Category: Daily Living
Hey all,
I've been pondering making the switch from an electric razor and using a safety razor instead. Does anyone have any tips for this as I haven't used one of these before. Any help would be great.
This will sound silly, but here goes.
Leave the blade cover on, and learn what it feels like to shave with it.
This will give you an idea of angle, how it feels, what you need to do to get to all the parts you want to shave.
Other than that, use a cream or lather with soap to shave.
Keep it sharp. The sharper the razor, the better the shave.
Clean it after the shave with the brush.
This will sound silly, but here goes.
Leave the blade cover on, and learn what it feels like to shave with it.
This will give you an idea of angle, how it feels, what you need to do to get to all the parts you want to shave.
Other than that, use a cream or lather with soap to shave.
Keep it sharp. The sharper the razor, the better the shave.
Clean it after the shave with the brush.
There are several little differences between safety razors and electirc razors,
even between safety razors and cartridge razors. But, knowing what to do will
make safety razor shaving the best morning ritual you've ever had.
First, you're going to need some blades. You can find these at salon supply
stores really cheaply. I just bought one hundred blades for twenty bucks. I'd
spend that on four blades for a cartridge razor. That's why I got into in the first
place. second, you'll need shave cream. You can use any kind of shave cream,
but using shave soap and a badger hair brush will lift your whiskers and make
them easier to cut. Its also luxurious on your face. Silvertip badger hair is the
best, but its very spendy. You might save up for one though, or find a good deal
at an antique store or online. The art of shaving has some very nice ones. Then,
you'll need pre and after shave treatments. Pre shave oil is optional, but I find it
makes my shave much smoother, it can also give your face a pleasant tingle.
After shave is not optional. Get a good aftershave. Do not, I repeat, do not, go
to walmart and get a five dollar bottle of aftershave and think you're good. You
will know why I say this the moment you dab and on and wonder why they put
fire ants in the aftershave bottle. It has alcohol in it, it burns like fuck after a
safety razor shave, don't do it. Get a good aftershave, they come in better
frarances, some have sun screen in them, some have moisturizer. Figure out
what's best for your skin and go with that one.
Now then, now that you have some tools, you're ready to get shaving. So you
whip that razor out, stick a blade in and just rub it on your face like any other
razor, right? Wrong. That will skin your face off. a safety razor requires different
movements to prevent yourself from being cut, but they're easy to master. First,
you're going to want to find out how the grain of your hair is all over your face.
For me, the grain on my sideburns goes straight down, then turns in at my jaw.
For you it might be different. My chin whiskers go to the right, yours might go
downward. Rub your face and figure out which direction is smooth and which is
rough. You want to go in the direction that is nice and smooth.
Then, get your face all creamy. You don't need a lot, but you need enough to
cover your whiskers. This is where the badger hair brush comes in handy.
Now for the actual shave. Safety razors have heavy heads for a reason. Let
the weight of the head do the work. Don't push it against the hair, and don't
push it against your face. Just let gravity do the work. Also, with a cartridge
razor you turn your wrist during the stroke. don't do that with a safety razor. it
changes the angle of the blade and will make your cut sloppy. Just put the razor
against your cheek and let it slide down. The handle is for you to control it, not
to push or pull it. It will take some experimentation to find the most comfortable
angle, but once you find it, it'll feel great. Now just go with the grain for the first
few strokes. Then, try going across the grain. Going against the grain is a good
way to get razor bumps, so avoid that unless its absolutely necessary.
Once you're done, wash your face with a soft cloth with hot water, then again
with cold water. This will close your pours. Then dab on your favorite aftershave.
You want to put on enough that it doesn't all soak in. Your face should feel
slightly moist afterward. Then clean your brush, put your razor away, clean your
bowl if you have one, and go on about your day.
at first it takes a while, but with practice you get quick. Now it takes me about
ten minutes to shave.
Thanks for the tips, I'll have to really consider those and do some research in to what will work best for me.
Nice post indeed.