Shaving with a straight razor

Man have been shaving their beards for centuries. It became a sign of manhood and a strong tradition in the modern world, the same world that seem to despite it so much nowadays. With our "fast" way of life, people started to treat shaving as a burden, and not as something you can enjoy.

Part of the problem is in those "disposable" blades we buy, They cause irritation, in-grown hair and "razor burns" are just part of the  problems those low quality razor blades can cause. In additional to all of this, those companies design the blades to wear-out so that after one month, you have to throw them away and buy a new one. The only apparent solution is Classic wet shaving. Shaving with a straight razor, unlike regular shaving, doesn't cause skin irritation, can be done just as quick, is more profitable in the long run and if you ask anyone who tried it even once, makes a closer shave that feels just great on your face.

Lately people been asking me about how to shave with  strength razor. And although The "Classic shave", or how other call it a "Wet shave", was invented many years ago, man around the world still prefer this old fashioned way over the newer methods. If you are a man who prefers quality, who cares about his health, and above all, loves a close shave, you will have to learn about  how to shave with a straight razor, or how to use a straight razor.

Navigate your way through our guides using the tabs above. Choose from "How to shave with a straight razor" or the "shaving tips - shave like a real man" or the "How to extend the life of a blade"

a Woman's view on shaving with a straight razor

Recently I've been searching the web for interesting stories about how to shave with a straight razor. My eye caught a small blog called "Curly by nature". The lady who runs this blog tells a story about how her husband found about shaving with a straight razor. It made my day, hope it will make yours.

Mr. Curly has a new obsession. Ok, so he says "hobby." And, since I spend a lot of time trolling for new craft projects, I can't really give him too hard of time for all the time he spends trolling for information about this new hobby.

The hobby?

Straight razor shaving.

Yep, shaving.

A couple of weeks ago, he received these in the mail from his dad:

These are straight razors owned first by his great-great grandfather, then his great-grandfather, and finally, used by his grandpa to learn to shave. His father received them when his grandpa's last remaining sister passed away and the house was cleaned out.

So, yeah, he's gone from safety-razor guy, to straight razor guy. And while the start up costs are kind of crazy (he had to buy a leather and canvas strop, then honing stones, then send these razors away to be professionally honed because you don't want to ruin a family heirloom, and he bought a "practice" straight razor), we figure we're saving about $180 a year on razor blades.

See, Mr. Curly has a manly, thick beard. Because of this, he has to change his razor cartridge about every 5 days. That is 4-5 blades a month, and we all know razor blades aren't cheap!

And honestly, I can't complain. In high school, one of my favorite books had a character who used a straight razor. I always loved that character and patterned many of my little stories after him, so why would I be upset that my husband now gets to do the same manly thing?

My only worry? He wants to teach Curly Boy how to use these when he has to start shaving. 1) I don't want to think of Curly Boy as old enough to shave. 2) I don't want to think of Curly Boy holding an unprotected blade to his neck!

Still, the shaving soap and brush I bought Mr. Curly for Valentine's day do make him smell good, the shaves are nice and clean, his neck doesn't get all beat up.... and he finally has a hobby cheaper than car restoration.

Article and Photo Credit goes to Curly-T 

oh and by the way, If you'll find anything similar, why not send it to me?
TMS
Thismortalsun@gmail.com

Common Shaving Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

So you've been shaving for most of your life now. Its a rite of passage into manhood, and you've learned to do it even with your eyes closed. But still, there is much more to shaving than gliding a blade on your cheeks. A bad shave can leave your skin irradiated and make your skin look older. Just because you do it every morning, doesn't mean you can neglect it. on the contrary, Find out what you're doing wrong, and maybe you will find the joy in smooth shaving.

1. Never shave when you're in a hurry. Always use hot water to prepare your skin, this will soften your stubble, relax your face muscles and open your facial pores. The best time to shave is just after a hot bath. Don't dry your face just yet, the water will make applying the shaving foam more easy, and it will keep your skin clean.

2. Use plenty of good grade shaving foam. Don't go for the cheapest you can get, thats your face we're talking about. always use more than you think you will need, if you want to save a few bucks, check our guide to extend the life of your blade.

3. There is nothing worse than a dull blade, yes I'm talking about the blade that you have used for the last 3 months. again, if you value you're health, and you care about the way your skin look, throw that blade out of the window, let it harm someone else.

4. While shaving, rinse your blade after every glide. this way your blade wont get clogged with shaved hair. make smooth long gliding strokes, never force the way of your blade. If you prefer your shave to be "super-close" just shave it twice, no need to cut yourself while trying to look good

Apply post-shave gel
Leave the old-fashioned aftershaves in the bargain bin and refrain from applying cologne directly to your freshly shaved face. Some of the older shaving products your grandfather used contain alcohol, which is great as a disinfectant, but will leave your face noticeably red. And you can’t forget the painful sting. Perhaps it was a daily affirmation of manhood to brace yourself against the sink and wait for the pain to subside, but science has come to the rescue: Today, post-shave gels do not sting because they are designed to soothe and moisturize your skin.
soothe the burn
Begin your new shaving regimen by purchasing a new line of quality products. Above all, allow the post-shave gel to do its work and trust the razor as it glides across your face. Your grandfather will be proud, and you’ll make razor burn a thing of the past.


5. Just when you finish the last tricky part of your chin, rinse your face with clean cold water. This will calm your face, close the pores and prepare your skin for the post-shave or as they call it in Europe: after-shave. Never use alcohol based products such as cologne or cheap skin care lines, those will dry your skin and make it look older. Todays companies produce a plenty of products that are meant to moisturize and replenish your skin.

Follow all those rules, and always remember, if you're not pleased with your shave, maybe its time to move to a better option, why not check our "How to shave with a straight razor" guide.
TMS