A straight razor is a reusable knife blade used for shaving hair. Before the 20th century, straight razors were the common blades used for shaving. Most barbershops have a collection of straight razors and their barbers were especially trained to give a thorough and quick shave with these blades. Today most people prefer the cartridge razors, disposable razors and electric razors as it is easier to use and need not be mastered to use properly. There are still a number of men who use straight razors and this is still produced in Europe both as antiques and for everyday use.
How do you use a straight razor? What are the advantages you can get by using this type of blade over all the disposable cartridges sold almost everywhere? Here are some things you should know about straight razors so that the experience in using an age old tradition can be a rewarding one.
Straight razors need to be honed, stropped and used correctly. A straight razor has to be extremely sharp for it to be effective. The edge is delicate and care should be taken to avoid bending or folding over the edge. Periodic sharpening should be done and if this is something you aren't familiar with, it would be better to have it done by the experts. Periodic maintenance is important in the care and preservation of straight razors.
In shaving, a hot shower should always precede the shave, this makes sure that the face is steamed and the bristles of the hair are softened. You should also use a quality shaving brush and shaving soap or shaving cream. The thick, fine lather or cream should be spread evenly, this will protect your face an give a surface for the blade to skim across.
You can shave three ways, with the grain of the beard, across the grain of the beard or against the grain of the beard. It's typical to combine two of these three ways to have really smooth results - once with the grain and another against the grain. An approximate 30 degree angle to the face would be the best angle to ensure safety . Do not slice and do not use a right angle in shaving. You have to control the grip of the blade, the speed and angle to make sure that there will be no nicks and cuts after you're done. Rinse your face with fresh, cold tap water and use post shave products if you want to. Clean the blade by rinsing it under hot tap water. Don't tap them against sinks or faucets because the blade might be damaged if you do so.
Using straight razors provide a superior shave than disposable blades because of the sharper blade and you have the control of the angle of the blade. Even with the advent of the disposable razors, cartridge razors and electric shavers, straight razors still have an edge over the competition.
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