Shaving with a Straight Razor

Patience is extremely important while shaving, especially if you are using a straight razor. One needs to careful and have a steady hand while carrying out this task to avoid accidents. Do not use a straight razor if you are feeling dizzy, hung over, or for that matter have lost you capability to balance properly.

Also bear in mind that during the learning stages you are bound to cut yourself, at some point time. There are however benefits of shaving with a straight razor that you can definitely enjoy if you follow the following steps.

• Straight razor
• Shaving soap
• Brush
• Antiseptic
• Aftershave
• Hot water and cold water

• The first step is to apply a thick layer of foam on your beard, as concentrated as you can. Keep the layer thick, specially if you are using a straight razor for the first time.

• Once the first layer dries up a little, add a second one, so that the hair becomes soft and also to facilitate the blade to slide on your skin smoothly.
• After you have applied the second layer, wash the razor in some warm water mixed with antiseptic liquid. Check for rust or dust.

• The razor should be parallel to your skin, with its sharpened end facing downward.
• Start shaving from your side burns towards your chin. Softly scrap off the beard hair, by keeping the blade pointed towards the ground.
• Once you have finished the upper part, proceed to the part below the chin and scrap off the hair, in the same manner.

• After you are done with both the parts, check if any uneven hair has been left on your face. In case of such uneven surface, put the lard on your face once more and remove it. While doing so you will have to be especially careful while scraping hair off the jaw bone's boundary. 

Here, some people also tighten their skin a bit for better effect. You can either stretch the skin with the help your fingers or by keeping your mouth wide open.

If you follow these steps systematically and carefully, then you will easily get the hang of it within a week. If the weather is warm enough, you can wash your face with cold water to ward off any minor skin scratches. Remember, there is a possibility that you might cut your skin, so keep an antiseptic handy.