How to shave with a safety razor

You've decided to ditch your disposable plastic razor for a safety razor, but you find it intimidating?

We've been there! Using a safety razor seems very different. But even though some small things change, the way you use it remains very similar, and you adapt to it surprisingly quickly.

Every skin is different, and you may be able to skip some of these steps if you have easy skin. However, there are three golden rules:

• Soften the area to be shaved with warm water, or shave in the shower or at the end of the shower so that the skin and hair are softened.
• Protect your skin with shaving foam, shaving oil, or a superfatted soap.
• Do not apply pressure from the razor to the skin

In addition to these basics, here is a detailed step-by-step guide:

BEFORE

1. For underarms, bikini line, and beard, it's best to shave hairs that aren't too long. Trim them or cut them with scissors to get hairs less than a centimeter long.
2. Exfoliate your skin to smooth it and remove dead skin cells. This will also help lift any ingrown hairs.
3. Wait until you've finished a hot shower or bath before shaving. If possible, choose a time when you're not in a hurry. Relax, it's your time.

SHAVING

4. Apply shaving cream, shaving oil, or soap. This will allow the blade to glide smoothly over your skin. It's also the best way to see where you've already shaved so you don't shave the same spot twice.
5. Use a blade that is not damaged . A damaged blade can cause cuts and micro-tears that will cause redness.
6. Do not apply pressure. Too much pressure could damage the upper layer of the dermis. As a result, you will be more prone to ingrown hairs that grow back under the skin (curved downwards or into the dermis) rather than on the surface.
7. Use a gentle angle (30°) between the blade and the skin for optimal effectiveness
8. Stretch your skin slightly if you need to make it flatter in certain areas, but don't pull too hard either.
9. Try to shave each area only once. Too many passes will damage the dermis (the top layer of your skin).
10. If you have very sensitive skin, shave downwards in the direction of your hair, instead of against the grain as we are used to doing.

AFTER

11. Dry and avoid rubbing freshly shaved areas. This could cause irritation.
12. Moisturize your skin with your usual cream, coconut oil or fresh Aloe Vera gel.
13. Rinse and dry your razor (to make it last a lifetime) and the razor blade (if you plan to reuse it).

And there you have it!

If you experience redness even after following each step, remember: practice makes perfect. Don't get discouraged if your first attempt wasn't perfect. You've used another tool (the disposable razor) your whole life. You just need to make a few adjustments to how you handle your new razor.