When you hear the words ‘straight razor’, your mind likely goes to pictures of mafia barbershops from Hollywood movies. These kinds of razors have earned a bit of a dangerous reputation because of their strong cultural connotations, and as a result, people are often a little scared to start using them.
As we’ll see, the reality is quite different – used properly, straight razors can be very safe, and still provide one of the best shaves on the market.
What are straight razors?
Straight razors are one of the oldest kinds of razors available. As the name suggests, they feature a single, straight blade, although sometimes there’s a bit of a curve. You can find examples of what they look like here – some have longer blades with ornately carved handles, while others have shorter, stubbier blades with fewer decorations.
How hard are they to use?

As with most things, straight razors are at their most dangerous when you’re still learning to use them. Unlike electric razors and cartridge razors, you can’t just drag them along your skin without any skill. You need to learn how much pressure to apply and how to angle the blade in order to achieve a safe, satisfactory result. For most people, it doesn’t take long to get to grips with using straight razors, after which they’re much safer to use.
The sharp blade
One of the main reasons why straight razors can provide such an excellent, close shave is because they’re kept so incredibly sharp. This, combined with the fact that the blade is right up against the skin, means there is practically no stubble left afterwards.
The keen sharpness of the blade does, however, mean that you need to be very careful. Angling the blade just slightly wrong can result in a cut, and a much deeper one at that than a safety or cartridge razor.
The importance of preparation

To achieve a close, safe shave with a straight razor, you need to take your pre-shave preparation seriously. While you should always wet your face with warm water and use shaving cream, no matter what razor you’re using, this becomes even more important with straight razors. The softer the hairs are, the easier your blade will glide over your skin and the less likely you are to suffer from any little nicks and cuts.
Looking after the blade
Unlike with all other razors, when your straight razor starts to get blunt you don’t just buy a new one. The blades tend to be made from high-quality steel, meaning that they can be resharpened multiple times. This is usually done through a process called stropping, whereby you draw the blade along a piece of leather placed on a hard, flat surface. It’s crucial that you strop your blade on a regular basis; a dull blade is more likely to catch and tug on your hair, resulting in a more irritating and potentially dangerous shave.
Taking it slow
With most razors, there isn’t too much risk in rushing. You might miss the odd hair or two, but it doesn’t really make the process much more dangerous. This absolutely doesn’t apply to shaving with straight razors.

You need to make sure that you take it slow, treating the process and the tool with the respect they deserve. Even the best straight razor user will likely cut themself if they’re rushing, highlighting the importance of being mindful. Treat shaving with a straight razor like a little self-care ritual – set aside enough time, keep calm, and you’ll get the best results.
They’ll never be the safest
It’s important to close by saying that no, straight razors will never be the safest razor on the market. The fact that they have a sharp, exposed blade means that there will always be more of a possibility that something goes wrong compared to other, safer options.
That being said, if used properly, straight razors aren’t so risky at all, and the danger factor is often overhyped. They provide a wonderful quality of shave, and it’s absolutely worth taking the time to use them properly.
Straight razors definitely do carry some risk, but they’re nowhere near as dangerous as most people think. True, you can knick your skin quite easily, but you can also do so with most other razors on the market. In our opinion, the benefits far outweigh any risks – if you haven’t tried a straight razor yet, now’s the time to do so. Look after your tool, take the time to learn to use it, and you won’t look back.
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