How to Shave with a Straight Razor | AoM Instructional

Now that you've been shaving successfully with a safety razor, it's time for you to take the next step in manliness and shave with a straight razor.

Are you crazy?

This looks like a torture device.

I don't want to scrape my face with something 19th century Irish gangsters used to kill each other with.

Oh Bill, why must you always be such a weenie?

Don't you want to participate in a ritual performed over the centuries by famous men like George Washington, Charlie Chaplin, and Sweeney Todd?

Besides,

Putting razor-sharp steel next to your throat every morning reminds you that you're alive.

Alright, how do I get started?

To get started shaving with a straight razor, you're going to need a few things.

A straight razor, a shaving brush, traditional shaving cream or soap, aftershave, a mug, and a leather strop.

Before applying your lather, wet a towel with hot water, wring it out, and hold it on your face.

Now time to get rid of that hobo beard.

Pick up your razor and rest the first three fingers on the back of the blade.

Rest your pinky on the blade's tang.

Place your thumb on the side of the blade near the middle.

This grip gives you nice control of the razor.

Begin with slow, even strokes and shave in the direction of your beard growth.

Hold the blade at a 30 degree angle.

Apply very little pressure when you shave.

Let the weight of the razor do the work.

Start off by shaving the right side of your face.

Reach over your head with your left hand and draw the skin upward with your fingers, thus making a smooth shaving surface.

Shave downward until you clear about half the right cheek.

Slide the left hand down further until the fingers rest in the middle of the cheek.

Pull the skin upward.

Continue shaving downward until you shave the entire right side of the face.

After shaving the right cheek, move on to the right jaw.

Tilt your head back and to the left, exposing the skin under your right jaw.

With the fingers of your left hand, draw the skin tight under the jaw.

Shave downward with the growth of your beard.

Draw the upper lip down as much as possible to tighten skin.

Shave downwards.

Draw your lower lip up as much as possible.

This will pull the skin tight, making it easier to shave the whiskers underneath your lip and on your chin.

Throw your head back and elevate the chin.

With your left fingers, draw skin downward.

Take extra care as you shave.

The skin under the neck is much more sensitive and prone to cutting.

Now rinse your face with cold water and apply a manly aftershave.

Ah, even smoother than before.

Looking good, Tiger.

Thanks, narrator man.

You're welcome, Bill.

Now that you know how to shave in the most manly way possible, you'll never have to worry about people questioning your masculinity again.

Wait, are people questioning my masculinity?

People say things, Bill.

Well, what do they say?

Oh, uh...

To find the items used in this tutorial, click the links in the description.

Happy shaving everyone!

Thank you.