Caring for your Shaving Kit
My youngest memory of shaving is standing on a stool next to my grandfather while he shaved. I got his excess lather, and of course my razor didn’t have a blade. When I inherited my grandfather’s safety razor and shaving brush, that memory came back to me. I’d been shaving with a cartridge razor for years, and I decided to give shaving like grandpa a try. I never bought another replacement cartridge.
Caring for your Razor
Double Edge Razors from the early 1900’s are still in use today, and yours can last just as long.
Ongoing Care:
- Rinse with warm water after each use
- Remove blade and clean excess soap weekly
To remove excess soap scum off a razor, scrub with an old tooth brush using baking soda or tooth paste. Use vinegar or disinfectant spray to sanitize and disinfect.
Loading a Razor Blade
Loading a Blade – Twist to Open
- Turn the knob on the bottom of the razor to open the head of the razor
- Unwrap the razor blade taking care to touch only the short edges
- Place the razor blade into the head length wise
- Turn the knob on the bottom of the razor the opposite direction to close the razor
- Be sure the razor is closed tightly to avoid the blade moving while shaving
Loading a Blade – 3 Piece
- Unscrew the head from the handle
- Align the holes on the blade with the posts on the head
- fit the comb to to the head, with the razor blade in-between
- screw the handle to the head, finger tight
Caring for your Shave Brush
A shave brush will last for many years with proper care:
Ongoing Care:
- Store on a brush stand with the bristles hanging downward in an area with good air flow
- Avoid placing it in a medicine cabinet or drawer
- After each use rinse with warm water
- Squeeze excess water out after rinsing
- Never pull bristles away from handle
- Never press the brush straight downward into the bristles – This can break the bristles, causing shedding.
Break-In A New Shave Brush
First Use
Your new brush may have an unpleasant odor or shed a small amount of hair. This is a normal part of the manufacturing process. To prepare your brush for use, please complete the following steps:
- Wash your brush with a shampoo made for human hair
- Soak the brush in warm water with a small amount of shampoo
- Rinse the brush, and build a lather using your favorite shave soap or cream
- Without rinsing the lather off your brush, let your brush dry overnight
- Soak your brush in warm water, and rinse before the first use
You may need to repeat these steps a couple of times to remove all of the badger scent from your brush.
