Close Shave and Healthy Skin
The multi-blade cartridge razors of today are designed to pull the hair away from your face, and cut the hair as it’s pulled away. This can provide a close shave, however it’s very hard on the skin. Common symptoms include razor rash, ingrown hairs, and redness.
Traditional wet shaving however, provides the best methods of preparing the skin for the shave, and then a single blade sliding across the skin, cutting through each hair thus providing a cleaner, more consistent shave. Expenses
Modern razors of today are basically designed for the razor companies to make their profits, not from their razors, but from the blade cartridges. If you’ve noticed in recent years, these cartridges have expanded from containing one or two blades in each one, to containing up to five blades in a single cartridge refill! Do more blades mean better shaves? No. What it does mean is more expensive cartridges. With a good safety razor(a.k.a. double edge), a single blade can cost as little as 10 cents each. When you compare that with one cartridge for that Gillette Fusion costing a few dollars each, the difference in cost can be quite dramatic. If you don’t already own or have access to the tools needed to take advantage of vintage shaving, there is the expense of getting your tools upfront, but the ongoing expense is pure cheap in comparison.
Process of Traditional Wet Shaving
Using this method of shaving will provide a better shave, but the process must not be rushed. With traditional shaving techniques, you will actually see what it’s like to enjoy shaving, and likely look forward to the activity. There are several steps involved for the best results.
1. Preparation - In getting your face prepared for the shave, there are a few secret ingredients to this formula. The first of these ingredients is hot water. Washing your face with hot water will soften the skin and the whiskers, thus making the effects of shaving much less harsh on your skin. The second ingredient is a good pre-shave glycerin-based skin formula. This will not only help protect the face and make it easier for the blade to glide across your skin, but it will also actually lift the whiskers, making it easier for the blade to cut as close as possible.
2. Lather - To lather up, you need a good shaving brush. The most common shaving brushes are made from either boar hair or badger hair. The badger brush is a much better brush and is what I would recommend. These range greatly in price, but a good basic brush will cost in the $25-$30 range. Aside from the brush, there are both creams and soaps that are made for this type of shaving. These lathers are far superior to the modern shaving creams and gels you buy off the shelf. Glycerin based creams and soaps lift the whiskers and help retain moisture on your face. Modern shaving creams are alcohol based and have the opposite effect. You just have to see it to understand the difference.
3.Shaving - For shaving, you have the option of using a straight razor, but you really need to know what your doing if you go this route. In my opinion, the safety razor is the best way to go. You always want to shave in the same direction your beard grows as opposed to against the grain which irritates the skin.
4. After Shave care - After you shave, rinse your face with cool water which will remove the remaining cream from your face and close the pores. Then you’ll want to use an alcohol free aftershave on your skin to repair and protect.