You can follow these steps below to achieve a close, comfortable shave with safety razor: – 1. Firstly wash the face with hot water or a apply a warm towel. Alternatively many people recommend shaving straight after coming out of the shower. Both these methods work well and will help open the skin and hair pores allowing for a closer, more comfortable shave.2.
After this has been done, apply a generous amount of pre-shave oil or pre-shave soap or gel to the area you wish to shave. Using a good quality pre-shave treatment will help reduce the friction between the safety razor and the skin, helping it to glide more effectively allowing for a closer shave, whilst protecting the skin at all times.3.
Next, ensure that you have a fresh razor blade in your safety razor. Most safety razor blades can last for 5-7 close, comfortable, tug-free shaves, due to their sharpness and the fact you can use both sides of a safety razor. Ensure that you change the blade at least weekly to guarantee a close, gentle shaving experience.4.
- Next ensure that you have put a generous amount of shaving cream or shaving soap on to your face.
- It is best to do this with a synthetic shaving brush as these types of brushes have an extremely high water retention capability and can create an all round well formed shaving lather quickly and easily.
Ensure that whilst applying shaving cream you lather the face in a circular motion, this ensures that you lubricate the skin properly and get under beard stubble.5. The single biggest mistake committed by those new to safety razor shaving is to apply too much pressure with the razor.
Whilst this isn’t a problem for cartridge razors, this can be very painful with a safety razor. A good quality safety razor will have been developed and designed to have an even weight distribution to allow for a balanced shave, this means that very little pressure is needed. Most nicks and cuts occur at the beginning of a safety razor shave, to prevent this allow the safety razor bar to contact the skin first and then lift the razor to the desired angle, then begin your forward motion.6.
Next and still applying very little added pressure, hold the safety razor loosely in your hand and allow it to glide across the skins surface without pressing it into the skin when shaving. Throughout the shave strive to maintain a thirty degree blade angle relative to the skin.
- Whilst this maybe difficult to keep up round the more difficult areas of the face, such as: ear lobes, nose and chin, it is still the optimum angle at which to safety razor shave and you’ll see and feel the results.
- Next, hold the razor firmly and direct it where you want it to go.
- Beard bristles must be tackled using short strokes of 25-30 mm at a time, whilst finer hair can be removed using slightly longer sweeping strokes.7.
After shaving, wash the shaved area thoroughly with warm water to remove all traces of shaving cream. Then splash the face with cold water to close the pores, finally apply a light moisturiser or skin food on the skin. This is needed as the protective layers of the skin and nourishing minerals are removed during the shaving process, using a premium quality moisturiser or skin food will help the skin retain more of its moisture and allow it to regenerate faster.8.
Finally remember to take your time whilst shaving with a safety razor. Follow these guidelines on how to shave with a safety razor and you’ll soon pick up the habits and the skills you’ll need to pull of an effortless shave. Remember, you must still remember to take your time as careful diligence will always result in a comfortable, smooth yet close shave.
We want to help you get a great shave every single time, if you have any questions or need some help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can ‘phone us on +44 (0)141 880 3040, email us [email protected], use the We are here! Livechat function on the website, or you can join our Facebook Diamond Club for advice, recommendations, new product launches and more.
Contents
Are safety razor blades one time use?
The Rule of Thumb? – Are safety razor blades single use? No, you can definitely expect them to last more than one shave. There are tell-tale signs that your blade is becoming blunt. It’ll become tougher to shave without doing multiple passes and you might find the blade catching and pulling.
How frequently should you change a safety razor blade?
As one of the men who are using safety razor blades every day, you might be wondering, “How long do they last?” or “How long can I use them until they go bad?” It can be quite difficult to tell exactly when you should change your safety razor blades.
- While they may be much easier to use and far more effective than disposable or cartridge razors, but safety razors blades can be quite tricky when it comes to replacement periods.
- If you suspect that your safety razor blades are due for a replacement but aren’t exactly sure about it, here’s a quick guide on everything you need to know: On the topic of duration Generally speaking, any safety razor that is used almost daily will need to have its blades replaced after a week or after six shaves.
That is assuming that it’s being used with a ” three-pass ” technique. Razor blades lose their sharpness after an extended period of usage. That essentially leads to a dull blade that doesn’t shave as well as it should. When it’s not sharp enough, the chances are that you’ll end up with nicks and cuts because of rough shaving patterns from applying too much pressure when using the razor.
- Aside from nicks and cuts, a dull blade can also lead to a few ingrown hair-related problems as it will have a tendency to tug slightly before shaving the hair off and cause a persistent irritation on the skin.
- Factors that affect the longevity of a razor blade Other than the frequency of use, there are several other factors that can affect a safety razor blade’s longevity.
Here are some of them:
Your facial hair
Both the thickness and coarseness of your facial hair will greatly affect the lifespan of a safety razor blade because of the amount of work needed to shave them off. If you have coarse and thick facial hair, then you’ll need to replace your blade more often. On the other hand, if you have fine and fairly-thin facial hair, then you can probably use a safety razor blade longer than usual.
The rate at which your facial hair grows
Speaking of work, the amount of effort your safety razor blades need to put in also depends on the speed of your facial hair’s growth. For example, if you’re the type to have a pretty awkward five o’clock shadow every day right after a shave, then you’ll need to replace your razor blades often.
The quality of the razor blade
Another important factor to consider when dealing with the longevity of a safety razor blade is the blade itself. It may not seem like it at first, but every blade option on the market is made slightly different from each other in terms of the material used, the grinding used in the manufacturing process, and the coating that’s applied on the razor.
Is safety razor worth it?
Safety Razors Give You a Better Shave: – Shaving with a safety razor reduces skin irritation, shave bumps, and ingrown hairs that are common with cartridge or electric razors. The main reason is that with a safety razor you only have one blade against your skin at any time.
- If you use a 5 blade cartridge razor and go over an area of your face 3 times, you have now exposed one area of skin to 15 passes of a blade.
- In comparison, if you are using a safety razor, you are only exposing the skin to one blade at a pass.
- The fewer times that you rake your face with a blade, the happier it is going to be.
The technique and process of shaving with a safety razor will also help you hone your skill for an optimal shave. The safety razor will let you know when you are doing something wrong, which allows you to adjust your future shaves and continually get better results.
Is it better to shave with a safety razor?
5 Benefits of a Safety Razor – Cost – Take a moment and add up what you spend on razors. Replacement cartridges cost around $20 for a package of 5 heads and require re-buying every 30 or so days if you shave regularly. By swapping to a safety razor your costs go down.
- You can purchase for much cheaper and these blades last longer than you might think.
- Now that’s one way to put more change in your pocket! Quality Shave – The problem with these multi-blade razors is that each blade counts as one pass over your skin.
- So, in one stroke you’re having 3-5 passes over your skin depending on the number of blades you have.
The only thing that’s good for is increasing your chances of skin irritation. With a safety razor, you’ve got much more control over the shave and it requires fewer passes. This results in a better shave with skin that won’t be left irritated. Environmental – By using a safety razor you’re also lowing your impact on the environment.
You only need to dispose of a single blade during a changeout. With cartridge razors, you’re throwing away lots of plastic and other materials each time. Not even considering the completely disposable razors. Easy to Use – There is a small learning curve when changing over to safety razors. However, it’s easy to learn and in my opinion, it has become easier to shave with compared to modern razors.
I love the level of precision I have with my safety razor. Tradition – Since there is a small learning curve with safety razors it becomes a skill you can pass down to your sons. It quickly can grow into a great time for bonding and a passage into adulthood.
How many shaves should you get from a safety razor?
You can follow these steps below to achieve a close, comfortable shave with safety razor: – 1. Firstly wash the face with hot water or a apply a warm towel. Alternatively many people recommend shaving straight after coming out of the shower. Both these methods work well and will help open the skin and hair pores allowing for a closer, more comfortable shave.2.
After this has been done, apply a generous amount of pre-shave oil or pre-shave soap or gel to the area you wish to shave. Using a good quality pre-shave treatment will help reduce the friction between the safety razor and the skin, helping it to glide more effectively allowing for a closer shave, whilst protecting the skin at all times.3.
Next, ensure that you have a fresh razor blade in your safety razor. Most safety razor blades can last for 5-7 close, comfortable, tug-free shaves, due to their sharpness and the fact you can use both sides of a safety razor. Ensure that you change the blade at least weekly to guarantee a close, gentle shaving experience.4.
Next ensure that you have put a generous amount of shaving cream or shaving soap on to your face. It is best to do this with a synthetic shaving brush as these types of brushes have an extremely high water retention capability and can create an all round well formed shaving lather quickly and easily.
Ensure that whilst applying shaving cream you lather the face in a circular motion, this ensures that you lubricate the skin properly and get under beard stubble.5. The single biggest mistake committed by those new to safety razor shaving is to apply too much pressure with the razor.
Whilst this isn’t a problem for cartridge razors, this can be very painful with a safety razor. A good quality safety razor will have been developed and designed to have an even weight distribution to allow for a balanced shave, this means that very little pressure is needed. Most nicks and cuts occur at the beginning of a safety razor shave, to prevent this allow the safety razor bar to contact the skin first and then lift the razor to the desired angle, then begin your forward motion.6.
Next and still applying very little added pressure, hold the safety razor loosely in your hand and allow it to glide across the skins surface without pressing it into the skin when shaving. Throughout the shave strive to maintain a thirty degree blade angle relative to the skin.
Whilst this maybe difficult to keep up round the more difficult areas of the face, such as: ear lobes, nose and chin, it is still the optimum angle at which to safety razor shave and you’ll see and feel the results. Next, hold the razor firmly and direct it where you want it to go. Beard bristles must be tackled using short strokes of 25-30 mm at a time, whilst finer hair can be removed using slightly longer sweeping strokes.7.
After shaving, wash the shaved area thoroughly with warm water to remove all traces of shaving cream. Then splash the face with cold water to close the pores, finally apply a light moisturiser or skin food on the skin. This is needed as the protective layers of the skin and nourishing minerals are removed during the shaving process, using a premium quality moisturiser or skin food will help the skin retain more of its moisture and allow it to regenerate faster.8.
- Finally remember to take your time whilst shaving with a safety razor.
- Follow these guidelines on how to shave with a safety razor and you’ll soon pick up the habits and the skills you’ll need to pull of an effortless shave.
- Remember, you must still remember to take your time as careful diligence will always result in a comfortable, smooth yet close shave.
We want to help you get a great shave every single time, if you have any questions or need some help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can ‘phone us on +44 (0)141 880 3040, email us [email protected], use the We are here! Livechat function on the website, or you can join our Facebook Diamond Club for advice, recommendations, new product launches and more.
Do you have to sharpen a safety razor?
The Hidden Cost of a Shave With a Dull Razor – The ultimate, number-one reason to sharpen safety razor blades is obvious – if shaving with a finely tuned razor blade across your face with shaving cream isn’t a little piece of heaven to you, then shaving with a dull and rusty blade is still no better reality.
But there’s also simple economics. Disposable razors and c artridge razors can be expensive over a lifetime and are not environmentally friendly. The cost of disposable blades can also add up, especially for men who shave daily. The longer you keep your blades sharp, the less it costs to keep replacing them, the less impact you have on the environment.
Shaving with a double edge safety razor can save you more than if you use a disposable. For example, Gillette Fusion disposable razor refills cost about $3 each – the same price for five Feather Hi Stainless Double Edge Razor Blades, one of the finest safety blades money can buy.
Does safety razor damage skin?
Do Safety Razors Stop Skin Irritation? – Yes, they can certainly reduce skin irritation dramatically when used properly. Safety razors do not use multiple blades. They just use one ultra-sharp razor blade. One razor blade is all you need to cut a hair, and this means contact between razor and skin is as low as possible. The less contact and rubbing on the skin, the less irritation. The decrease in friction and abrasion helps keep the skin safe from the blade.
Why isn’t my shave smooth?
2. Exfoliate before shaving – In addition to letting warm water do the trick of preparing your skin for a smooth shave, you can help things along, too. Classic exfoliation products like loofahs and bath scrubs are a big benefit. Give your skin a good rub prior to shaving to loosen up the dead skin.
Are safety razors better for acne?
4. Reduce acne – Acne-suffering men will know that managing facial hair when you have acne can be difficult. The trick is to keep your pores unclogged. Multiple blade disposable razor heads are a bacteria breeding ground. They are difficult to properly clean and you then transfer that grime into your pores each time you shave.
How many times can you reuse a safety razor?
You can follow these steps below to achieve a close, comfortable shave with safety razor: – 1. Firstly wash the face with hot water or a apply a warm towel. Alternatively many people recommend shaving straight after coming out of the shower. Both these methods work well and will help open the skin and hair pores allowing for a closer, more comfortable shave.2.
- After this has been done, apply a generous amount of pre-shave oil or pre-shave soap or gel to the area you wish to shave.
- Using a good quality pre-shave treatment will help reduce the friction between the safety razor and the skin, helping it to glide more effectively allowing for a closer shave, whilst protecting the skin at all times.3.
Next, ensure that you have a fresh razor blade in your safety razor. Most safety razor blades can last for 5-7 close, comfortable, tug-free shaves, due to their sharpness and the fact you can use both sides of a safety razor. Ensure that you change the blade at least weekly to guarantee a close, gentle shaving experience.4.
- Next ensure that you have put a generous amount of shaving cream or shaving soap on to your face.
- It is best to do this with a synthetic shaving brush as these types of brushes have an extremely high water retention capability and can create an all round well formed shaving lather quickly and easily.
Ensure that whilst applying shaving cream you lather the face in a circular motion, this ensures that you lubricate the skin properly and get under beard stubble.5. The single biggest mistake committed by those new to safety razor shaving is to apply too much pressure with the razor.
Whilst this isn’t a problem for cartridge razors, this can be very painful with a safety razor. A good quality safety razor will have been developed and designed to have an even weight distribution to allow for a balanced shave, this means that very little pressure is needed. Most nicks and cuts occur at the beginning of a safety razor shave, to prevent this allow the safety razor bar to contact the skin first and then lift the razor to the desired angle, then begin your forward motion.6.
Next and still applying very little added pressure, hold the safety razor loosely in your hand and allow it to glide across the skins surface without pressing it into the skin when shaving. Throughout the shave strive to maintain a thirty degree blade angle relative to the skin.
- Whilst this maybe difficult to keep up round the more difficult areas of the face, such as: ear lobes, nose and chin, it is still the optimum angle at which to safety razor shave and you’ll see and feel the results.
- Next, hold the razor firmly and direct it where you want it to go.
- Beard bristles must be tackled using short strokes of 25-30 mm at a time, whilst finer hair can be removed using slightly longer sweeping strokes.7.
After shaving, wash the shaved area thoroughly with warm water to remove all traces of shaving cream. Then splash the face with cold water to close the pores, finally apply a light moisturiser or skin food on the skin. This is needed as the protective layers of the skin and nourishing minerals are removed during the shaving process, using a premium quality moisturiser or skin food will help the skin retain more of its moisture and allow it to regenerate faster.8.
- Finally remember to take your time whilst shaving with a safety razor.
- Follow these guidelines on how to shave with a safety razor and you’ll soon pick up the habits and the skills you’ll need to pull of an effortless shave.
- Remember, you must still remember to take your time as careful diligence will always result in a comfortable, smooth yet close shave.
We want to help you get a great shave every single time, if you have any questions or need some help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can ‘phone us on +44 (0)141 880 3040, email us [email protected], use the We are here! Livechat function on the website, or you can join our Facebook Diamond Club for advice, recommendations, new product launches and more.
Why use single blade safety razor?
back to basics: reasoning behind using a single blade safety razor I recently surveyed people via instagram about their shaving issues and queries. I was instantly overwhelmed with responses. If you’re plagued with ingrown hairs, razor burn, and small unidentifiable bumps, or are unsure how to reach certain areas, unable to shave regularly due to uncomfortable irritation and are generally frustrated with the chore that is shaving, know that you are DEFINITELY not alone.
As I’d mentioned on social, I don’t consider myself an expert, but given I’ve been researching and testing all things shaving for five years now, I definitely have a lot of knowledge worth sharing (heck, I might even be able to throw the term expert out there in certain circles.). Given the sheer volume of questions, I’ve opted to answer them in journal posts and stories over the coming month.
The questions were varied and, often, very specific so I decided to start at the very beginning: why the single blade? First off, multi blade razors are a recent invention–Gillette launched the first model in 1971 to a society that was primed for convenience.
- Multi blade razors were marketed as cutting more hairs in a single pass increasing the ease and closeness of your shave.
- Since then it’s been an arms race of sorts.
- Seemingly every year more blades were added to new and improved models.
- The sentiment: “the more blades the better” reigned supreme.
- It was until recently that people began to stop and question how many blades a razor required to actually produce the best shave Here’s the thing, speed and ease are great, but if that convenience is quickly followed by irritation is it worth it? A brief explanation of how your standard multi-blade razor works: the first blade pulls the hair taut, the next blade cuts the hair at a sharp angle, subsequent blades can cut the hair even shorter or, depending on the amount of pressure applied, remove a thin layer of skin.
You know that slight tugging sensation while you’re shaving? That’s most likely your skin. Have you ever applied a bit of extra pressure while shaving with a blade that’s probably long past its prime? Again, the subsequent resistance is your skin. As you can imagine this causes many people, particularly those with sensitive skin, both irritation and inflammation.
Furthermore, when the hair is cut below the skin, it can easily curl back on itself and become an ingrown hair. That initial smooth feeling you might get after using a multi-blade razor is, for most, fleeting. So what’s the alternative? Go back to something that was developed for efficacy rather than convenience.
The single SHARP blade employed by a safety razor cuts the hair in one pass. The weight of the razor allows you to gently glide over your skin without applying any pressure which helps users avoid removing thin layers of skin unknowingly. Hair is cut at surface level rather than below ensuring it will grow back normally (above the skin).
- If you suffer from ingrown hairs, razor burn, small white bumps, inflammation, etc, using a safety razor could be your answer.
- I know for me the results were immediate.
- I suffered from unsightly red marks on my underarms from daily shaving, ingrown hairs on my bikini line that would set up shop for what felt like the entire summer, and could often be plagued by razor burn on my upper thighs.
While the first couple shaves took a bit of getting used to–I accidentally nicked those very bumps and sores I just mentioned–I soon saw less of them. That made subsequent shaves progressively easier. I was doing all of this while doing HEAPS of shaving research so I found that soon, my safety razor combined with all of the tips and tricks I was acquiring, led me to be practically irritation free! I know it seems a tad convenient that my first shaving tip is to switch to a safety razor (our staple product), but know that I came to this honestly.
- In fact, well kept first launched with a wooden multi-blade razor.
- It was through research and testing that we settled on the safety razor.
- I swear I shaved more in that first year than most people do in a lifetime! As always, know that we love and appreciate your feedback.
- Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with comments and questions.
: back to basics: reasoning behind using a single blade safety razor
Can you use both sides of a safety razor blade?
The Double Edge Safety Razor: – This is the type of safety razor with which you are likely familiar. It usually consists of a handle, a head, and a double edged blade. The double edge razor (whether it comes in one, two, or three pieces) allows both sides of the blade to be used in shaving.
A one-piece razor has a butterfly (or twist-to-open) head. A knob at the bottom of the handle releases the “doors” on the head which open to allow you to switch out the blade. The benefit is less handling of the blade, but the mechanics/moving pieces leaves room for wear on the razor and more spaces to build up gunk. A two-piece razor keeps the base plate (open or closed comb) attached to the handle while a long-posted top cap slips into the handle to hold the blade in place and tightens from the bottom of the handle. This type of razor also keeps blade handling to a minimum as you don’t have to grab the head to tighten it; however, there is the possibility for water and soap to end up in the handle and cause corrosion/build up. But arguably the most common is the three-piece double-edge razor consisting of a handle, base plate, and top cap. The blade is placed on the post of the top cap and sandwiched with the base plate (open or closed comb) and the handle is tightened onto the post to screw the whole thing together. This type involves the most blade handling when changing out blades, but the simple design allows for all the pieces to be cleaned with no moving parts to break.
The uses the sandwiching (bending) of the blade in the head to create an angle that allows the blade to cut your facial hair. The angle, blade gap, type of blade, and even the top cap geometry all play a role in creating a BBS shave. The blades in a double edge razor are sharp, thin, standard size, and come from a variety of brands.
How do you sharpen a safety razor?
Follow these steps to sharpen your safety razor blade: –
With your blade screwed tightly in the razor head, ensure the blade AND leather is dry. Position your safety razor at the bottom of the honing pad, tilt razor up to around 35 o so blade touches leather. Push razor up to top of the honing pad, lift and return to bottom (do NOT drag blade back over leather). Repeat up to 5 times. Flip the razor 180 o and repeat so both edges have been sharpened.
With regular sharpening, we estimate that you will at least triple the usefulness of each of your double edge razor blades We are members of ”. An initiative endorsed by the British Government and supported by British manufacturers. Stainless steel safety razors are kind to the, your skin AND your pocket! : How to sharpen a safety razor blade