Thread: Wiping Off Your Blades Edge

This morning's shave came with a discovery that I should have arrived at a long time ago. Today, after finishing a section of my face, I used a piece of tissue paper to wipe off the blade edge. What a huge difference in the rest of the shave. I keep a towel next to the sink while I shave, but I'm always worried about using it to wipe off the edge side because I' don't want the towel to dull the blade from all the little strands of fabric. So in the past I've only wiped off the water from the rinse with the spine against the towel, and never with the razor edge facing down into the towel. Using the tissue seemed a little less risky to me, and the result was immediately noticeable. I can only assume that, although it's invisible to the naked eye, there is a build up of hair, skin, oil, lather etc... on the edge that get's between the hair on your face and the razor edge. That little bit of stuff on the edge impedes the efficiency of the razor enough to result in a much less comfortable shave. If the comfort of your shave seems to change mid shave, try using some tissue between your thumb and forefinger, and wiping of the blade off, with the edge facing down, and running between your fingers. Ridiculously simple and obvious. But somehow I never considered it before.

Originally Posted by Slurryer

This morning's shave came with a discovery that I should have arrived at a long time ago. Today, after finishing a section of my face, I used a piece of tissue paper to wipe off the blade edge. What a huge difference in the rest of the shave. I keep a towel next to the sink while I shave, but I'm always worried about using it to wipe off the edge side because I' don't want the towel to dull the blade from all the little strands of fabric. So in the past I've only wiped off the water from the rinse with the spine against the towel, and never with the razor edge facing down into the towel. Using the tissue seemed a little less risky to me, and the result was immediately noticeable. I can only assume that, although it's invisible to the naked eye, there is a build up of hair, skin, oil, lather etc... on the edge that get's between the hair on your face and the razor edge. That little bit of stuff on the edge impedes the efficiency of the razor enough to result in a much less comfortable shave. If the comfort of your shave seems to change mid shave, try using some tissue between your thumb and forefinger, and wiping of the blade off, with the edge facing down, and running between your fingers. Ridiculously simple and obvious. But somehow I never considered it before.

For those of us that are old enough to remember the hair cuts and shaves of times gone buy remember that the barber always wiped the blades edge while shaving either our necks or face. never really give it much thought until I started with the straight razor my self. I does make a difference. All in the learning curve. I'm sure before it's over we will all learn new old stuff. enjoy and have a great day.

Almost from the start I have used a damp sponge in a holder on the counter top to wipe the blade off using a stropping motion. No fibers to worry about and no damage to the blade. Big plus for me is that my fingers are nowhere near the blade edge.

Bob

I use a regular bath sponge. Saves your blade from the taps too.

I've done this since day one, ONLY, because I read the makers care instructions. They recommend toilet paper, so that's what I use.
If not Lord knows what I would have been doing.

I'm also use the wife's blower year, drying the pivot swivels making sure no water worked its way up between the scales and blade.

I use a flannel folded up and put over the water spout. Saves accidental dings and just wipe the lather off on it. No edge problems. Know a barber that still uses straights anf he will wipe off on a towel.

Hot water rinse from the tap and then an wipe with toilet paper if necessary. I have found that having lather that is sufficiently moist makes a big difference in the ease of cleaning by rinsing. When the lather starts to get dry, it becomes more tacky/thicker/less-rinsable.

Yes, for sure having a moist lather makes a difference.

Bob

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Hot water rinse from the tap .

Yeah same here,, Swish in the sink, or run the Tap, I learned to drape my washcloth over the tap so I don't even have to be so careful to not hit it

Since I have a sink full of Hot Water right there in front of me, and it is after all called "Wet Shaving" I find that to be easy

Also it helps with thinning the lather, which I also agree with when I bring a Warm, Wet, razor back to my face

Damp washcloth, folded, at the edge of the counter to strop off as I go.
Also start off with 4-6 squares of TP to clean the blade if I need to close the razor to set it down (keep that lather out of the scales)
I have RazorDinkaPhobia so I only rinse once at the most...

And I remember my Grandfather and Uncle using a razor around my ears and the back of my neck when I was a youth in the 60's.
They would have a towel over either my shoulder (Grandpa) or his (Uncle Custy) that they would use to clear the blade as they worked.
If you think about it, turning to the sink takes time. For me not using the faucet to rinse allowed me to stay focused on the process, this was a big help when learning how to use a Straight.