Baby boomers have memories of watching their father’s wet shave every morning: a ritual of efficiency, and one that required craftsmanship. The son’s journey into manhood often started with his first wet shave. And now millennials – most of whom saw the morning wet shave as something of a nuisance – are now starting to embrace the skills required to perform one.
The selection of quality grooming tools is also enjoying some time in the spotlight. From product lines with all natural ingredients to stainless steel razors, wet shaving is enjoying a renaissance as a luxurious experience, as opposed to a monotonous task. Men are getting rid of their multi-blade disposable razors to make room for a shave with a straight or double-edged safety razor. In fact, in 2020, the Merkur 34c entry level safety razor found its way on to Amazon’s best seller list. Now, that’s impressive. But why is it that wet shaving has become popular again?
The Advantages of Wet Shaving
It’s better for you
Using a fewer number of blades against your skin is better for you. Using five blades to rake your face at the same time will result in problems. By using just one blade, you’ll avoid numerous problems caused by disposable razors.
It saves you money
You can start wet shaving for under $50. So you can save approximately 90% of your shaving budget by switching to wet shaving. And you can buy 100 double edge blades for around $10. So if you shave on alternate days, that could supply you with enough razors for more than a year.
It’s good for the environment
Some safety razor blades are recyclable. That’s not the case with shaving gel cans and disposable razors. Billions of razors and replaceable heads find their ways into landfills each year. You’ll produce far less waste by wet shaving.
The Different Kinds of Razors
Now let’s look at the advantages of two different kinds of razors available, along with one kind of razor that is actually harmful both to you and the environment.
Safety Razors
- As hair grows normally, there’s very little chance of razor bumps occurring
- Simple designs enable easy cleaning and rinsing between strokes, as well as the end of each shave
- In the majority of cases, a single blade with one or maybe two strokes will be sufficient for a clean shave, translating into less friction, which is great if you have sensitive skin
Shaving Brushes
- The lather is made richer and thicker while applying
- Softens and lifts hair to give you a cleaner cut. This means that there’s less chance of your hair being pulled and cut blow the surface of your skin
- Exfoliates your skin to assist the removal of dead skin cells
Aerosol Shaving Gels/Creams
- The chemicals used in formulating the foam are bad news for your skin, especially if your skin is sensitive
- Tested on animals, so not cruelty free
- Can affect your skin’s health long-term
Choosing the Right Shaving Brush
If you’ve never used a shaving brush before, you may struggle finding a decent one. While you can read shaving brush reviews online, it wouldn’t hurt to know how to find the right one yourself. So when you’re about to use one for the first time, you should ask yourself the following questions.
Is there an appropriate backbone?
A backbone is the stiffness of the shaving brush’s knot. How much backbone it has is proportional to its stiffness, as well as its performance when swirling to create a lather.
Does it shed bristles with each use?
There’s no reason to get alarmed over a few hairs left in the sink or on your skin over the course of a month. At least for a lower grade synthetic or large grade boar brush. However, when using a good quality synthetic, badger, or horse hair brush, your hairs should maintain their pliability and hold their shape for a long time.
Was the brush ethically produced?
Another point to query is whether the product has been ethically produced or not. While our fathers and their fathers before them may not have had this as a consideration, we have no excuse today for barber or shaving brushes being made with any practices but sustainable ones.
How does it feel?
Does it have a heaviness to it that indicates a good quality brush? Or does the brush’s handles feel cheap, with bristles that are prickly and sparse when applied to your skin. Sometimes, the one way to really know if you’ve chosen the right brush or not is to just try it.
Did it give you a close, comfortable, and clean shave?
Lastly, ask yourself how your shave felt and whether or not you noticed the difference between lathering with your hands or your brush. The latter can see hairs stick to your face, whereas when using a shaving brush, your facial hair is lifted for a more efficient cut, while also exfoliating your skin. It should also hold moisture, as well as comprehensively covering your targeted area with ease.
