaps wrote: post #869

beloch wrote: post #834

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Modern trackball,flexing, etc. multi-blade razors are expensive, but idiot proof. You can copy one of the Gillette commercials and just mash the thing to your face and make one long stroke through the chemical foam. Bam. Done. If you're happy with this, be happy. Read no further. What this article isn't telling you is that DE razors can be almost as fast, but there's a learning curve. They don't flex, bend, or rotate…

On soap/shaving foam -- absolutely. I asked an old-timey barber what his product of choice was and he answered "soap after a shower", in awe, as if what I was asking him some obvious question. Sure enough, it worked fantastically and I haven't stopped since. I use a DE and beyond that first month of slice and dice and coagulant markers, it's been smooth sailing since.

You don't even need soap. Your stubble will be saturated and easily shaveable immediately after the shower.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#882

Post by pbhjpbhj » Sat, May 07, 2022, 11:42 PM UTC

mgraczyk wrote: post #814

mellavora wrote: post #810

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've heard that you shouldn't put teflon pans in the dishwasher. I'm curious what pan is safe for the dishwasher? Pots yes. Pans not so sure.

It probably degrades them, but I wash each pan maybe once a month so it seems fine.

You only clean your pans once a month? Won't you have rancid fat in all your meals?

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#883

Post by neltnerb » Sat, May 07, 2022, 11:45 PM UTC

pbreit wrote: post #505

mrob wrote: post #418

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I started shaving a few years ago with a cheap Chinese electric razor. It needs cleaning occasionally but is otherwise trouble free. It shaves close enough to get a good respirator seal, which is close enough for me. It's impossible to injure myself with it, and it's so easy to use that I can literally shave while browsing the web. Unless you are concerned with getting the closest shave possible, electric seems the o…

May I ask which one? Flat across or the floating heads? Amazon is mostly the more expensive name brands.

I don't want to link to vendors, but I've had the "Philips Norelco OneBlade Hybrid Electric Trimmer and Shaver" for years, replaced the blade once, shave with it at least every other day, and it's been closer than anything else I've tried.

But I've also had it several years and the technology I'm sure constantly improves.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#884

Post by neltnerb » Sat, May 07, 2022, 11:47 PM UTC

sorenjan wrote: post #483

jader201 wrote: post #398

Why is a thread on electric razors not the top comment on a post about the expense/waste of straight razors? I get that they have some downsides, but if we’re talking about the expense/waste of straight razors, then it would make sense to consider electric razors. I’ve seen so many ads about companies trying to “invent” the most effective, lowest cost straight razor and it still confuses me, given we already have ele…

The manufacturers already thought of that. Now there's Philips Oneblade, electric razors where you have to replace the blades like with manual razors.

I've replaced the blade on mine like once in years... I'm honestly surprised by the different experience. Maybe it's because I use a trimmer on the lowest setting before trying to do a real "shave", so any stubble is short.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#885

Post by mgraczyk » Sat, May 07, 2022, 11:48 PM UTC

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #882

mgraczyk wrote: post #814

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It probably degrades them, but I wash each pan maybe once a month so it seems fine.

You only clean your pans once a month? Won't you have rancid fat in all your meals?

I only cook a few times a month

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#886

Post by neltnerb » Sat, May 07, 2022, 11:49 PM UTC

mr_mitm wrote: post #526

kareemsabri wrote: post #509

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's weird that men still shave at all to be honest. The world is casual enough that you're not expected to have a "close" shave. I use a Wahl Peanut with no guard, takes maybe one minute. Costs $65 and lasts 5 years easily. You can also use it to give yourself a buzz cut, if you're so inclined, and save even more money.

Believe it or not, some men like the look and feel of a close shave. And for many, saving money is not a number one priority when getting a hair cut.

And plenty have partners with one preference or another...

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#887

Post by stickfigure » Sat, May 07, 2022, 11:52 PM UTC

jimmaswell wrote: post #684

mgraczyk wrote: post #680

I appreciate the writing style, but this article is shockingly naive to me. Convenient consumer products tend to sell better than less convenient ones, even if the product is worse. That's the entire story. People have finite time, so when they receive more income they will tend to spend it to reduce the time they spend doing things that they don't care about. I for one hate spending time doing all the things that th…

Cast iron becomes very low maintenance after the seasoning is started. I don't even usually wash mine. Everything slides right off at the end. Just let it heat up before using it, use a moderately high heat but not too high, and it's a nonstick pan without the carcinogens.

Cast iron is a poor cooking surface because iron (and steel, and stainless steel) has poor thermal conductivity. The consequence is uneven heating (especially on an electric cooktop) and hotspots. The edges are distinctly colder than the center of the pan, and you have to push your food around to ensure even cooking.

Aluminum has much better thermal conductivity, but is a terrible surface to cook on (soft, oxidizes, imparts flavors to acidic foods). The best compromise is a clad pan with aluminum sandwitched between layers of stainless. I switched from cooking on cast iron to cooking on clad and it makes a huge difference.

This guy took a bunch of IR camera shots demonstrating the effect: https://www.centurylife.org/is-all-clad-worth-it-is-it-still...

> it's a nonstick pan without the carcinogens.

Strictly speaking, this is false. The seasoning on a cast iron pan is burnt oil. It is without question mildly carcinogenic. Not so much that I've thrown away my cast iron - I still use it occasionally - but I wouldn't tout it as having health benefits (except maybe a tiny increase in iron consumption).

FWIW the newer ceramic nonstick pans are incredible and nearly indestructible. Clad is still my go-to, but I use the henckles granitium pans from costco for anything with egg in it. Two years later they still work like new.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#888

Post by gruez » Sat, May 07, 2022, 11:54 PM UTC

sinsterizme wrote: post #641

gruez wrote: post #542

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The linked study reported 7-337 ng of PFOA emitted per pan, over the span of 20 minutes. According to [1], the concentration of PFOA in the average american's blood is 2.1 μg/L, which is orders of magnitude more. I concede that there's technically some PFOAs left over in pans, but I stand by my claims that the pans themselves are a non-issue. [1] https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/...

A pan would conceivably be used thousands of times over its lifetime, so I still see these amounts as pertinent

I don't dispute that the amounts are "pertinent", whatever that means, but going back to the original claim of the pans being "poisonous", I'm not sure the concentration is high enough to warrant that. The first result for maximum allowed concentration for PFAS is drinking water says it's 0.3 ug/L[1]. It's hard to compare drinking water standards to atmospheric standards, but at least intuitively it seems to be several of orders of magnitude higher than what's being emitted from pans during normal use. Given that, it seems a bit irresponsible to call pans "poisonous" when they're meeting all safety standards. I mean, arsenic is poisonous, a detectable amount can be found in most rice, and people eat a lot of rice, but it still seems a bit irresponsible to call rice "poisonous".

[1] https://emergingcontaminants.eu/application/files/9514/5260/...

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#889

Post by asah » Sun, May 08, 2022, 12:00 AM UTC

stickfigure wrote: post #887

jimmaswell wrote: post #684

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cast iron becomes very low maintenance after the seasoning is started. I don't even usually wash mine. Everything slides right off at the end. Just let it heat up before using it, use a moderately high heat but not too high, and it's a nonstick pan without the carcinogens.

Cast iron is a poor cooking surface because iron (and steel, and stainless steel) has poor thermal conductivity. The consequence is uneven heating (especially on an electric cooktop) and hotspots. The edges are distinctly colder than the center of the pan, and you have to push your food around to ensure even cooking. Aluminum has much better thermal conductivity, but is a terrible surface to cook on (soft, oxidizes,…

I actually like uneven cooking surfaces and use this to create effects in my stovetop cooking. If I want evenness, it's easy just stir or swirl - but getting unevenness is more work. A wok is a perfect example of using unevenness and motion to control your cooking, and for frying I mostly use a cast iron pan and for serious heat, a wok with a ring adapter and high BTU stove.

Re: Shaving is an example of how consumer products extract more money

#890

Post by igetspam » Sun, May 08, 2022, 12:05 AM UTC

DonaldFisk wrote: post #881

chaps wrote: post #869

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On soap/shaving foam -- absolutely. I asked an old-timey barber what his product of choice was and he answered "soap after a shower", in awe, as if what I was asking him some obvious question. Sure enough, it worked fantastically and I haven't stopped since. I use a DE and beyond that first month of slice and dice and coagulant markers, it's been smooth sailing since.

You don't even need soap. Your stubble will be saturated and easily shaveable immediately after the shower.

This. I shave with water and a mach-3. Have used this technique for over 25 years. Can't think of a time when I've had razor burn. I can't recall the last time I cut myself either. I even go against the grain at the end (people who witness this seems to cringe). I hate shaving and do it once every week or two though. I'm blessed to have very slow growing face hair. My blades last a really long time because they're almost never used.