James Bond, Don Draper, Nucky Thompson, what do these three men have in common besides being insanely cool? They all shave old school with a brush and a straight or safety razor. Sure, they’re fictional but you get the idea. The truth is, shaving old school will not only give you a closer shave but save you a ton of money as cartridges can go for as high as three bucks a piece. That really adds up and when you can get a double sided razor for about twenty to fifty cents; it only makes sense to take the plunge. Be warned, using a safety or straight razor will take some practice and getting used to but when you do get the hang of it you’ll absolutely love it. Also, I definitely recommend starting with a safety razor before using the straight razor. It will get your comfortable with the sharper blade and lack of a cartridge. You don’t want your first time shaving to look like a scene from Hostel. There are a few items you’ll need to purchase in order to get started.
The first thing you’ll need is a shaving brush. The brush is a great way to apply your shaving cream or soap as it allows the cream to find its way into every nook and cranny of your facial hair. For your first brush buy one made with badger hair, which is considered the best because it’s dense and holds water well. There are many grades of badger hair but there’s no need to crazy on your first brush.
You’ll also need shaving cream or soap. This is a matter of preference and skin type. If you buy a shaving soap you’ll also need a mug. I usually tell people to use a shaving gel designed for sensitive skin whether or not their skin is particularly sensitive. It reduces razor bumps and other irritation, something I think every man is susceptible to. My favorite shaping product is Nivea shaving gel sensitive.
The next step is the main event, the safety razor and blades. The safety razor should run you around $30 dollars for a good, solid beginner razor and then add another $4 to $6 dollars for a pack of double sided blades. There are two different types of heads on the safety razors, butterfly and closed comb, both work well. There are going to be a lot of choices especially if you shop for one online. They will have fancy gold and silver handles, etc. but this early on in the game you don’t need anything like that. See if you like it first.
Your final step is to get a nice, soothing aftershave. There are a lot of ways you can go from Pinaud, to Jovan Musk, and a hundred other options in between. My personal favorite is Nivea Soothing Aftershave Balm for sensitive skin. This is a favorite of mine because it really soothes the skin and because I use the shaving cream I’m not dealing with a lot of different scents. However, as I stated, there are a hundred great aftershaves on the market.
As far as the actual shaving process is concerned, it’s not completely different from shaving with a cartridge razor. It’s ideal if you take a shower immediately before shaving that way your pores are open and you facial hair is damp and soft. You want to really work the shaving product into the facial hair. It will let the blade glide more easily over your face. You also want to make sure not to put any pressure on your face with the razor. The weight of the handle should do most of the work. You’ll end up with a smooth, affordable shave and in no time you’ll be hooked.
Article By: Jon DaBove
