Fat Buddha Store Glasgow - Guide to Wet Shaving with a Safety Razor

Here at Fat Buddha Store we pride ourselves on stocking a wide and varied range of classic men's grooming products. While we stock products for a range of very modern grooming needs we also like to augment it with the old classics. Products that you would see in a reputable barbers that require the kind of skills that use to be passed down through the generations.

One such technique is wet shaving which in recent years, thanks in no small part to the rise of disposable and multiblade razors, has somewhat fallen out of vogue. Wet shaving is undergoing something of a reconnaissance of late however as more and more people discover the art of a proper shave. With this in mind here at Fat Buddha Store we have created a quick guide for the uninitiated using products from our very own collection. If you want to learn how to master the classic wet shave read on:

To get started you will need the following items:

• A Safety Razor 
• Shaving Soap or Cream
• Shaving Brush
• Shaving Bowl
• After Shave Lotion/Moisturiser

Step 1: Knowing your facial hair
The best way to get the most out of a wet shave is to do some prep. Although it might sound trivial knowing which way your facial hair grows will reduce irritation and and make the whole process a lot easier.

Step 2: Prepping your products and beard

Once you have all the required products I would suggest soaking the brush in the bowl to soften the bristles. You will then need to soften the beard and make the hair follicle more pliable by simply wetting the face with warm water or preferable having a hot shower. A pre-shave cream can also be used to soften the beard and assist the razor glide. Once your beard is ready you can begin to build a lather. Take your soaking shaving brush and shake off any excess moisture then begin to lather the shaving soap/cream by moving the brush around the bowl in a circular movement and apply liberally to all areas you wish to shave.

Step 3: Angling your blade

One of the most importance step involves finding the correct blade angle. Begin by placing the safety razor flat against your face with the handle staying perpendicular to your face. Gently bring the handle down towards the floor as you glide the razor down your face. Once the hair starts cutting you'll know you have found the right angle.

Step 4: The shave

After you have found the right blade angle you can begin to shave in what is known as passes. The goal is to reduce the amount of hair with each pass, instead of trying to eliminate all of it in a single pass. This also reduces the risks of cuts, soreness, and ingrown hairs. Alum blocks and styptic pencils can be used to close cuts resulting from the shave. As wet shaving is the gradual removable of hair you should follow the grain of your beard. If your unsure of the grain run your hands across your face to find the direction your beard grows in. Let the weight of the razor keep the blade against your skin, you should not apply pressure! Once you have completed this stage rinse your face with warm water and reapply the lather. This time instead of following the grain, drag the razor across the grain of your beard. If after these two shaves your still not happy with how smooth your facial hair is you can repeat the first pass, please note however that a third shave will likely cause irritation and will probably require post shave cream or moisturizer. Finally rinse your face with cold water to seal the pores, pat dry and move on to the final stage.

Step 5: Post shave

This stage is really a personal preference you can either apply your favorite aftershave, a moisturizer or skin cleanser or if suffering from irritation a post shave cream.

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