Thread: How to Use a Razor

Originally Posted by mparker762

Taken from the paper wrapping of a "Silver Beauty - Full Concave" razor, Sears, Roebuck & Co.

How to Use a Razor

Lay the razor as nearly flat as possible and cut in a sloping direction. Do not scrape or hold razor at an angle; this will spoil the edge, irritate the skin and cause the best razor to fail. It is highly beneficial to wash the face with warm water and soap before shaving, and time spent in softening the beard adds materially to the comfort of the operation. To keep a razor in good condition, it should be stropped before and after each shave and honed every four or five weeks. Do not overhone, a few strokes only are necessary. If a good quality hone and strop are used and proper care taken of the razor, it should give excellent service for many years.

Perhaps people were just smarter back then? Somehow, they could get away with short, to-the-point instructions, and the customers just "got it."

- Scott

Those directions are exactly correct. I'm not sure what the fuss is about ????
If you look in our files you'll see the same thing in the permanent archives on "How to shave" . . .

what the commercial entities were fighting back in the day were guys that were using 30, 40, 50 degree angles and complaining about irritation.

This was just an attempt to let people know that too much angle caused pressure, irritation and a need to hone a lot. This was the common falacy of the day, and remains a falacy in our midst too.

Back then, all you did was shave so you looked clean cut and irritation free.

You'll find some great shaves if you lower the angle to 10 for the first pass and go up to 20 for the second, but you may find a little less closeness.

1922 Maher and Grosh, How to shave:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/compo...d,19/Itemid,3/

The instructions printed on the coffin of my Kropp also instruct the user to lay the blade flat and begin. I don't have it with me to read right now to compare with the Sears instructions, but they are very similar.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

1922 Maher and Grosh, How to shave:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/compo...d,19/Itemid,3/

I find the end of that document very interesting, the part that says:

". . . plenty of water, to soften the beard, and lots of wet lather rubbed into the skin are of far more importance than the quality of the razor."

I only started shaving with a straight last Saturday. I'm still not very good at it, and this morning I decided to take a break and use the old Mach 3. But I still did the same prep I do for a straight shave, and got the best shave I've ever had. I'm looking forward to being able to get a shave that nice from the straight, but it goes to show the importance of proper prep.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

You'll find some great shaves if you lower the angle to 10 for the first pass and go up to 20 for the second, but you may find a little less closeness.

Absolutely! I was just chatting about this - seems I don't get as close as I want this way - but I still prefer the comfort to closeness and potential razor burn

Cheers
Ivo

Ah but if the angle is very low you can use pressure without too much risk of razor burn, because you're pressing the razor *sideways* into your face instead of edge-first into your face.

Originally Posted by mparker762

Ah but if the angle is very low you can use pressure without too much risk of razor burn, because you're pressing the razor *sideways* into your face instead of edge-first into your face.

This may be true but I am anxious to avoid avoid pressure in general. Will try it cautiously and report back - hopefully it won't result in too much damage

Cheers
Ivo