How To Shave With A Double Edged Safety Razor Video Tutorial
How To Shave With A Double Edged Safety Razor Video Tutorial
In the video tutorial below Brian, our shaving expert here at Executive Shaving, will show you how to get the best results from using a double edged safety razor.
It is great viewing if you are new to traditional wet shaving, or even if you simply wish to improve your existing technique.
Brian covers all the major shaving issues:
How to prepare your face for shaving,
How to lather up and apply shaving cream,
How to shave with a double edged safety razor
What to do once you have finished shaving.
Simply click on the video below and enjoy.
Video Transcript
If you don’t have any speakers to hear the audio with this video, or are hard of hearing, below is a transcript of the video commentary.
Hi. I'm Brian from the Executive Shaving Company
We're based in Glasgow, Scotland, and today I'm going to show you how to shave with a double edge safety razor.
I'm going to be using some essential tools; Taylor's Natural Shaving Cream, Badger Hair Shaving Brush, A Muhle Lathering Bowl,
Executive Shaving Braveheart Safety Razor and a Muhle R106 Safety Razor with Personna Blades.
I'll be using Executive Shaving Pre Shave Oil and finishing off with Executive Shaving Moisturising Balm.
Right! Let's get started. Firstly wash face in warm water, never hot water.
Hot water will damage your skin as it will strip the skin of its natural oils leaving it dry and parched.
Let's go.
At this stage leave your brush soaking in the warm water, let it absorb some heat and let it absorb some water. Never leave your shaving brush in hot water, warm water only.
Hot water will lead to the bristles expanding and will crack the handle. Hot water can also melt the glue that keeps the knot of hair in the handle of the brush.
Always use a sharp blade. Once you feel the blade starting to tug and pull replace it.
Don't try to squeeze an extra few shaves out a dull blade.
It will only lead to skin irritation and ingrown hairs.
Most blades will give you 4 to 6 close shaves before you have to throw it away.
I like to use a pre shave oil, especially if I haven't shaved for 3 or 4 days.
As is the case today.
This is our own Executive Shaving Pre Shave Oil, made in Scotland, 100% Natural
The huge benefit here is that it's water soluble.
So it will not clog up the razor head, it won't damage your shaving brush and it doesn't leave that horrible oily scum in the sink.
So! One pump, massage into the bristles, Work it in, and then rinse some off.
Then using the webbed part of your hand remove some, but not all of the oil.
Apply the shaving cream directly on top.
Some guys lather up on the face. I prefer to lather up in a lathering bowl.
So plop some cream in.
Squeeze out the excess water from the brush and begin to lather up in the bowl.
To do this properly you need to lather up for 45 second, maybe a minute.
Taylor's tends to lather up pretty quickly.
If the mix looks a bit too dry, just add a drop or 2 of water.
If it's too runny and there's bubble forming in here add a bit more cream and lather up again.
So you'll see it's starting to work up now.
What you're looking for here is a lather with the consistency of Yogurt.
So not too thick, not too runny.
Just work it away, until you get it absolutely bang on.
And I think we're just about there now.
I've made my lather, it's time now to get started.
That lather's good to go, doesn't need any additional water or product.
We'll cover the whole area.
Like so.
Paint the lather on the face; don't force the brush into the face.
Use circular motions if you like, using the tips of the brush.
But don't force the brush into the skin, into the face.
Paint it on. And that's me.
Good to start shaving.
Firstly, heat the blade up. A warm blade works better than a cold blade. In my experience.
And we're good to go.
Start under the sideburns and hold the razor at an angle of about 30 degrees to the face.
With very, very, little pressure and I want you to shave in short strokes of about 2 inches, that's around 50mm at a time, no longer.
With a cartridge razor like this, the head swivels and it will automatically adjust to the contours of your face.
That is not the case with a Safety Razor, you have to adjust the angle, it is 30 degrees to the face.
So let's crack on.
Now. Short strokes. Very little pressure.
From time to time you might want to hold to skin.
That leads to a better closer shave and allows the razor blade to get into these pesky wrinkles and lines on your face.
Take your time.
Try not to shave on skin that doesn't have shaving cream or shaving lather on it.
For these awkward bits under the nose, simply pull the skin down tight. By doing that.
Now if like me you have a bulbous type chin, put you hand underneath, bring the skin in tight.
And shave like that.
Now the hair grows downwards on the face, upwards on the neck.
So I'm going to shave in the opposite direction here.
Take your time, don't rush it.
This is 4 day stubble I'm taking off here.
Don't pull the skin too tightly.
That can lead to the blade cutting the hair underneath the level of the skin which will lead to ingrown hairs.
Turn the blade around frequently.
And swish it out.
That's the first pass done.
For a lot of people that would be perfectly good to go to work, or the office, wherever.
But if you're looking for a really close shave.
My advice is to do one more pass, at least one more pass.
Lather up again. Paint it on.
This time, we're going to shave across the grain.
This is especially effective for this bit under the jawline.
Where sometimes the hair can grow in different directions. It certainly does with me. So this time...
There we go. Nice and easy does it. No need to rush.
Shaving outwards on the cheek.
Get these sideburns nice and clear, nice and clean.
Now. These awkward bits under the nose, don't shave on skin that's not protected.
Put some cream on there; just take your time here.
Oh, looks like I've got a little weeper.
And here, holding the skin tight again.
Now. That's 2 passes.
And for most people that's good enough, even for a hot date.
For an absolute perfect, baby butt smooth finish. I'm going the have to go for a final third pass.
For the final third pass, I'm going to use a different razor.
I'm going to use the Muhle, because the Braveheart is quite an aggressive razor.
And for a third and final pass I like something that's less aggressive.
And the Muhle R106 with its non-slip handle is one of my all-time favourite razors.
So, repeat the process again. My face is already wet.
Whip up that lather again. And we're good to go.
So with the R106 though this is different, because this time we're shaving against the grain.
Gently to pull the skin tight.
These awkward bits at the side of the mouth, just push your tongue into the side of your mouth.
Stretch out the skin.
Here, again, this awkward bit.
Then use my tongue to push the skin out there.
The final thing I'm going to do is check in case I've missed any bits.
And pleasingly, no. That's pretty much, pretty much perfect.
Only a couple things left to do. First I'm going to rinse my face in warm-ish water, not hot.
That's to get rid of all the remnants of shaving cream that may be still on my face.
Then I'm going to turn this to cold. The cold water splash will close the pores on my face.
Now. Important.
Never rub your face dry.
Pat your face dry, remember you only have one face. Look after it.
Pat dry.
Shaving removes lots of essential oils from the face.
And shaving, for some people, can be a bit of an irritation.
Our Intensive Moisture Balm will cool the skin, soothe it and moisturise your face at the same time.
Use it all over; under the eyes, forehead and the area you shaved.
One final thing, never ever apply an alcohol based aftershave or cologne to freshly shaved skin.
It will shrivel the skin and it'll dry the skin out.
If you're going to use a cologne or an aftershave. Castle Forbes here.
Stick it on the back of your neck; put it through your hair. In fact, put it anywhere except on your face.
So, thanks for watching guys. You should now be ready for whatever the day has to throw at you.
For all your shaving and grooming needs we have the largest online range anywhere.
Simply visit us at www.executive-shaving.co.uk
Take care and thank you.
If you want to contact Brian directly to discuss his advice in this video, or for any other shaving query, you can email him directly here - brian@executive-shaving.co.uk - or by calling 0141 880 3040.
