The Art Of Shaving: Finding The Correct Razor Blade
Moyo Studio
It’s Valentine’s Day and your significant other insists you trim your facial hair before your date. Usually, you’d just grab the nearest Gillette razor and some shaving cream, but it’s a special night and you don’t want to risk razor burn. And if your beard is especially bushy, the regular razor blade won’t give you that clean shave you desire. Never fear, though, The Man Of The Hour has your back – or, in this case, your face.
Recommendations shaving your facial hair with a safety razor versus a cartridge razor. A cartridge razor is a razor that has a detachable head that can be discarded after it loses its sharpness. However, a safety razor is a razor that has a protective device positioned between the edge of the blade and the skin. Cartridge razors only use blades that are from the same brand as the shaver, but safety razors can use blades from any company. Also, unlike safety razors, cartridge razors have more than one blade which can be a problem when one blade gets dull and irritates the face.
A high-quality safety razor that I recommend is the Merkur Mk34c double edge razor with heavy duty short handle ($38) from Grooming Lounge.
For those of you who have a thicker, coarser beard, Wilkinson Sword cautions readers against using a razor with a wimpy handle. You want a razor with a handle that won’t slip loose, so the blade won’t slip while you’re shaving. You also want a razor with a blade that’s extra sharp and high quality, so you won’t have to get a new razor in the middle of your shaving session.
For you bushy-bearded fellows, I recommend the Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5 skin protection sensitive razor ($33) from Wilkinson Sword. Not only is the razor hardy, but it also has a protective gel pool that keeps the skin smooth and prevents irritation.
For those men who want clean-cut edges when trimming their beards, a straight edge razor is your best bet. The ability for you to move the blade around is especially important when you are trying to create the perfect line while shaving. Also, a thin and extra-sharp blade is another very important component.
I recommend the Straight edge razor ($28) from The Beard Club for trimming edges and creating lines. It comes with ten stainless steel blades, so it’ll last you a while. It also comes with a black storage case for you to store your razor in when you aren’t trimming stray hairs.
All in all, it’s always good to test out different razors until you find your perfect match. Don’t settle for a razor that’s cheap and leaves your skin riddled in razor burn.