Safety razor

As a traditional shaving company, Edward’s has always prided It’self on knowledge of straight razors. The stropping the honing and the using. Choosing straight razor blade types, Is an Important and fun

part of the process.

Firstly the metal all straight razors are steel, carbon or stainless. I prefer stainless as It is the easier hone, but some prefer carbon as it lasts longer. I have had grief with carbon blades and not managed to pass the hanging hair test with me trying.

The other choice you may have Is with point see Picture. Rounded tips are potentially safer than square for the corners, but I particularly like the aesthetics of a square point.

Another feature Is the grind as technology evolved so did the skills of the cutlers making the razors. Starting with a wedge and since the 1920s when straight razors were mass produced a hollow grind giving making the blade so very thin.

Here Is an example of a round nosed stainless straight razor that we sell. Dovo are a German traditional shaving company from Solingen which Is the best metal region. Like Sheffield Is to England. They are from personal experience, easy to maintain and really great to use, this one has a African wood handle.

Straight razors have a lot of bad press, perhaps due to the fact they are terrifyingly also called cutthroats. And also they are synonymous with crime In the early 20th century. But quite frankly we think that’s cool

The straight razor Is a safe traditional shaving tool, the blade Is so long it is difficult to cut yourself. They are also a real rush to use, I get a real buzz using one and successfully shaving so very close.  Sure traditional shaving takes a little longer to do, but this Is a great time of reflection. It also fills me with an esteem that you won’t get from a Bic and some foam.

Straight razor blade types

By Edward

Dovo straight razor Buffalo Horn

Feather double edged traditional shaving razor blades review.

By Edwards traditional shaving.

Feather are perhaps the most sought after traditional shaving blades on the market. They strike fear and excitement Into the hearts of Safety razor users everywhere. For there fierce reputation as the sharpest DE blades going.

I used one about 20 minutes ago, my face still slightly warmed from Alum.  I will first discuss why an ultra sharp blade Is a good Idea.

Traditional shaving Is single bladed, and now It needs to keep up with the 5 bladed razors on the market. Shaving technology has simply evolved by there being more blades on razors, making a quicker acceptable shave.

If the super brands of shaving like Gillette, had just one blade on there razors. They would be Inferior due to the fact they would not effectively shave off your beard, due to them being slightly dull. Now It is the fact that there are multiple which makes them plow through growth.

What single blades have over multi blades are that they are very sharp and with skill can provide you with a closer shave. There are trouble areas of the neck though like the Adams apple, which can leave stubble. A multi blade comes in handy here, as there are some tricky angles and a flat cartridge tends to wallop all hairs.

But on using Feather, being a very sharp blade that has a great deal of rigidity. It seems to have comprehensively shaved all of my growth with 2 passes. Which Is the norm that I would shave with any razor Including a cartridge.

I used a Fatip gentila a non aggressive razor, not to different from a Feather safety razor. A combination of a precision traditional shaving razor, and a ultra sharp double edged traditional shaving blade Is a winning formula.

I feel very safe with Feather, as they are so rigid,I also feel I have conquered the difficult areas aforementioned. Due to the absolute sharpness of these exceptional Japanese blades.

And so they should be, as they are from Seiko. A region of Japan famed for It’s ancient Samurai sword making.

I had some minor cuts possibly teething problems with a new razor brand, but I feel very excited about the result. Visually It’s a great shave and my skin feels awesome.

Hear more from Edwards traditional shaving very soon.

Feather ASD2 safety razor

Alum

Alum as a post traditional shaving product.

By Edward

I am a keen advocate for pre shave oil, It makes sense to me that you should protect your face. From essentially scraping sharp metal across your It. Pre shave oil, Is an effective barrier and lubricant to help stop shaving rash and cuts. But what about the post shave? I hear you ask. Aftershave Is a stringent which closes the pours, and seals cuts. It Is not Just to smell nice, the active Ingredient Is alcohol which creates this process. As In the olden days, you could die from septicemia from a shaving cut. Making aftershaves antibacterial properties Invaluable. Alum Is also a post traditional shaving product, It is an antiseptic and a coagulant stopping any cuts, also It seems to massively sooth any shaving rash also. The massive crystal block Is like a varnish protecting and sealing your face.

Alum as a post shaving product

Alum as a shaving product, Is strange stuff. It is mined as Alum potassium and the natural product has been used for over 4000 years as an antiseptic, by the Greeks and the Egyptians. It is quite bizarre rubbing your face with what seems a magic crystal and It does make you feel magic to.

There are other coagulants on the market like styptic pencils, but the Alum block Is a lot kinder. Where as the styptic pencil Is just for directly sticking on the cut. There Is a momentary pain, that some are a little squeamish about. Making alum certainly the more comprehensive product.

Edwards traditional shaving emporium, sell a Osma Alum block In 75g bars. Osma are a Victorian shaving company who sell a great range of natural traditional shaving products. Edwards has sold they’re range since the beginning.

If you have any other questions about Alum please give Edward and co a ring.

Simpson’s traditional shaving brushes

We at Edwards love Simpson’s traditional shaving brushes. They’re stout and sturdy design really does pack a great deal of hair Into the knot. A lot of the shaving brushes are best badger, which Is about middle of the hair grade range. The basic being pure badger next Best, then super, then silver tip. Best Is a great all round brush grade as It caters for those who also like a rougher brush to exfoliate.

Simpsons brushes were formed In 1919 In London’s East End. Britain still has a strong traditional shaving brush Industry, where as other aspects of traditional shaving have migrated. Simpsons during the 1940’s where heavily bombed in the Blitz, and therefore moved to the west country, and then to the Isle of Man. Simpsons brushes Joined forces with Vulvix traditional shaving company, who also make very well branded shaving brushes and mugs. They are truly an English company, Just like Simpson’s.

Simpsons trade mark acrylic is a light tobacco colour, our favorite aspect Is there exceptional logo. Staying the same for 100 years, to me it has an elegance, the gold and black contrast with each other so well. But It also has a utilitarian look that was so current with the movements at the time. Being the Bauhaus movement and the consumerist Industrialization that was happening throughout the world.

Edwards traditional shaving Emporium has Its heart In the East End of London. Starting as a stall In Spitalfield’s market, we feel we owe English shaving companies like Simpsons brushes respect and endorsement. As they are by far our seniors and owe they’re history and lineage so much.

We feel as a company we have achieved a great deal In the last 5 years, and we look forward to bringing out our new soap next month. It Is so very East London.

Simpsons Emperor 2 Super badger shaving brush

Safety razor

Knowledge Is power, although If the knowledge Is Incorrect It is not powerful at all.  People on forums, and people who comment on posts often exaggerate, and try to sound professional. People on Safety razor and traditional shaving forums do the same, for example.

The massive slagging that the Fatip Gentila received on a known blog, made my purchasing of them to use and too sell, a risky proceeding. for example, Joe blog was suggesting on a well know forum that there was some serious blade misalignment. He then proceeds to tell the Internet, that If you were to use one. You could potentially, for this reason tear your face off like an abominable snowman would If he or she existed.  Another point was that after several passes the fatip Gentila would not touch the sides. Despite using a high end double edged blade and using a decent, traditional shaving cream. I found this vast contradiction of research contradicting. So I had to have a go myself.

This Is how It went. Firstly the Gentila Looks amazing, founded In the 1950s. Fatip keeps close aesthetically to they’re Art deco roots. Although It is die cast brass and has the odd perfection flaw, but It is an Inexpensive razor remember.

Safety razor shaving forums

I set about my usual traditional shaving routine of applying pre shave oil, and then lathering In hot water. Then applying at the minute, my shaving cream of choice being Hawkins and Brimble.

On loading the blade I found no real misalignment, the safety razor has a screw cap and therefore holds tight. If the razor Isn’t set up properly, that Is the users own fault.

Shaving using the proper technique, I passed several times no problem. My Adams apple was a tricky area so spending a little more time there than usual. There were massive limitations of any shaving rash, and I got a real buzz out of the control of closeness.

The Gentila Is a more than comprehensive shave. And a must try for anyone who feels a bit down trodden by safety razors being harsh.