Longterm
readers of the blog Shave Straight & Safe already know that blogger, Joe
Borrelli, has been traditionally wet shaving for more than 7 years and enjoys
it so much that he began hosting Wet Shaving Talk, a podcast dedicated to the
art of classic shaving. As a follow-up story to my interview with the cofounder of ShaveFace I decided to reach out to this shaving aficionado to learn the
must-knows of shaving and to discover whether he too touts the virtues of a strop.
So, Joe, why do men get razor burn?
There are
several reasons why men get razor burn. In my experience these three are the most
common:
- Preparation before shaving: In today’s society everyone is in a rush and they often forget to prepare their face for shaving. Shaving immediately after a hot shower, or wrapping your face with a hot towel prior to shaving will prevent many problems. This process will lift the whiskers giving the razor a better angle for cutting them, thus making the razor more efficient.
- Lubrication while shaving: Inadequate lubrication during the shave is another cause for irritation. Products of today are based upon speed and closeness rather than comfort and efficiency. The canned goo you find at your local supermarket/drug store can be the leading cause of irritation. These products do not exfoliate the skin, rather they sit on the surface and assist in gliding the razor rather than helping it cut the whiskers. A good old fashioned shaving brush and high-quality shaving soap/cream will solve that problem. The brush and soap/cream combination will exfoliate the skin and lift the whiskers making them easier to cut thus resulting in fewer ingrown hairs and irritation. In a nutshell these products help the razor do its job.
- A dull blade: Using a dull razor can lead to serious razor burn as the blade is “tugging” rather than “cutting.” With the cost of cartridge razors today, many men tend to neglect changing their blades until it’s too late.
Why does a strop matter?
Stropping a
blade is something that is required when using a straight razor and is becoming
increasingly popular with other forms of shaving. It polishes the blade by removing
oxidation and re-aligns the microscopic fin that does most of the cutting. Think
of the edge of a blade as the edge of a pencil. Every letter you write wears
the pencil down and its performance declines. When you sharpen it the pencil is
almost like new again just a little shorter. Eventually you’ll use the pencil
up and need to get a new one. Now look at your razor. Every time you shave
(like the pencil) the razor dulls. When you strop it (like sharpening the
pencil) it’s almost new again. Eventually you will have to toss razor but
you’ll get far more use out of it.
Why is it important to use quality
products?
It’s
extremely important to use all natural high-quality products when shaving. Many
products have been designed for speed, cost, and convenience; not necessarily
for the good of your face. These lower quality products also tend to use mass-produced
materials which are made with chemicals designed to keep the cost down for the
consumer. Remember, you only have one face and it’s very important to treat it
right. All natural products tend to perform better, last longer and smell nicer
(and your face will thank you).
Now through the end of May ShaveFace is offering free shipping with the promo code: ThurstonThreads
A Men Razor
ReplyDeleteis a bladed tool primarily used in the removal of unwanted body hair through the act of shaving.
Kinds of razors include straight razors, disposable razor, and electric razors.