How to shave yourself with a straight razor - a 10 min guide

This is a 10 minute instructional video showing how to shave yourself using a straight razor. The razor used is perfect for daily straight razor shaving - it is called a shavette - a straight razor using disposable blades. This type of razor is most common in barbershops for hot towel shaves.

The techniques used here are by no means perfect or textbook. Each man needs to discover what works for him.

Shaving yourself and shaving a customer in a barbershop are two very different experiences. As a barber giving a shave in your shop you would use more formal techniques/ ways of holding the razor.

Techniques covered here:

-lathering with brush
-massaging soap into beard
-typical and atypical razor holds
-pulling skin taut
-pursing lips when applying lather
-reapplying lather
-back and forward stokes
-first pass shave
-second pass shave (against grain)
-mustache area
-tidying up edges

Again this is not the perfect shave! It is just a video guide for the average Joe who'd like to learn how to shave at home with a straight razor.

Music by Roy Collins Hot Club.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Barber
• Shave
• Straight
• Razor
• Hot
• Towel
• Vintage
• Rockabilly
• Gillette
• Mach
• Fusion
• Waldorf
• 1940s
• 1950s
• Mad

[Jman88933]

are you supposed to shave before or after you shower?

[DeWittAlbright]

@Jman88933 After. Hot shower makes the pores open and the hairs stand out.

[wizzie47]

Good job, as it seems. I use DE razors, now but why not try a shavette?

[DeWittAlbright]

@wizzie47 Thanks, yes indeed - why not?

[Laino91]

I can believe its stressful to shave when you have the dog barking in the background, but you do it very well anyway. Great video!

[DeWittAlbright]

@Laino91 LOL I remember that. Thanks for that, and oh, kids are more stressful!

[0gami1tto]

@jrcrow79

It says in the description that it's a shavette, i.e a straight razor that uses a disposable blade. Useful for those travelling, or for people who can't be bothered with honing/stropping.

Honestly, learn to read descriptions. And don't type like that either, you're 44 for god's sake.

[robmarcreed]

@jrcrow79 As somebody already said, it is a shavette. It isn't at all similar to a safety razor in that there are no mechanisms to prevent you from cutting yourself. If you personally find the quality of the shaves from one of these substandard, then you're free to use whatever razor you wish, but the gent in the video seems to be doing just fine.

[Redfearn27]

and that aint no straight...its a piecce of crap shavette

[Redfearn27]

no need for that massage, let your brush do the work

[DJBRUCEK1]

@DeWittAlbright I totally agree; it is still an excellent vidl. he even cut himself slightly; I'm a beginner and I slice the shit out of my face; I guess it takes a lot of practice and patience; I have none of either.lol.

[greenmarine5]

@Laino91 A husband learns very quickly how to tune things out of his mind or with in hearing distance.

[azpeev]

You forgot to strop it.

[howdhowd51]

im guessing ur face was a pretty hot after that shave cuz imo you were digging in and also was going to town without anymore soap on ur face. let the razor do the work chap

[ChadBoivin]

What is the name of the song?

[DeWittAlbright]

@DKDrD3xt3r From the Waldorf Barbershop, look them up on Facebook.