Shaving really has become a lost skill. The resurgence of beards has something to do with that, but it’s not totally the beard’s fault. If you look carefully, lots of bearded men still shave part of their face. Some are using a straight razor and some shave with a safety razor.
Shaving has become such a chore that many men just totally dread doing it. Add in the cuts, nicks, razor burn and irritated skin, sometimes I wonder why we do it at all. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. Here’s how to get a great shave with a safety razor and a brush.
The key items that you need are a nice razor, a great shaving brush, and a glycerin based shaving cream or soap. These usually come in cakes/bars or a small tub or canister.
How To Shave with a Safety Razor and Brush
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The first step in shaving with a safety razor and brush is to be sure that your skin is wet. The perfect time to shave is after a hot shower. The heat helps soften your hairs, relaxes you, and opens the pores of your skin. In addition, the water adds an extra layer of lubrication between the lather and your skin.
Next, you’ll want to take the shaving brush – a badger shaving brush is the best – and the shaving cream or shaving soap. If you don’t want to use a genuine badger brush, there are good synthetic badger hair brushes on the market. Fill your sink with hot water. Let the brush soak in the water while it fills up. Splash some water on your face to make sure it stays wet. Take your brush out of the sink and let the brush drain, just until it’s not constantly running water out of it. Swipe it across your shaving cream/soap a couple times, until some lather appears. Use the brush to lather up your face and neck. You should have a nice, frothy layer, but it shouldn’t look like it came from a can of drugstore shaving cream.
Get your razor. A safety razor is fantastic for this. If you’re feeling brave, and have a steady hand, you can also use a straight razor. Both of these will give you a fabulously close shave. Shave with the growth of your hair. For most people, that’s north-to-south. This should get most of the growth with one pass of the razor! If you want a closer shave, lather up again and make another pass, this time going against the grain. Be warned, this may cause some skin irritation. Go very slowly with a light hand.
Once you’re cleanly shaven, wash your face with cold water and pat dry. Rinse your shaving brush and set it on it’s handle end, standing up. Finish with a great moisturizer. Voila!
As a side note – while this how to shave with a safety razor guide was written for the guys, this method works wonders for the ladies as well. Your legs will never feel smoother.