How to Shave with a Safety Razor
When people first started switching to safety razors, it almost felt like that moment of time when everyone went back to collecting vinyl. Innovation seemed to make safety razors feel like an obsolete technology. We have disposables and cartridge razors now. Why would we want to go back to the old ways?
Before you jump right into it, make sure you understand what makes a safety razor different and adapt your technique.
As it would turn out, the safety razor was never something that needed to be improved or changed. It was designed perfectly, and it still comes with a laundry list of advantages over newer razor styles. New isn’t necessarily improved. Sometimes, the old fashioned way is the best way.
Why Choose a Safety Razor?
If you’re looking to ditch your conventional razor, there’s more pros than cons to that decision. You’re saving money, saving the environment, and saving your face when you choose to leave all those cartridges and disposables behind.
Better for the Environment
Think about every disposable razor or razor cartridge you’ve tossed out. Multiply that by the amount of people in the world who shave.
Every single one of them is still in a landfill somewhere. If you’ve ditched straws and you’re bringing your own bags to the grocery store, an unsustainable razor doesn’t make much sense.
Less Expensive
Buying your first safety razor may feel like a bit of an investment, but that handle is designed to last forever. When you need to replace the blade, the cost amounts to pennies. You can get a great handle for the same price you’re used to paying for a single pack of cartridge refills, and since the refill blades for the new handle are so cheap, you can use a new blade every time you shave without breaking the bank.
Easier on Your Skin
Disposables and cartridges are often designed with the amount of blades in mind. In theory, it seems like it should save you time. If every swipe of the razor is backed by five blades, shouldn’t it be the same as five passes? The answer: yes and no.
You are getting swiped by a blade five times, but if you miss anything, you need to make another pass. And another pass. This means that it might take fifteen scrapes on the same spot to leave your face smooth.
Shaving, by nature, is irritating. More blades only maximizes the risk for irritation. Safety razors are designed to allow you to get the cleanest possible shave with one swipe. If you need two more, then you’ve only rubbed a blade against your skin three times. If you want to avoid razor burn or skin irritation, it only makes sense to use a safety razor.
Shaving with Your Safety Razor
Shaving with your safety razor won’t be jarringly different from shaving with any other kind of razor. If you’re upgrading your razor, go ahead and upgrade your whole routine. Taking care of your face is important.
Preparing Your Face
It’s easier to shave when your face is warm, wet, and free from dry skin. Dry skin disrupts a smooth shave, and exfoliating fixes that problem. Exfoliating once or twice a week can help slough off the dead cells resting on top, allowing your razor easier access to your beard hair at the skin’s surface.
Shaving right after a warm shower will always give you the best result. Heat and moisture help to keep your skin and hair soft throughout your shave. Wash your face with a hypoallergenic face wash before you get out of the shower so you can start with a nice, clean surface.
Applying Shaving Cream
Most shaving creams, foams, and gels only do the bare minimum. They foam up and provide a thin barrier between your skin and the razor. They frequently include potentially irritating ingredients like artificial fragrances and sulfates. Your shaving cream might exacerbate razor burn or skin sensitivity.
Make sure the product you’re using is working for you.
LTHR’s shaving cream is expertly formulated by master barbers. We’ve cut out the artificial fragrances and chemical irritants. Our shaving cream uses skin healthy ingredients that provide moisture and protection while soothing redness. The dream team of aloe vera, glycerin, and coconut oil smooth and soothe while you shave.
Use your shaving cream with a hot lather machine. That’s the secret behind the perfect barbershop style shave. LTHR’s hot lather machine isn’t as clunky or slow as the machines at the barbershop.
Our cordless hot lather machine takes up less counter space than a can of hairspray. It heats the lather up to the perfect temperature of 135 degrees to maintain the hair softening warmth throughout the duration of your shave.
Using Your Safety Razor
When you’re using a safety razor, you should shave with the grain. Go with the direction of your hair growth. Safety razors are highly efficient. There’s no need to scrape yourself up with an against-the-grain shave.
You want to hold your safety razor at a 30 to 40 degree angle. Touch the center of your razor to your beard and hold it straight out, level with the floor. Then, lower it down until you find the angle where the blade can cut your beard hairs. Apply the lightest amount of pressure possible, and keep your hand steady while you glide the razor downwards.
This is the trickiest part of mastering a safety razor. You might want to practice on your arm or leg before you try it on your face if you don’t have enough confidence in the way you’re handling the razor.
Aftercare
Don’t use aftershave. It’s often full of irritants, and when you’re new to using a safety razor, you might irritate your skin a little bit while you’re still learning.
If you’re going out into the daylight, use a gentle moisturizer with SPF to keep your skin soothed and free from irritation. If you’re a night time shaver, you can use any gentle moisturizer you like. You don’t need SPF to go to sleep.
The Takeaway
You have everything to gain when you switch to a safety razor. Just be patient and willing to practice. If you’re not sure how to angle the razor right, starting with an inconspicuous patch on your arm or your thigh is a great way to start. As soon as you find the perfect angle, shaving with a safety razor is just as easy as shaving with any other kind of razor.
Back up your safety razor with LTHR. Our shaving cream and hot lather machine are the perfect tools to turn your bathroom into a barbershop. You deserve a perfect relaxing shave every time. We’ve got what you need to make that happen.
Sources:
10 Products That are Killing the Environment (With Better Alternatives) | One Green Planet