It's as if he has been reinvented. More and more men are switching back to a Safety Razor or also known as wet Shaving. Yet the Safety Razor has been around for over 100 years and is an item you probably recognize from your grandpa's bathroom cabinet. Still, this method of Shaving is making a comeback, and we encourage you to try it too. It's a delightful morning ritual and gives an incredibly smooth result without irritation. Oh yes, it will also save you money.
A Safety Razor is a luxury holder in which you can place a razor blade. These blades are razor-sharp and easy to replace yourself. The shaving result with the Safety Razor is perfectly smooth and free of irritation. So why don't we all Shaving with this system?
In the 1960s, a company called Gillette (perhaps you've heard of it) came up with a New type of razor called cartridge blades. These are the Razor Blades that everyone sees today in the supermarket or drugstore. A holder with detachable cartridges that often contain five blades. The Shaving takes less time, and you can easily replace blades. Sounds like a good alternative, but it isn't. Gillette has made a fortune with it, in any case.
Why use a Safety Razor
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Lower costs
Firstly, using a Safety Razor is more economical. Initially, it's a larger investment because the Safety Razor itself costs quite a bit. It's the blades you'll save a lot on. Cartridge blade holders are cheaper, but the blades that need to be replaced frequently are more expensive than the blades of a Safety Razor. In a Safety Razor, you usually use Double Edge Blades that have two cutting edges, so they need to be discarded less quickly. These blades cost an average of €0.30 per blade.
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Better result
The Shaving with a Safety Razor is also much better for your hair and skin. The blades of a cartridge don't really cut the hairs but tear them apart. This causes many people to experience irritation or ingrown hairs after Shaving or even infections. In a Safety Razor, you have one blade that is sharper and easily glides over your skin, actually cutting the hairs. Moreover, you need to Shaving less often because you achieve a much smoother result.
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The delightful experience of wet Shaving
The Shaving with a Safety Razor, also known as wet Shaving, takes a bit more time but is also a delightful experience. It makes you feel extra manly again and is a comfortable ritual. The wonderful warm whipped foam that you apply with a soft shaving brush over your Face massages. The knife that glides effortlessly over your Face. The warm wet towel that you put over your Face. It's a party for your Face. You enjoy the soft smooth feeling all day long. Admit that it also looks much cooler.
How to shave with a Safety Razor
We can imagine that at first you don't know how to approach this. That's why we explain step by step how you can achieve the perfect shave result. At the end of this blog we will give you advice on buying the right shaving material.
Step 1: Before you start Shaving, it is important to make your skin supple, soften the hair follicles, and open your pores. This can be done by rinsing your Face with warm water or even better, putting a moist warm towel over your Face. This prevents irritation after Shaving.
Step 2: You can now start applying foam to your Face. We recommend using a Shaving Soap or Shaving Cream. These contain fewer chemicals than foam or Hair Gel from a spray can. You will need a shaving brush for this.
Put your shaving brush in warm water for half a minute so it can absorb the moisture well. Take your shaving brush out and gently squeeze the brush to remove excess water. Too much water results in poor foam. Now apply the Shaving Soap or cream to the brush. You can rub or dab the brush in the pot with Shaving Soap until there is a layer on the brush. Then you need a Shaving Bowl to make the foam. If you don't have a Shaving Bowl, you can also use a regular bowl first.
Rub the brush back and forth in a straight line in the bowl until a nice foam forms. Continue rubbing until no more bubbles are visible. If the bubbles don't go away, you have too much water in the brush. Preferably do not make circular movements in the bowl as this can be bad for the bristles of your brush. The bristles can then get twisted and come loose.
Step 3: Now massage the brush back and forth over your Face until your Face is covered with a good layer of foam. From under your chin all the way to the top of your cheeks.
Step 4: It's time to start Shaving. Prepare a bowl with warm water to rinse your Safety Razor clean. This removes excess foam and remaining hairs between the blade and ensures an optimal result.
Always shave in the direction of hair growth and never against it. If you do, you'll get ingrown hairs. Always shave in a straight line. Do not press the blade against your skin, but let the blade do the work. Glide gently along the skin. You must always hold the blade at a certain angle for optimal Shaving. To find the right angle, you can first place the blade with the top against your cheek and gradually turn it until you hear and feel the hairs being cut. You have then found the right angle.
Try not to go over the same part too often to Shaving. Your skin will get stressed from it. If you missed a hair, apply some more foam and gently go over it again.
Step 5: When you're done Shaving, it's important to close the pores. You do this with cold water. With just cold water, it can be difficult to remove the foam from your Face, so you can also use a cold, damp towel. Try to dab rather than rub to avoid irritation.
Optionally, you can use an aftershave. Always use a aftershave without alcohol. Alcohol dries out the skin. Preferably also a aftershave that contains little or no Fragrance. Of course, you can also use an alum stone.
Step 6: From Shaving, your skin may feel tight or dry. We therefore recommend always applying a Beard Balm or moisturizing cream. Your Face will feel wonderfully soft for the rest of the day.
Give Shaving with a Safety Razor time. It requires a bit more technique than Shaving with a cartridge, but it ultimately provides much more enjoyment. It may not go perfectly the first time, but after a few times Shaving, you'll get the hang of it.
Which Safety Razor is the best?
The hardest part might still be choosing which Safety Razor to buy. There is an enormous amount of choice, and which Safety Razor is the best also varies greatly per person. With this Safety Razor, you're always good as a beginner:
Which Double Edge Blades to buy?
You will see that there are many different double edge blades for sale. They vary in strength. To determine the Sharpness, there is a scale from 1 to 5 to indicate how sharp the blades are.
As a beginner, we recommend not starting too sharp. Your skin still needs to get used to it. It also depends on the thickness of your hair. If you have very thick and coarse hairs, start with a blade that has a Sharpness of 4 on a scale of 5. If you have thinner or normal hairs, you can also start with 3 on a scale of 5. You will quickly experience whether you need to use sharper or less sharp. The following Double Edge Blades are very good:
- Gillette 7 O'clock Sharp Edge (3 on a scale of 5)
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Astra Superior Platinum (4 on a scale of 5)
Shaving Brush and Shaving Bowl
Shaving Brushes come in various types Material. For example, you have Shaving Brushes with bristles made from badger hair, boar hair, and synthetic fibers. The badger hairs absorb the most water and will work the easiest over the General. To start, a brush with synthetic fibers is fine. Nowadays, synthetic fibers are almost indistinguishable from other types of hair. Some good brushes are:
- Muhle Silvertip Fibre
- Muhle Boar Bristle - Rytmo - M - Ash Wood
For the Shaving Bowl, it is entirely up to you which one you find the most beautiful or convenient. You can basically use any type of bowl. Some suggestions are:
Which Shaving Soap is the best
You can choose between a Shaving Soap and shaving cream. The soap is still hard and the cream is somewhat softer. Both do the same. To start with, a shaving cream might be the easiest. We recommend the Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Hair Cream. This shaving cream appears in almost all top lists as one of the best and is suitable for everyone. It contains no parabens and does not cause irritation. The scent alone is irresistible. View here are products from our favorite shaving brands: Muhle, The Goodfellas' Smile, Feather and Merkur.
Also read Shaving with a Shavette: Everything you need to know