Shaving guide
Welcome to our shaving guide. Here we help you through the entire process of wet shaving. The guide is mainly focused on wet shaving with a safety razor, but also contains information for those who want to shave with a shavette or razor.
This shaving guide gives you an overview of what you need to be able to carry out a wet shave. Some elements are slightly more important than others to complete. The most important thing is that you do the steps that suit you.
How do I get started with wet shaving?
You will need a number of shaving tools and skin care products for wet shaving. What these are, we will go through in the first part of our shaving guide. There are also a number that can be nice to have. But these are not a must.
Wet shaving tools
- A safety razor (preferably one with a closed comb). The most important shaving tool of them all. Once you’ve started using one, you won’t want to use anything else.
- A package of double razor blades (preferably one with medium sharpness). Try it out until you find a razor blade that suits you.
- A shaving brush (Not necessary but it gives a better and more comfortable wet shave). We think you should treat yourself to a shaving brush.
Wet shaving skin care products
- A jar or tube of shaving cream or shaving soap. If you use shaving soap, you will need a shaving brush to apply it.
- An aftershave, preferably an after shave balm that is gentle on the skin.
- Alum stick or alum stone to stop any cuts.
Other things that can be good to have
- A pre-shave to use before wet shaving, especially if you have sensitive skin, such as dry skin, a pre-shave can help.
- A shaving bowl if you want to create your shaving foam in the traditional way. Many shaving soaps nowadays come with their own shaving bowl as well.
- A shaving towel to dry yourself with or use before shaving to soften the skin and open up the pores.
Safety razor
First of all, you need a safety razor. The most important shaving tool for classic wet shaving, at least for most people. It’s a relatively easy way to start with wet shaving.
What is a safety razor?
A safety razor is a type of razor for shaving, among other things, beards. It has a comb that is supposed to protect the skin from direct contact with the sharp razor blade and help lift up the beard hairs. A safety razor uses double razor blades. Wet shaving with a safety razor is something that has been done for generations. It is a climate-smart, economical and skin-friendly alternative for shaving.
What is meant by a closed or open comb?
A closed comb means that the protective comb on the safety razor completely protects between the razor blade and the skin. There are small recesses in the comb to make it easier for the beard hairs to be lifted up.
An open comb is significantly more open in its construction. Instead of the more straight comb with small recesses, this variety usually has spikes or spines and small holes in between. The advantage here is that stronger, more densely growing beard hairs can be lifted up more easily. In addition, it is possible to get closer to the skin.
Can all safety razors be used with all double razor blades?
All the safety razors we sell can be used with all the double razor blades we sell.
I want to know more
Our guide to safety razor is an excellent complement to the shaving guide – wet shaving that goes into more depth about the safety razor in detail. –
Read more: Guide to safety razor
Another complement to the shaving guide – wet shaving where we go through the development to a modern safety razor.
Read more: A modern safety razor – 260 years of design and development
An additional deep dive that fits perfectly together with the shaving guide – wet shaving. What to consider when buying your first safety razor.
Read more: What to consider when buying your first safety razor?
Something that distinguishes different safety razors is how aggressive they are. We clarify the concept.
Read more: Choose the right aggressiveness on your safety razor
There are many good safety razors, here we recommend a few that we consider to be the best in test.
Read more: Safety razors – best in test
Double razor blades
A pack of double razor blades that you use together with the safety razor. A climate-smart and economical way to shave. In addition, a traditional way to shave. Once you have started, you will not regret it.
How are double razor blades a climate-smart way to shave?
Double razor blades are made entirely of metal. This means that they are both free of plastic and can be recycled as metal. Which reduces the amount of waste produced.
How are double razor blades an economical way to shave?
Double razor blades are significantly cheaper to buy than other types of razor blades such as different multi-blade systems.
Shaving brush
A shaving brush is at least as important a detail as the safety razor and double razor blade. It simply won’t be a classic wet shave without a shaving brush. Tradition and enjoyment together, it can’t get any better.
Are there different types of shaving brushes?
Yes, there are several different types of shaving brushes, the most common being shaving brushes with badger hair, wild boar bristles and synthetic bristles. Badger hair is what is considered to be the finest and therefore the most expensive. This is because badger hair is both very soft and has a good absorbency. Which means that it can give a good shaving foam. Wild boar bristles are a cheaper alternative that is stiffer initially. Synthetic bristles are completely free of animal products.
I want to know more
For those who want a slightly more detailed guide in addition to shaving guide – wet shaving to how to use your shaving brush
Read more: How to use a shaving brush – 4 easy steps
Wondering why you should use a shaving brush? Not just because it’s a natural part of the shaving guide – wet shaving? But it also has several good effects.
Read more: 3 good reasons why you should use a shaving brush
Shaving cream / Shaving soap
Shaving cream or shaving soap should always be used when shaving wet. It protects the skin and gives a wonderful feeling. Shaving soap nowadays is not just a scent, but today there are shaving soaps with all imaginable scents and a few more.
Why should I use a shaving cream/shaving soap?
The purpose is to create friction between the double razor blade and the skin to avoid damage and irritation. The shaving cream or shaving soap also moisturizes the skin.
What scents are there?
Shaving cream and shaving soap are available in many different scents, such as sandalwood, lemon and vanilla are common scents. Of course, shaving cream and shaving soap are available even without fragrance or only mild fragrance.
What is the difference between shaving cream and shaving soap?
While a shaving cream is more loose in its consistency, a shaving soap is usually significantly more firm. It usually comes in a bowl or jar made of wood, plastic, porcelain, or metal. In addition, shaving soap is available on sticks, which is practical for travelling, for example.
The advantage of shaving soap is that it is significantly more durable than a shaving cream and therefore lasts longer. In addition, refill soap for shaving soap is available to a greater extent. Therefore, when the current soap is exhausted, it can be replaced with the same or a similar one with a different scent without the need to change the container.
I want to know more
As a complement to the shaving guide – wet shaving, we have listed 7 favorite shaving soaps and shaving creams that we know you will love.
Read more: 7 types of shaving soap
Something that we do not address in the shaving guide – wet shaving is sebum in shaving soap. However, we do here, where you are welcome to read more about sebum in shaving soap.
Read more: Shaving soap with sebum gives a nice glide
Are you in the choice and qualifier of whether to choose shaving cream or shaving soap? We give some tips in this blog post that fit perfectly together with the shaving guide – wet shaving
Read more: Should I choose shaving cream or shaving soap?
There are plenty of lovely shaving soaps, we have developed some that we think are the best in test.
Read more: Best in test – shaving soap
Wet shaving with a safety razor - Preparations
Make sure your face is clean. Prepare either with a shower or a warm towel. Also feel free to use a pre-shave product. Feel free to take your time, don’t stress but make the shave your moment, you deserve it.
Preparations with shower
Take a hot shower before wet shaving. It helps to open the pores.
Warm towel preparation
A warm damp towel before shaving is a classic made by barbers for generations.
Read more: Treat yourself to a luxurious wet shave like at the barber at home
For those with extra sensitive skin
For those who want to shave their heads.
I want to know more
Feel free to use a beard shampoo either in a bottle or in solid form. A beard shampoo has ingredients specially formulated for beard care and skin care under the beard. This is suitable for all beard types.
Read more: Everything you want to know about beard shampoo
For those with extra sensitive skin, a pre-shave can be good to use before wet shaving. It moisturizes the skin and creates an additional protective layer between the razor blade and the skin in the same way that a shaving cream or shaving soap does.
Read more: Everything you want to know about Pre-shaves
In our range of pre shaves you will find all our products to use before shaving
Read more: Our range of pre-shaves
In our range of shaving towels, you will find shaving towels perfect to use to create a warm towel to warm up your face.
Read more: Our range of shaving towels
Wet shaving with a safety razor - Create your shaving foam
Once your face is clean, it’s time to create your shaving foam. You can do this after you have prepared your face for the wet shave itself. The creation of shaving foam is also another moment for inner contemplation.
Shaving foam from shaving cream
- Shake excess water out of the brush, it should be moist but not runny.
- Take a dollop of shaving cream, the size of an almond, on the side of the brush or in your shaving bowl.
- Whip up a thick and airy foam.
You can also create the lather directly on the face by gently moving the brush in circular motions.
Shaving foam from shaving soap
- Shake excess water out of the brush, it should be moist but not runny.
- Then whisk the brush with a light pressure over the soap for 10-15 seconds.
- Make sure the brush is “loaded” with the foam created and it’s ready for use.
- Then whip up the lather in your shaving bowl or massage it directly onto your face using circular motions.
Tips from the shaving guide on how to get a really nice lather
- Try it out, every shaving soap and shaving cream is different in terms of the amount of water and how hard you may need to work with your particular shaving brush.
- Never shave without shaving foam on your face.
- Remember to rinse the shaving brush thoroughly afterwards.
Read more: Our range of shaving cups
During the wet shaving
Some good things to remember before
- Make sure your double razor blade is sharp enough, change if necessary
- Never shave a place without shaving foam
- Do not press hard against the skin, let the weight of the razor do the work
- Don’t stress
First round
Depending on how thick your beard is and how close you want to shave, you may need to do the process once, twice, or in some cases, three times. Where on the face you start is entirely up to you and what you want to shave.
- Shave with small short strokes, do not press the shaving brush against the skin but let its weight do the work.
- Shave in the direction of the beard’s growth, keeping in mind that different parts of your face have different growth directions on the beard.
- Feel free to rinse off the razor between each stroke to rinse off suds and beard hairs.
- Do not shave the same area twice without applying new shaving foam to prevent skin problems and wounds.
- Should an accident occur, use alum stone or alum stick. The bleeding will soon stop.
If you feel that you get too much damage repeatedly, you can change to a softer blade to see if that helps.
Second Round
At the second round, repeat the process from the first round.
With the exception that you should now shave diagonally to the beard’s growth direction.
If you feel that you are not getting the desired result after the second round, you can switch to a blade with a higher sharpness to see if that helps.
Mental Shaving
Products for during wet shaving
Shaving cream, shaving soap in a jar, refill soap or shaving stick. No matter what you’re looking for, we’ve got all the products you need during wet shaving.
Read more: Products during wet shaving
Finish your wet shave in the best way
Once you are satisfied with your wet shave, you should finish it in the best way. Preferably with an aftershave. Should you suffer cuts, you should apply an alum stick or alum stone immediately.
- Feel free to use an after shave balm, lotion or splash for the effect you want
- Feel free to rinse your face with cold water to close the pores
- Rinsing and cleaning your shaving tools
- Follow the same advice when shaving, use an aftershave, then rinse your head with cold water to close the pores.
Tips from the shaving guide to get a nice finish to your wet shave
- Keep in mind that an aftershave splash with alcohol can have a drying effect on the skin. If you have sensitive skin, feel free to choose an aftershave balm instead.
- Have alum pins or alum stones ready to take care of any cuts.
- When shaving your head, don’t forget to check your neck, if you can’t access, ask someone to help you.
I want to know more
In our guide to aftershave, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to choose the right aftershave for you.
Read more: The Aftershave guide
Do you have problems or problems because of your shaving? Help is available.
Read more: Guide to avoiding shaving problems
For those who are unsure of which aftershave to choose
Wet shaving with razor and shavette
Maybe you’ve been doing wet shaving for a while and want to take the next step, or do you want to go full steam ahead right away? Then you can do any of this.
Use a razor or shavette for what is said to be the closest shave you can get.
Using a razor or shavette, a razor with replaceable blades is for some people the step after a safety razor if you feel that it does not provide the closeness in the wet shave you want. Either you can go directly to the razor from the safety razor or take the step via shavette, which is a middle ground. Like a safety razor, a shavette uses replaceable blades but the technique is similar to that of a razor.
As a beginner, it is good to start carefully to learn the technique.
For example, you can start by shaving with the razor or shavette on smaller parts of the face and expand these when you feel confident. For the time being, it may be a good idea to continue shaving with a razor at more difficult angles. Because every time you use the razor or shavette, it will get easier and you will be able to shave a larger area. Eventually, you will be able to completely stop using the planer.
If you shave with a razor
- Razor
- Strigel (Handheld or Hanging)
- Grooming paste
If you shave with shavette
- Shavette
- Shavette blades or double razor blades (split in half)
- In addition to this, of course, there is a shaving brush and shaving cream or shaving soap.
I want to know more
It can be difficult to choose the right razor that suits you and your needs. The most important things you need to choose the right razor.
Read more: Choosing the right razor
In our guide to razor, a good complement to the shaving guide – wet shaving, we also go even more in-depth into what a razor is.
In our sharpening guide, we cover everything you may need to know regarding the most important accessory to keep your razor sharp, a sharpener.
Before, during and after wet shaving with shavette or razor
Wet shaving with a razor or shavette is not as dangerous as it sounds. It just takes a little more time and patience than wet shaving with a safety razor.
Preparing for the wet shave
Preparation for shaving with a razor or shavette is the same as with a safety razor except for one point.
You should groom the razor every time before using it. When you groom the knife, you clean the blade of dust and other dirt particles that sit there. In addition, you straighten the microscopic waves that appear in the blade.
You should not wash the blade after you have groomed it.
In the case of shavette, you can change the blade if necessary.
Work during wet shaving
Always shave in the direction of the beard hairs and hold the razor or shavette at a 30-degree angle.
Make sure to hold the razor or shavette at about a 30 degree angle to the skin.
Do not apply pressure, but let it glide over the skin with gentle, light movements. Start by shaving the sideburns and working your way down to the chin on both sides of the face. Shave your upper lip to the side, while holding your nose up with a finger to keep your skin stretched. Below the jawline, the beard can grow in several different directions, so to find out which way to shave, you can wet your fingers and feel.
Shaving the beard against the hair is the most common reason why the skin becomes irritated, stings and gets razor pimples. Another common reason is that the knife has become dull, so remember to groom it before each shave. If you use shavette, never shave with a dull blade!
Make sure to always use a properly cleaned razor or shavette and rinse it regularly.
The work after wet shaving
When you’re done, be sure to clean your razor or shavette.
If you are rinsing your razor, make sure it is completely dry before folding it back up.
It is best to just wipe the razor on a completely dry and clean towel.
Frequently asked questions and answers about wet shaving
In our guide, we have collected some of the most common questions we receive. If you have more or other questions, please feel free to contact us.
Nothing more than that a shavette blade only has one sharpened side while a double razor blade has two sharpened sides.
Shavette leaves are smaller and thinner than double razor blades. They are usually made of stainless steel and only have a sharp edge on one side. Shavette blades are most commonly used in professional razors and can be replaced after each use. They are also commonly used in barbers, as they are safer to use than real razors.
Double razor blades, on the other hand, are larger and thicker than shavette leaves. They have sharp edges on both sides of the blade and are often used in traditional razors. Double razor blades are commonly used in many different varieties and manufacturers, and can thus vary a lot in sharpness and quality.
Replacing shavette leaves can differ slightly depending on what the shavette looks like.
Always make sure to be careful and clean about your fingers when changing shavette leaves.
Start by opening the shavette carefully to be able to remove the shavette leaves.
Loosen the shavette leaf
Place the spent shavette leaf in a metal container for the purpose.
Take out a new shavette leaf and place it in the shavette.
Close the shavette thoroughly.
Read our guide on how often you should change shavette leaves
Perhaps the most common question of them all.
Normally, you need to replace the shavette blade in a shavette after about 3-6 shaves. It is important to point out that some people need or want to change significantly more often, while others manage longer.
This can vary depending on factors such as beard growth, hardness of hairs, and how much you shave at a time. You can also feel the blade to determine if it is still sharp or if it has become dull and should be replaced.
It is important to change the blade regularly to avoid irritation and get a close and comfortable shave. In addition, the risk of cuts increases if you use a dull blade. By having multiple blades on hand and replacing them regularly, you can maintain a consistently high quality of shaving.
Read our guide on how often you should change shavette leaves
It can happen an accident while using shavette leaves, but with proper preparation and care, the risk of injury is less.
To minimize the risk of injury and skin discomfort when using shavette blades for classic wet shaving, there are a few simple steps to follow:
1. Prepare your skin by washing your face with warm water and using shaving gel or shaving foam to soften the stubble.
2. Use a quality razor blade and make sure it is sharp enough. Replace the blade frequently, as dull blades can cause damage and irritation.
3. Don’t apply too much pressure to the shavette – let the razor blade do the work instead of pressing it against the skin. Hold the shavette at a 30 degree angle.
4. Rinse the shavette frequently during shaving to remove shaving foam and stubble.
5. After shaving, rinse your face with cold water and apply a gentle aftershave to avoid dry skin and irritation.
By following these simple steps, you can reduce the risk of injury and skin discomfort when using shavette blades for classic wet shaving.
It can happen that an accident happens while using shavette leaves, but it is easily fixed.
- If you accidentally injure yourself with a shavette blade during classic wet shaving, you can deal with the injury in several ways.
- One of the most common methods of dealing with small injuries is to use an alum pin or alum stone that contains aluminum. This can be applied to the wound to reduce bleeding and prevent infections.
- Another alternative solution is to use an aftershave that has antiseptic or anti-bacterial effect. These products help to clean and disinfect the skin after shaving.
Yes, shavette blades that are made entirely of metal can be recycled after use, just like double razor blades. Remember to put the leaves in a pine jar and then throw the entire metal can in the recycling.
