Tips for shaving the body with a safety razor

Step by step to the perfect shave:

Tips from Veronica Berman,
MÜHLE UK team

1) Warm water:

Use warm water to open the pores. The ideal time to shave is during a warm shower or in the bathtub.

2) The perfect lather:

Personally, I like to use a shaving brush and have a vegan black fibre one at home. Shaving brushes are long-life products and generally make the shaving experience much better; you can create a great lather with a natural soap or cream by working the brush around. Massaging the lather into legs and underarms feels great and also perfectly prepares the skin and hair for shaving by lifting the hairs, moisturising the skin and allowing the razor to easily glide across the area you are shaving. If you don’t want to use a shaving brush I would definitely recommend still using a shaving soap or cream and creating a lather with your hands.

3) The right angle:

When shaving with a safety razor, no extra pressure should be applied. Just let the weight of the razor do the work. For a smooth shave, holding the razor at a 30-50 degree angle is best – less than this increases the risk of nicks to the skin and more than this makes it difficult to catch anything. The beauty of the COMPANION is that this angle is already set up for you. The rails along the sides of the razor head prohibit shaving from taking effect unless the razor is positioned within this 30-50 degree angle range. In addition, its longer handle favours comfortable use all over the body - whether legs, intimate area or underarms.

Before the COMPANION was available, I used the R89 which initially took a little more patience to find the perfect technique, for this (and any other closed comb razor) I would suggest gently swaying the blade closer to the skin until it starts to take hair and – voila – you have your angle position. Remember that you don’t need to apply any pressure when using a safety razor, this holds true whether you’re using the COMPANION, R89 or another model- always let weight of the razor do the work.

4) Avoid skin irritation:

Do short strokes, a safety razor is also referred to as a double-edged razor, because it has two edges to shave with, use one edge then the next, quickly rinse and repeat. First shave in the direction of hair growth and then, if necessary, in the opposite direction. A great advantage to a safety razor is that you can completely open the head and blade to clean them between uses. Even longer hairs can be shaved this way without the blade becoming permanently clogged.

5) Be careful:

Unlike cartridge razors safety razor heads don’t have any flex and are rigid. Take time over bony areas like ankles and knees, following their shape, pulling the skin taut also helps to avoid any nicks (shaving is a bit like ironing – you need a smooth surface). Another advantage of the COMPANION is that, unlike other razor planes, the blunt sides of the blade are hidden - which prevents accidental scratching of the skin.

6) Aftercare:

To soothe and refresh the skin, I rinse it with cool water. A natural Aftershave Balm or Body Lotion will nurture and moisturise skin after shaving. Personally, I am a fan of the MÜHLE Organic Skincare series. I also always have a alum block or styptic pencil to hand. Alum stone is a real miracle cure for small cuts and pimples. Its astringent effect helps to reduce any surface bacteria and supports the healing of the skin

7) Material care:

Safety razors are easy to care for. Simply rinse with warm water after using, give it a quick pat with a towel and hang to dry. This is particularly easy with the COMPANION, as it has a cotton cord. Suitable stands are available for all other MÜHLE razors. Do you have small children at home? I recommend an additional blade guard for storage, if so; a low-cost extra these give peace of mind that sharp edges are safely stowed away.

A shaving brush also benefits from a little care. After each use, I wash it well and hang it on a stand to keep it in good condition.