Thread: Wipe or Rinse?

I don't have a hard & fast rule on this but... whatever method one uses, one must ALWAYS be aware of the edge relative to any surface, hard or fleshy

I hit the blade on the faucet on my first shave with my first straight razor. I think I'll be wiping from now on.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I've always stuck the blade under hot running water and I don't dry it between passes. I only rinse, dry and wipe when I'm done before the clean up stropping.

Yep, that's me too Jimmy. Something about the feel of the hot, wet blade against my lathered skin that I like a whole lot. With a really sharp blade, it's a little bit of heaven on earth. The best shaving experience possible, I think.

The only hassle I don't like about straight shaving compared to DE shaving is the struggle to keep my hands dry between and during passes, so I can see dry-wiping as an option. When I DE shaved, the more water the better - wet hands, wet face, wet razor, all kinds of messy fun. But I'm so worried about rusting one of my good high-carbon steel straight blades that it can be a challenge to keep the blade and face really hot and wet, but the tang, scales, and hands dry. I keep lots of clean, dry, white, scrubby terrycloth hand towels available.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I've always stuck the blade under hot running water and I don't dry it between passes. I only rinse, dry and wipe when I'm done before the clean up stropping.

This is exactly what I do

I actually do both!

I rinse most of the lather and stuff off, and then give the razor a wipe on a flannel I have by the sink.

It never even occured to me to do one or the other, I just did that right from the start and I've just gotten into the rhythm of it now.

I agree though, that you have to be very careful to keep the scales and pivot area dry when rinsing. I tilt the razor almost vertically when I rinse it so the water is deflected as little as possible by the blade.

Great thread!

Just rinse with hot water and go for the next stroke. I like it hot and wet.


We're talking about razors right?

Wipe. Why risk messing up the blade. Even if you get hair on a towel it'll wash out.

Hahaha, I love this site, only here can you get about 40 responses about how you rinse your blade while shaving, MY TURN, haha.

Fill sink with hot water, pop whiskers off face, dip/shake blade in sink, repeat.

Originally Posted by ChrisK

Fill sink with hot water, pop whiskers off face, dip/shake blade in sink, repeat.

I'm also a dipper/shaker. I fill my sink basin about halfway with hot water from the tap, then fill it the rest of the way with hot water from a teakettle. (I have my water heater set fairly low so the kids don't get scalded accidentally)

When I shave I just swirl the blade in the sink basin and go for my next stroke. When I'm done I thoroughly dry the razor before storage. I have not seen any rusting or water spots developing in the pivot of any of my razors yet. If I do, I will have to change my technique.