If you are a 90’s kid, then you might be using a disposable cartridge razor as your go-to shaving solution. But, in the early days, safety razors were widely used to get that clean shaving experience. For many, switching from a disposable cartridge razor to a safety razor is a daunting task, but when you realise its effectiveness, you’ll surely love it.
Safety razors can seem intimidating at first. With its sharp double-edged razor blade, one has to learn the technique, otherwise, you could end up with nicks and cuts. It does look like a tool that your grandfather might use, but the results you get from it are phenomenal. Some of the benefits associated with safety razors are close shave, less drag, better for coarse hair, and cheap blades.
Now, that lets us discuss some of the important points one should keep in mind while using safety razors.
Invest in a quality razor
Whether you are using a safety razor or a disposable cartridge razor, you should always invest in quality over quantity. When it comes to safety razors, a quality razor will have a weighted handle that provides the right amount and balance. They make the shaving experience smoother as you don’t have to apply any additional pressure.Understand the direction of your hair growth
While shaving, one has to be aware of the direction of facial hair growth. By understanding the direction of your hair growth, you can enjoy a resistance-free shaving experience. Generally, stubble grows in a downward direction, so stroke your safety razor accordingly. But in areas like the neck and chin, you can observe some sideways growth of hairs, and you need to adjust your strokes accordingly.Apply shaving cream
This tip is a no brainer! In order to achieve that smooth shaving experience, you’ve to apply a quality shaving cream to soften up the hair. These shaving creams or soaps help the razor to glide across the skin. It reduces the resistance and acts as a protective layer against your skin and razor. Furthermore, by using a quality shaving cream, you can reduce the chances of irritation and redness on the skin after a shave.Short strokes of 1-3cm
Unlike disposable razor blades where you can use them for long strokes, safety razors should be used for short strokes of 1-3cm. These small strokes help you to maintain the 30° angle that you need for a precise clean shave. Make it a thumb rule of shaving in small, steady spurts and rinsing the razor in between. To get the best results out of a safety razor, you need to reduce dragging and this single pass over small patches helps to achieve that. Make sure that you avoid re-shaving any single patch of skin to minimise the chances of irritation.Press gently
The blades used in safety razors are very sharp as compared to disposable razors. If you use proper technique, you don’t require added force to slice through your stubble. The weight of the razor does the trick here as it glides through your skin patch removing hair. Here, the importance of investing in quality safety razors comes into play. A quality razor is optimally designed to generate the force with weight. Apply gentle pressure to keep the razor head against the skin.Flip over razor when it clogs and then rinse it
With disposable razor blades, you only get a one-sided set of blades. These blades when clogged need extra effort to remove those hair strands. Safety razors have double-edged blades that provide two sides during a shaving session. Once you feel that one side is clogged, you can switch over to the other side. Thus, it requires less rinsing under the tap, and it helps you to save some time and effort in doing so.
After learning the technique of using a safety razor, you may not go back to using a disposable razor blade. They are effective and save a lot of time during a shaving session. The above-mentioned pointers will help you in using a safety razor. So, what are you waiting for? Invest in safety razors for a smooth shaving experience.
