After more than a decade of shaving with your typical cartridge-based safety razor, I figured there had to be something better. Getting a close shave with one often means horrible razor burn and ingrown hairs: not a good way to start my day. So after asking my barber for some advice, I was pointed in the direction of the classic straight razor or the double edge razor that was popular in my grandparents' generation.
The Tools
I’ve since invested in a good shaving soap, a badger brush, an alum block and lotion to treat my face right. My tools:
- Shaving Soap - ~$10 (replace every 3-4 months)
- Badger Brush - ~$15 - used to produce a lather with the soap
- Razor - ~$35
- Alum Block - ~$10 - cleanses and soothes the face post-shave (lasts at least 2 months)
- Post-Shave Lotion - ~$12 (replace every 2-3 months)
So for around an $80 initial investment, you can get 2 months worth of supplies that will cost $10 a month on average to replenish thereafter. Of course I’m forgetting the most important part (and most pricey with cartridge-based razors): the blades. Thankfully the technology is ‘simple’ and cheap with double edge razors. You can buy them for under 10 cents a piece in bulk and they last for up to a week. This is huge savings over the $4-5 cartridges I was used to and they cut so much better. There is a huge variety to choose from and they’re surprisingly different, so after I used up my starter razor blades that came with the razor, I purchased a variety pack of 100 blades for around $22.
The Routine
I learned quickly that my old shaving habits were not going to work: I lost a chunk of face in one of my first shaving attempts and referred immediately to YouTube for some pointers. If you’re looking for a great tutorial on shaving quickly, look no farther than Mantic59’s video on the 10 minute wet shave.
The 10,000ft view of the process is as follows:
- Prep the face by moisturizing with hot water. Shaving after a shower is ideal.
- Lather the soap in a cup to pick some up then spend a minute or two lathering it onto your face in a circular motion. Spend at least 2 minutes on the first pass or you can almost guarantee a painful shave.
- Shave with as little pressure as is required to hold the blade flat against your face. Do not push the blade into your face.
- Shave with the grain on the first pass in small 1-2 in. strokes with as little overlap as possible. Flip the blade over to use the other side every 2-3 strokes and rinse the brush every 4-6.
- Rinse your face and repeat from step 2 for a closer shave. Subsequent passes should be across the grain (90 degrees) and/or against the grain.
- When finished shaving, rinse off all soap and leave your face wet.
- Rub the alum block over the areas of skin that were shaved. This will sting a bit.
- Apply lotion.
It currently takes me about 20 minutes to shave when I take my time and it has become an enjoyable part of my morning routine, something I look forward to. The feel and sound of a single blade sliding across the face are very satisfying and it’s the closest thing to a barber shave I can safely give myself . Maybe someday I’ll work up the nerve to try a straight razor, but until then, the double edge razor provides a great shave and saves money.