Thread: pro,s &con.s for the smiley

i wish to know everyone opinion.s a strait ( flat ) edge ore smiley & way do i not see more of them ?

Never used a smile but I read something about them reaching some of the hollows a bit better. Would love to hear others thoughts about them.

I think the theory behind the smiling razor is the same one thought through with swords - in that when the blade is "bent" it slices better making it more of an efficient cutter.

This action can be replicated with a straight spine. Though, there is only so much real-estate on the face before "push" cutting is called for.

Personally speaking, at the levels we hone our blades, I feel the theory behind the smile is redundant BUT, many swear by them claiming they give a more comfortable shave. And I can see that. It does however add another dimension (learning curve) to the shave.


And yes, the smile would surely help getting into the hollows were a gent know what he's doing.

Besides all that - the reason I like em - is cuz they look cool lol!!

A lot of the razors that I use have a smile to them and most of the ones that I have honed had a smile. It has been mentioned before that the old barbers manuals actually taught to hone towards a smile. A smile or a straight edge edge shave the same to me, but I tend to like the smile more. Seems like it adds a scything stroke without actually having to do one and I tend to not fillet my face or pierce my ear with a smile. As long as your razor has a smile or straight edge instead of a frown it will do what it is supposed to do. I comes down to the hands that are using the razor.

I definately find shaving my neck easier with a smile.

None of mine have a heavy smile but they all bring a smile to my face.
Scything helps, as well as learning to use the heal of the blade.
Still love the look and will eventually have one of the big smiling blades.

Originally Posted by JSmith1983

It has been mentioned before that the old barbers manuals actually taught to hone towards a smile.

This is because if you try to hone a razor dead straight it will tend to frown. On the other foot, a shorter 2" kamisori blade can be kept straight. Maybe the blade geometry

I'm in the smiley camp. One of JimmyHAD's links to an old barber's manual spoke of how a frowning blade would pull & cause irritation. It never said the obvious - that the smile would be less irritating. I particualrly like them for the concave surfaces between the bottom of the jawbone & the neck. That said - I'll let someone else argue with success. If you fine the straight edge easier to wield - don't let anyone talk you out of it.

gotta agree I find the Smiling blades get a smoother finish easier for me also
(just a test to hone them still for me)

Originally Posted by edhewitt

I definately find shaving my neck easier with a smile.

I always smile while I'm shaving!