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Safety Razors have become one of the most popular types of razor’s in the market. Safety razors have become popular without even realizing it, and the majority of people will purchase a safety razor because it’s cheaper to purchase replacement blades than an entire razor, it’s more Eco-friendly as you only get rid of the blade and not the entire razor and you also find that people prefer a razor that lasts longer than one that you can chuck away as soon as you use it. People are happy to buy something that costs more in the beginning but over time is more cost efficient. You can purchase safety razor’s nowadays that are plastic. Most razors in shops are safety razors however the proper safety razors are the old-fashioned style safety razors that you see around.
So what is a safety razor?
A safety razor is a razor that specifically has a protective device that is placed between the blade and the skin. It means that there is less chance of someone hurting themselves while shaving.
When was the safety razor invented?
It’s hard to figure out when the exact safety razor was created. In 1762 Jean-Jacques Perret had created what many say was the first straight safety razor (actually called a guard razor). The reason many people know this to be the first because he was the first to actually add a protective guard to the regular straight razor, and it was actually inspired by a joiner’s plane that was a straight razor with its blade surrounded by a wooden sleeve. There was also early descriptions of safety razor’s that look the most similar to the ones people use today, this was created by a guy named William Samuel Henson who while creating a patent application for a comb tooth guard which could be attached to straight razor.
The term safety razor started to become used in 1880 when it was described as a basic razor with a long handle that was attached to a head and there was removable blades to could be placed into the razor heads. The edge of the blade is protected by a comb patterned head that is able to protect the skin. This was also the first time removable blade razors came onto the scene.
Are safety razors dangerous?
Safety razors are one of the safest razors to use, hence the name. It’s good to remember to not press down too hard on the skin otherwise you can easily cause friction and may cause you to bleed.
Of course any razor can be dangerous. The removable safety razors can be dangerous while changing the blade in the razor, so make sure you go careful when changing the blade to not cut yourself, and like mentioned before if you push hard onto your skin the blade might get caught between the hairs and cause friction or may cause you to bleed.
Is shaving with a safety razor better? (What are the positives of having a safety razor?)
Shaving with a safety is better for a multitude of reasons. Firstly you have less of a chance of harming yourself. This is the point of the razor is to make it a lot safer than any other type of razor and it does do that. The second reason is that it gives a better shave than other razors. This is because a safety razor reduces skin irritation, shave bumps and ingrown hairs that are common with most other razors, safety razors will only ever have one blade against your skin at any time. Another reason is because it is a lot more cost-effective over time. Majority of people would think that safety razors are more expensive because the razor itself can be quite pricey. This is true if you are only interested in buying a safety razor for a short period of time, but if you are going to use the safety razor for anytime longer than 6 months you will find that you will very quickly be spending less money. For 100 razor blades you can get them for the lowest price of £6.50 (Dorco Platinum Stainless Steel de safety razor blades) whereas for an 8 blade pack of normal razor blades from a brand like Gillette you’re looking at a minimum of £10. Finally another good reason to buy a safety razor is that it’s environmentally friendly. Some people may not be concerned about the environment however it’s a good thing to be, safety razors are a lot more environmentally friendly because the only part of the razor you will chuck away is the razor blade itself and that will go into a blade disposal bag (you can see below in our section on how to dispose of safety razors), however with normal plastic disposable razors, they go blunt quicker and then you chuck them away and get another one out. Over 2 billion plastic razors and plastic razor blades get thrown away in the US alone, which is why it’s a good reason to purchase yourself a safety razor. Once you know how to use a safety razor, most people say they have a better shaving experience.
Some people wonder, how to use a safety razor?
Well this is how to shave with a safety razor in a step-to -step guide:
1. Choose your razor - It sounds like a silly thing to think however there are many different types of razors to choose from and each one will have something different about it so make sure you read and choose the one you think you will like best.
2. Practice proper blade hygiene - Make sure that you know the important facts about blade hygiene, like how you it’s recommended you should only use a blade once and then throw it away, and how you should also only install a new blade when you’re ready to shave so no bacteria is able to linger on the new blade.
3. Prepare the skin as usual - When prepping to shave you need to make sure that you have to make sure you soften the skin with warm water and then apply pre-shave oil. This allows the hairs and skin to become subtle. Many shave creams,gels and soaps are just as nourishing but pre-shave oil was designed specifically for that use. Once you have softened your skin apply the shaving cream/gel/soap to your face avoiding eyes and mouth.
4. Pull the skin taut - Make sure when you are ready to shave that you keep your skin as tight as possible, you want to make sure that you don’t drag the razor, lose your grip or accidentally apply pressure. The best way to do this would be too maintain a smooth, steady surface.
5. Maintain a 30-45 degree angle - The weighted handle is the best way to give you all the force you need for a clean and steady shave. Apply no additional pressure once the blade is on your face. You want to hold the razor at a 30-45 degree angle away from the skin.
6. Shave with the grain - Always remember to shave with the direction your hair grows not against it. If you shave against the direction of your hair then this can cause ingrown hairs. Also make sure you remember that all of your hair doesn’t grow in the same direction, it grows in multiple different directions so make sure you go steady and pay close attention.
7. Use short,straight strokes - Make sure that you shave in small, steady spurts and rinse in between, this produces less irritation and minimizes dragging. Shave small patches, lift the razor and then shave a bit below the patch. Never re-shave the same patch of skin.
Rinse with cold water and apply post-shave balm
How to clean a safety razor?
The main ingredients for cleaning a safety razor would be;
- Regular dish detergent (not dishwasher detergent)
- Isopropyl alcohol (higher the percentage the better)
- A toothbrush (preferably an old one that can be thrown away once used)
- Q-tips & toothpicks
- A bowl or large cup
How to use:
1.Firstly you will need to fill your cup up with about 4 ounces of warm water.
2. Add a few squirts (roughly 2 tablespoons) of dish detergent to the warm water and stir thoroughly with the old toothbrush.
3. Start cleaning the safety razor with the bristles of the toothbrush. (frequently dip the toothbrush into the shaving soap mixture. Make sure to get every surface area cleaned off at least three times. Try to remove as much of the soap scum as possible.)
4. Use the Q-tip or toothpick and focus on the deep crevices of the safety razor. (some safety razors have areas that the soap scum can get stuck in, so pay special attention to them.)
5. Dump out the soap water and clean the cup or bowl that you are using thoroughly.
6. Now add about 4 ounces of Isopropyl alcohol to the cup.
7. Use the toothbrush the same way as it was used with the soap and water (stir your toothbrush around in the alcohol and then scrub out the rest of the soap scum).
The alcohol provides a nice shine to the safety razor and also acts like a disinfectant.
How to dispose of safety razor blades?
There’s a couple of ways you can dispose of safety razor blades before getting rid of the blades themselves. You can keep them in your old case, you can create a blade bank (by using jars or old containers) and you can buy a blade disposal tin. These are the best ways to store old razor blades otherwise they could harm you or others who may pick up the blade. Once you’ve stored your old razor blades now it’s time to throw them away. There’s another couple of ways you can do this.
If you have filled up the old case or a jar or container then you can simply throw them away in your normal rubbish once it’s full (if you’re using a glass container make sure it doesn’t smash in the rubbish).
If you would like to recycle the safety blades, they can be recycled because they are metal. Once you have collected your blades and then you’re ready to throw them away. You can find your nearest recycling centre by visiting your local authority website, and then throwing them away in the metal section.
What is the best safety razor for a beginner?
To give you a simple answer to the question, the best razors are listed below;
Merkur Heavy Duty Double Edge Safety Razor
Edwin Jagger DE89 Double Edge Safety Razor
If you want a safety razor for a cheap price, we have a list of our cheapest razors (check descriptions for if these products come with blades or not);
Remember that not all double edge safety razor BLADES are not the same. Some beginners may think that a blade is a blade however this is not true, and there can be many differences in single blades, so you want to make sure you pick the right one for your razor. We have a sample pack of razor blades that you can find you’re perfect blade to fit your razor.
Double Edge Razor Blade Sample Packs
With these sample packs, you will receive 3 razor blades from each brand.
Now the main safety razors are sorted, what about double edge safety razors?
You normally find with experienced shavers, that many people will be split down the middle on whether or not they use single edge safety razors or double edge safety razors. The only difference between to two different types of safety razor is the fact that one has a single cutting edge, whereas the double edge has two cutting edges.
How to shave with a double edge safety razor?
A double edge safety razor is similar to use as a single edge safety razor however it has a few different things to do. So this is how to use a double edged safety razor.
Tip: It’s recommended to use a shaving brush to apply the soap onto the face as the brush helps to lift the hairs.
How to:
1. Soak a brush into hot water.
2. Shake the brush so some of the water comes off.
3. Lather your shave soap onto the brush
4. Apply the brush onto your face in circular motions (make sure you’re beard starts turning white - like a Santa beard, because then you know you’ve got it right).
5. Pick up your razor and make the first pass, making sure you keep a 30 degree angle.
6. Pull straight down but don’t apply pressure. Let the razor handle weight be in control.
7. Repeat action
Tip: Doing one pass with the grain of the beard and one light pass against the grain is said to give perfect smoothness.
