how to use a safety razor

safety razors are the new way to shave - they can be tricky at first though. but we got you covered with some useful tricks to really get the hang of your new razor.

take your time

this holds true whether you’re using a safety razor or your old multi-blade cartridge razor. you’re most likely to nick yourself if you’re in a rush. instead of trying to shave as quickly as possible ten minutes before you head out the door, consider shaving as a mini self care ritual. take a long steamy shower, exfoliate thoroughly, massage shave oil into your skin, then methodically shave being sure not to miss anything (there’s nothing worse then crawling into bed and realizing you missed a one inch strip on the back of your calf!).

steam and exfoliate

we already wrote it above, but here it is again: for your best shave, make sure your skin is warm and exfoliated. we recommend shaving at the end of your shower after thoroughly exfoliating. think of exfoliating as a mini massage and don’t skimp on it. not only does it unclog pores and soften hair, it also feels amazing! 

apply shave oil or soap

we recommend a shaving oil which also moisturizes - but everyone is different! figure out what works best for you. either way, this is the time to apply it. try focusing on one area at a time rather than trying lathering up all areas. rub your shave oil in, then quickly rinse your hands with soap to make sure you can get a good grip on your razor handle.

don't apply pressure (IMPORTANT!)

our safety razors are made of solid brass and have a beautiful weight to them. this means that all you have to do is gently glide the razor over your skin and let its weight apply the pressure for you. you’ll find out what works best for you in terms of how you hold the razor, but a good rule of thumb is to position the razor at a 30 degree angle. 

go with the grain

at least to start! shaving against the grain is much harsher and can cause serious irritation and razor burn particularly where skin is thin and sensitive (bikini line, we're looking at you!). depending on how close you get with your first pass, you can do a second with the grain, across the grain or against the grain. it all depends on the area you’re shaving and your particular skin and hair.

what works for us:

• legs –  we go against the grain right off the bat. the skin on our legs isn’t particularly sensitive and we find we can get a really close shave with just one pass.
• armpits – we go with the grain on our first pass, then pull skin tight and do a second pass against the grain applying ZERO pressure.
• bikini area – first pass with the grain and a second pass going across the grain rather than against it.

keep razor clean

every few passes we like to rinse out our razor head. we like to grasp the razor head from the top and bottom and loosen it a half turn. we then either run it under the shower or swish it through a small bowl of water to make sure we remove all the buildup (hair, skin, oil, gunk, etc). keeping your blade clean and sharp is key in avoiding irritation.

keep your blade sharp

when people are asked how often they change their razor blades they usually answer avoiding eye contact. don't worry - we have all been there. keeping your razor blade sharp is SO IMPORTANT to avoiding razor burn and ingrown hair. one of the best parts of using a safety razor is that the cost of blades is really small. also, they can be recycled, which is another big point on the awesomeness-score.

that’s it! easy as pie. our friends from well kept also filmed a quick video in case you’re more of a visual person. please let us know if you have any more questions. we're happy to help!