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Technology has radically changed our lives over the past century, especially for the better.
This is not the case in terms of shaving. Today’s guide explains why a proven method, the safety razor, is still and how to shave with a safety razor.
Old-school safety razors are a perfect example. For the modern man, safety razors look both outdated and intimidating, especially compared to the high-tech five-blade razors we use (and supplement) so often.
Good shaving has become a lost art. The average man today has no idea of the fine art of the traditional wet shave in which their grandfathers and some of their fathers participated—just all the heavily marketed cartridge razors that exist on the market.
The double-edged safety razor is just that: simple, cheap, and effective. A new generation of men has discovered that you don’t need five blades to get a smooth face.
Table Of Contents
The Benefits Of Shaving With A Safety Razor
1. Reduce Costs
An 8-pack of your typical 4-blade razors can cost you over $ 20. $ 20! That’s $ 2.50 per cartridge.
The cost of a double-edged safety razor does not exceed $ 0.25. You can save a lot of money by switching to a safety razor. Plus, you can save money by using traditional shaving creams and soaps.
A can of the chemically packed gel clutter that most drugstores sell can cost you up to $ 5 per can, and it doesn’t take long, and they don’t give you a quality shave.
On the other hand, traditional shaving creams and soaps are made from natural materials. While their initial cost can be a little more than shaving gels, you need less product to lather well. This will save you more in the long run.
2. Less Drag & Less Irritation
While other razors advertise 3-5 razors in a single cartridge, the safety razor stands strong with a single strong blade.
This means less resistance on the face, less chance that your top layer of skin will come off with the hair, and less mass builds up between the blades while dragging it over your open pores.
That said, a safety razor promises a safer, healthier shave if done correctly.
3. Closer Shave
Forget all this marketing banter about more blades equating to more effectiveness: A single, sharp, clean safety blade can (and usually will) shave closer and smoother than any three- or five-blade razor, says Pike.
4. Better For Coarse Hair
If you have thick hair that doesn’t budge under the lightness of a standard cartridge shave (or if the hair is too thick and leads to drag, clogging and irritation), a safety razor is an obvious solution. And since you replace the blade after every use, you never get a dull shave.
How To Shave With a Safety Razor
If you’re willing to test it out, or if you have the safety razor on hand and need to use it properly, here’s how.
Enjoy the process and remember: take it easy.
The video above is a great introduction for those new to using a safety razor and covers the key techniques to achieve a smooth, comfortable shave. If you’d rather read about it, we’ve summarized it below for you.
1. A Pre-shave Routine
Before you shave, you can take a warm shower that softens your hair. If you don’t want to shower, you can use a wet towel.
I just wet a towel, microwave it for a minute, then rest it on my face
It’s very comforting, but it also helps soften my hair. If that’s too much time for you, you can also splash your face with hot water for a minute or two until you feel your hair softening.
then apply pre-shave oil to nourish and smooth your skin.
2. Apply Lather
Take a small dollop (about the size of a nickel) of your shaving cream and put it in a mug.
Take the shaving brush that you dipped in water beforehand and turn the cream over until you get a nice thick foam.
Apply the foam in a swirling motion with your brush. When your face is nice and covered, take a few strokes to smooth everything out.
3. Hold The Razor At A 30° Angle
Safety razors: As their name implies, they have a built-in safety mechanism to prevent accidental cutting. That is, the shaving head protrudes beyond the edge of the blade, preventing the blade from making direct contact with the skin.
When the razor is held at an angle of about 30 ° to the skin, this protective rod is turned out of the way, exposing the blade to the stubble and allowing the razor to work effectively. A big part of the learning curve when learning to use a safety razor is getting used to keeping the razor at the right angle while shaving.
3. Shaving With The Grain
Another thing to remember while shaving is following the direction your hair is growing.
You should shave with this grain, not against it. You may need to study your growth patterns before shaving or shaving with a translucent gel or oil.
Also, your hair doesn’t all grow in the same direction, so pay close attention. This prevents ingrown hairs.
4. Use Short & Straight Strokes
Instead of long, sweeping strokes of the razor, it is best to use short strokes about 1-3 cm long. Doing so will prevent scratches and cuts while also pulling hair and razor clogging.
5. Rinse With Cold Water And Apply Aftershave
It is also normal on the other side of shaving after shaving close the pores with a splash of cold water and apply a refreshing, cleansing and protective layer on the skin, in the form of a stick – Shaving balm. It cools and calms the skin and prevents extra irritation and infection.
Final Words
Unlike razor shaving, safety razor shaving requires some skill and technique.
Once mastered, you should shave effectively in no time. The four keys to a successful shave with a safety razor are:
- use as little pressure as possible,
- keep the blade as far away from your face as possible,
- shave with the grain
- go for beard reduction, don’t remove the beard.
This will take some getting used to if you’ve used cartridges all your life.
- gq.com
- artofmanliness.com
