Raz*War is close to the third birthday of its inception now (It was on a sunny autumn, while sitting and waiting for a drink in a “café”. I disclosed the idea to my two partners…). Hence, the founding team and the staff can now claim more than 2000 days of cumulated experience…

On my side, I still test and re-test some products and some way of shaving to maximize shave comfort and the pleasure of our consumers.

For several weeks now (since the beginning of summer), I am testing how to combine our 3 blades model with our 5 blades model.

• Does this really bring added value?
• Does this improve shaving experience? 
• Can we recommend this to Raz*War customers? 

On my side – As I am a Raz*War user too- I would say that I see (literally, in my bathroom mirror..) the value of using the two razor models.  Let me share with you how I do.

Do I recommend this “way of shaving” to everyone? I am not pushing for this way of doing: I just like it, get pleasure from it, and would like to share this pleasure with you.

I will not start again with the whole course of “how to shave”. I recommend viewing my previous posts about the subject (Preparation, lathering phase, etc…). Remember that you must prepare your shave correctly, that you must lather you skin... and that you must shave “with the grain” and not against the grain… 

 

A/ Start with your “5 blades”:

Shaving with the grain is key: it will greatly improve your shave comfort, avoid irritations, reduce the risk of razor bumps and ingrown hair. Using the 5 blades will help you reach the “Baby Butt” shaving level.  Start with your “El Fidel” 5 blades.

Starting from your hears, follow the line of your face till your chin (see drawing). Perform long and smooth strokes. If you have well prepared your skin, passing once will be enough. You will even notice that the better your skin has been prepared, the more silent your shave will be (The blades will not make noise)….

After having finished your cheeks, start shaving your neck. Shaving the neck is more difficult: a large proportion of razor bumps and ingrown hairs occur there… Again, you must shave “with the grain”: Hence, you have to apply your razor on the basis of your neck and go upwards, to the chin… or the line of your face.  Passing once will, normally, be enough… But you might decide to pass two times on specific places.

After having finished your neck, it is now time to start the chin. Direction of the grain is, again, key. Problem: the grain does not go “up” neither it goes “down”. Best is, the, to shave from left to right. Avoid too many passages of your blades.

At that time, some places of your chin will still remain unshaved. Don’t insist: your 3 blades model will do the job afterwards.  After having rinsed your razor with hot water (as you should do regularly, ideally before every stroke, but after 2/3 strokes might be enough).  Now, pay attention to the space under your nose and above your lips. Shave upward, without insisting just below the nose and on the two ends of the lips. Leave that job to your 3 blades model.

B/ Then finish with your 3 blades:

You can now leave aside your 5 blades model and take your “El Che Model”. Start firstly under your nose: go upwards (“with the grain”), find the right angle and finish. Quite easy to do: you will find yourself the most efficient “cutting angle”. More difficult: the corner of the lips. For that: put your tongue at the level of the side of the lip and “push” your skin “towards the razor”.  By pushing with your tongue, you will bring the appropriate “curve” to the skin and will allow your razor to be efficient. Against, find the right angle for your “3 blades” model and shave “upwards”. After having finished one lip corner, switch to the second one.

It is only after that you have completed the contour of your lips that you have to switch back to your chin. Why this? Because efficient shave needs water, for moisturizing the hair: there will be enough moisture left for properly shaving under the nose and on the side of the lips.  But, for the chin, it is useful to put some lather on the unshaved parts.  The middle part of the chin is very often more difficult to shave. Properly lathered and moisturized, the hairs that still remain will be easily cut by your 3 blades. Shave upwards your last half-square cm of hair…

Hope you will like this way of getting a perfect shave. Also, don’t be stressed too, and don’ t feel obliged to buy both a 5 blades model and a 3 blades model: I know also ways to get a perfect shave with only the 5 blades model and with only the 3 blades model… It is just that, personally, I prefer this way of doing… 

Let me know if you find this tips useful… and keep on shaving!