Wet Shaving 101

          If you've pruchased razors lately, you've probably noticed how expensive they have gotten. $32.99 for a pack of 8 cartridges boasting "Proglide Power." Insanity! Why are they so expensive? It has a lot to do with the marketing of these items. Professional athletes and advertising costs usually end up meaning a more expensive product. This instructable is going to be an extensive "How to" guide that will walk you through all aspects of shaving the old fashioned way with a double edged safety razor.
           Why make the switch? If you've got acne, chances are sliding 3,4 or even 5 blades accross your face isn't helping. Not to mention shaving bumps, ingrown hairs, red irritiation, razor burn and cost are all associated with these cartridge style razors.. Both men and women use the techniques illustrated in the guide. Did I mention a quality safety razor blade can cost you about .09 cents? It'll out perform any marketed cartridge on the market too.
 Check out http://www.secretguidetoshaving.com/ for more about tradition shaving!
 

Step 1 Prepare your face.

         This is a vital step a lot of nontraditional shavers totally neglect. You're going to want to prep your skin. Think about it. You're about to run a blade sharper than any surgeon's scalpel accross your skin. You're going to want it to be well lubricated, and moist.
         You've probably seen products on the market marketed as "pre shave." Don't bother with them. The best pre-shave you will ever have the opportunity to use is available at home. It's homemade and a lot of us don't even know about it.
         Oil oil has been used for over five thousand years as a beauty product. Take four parts olive oil, and one part baby oil and put them in a bottle. Shake it up. You've got a preshave oil that will out perform any available product on the market. Not to mention, it probably costs you virtually nothing. If you've got a special recipe, add it at http://www.secretguidetoshaving.com/  

Comments

[click HERE for latest obsession]

Oh. Oh, dear.

[Nate53085]

Your lather looks a bit thin and bubbly on your face, are you sure you worked that enough? Though, I suppose if your get a comfortable shave then do what works.

I have a very coarse beard and have been shaving with a Feather DE and Feather Blades for about 2 years. I could NEVER go back to disposable shaving. When I travel, I use cheapo BIC single bladed disposables, as I find them the closest to DE that will actually be allowed on a plane.

The only difference between your procedure and mine is that I lather on face (take less time and I find I get a better lather, plus it FORCES me to work it into my face more). I also use witch hazel as an aftershave and then apply a post shave lotion (one that does NOT have alcohol in it).

I've never used Shark blades, how do you like them? What do they compare to?

[SecretGuideToShaving]

Hello. Lather is pretty thick and creamy in the picture. Might be a photography issue. Shark blades are among the best. They aren't as sharp as the feather blades. It's a preference I suppose.

[JenJen5000]

Thanks, this is a great instructable! It's given me a great idea for a Christmas present too :3

[jimbo480]

younger people, especially those going through puberty and starting to get facial hair shouldn't actually use oil on their face. it causes them to break out in more spots. crazy i know.

[SecretGuideToShaving]

No. If you want to maintain a clean & clear complexion, it's important to keep the oils on your face in balance. Go and strip all of the oils off with a harsh product, and your skin will hyperproduce sebum, leading to more acne.

[jimbo480]

as you know i can only speak for myself, but when i was young and started shaving, if i used any sort of oil on my face i broke out in spots. maybe it was an allergic reaction, but it didnt affect anywhere else i applied the oil? maybe you can shed some light on this for me?

[aaronscottaugustinhotmail.com]

that is true but thats why you are supposed to used a skin balancing formula and repairing/skin nourishing lotion. I have never ever had any acne problems after using the products.

They were all natural and only cost about $5 usd a bottle. The bottle would last me about a year.

Love this ible. I tend to have extremely course and thick facial hair that clogs my razors easily.

[Iridium7]

MY MOTHER WAS WRONG!!!

[vegalyre]

could you possibly take this picture again but on a dark background? I can't see how much you are squeezing out b/c it blends with the sink

[talty]

I'm a girl but this is so nicely explained that I wish I could give it a try :(

Weird, I've never wished I had a beard before Oo

[SecretGuideToShaving]

Women use DE shaving too.. I'm working on some stuff on my blog bout it.

[dougalh]

shaving after a shower helps alot because it softens the hair which can be done instead of using the oil

[SecretGuideToShaving]

I use the oil because it acts as a lubricant and also keeps my skin really clear and healthly looking.

[Dy7lan]

I think I may have a new favorite!!!

[Cracknel]

That's how my grandfather uses to shave, except for the oil part and he uses a soap bar instead of the shaving cream.

Instead of the towel you could also wash your face several times with hot water and soap. It helps a lot!

[AaronAdamic]

Oh, the good old times! :)

[omnibot]

Nice. Rather than use a hot cloth I shave in the shower.

[harthoppy]

I shave with a safety Razor I got from my father over 20 years ago . I love It . thanks for the oil tip !!

[scoochmaroo]

Really well done.

[metalman1138]

Unfortunately so many guys don't know how to "pamper" their skin when shaving. Great Instructable!