Safety razors have started to become more popular again in recent years, and for good reason. When used properly, they can provide an excellent quality of shave, with not too long a learning curve at all. While they can be great, they’re not quite as simple as they might seem. Here, we explore some of the main things to watch out for to ensure a great shave, from choosing the right option to working on your shaving technique.
Choose an appropriate razor
The first tip we have for achieving a great shave with a safety razor is to pick the right tool for the job. You need to make sure that you choose the right blade for your safety razor, and that you choose the right body to hold the blade as well.
The body will not only determine which kinds of blades you can use, but will also likely dictate how you can adjust the angle of the blade. A good safety razor will also look nicer, and let’s face it – most of us care about our bathroom aesthetics at least a little bit.
Replace the blades regularly
As with all razors, safety razors only work as they’re designed to when the blades are kept sharp. With safety razors, due to the fact that there’s just one blade (compared to cartridge razors for example), you’ll need to replace it quite regularly.
In most cases, you’ll need to swap the blade out about once a week. This will obviously partly depend on how thick your hair is – you may be able to last a little longer, or you might need to replace the blade every two or three days.
Prepare your skin
All razors require at least a little preparation before you get shaving. With safety razors – as with any other option you choose to go with – you need to make sure that you wash your skin beforehand, and apply an appropriate shaving cream or gel to soften your hair. Leaving it for a minute or two can really help increase how effective it is, leading to a more comfortable and effective shaving experience.
Work on your technique
While it’s true that safety razors are both simpler and – you guessed it – safer to use than their predecessor, the straight-edge razor, they will require a little skill to use properly.
First, you need to make sure that the razor is set up properly. You can often tighten and loosen the handle, which will subtly change the angle and extension of the blade.
Second, you need to work out how much pressure to apply, and at what angle. In most cases, you shouldn’t have to press too hard at all – as long as the blade is sharp, it should be able to do the job without too much interference.
Using a safety razor can be a wonderful way of upping your shaving experience, and it’s not too hard to get it right. By following these basic tips, we’re sure that you’ll get off to a flying start.
