When it comes to shaving, you have several viable options to consider. You can use an electric shaver, or you can go with a traditional razor. Most individuals who shave use disposable razors as these are easy to use, and there isn’t any real art in shaving with a disposable razor.
These are designed to glide easily across your face although the razors wear out quickly and are often expensive. The other realistic alternative to the disposable razor is the safety razor.
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Top Safety Razors
A safety razor has been used for nearly a century and is comprised of the safety razors handle and the removable, disposable blade. The blade is an individual, double-sided blade that fits into the safety razor’s compartment. With most, this compartment is opened and closed using a small screw on the side.
This tightens the blade in place, allowing you to remove it for easy cleaning and replacement. The safety razor blades outline the importance of quality. Disposable razors, for those who shave on a daily basis, are disposed of possibly once a week. However, with the safety blade option, these last much longer, which is a testament to the quality of the blade and why it is unnecessary to purchase a disposable razor with five or six blades.
However, there are elements that do require a shift in the shaving approach. For starters, there is no plastic buffer; as is the case with a disposable razor. The blade runs right along the skin and, if not carefully used, can leave you with cuts. Due to this, it is important to not pull on the razor. Instead, it is better to let the weight of the razor do the work. The weight of the razor will pull the razor down, allowing for a smooth, easy cut.
5This is also why maintaining a sharp razor is important. If the blade is not sharp, it will cause you pushing and applying extra pressure to shave. The extra pressure will cause the additional painful cuts. With a safety razor, you will also need to shave more often. If you let your hair grow out for several days, it clogs the razor and makes it difficult to shave. So, if you are used to shaving once every several days, you will need to change this habit and instead shave every day or every other day.
The growth, much like a dull blade, results in you pulling the blade along, which again increases the chance of cutting yourself. A safety razor slows down your shave, so if you want to get in and out as quickly as possible, the safety razor is not for you. However, with a safety razor, shaving becomes more of an intimate, personal experience and is something you should enjoy.
So invest in quality shaving cream or even a classic mug and shaving bar, apply the cream with a brush and enjoy the art of shaving.
What Is a Safety Razor?
The safety razor first came about in the mid-1800s but went through several renditions over the subsequent years. At the time, shaving was more precarious and required the use of a single, exposed blade. Many individuals went to a barber for the shave instead of doing it themselves although most at the time still used some form of an exposed blade. The safety razor opened the opportunity for easier shaving without using an exposed blade.
When compared to current disposable razors, the safety razor provides a closer, smoother shave, although it also exposes you to the possibility of cutting yourself, if you do not use the razor properly. It requires some adjusting to how you normally shave, but if you take advantage of these alternative shaving methods, you’ll be rewarded with a quality, comfortable shave.
A safety razor is usually made from a material such as stainless steel. It is weighed down, which gives it a substantially heavier feeling when compared to a traditional disposable razor. This is done, so the heavier razor helps with the glide of the blade. Gravity pulls the blade down, so instead of pushing the blade against your skin, you let gravity do the work.
The design of these razors is more or less the same from one to the next although some manufacturers may have slight variations in the construction or use a variety of different material. The compartment opens by loosening a small screw on the side of the razor. When the compartment is open, it allows you to insert the razor blade. Once in place, you tighten the screw, securing it back into position.
The screw is about the size of a screw you find on the side of a watch so that you can hand tighten and loosen the screw on your own.
Why Should I Use a Safety Razor?
If you are looking for a quick and easy shave that is forgiving or require any real finesse than the safety razor is not the device for you. There is a specific look and feel to this shave that is slightly different. However, it provides you with a rewarding shave and one of an excellent quality.
A safety razor will give you a closer shave. You don’t have any kind of plastic or other material between your skin and the blade. Because of this, you need to slow down the shaving process by using the weight of the razor. This is one of the main reasons why use a safety razor. No other blade out there, outside a standalone blade used by a barber, will give you this close of a shave.
The second benefit of using a safety razor (and why you should consider investing in one) is, in the end, you will save money. Yes, the razor itself will cost more up front, but the blades are substantially less expensive and show you do not need to buy the gimmick razors that have five or six blades, a moisturizing strip or a rotating head. You can buy a set of disposable razor blades for only a few dollars (often less than a dollar for a double-sided blade).
These blades last longer and are easier to clean. All you need to do is open it, remove the blade, rinse it out, and it’s ready to go. If you want to take it a step further, you can clean it in an alcohol solution or let it sit in baby oil. Whatever you do, you’ll increase the life of your blade while saving a substantial amount of money.
What Are the Top 3 Safety Razors?
1. Merkur Futur Adjustable Safety Razor
Adjustable Merkur Futur Snap-Cap design makes loading blades simple while the adjustable head offers the ability to control the blade gap, allowing you to fine-tune the closeness of the shave.
The Merkur brand is possibly the top accessible brand on the market today. There are several available options too, so you can select one that fits your budgetary needs. The Merkur Futur Adjustable Safety Razor, for example, is sleep and elegant. It also is opened not with a screw on the side of the heat, but by unscrewing the base which is easier.
This also helps prevent rusting by the screw (which can happen if you leave the screw tight after rinsing it off). This blade allows you to adjust the blade exposure, which means you can take an aggressive blade stance which gives you a closer shave, or you can protect your skin more with a more subtle setting.
2. Edwin Jagger Chatsworth Barley Chrome Safety Razor
The Edwin Jagger Chatsworth safety razors are renowned for exquisite craftsmanship and performance. Machined from solid brass, hand polished and triple plated with copper, nickel and blue white chrome.
The finishing touch is the beautiful Barley pattern on the handle which also aids in a grip. The razor head is Edwin Jagger’s latest precision design and is well regarded among wet shaving enthusiasts. Length: 4.4 inchesWeight: 113 grams Made in England.
Another brand to consider is a safety razor from Edwin Jagger. This is a razor blade from England (the other is from Germany) that also uses a handle turn for unlocking the razor head instead of a screw. The design of the Edwin Jagger is desirable because the head is on the slender side. This makes it easier to navigate in and around your nose and chin.
That is one aspect of a blade to consider: the head size. If you have ample hair around your nose and above your lip, go for a razor that features a slender head. Fatter heads, which is usually a feature of less expensive razors, will make it difficult to get in and out around your nose.
3. Feather All Stainless Steel Double-Edge Razor, Model AS-D2
The Feather All Stainless Double Edge Razor includes: All Stainless Double Edge Razor, 5 Feather Hi-Stainless Double Edge Blades.
A third brand is Feather. This is a Japanese-based safety razor. It comes with a slender head and a screw adjustable base. The manufacturer also produces its own “feather” blades, which are known by many in the business as some of the sharpest around.
The handle is on the shorter side, so if you have large hands it might not work, but the blade itself is beautiful and easier to use.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a close and personal shave, a safety razor is an excellent investment. You will spend more money on the handle up front, but over time you’ll save more money. There are even some handles that provide a metal buffer on the edge if you are afraid of cutting yourself (although the ones without the buffer provide a closer shave).
Disposable razors are fine to use and will get the job done, but if you’re ready to take your personal shave to the next level and grow past the plastic handles and inferior blades, now is the time to take advantage of a safety razor.
