Learning how to do an old school wet shave is something that every man should know . There is no comparison to a shave done with a disposable razor and can of shaving cream that takes all of five minutes. You’ll get a much closer shave and your skin feels like a million bucks after.
It does take some learning and expect a few nicks along the way. Once you get it down it will surely be a big part of your grooming routine that you’ll cherish. In this article, we will go over the basics of how to give yourself the perfect wet shave.
The razor
There are two types of razors that can give you the shave you are looking for when you do a wet shave, there is the safety razor which is the two sided razor with a handle and a disposable blade. Then there is the straight edge razor that is permanent and needs sharpening with a sharpening stone.
The safety razor is the easier option since it performs closest to the disposable razor you are already using. It takes a technique that is slightly different, but learning how to use it isn’t not as far a stretch from what you’re already used to.
The straight edge is much more difficult to learn as it doesn’t have a double blade. Getting the angle right is not easy. And the risk of cutting yourself is much higher as a result. However, these are much sharper than safety razors when you get it right. You’ll get a closer shave and less chance of razor burn with the right technique.
The brush
To make a lather and apply it you’ll need a badger hair brush. This brush makes a huge difference in how the shave goes. The bristles are charged with water thanks to their porous nature so you can get a nice, rich lather that opens up the pores. The bristles also lift up the whiskers so they can be cut more cleanly by the razor. This is why there is less risk of razor burn.
The first reason is that the skin is hydrated and very smooth so the razor is able to glide over it. When the whiskers are lifted up they don’t need to have the razor go over multiple times to cut them down.
The prep
Getting the face ready for the shave is actually the most important part. It doesn’t matter how sharp your razor is if you don’t get the prep right. The shave will not be good.
You need to create a thick lather that is also very wet with the right soap and your brush. Work the brush around in the lather and water so it is totally saturated. Then, get to work on the face.
Start by rotating the brush around the chin and start spreading it on the rest of your face. Take at least 7 or 8 minutes of this motion to get the face totally covered and hydrated and then you are ready for the razor.
Just do one pass with the razor and you will see what a difference the prep makes. Then repeat this every two or three days as shaving this way every day is not practical.
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