How to Shave With an Old-Fashioned Blade

While modern society has given men such luxuries as safety razors, more intrepid guys prefer to shave the old-fashioned way: with a straight razor. Although it can be hazardous, you never look cooler in the mirror than you do shaving with an old-fashioned blade. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Razor strop
• Strop paste
• Straight razor
• Shaving brush
• Shaving cream or soap

1. Prepare the strop for sharpening the straight razor. Apply white strop paste to the linen side of the strop and yellow strop paste to the leather side.
2. Strop the razor, linen side first. Push the razor away from your body, dragging the edge with the entire blade flat on the strop. Turn the blade over and pull it towards your body, dragging the edge again. Strop the razor about 40 times on this side, then turn the strop over and repeat on the leather side.
3. Run the shaving brush under hot water and shake off excess. Swirl the brush in shaving cream or soap to create a warm lather, and apply the lather to your face with the brush.
4. Hold the straight razor blade at a 30-degree angle to your face. With small and careful strokes, lightly shave your face toward the grain twice and against the grain twice, moving the width of the blade vertically.
5. Rinse the blade under warm water to remove stubble. Repeat from Step 4 until you shave your whole face.
6. Splash cold water on your face to finish your shave.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a carbon steel blade rather than a stainless steel one. The former holds a better edge.
• Never use slicing motions when shaving with a straight razor.