How To Shave Like a Man – Why Wet Shaving Rules and How You Can Get Started Now
// December 25th, 2011 // 2 Comments » // Other
About a year ago my good friend Michael Quisao introduced me to the art of shaving with a badger brush and safety or straight razor (a.k.a. “traditional” or “wet shaving”). At the time it seemed like a lot of work, but now after investing in the right equipment and some practice, I have fully embraced and thoroughly enjoyed the art of wet shaving.
This post has 2 parts. The first is a brief explanation as to why wet shaving is a more practical and cheaper way to shave than using the latest Mach-whatever razor with “cream” from a can (in addition to being a far superior shave in general). The second part is a guide to getting started yourself – what you need to buy, where to get it, and how to use it. My hope is that this post will inspire many more to enjoy of shaving the way men have shaved for generations before ours – like a man.
Part 1 – Why Traditional Wet Shaving is Better Than Modern Conventional Shaving
Let’s start with some simple cost analysis.
Option A: An average can of “cream” costs $3, and a 4-pack of Mach-whatever razor cartridges costs about $8. Assuming you go through one can of cream per month and (because they’re so expensive and you are conservative with your blade cartridges), you only buy that 4-pack 3 times a year (so you get one cartridge per month). This option comes to an annual cost of $60 for a crappy shave every day.
Option B: The best shaving cream in the world (Proraso, imported from Italy) costs you $20 for an annual supply, and you can buy 300 safety razor blades for $10 on eBay (using a fresh blade every day is a little ridiculous, but let’s be conservative for our estimates and say you go through 300 blades a year). Your Merkur safety razor that lasts a lifetime costs $40, and your badger brush that lasts you 5-10 years if not longer costs you $30. This system costs you $100 your first year and $30 every year afterwards, for the best shave of your life every day.
By the end of year 2, you spend $120 with Option A, and $130 with Option B. By the end of year 3, you spend $180 with Option A, and $160 with Option B. By the end of year 10, you spend $600 with Option A, and $400 with Option B. Option B becomes more cost effective at year 3 and the returns only get better with time. The better option (from a pure cost perspective) is obvious.
Okay, now that we’ve realized the cost benefits, let’s look at all the other (and in my opinion more significant) benefits of wet shaving. First, there is no way to get a closer shave. Period. If your ultimate goal is a close, silky smooth shave, skip to Part 2 and get started wet shaving now. Second, wet shaving leaves my skin feeling remarkable. I used to dread shaving because of the irritation it caused, especially on really sensitive skin around my neck (as a violinist, it was an endless battle). Now I actually look forward to shaving. It’s like the feeling you get after that first sip of fresh coffee in the morning, or the smell of dew on a field of grass on a crisp morning. Shaving has gone from dreadful to refreshing and pleasurable. Not to mention that it’s how real men shave.
Now, to be fair, I will give some negatives associated with wet shaving. One, it takes a little bit more time (some view this as a positive as it forces you to slow down and not rush through everything in life). With practice, it can be equally as fast or faster than conventional shaving, but often it does take a few more minutes to do it right (maybe 8 minutes to shave instead of 5 to 6). It also takes skill, and is therefore is much easier to cut yourself. Like most things in life though, with enough practice you can master it. After the first few weeks, I got it down and now I almost never knick myself. It also can be a bit more troublesome for traveling, as the brush needs to dry and it takes a little more space for all the supplies. Other than these minor issues (which can mostly be easily fixed with sufficient patience and practice), I haven’t found any other drawbacks to wet shaving.
Hopefully this brief discussion has inspired you to at least consider wet shaving. If so, take a look at Part 2 and see what you’ll need to do to get started, and if it hasn’t, then I wish the skin on your face luck.
Part 2 – A Guide to Getting Started
If you are going to get into wet shaving, you will need to investment in some basic equipment first. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of not skimping on cost with this step. My razor and brush cost me $70 to start, which seems like a lost to invest just to shave, but remember, these things will last you a very very long time. If you’re worried about cost, just go back up a few paragraphs and look at the numbers again in Part 1. Trust me, it’s a worthwhile investment.
The Razor: If you want, you can buy a single, straight razor and, after a lot of practice and cutting yourself, have a quite literally razor-sharp shave every day (and be a total badass). You can also achieve the same results much more easily with a Merkur safety razor. These razors use single, disposable razor blades and hold them at the appropriate angle for easier and safer use. You can buy a very solid Merkur razor (the one I bought) that will last a lifetime on Amazon. There are many places to buy the blades needed for this razor, and the best deal is usually on eBay. I use Derby blades and found a deal for 300 on eBay for only $10.
The Brush: Shaving brushes are made with badger hair because it is soft, flexible, and has unique water-retaining properties, an important element in getting a good lather with traditional cremes. Some cheaper brushes are made with boar’s hair, but again, skimping on costs here is just not worth it in the end. Get yourself a real badger brush and it will perform better and last you years. I also emphasize getting a stand for your brush, because after shaving you want the brush to dry. If you just stand it up on the handle, it won’t fully dry. I bought a set including a brush, stand, and mug on Amazon and have been extremely impressed with its performance for the price. 6 months with it now, very comfortable, and no signs of wear at all.
The Cream: Proraso. Don’t waste time looking for something better, because it doesn’t exist. You can get it in 150ml tubes which last maybe 3-4 months at $11 per tube, or you can do what I did and buy a massive 500ml tube (intended for barber shops) for $20, which should easily last you a year. You can get the small tube on Amazon and the big one at Connaught Shaving.
How to Shave: Now that you have all the right equipment, you need to learn how to use it. Every man has his own routine, but I found the following video very comprehensive and a great guide to wet shaving. The second video shows how to make a good lather.
Alright, that should get you started. A great resource with tons of information is http://badgerandblade.com/, a forum for wet shaving enthusiasts. I hope my little post will serve many in improving their shaving lives. Happy shaving!
