How to Shave With a Safety Razor

I grew up towards the end of an era that promised jet packs, flying cars and the perfect shave. Of these three fantasies the most absurd was driven by the ever changing technology of men’s shaving products. Along with the myth of shaving progress came ever greater prices for blade cartridges. A few years ago I had enough of the price gouging and bought an old fashioned safety razor.

Unfortunately, I didn’t really know how to use it and thought that the haphazard stubble I’ve put up with (and Kelly has to look at) over the past few years was proof that those expensive modern razor cartridges really are better. That is, until I watched the helpful video above by shaving guru Mantic59. It turns out my technique was all wrong. It’s true that those fancy disposable razor cartridges are easier to use. But an old fashioned razor works just as well if you know what you’re doing. And they are a hell of a lot cheaper.

Maybe someday I’ll man up and try a straight razor, the fixed gear bike of shaving. For now I’m happy with the my safety razor and way too old for a fixie.

How do you shave?

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4 Comments

  1. You’re not too old for a straight – my husband switched from disposable to safety to straight at 62! He became obsessed with all things shaving and has amassed a small collection (a “shave den”) of razors, blades, soaps, strops, and brushes. There is a sizable on-line shaving community of aficionados and ebay has thousands of straights for sale on any given day (the search for “straight razor” returned over 16,000 hits today, for example). Since I rank shaving right up there with tooth brushing and toenail clipping on the list of interesting ways to spend one’s time, I clearly don’t get all the hoopla. But I do like the low environmental impact of straights, so I hope the interest and use continues to grow.

  2. Oh…I love my safety razor…makes me happy every time I see it.
    Even happier when I finish my shave.

    Just get one guys..(and gals I guess)…you won’t be disappointed.

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