3 Must-Knows of Shaving for Men

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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).

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Thank you Joe for sharing your shaving expertise. It's interesting to see how something I took for granted—that I know how to shave—actually can be performed better when following these tips: 1) Soak the face with a hot towel or shower to soften the hairs. 2) Use a quality shaving cream so it absorbs into the skin and hair, providing both lubrication and hydration. 3) Use a sharp blade that cuts rather than tugs.

In addition to his blog and podcast, Joe Borrelli is a freelance writer and regular contributor for the website Sharpologist.com. He currently owns 100+ razors some dating back to the 1700’s. You can view more info on his blog, YouTube channel, and he available for additional questions at joe.wetshavingnews@gmail.com.


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