Return to Table of Content Copyright, Legal Notice And Disclaimer This publication is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws, and all rights are reserved, including resale rights: you are not allowed to give or sell this Guide to anyone else. Please note that much of this publication is based on personal experience and anecdotal evidence. Although the author and publisher have made every reasonable attempt to achieve complete accuracy of the content in this Guide, they assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Also, you should use this information as you see fit, and at your own risk. Your particular situation may not be exactly suited to the examples illustrated here; in fact, it's likely that they won't be the same, and you should adjust your use of the information and recommendations accordingly. Any trademarks, service marks, product names or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if we use one of these terms. Finally, use your head. Nothing in this Guide is intended to replace common sense, legal, medical or other professional advice, and is meant to inform and entertain the reader. So have fun and learn to dress sharp! Wet Shave Like A Professional – 2nd Edition 2017 – Copyright Real Men Real Style Return to Table of Content Wet Shave Like A Professional Written By Antonio Centeno Edition 2 – 2017 Wet Shave Like A Professional – 2nd Edition 2017 – Copyright Real Men Real Style Return to Table of Content Contents Copyright, Legal Notice And Disclaimer One Week to a Wet Shave A Step-by-Step Guide to Wet Shaving Day 1: Get Educated What's the Problem with Cartridge Razors? The Wet Shave Alternative - What's Involved? Further Reading Day 2: Select & Purchase Your Razor Razor Types: Double-Edged, Single Edged, and Straight Gap Size and Adjustable vs. Set Gaps Safety Bars vs. Combs Other Issues Razor Blades Day 3: Pick Your Soaps and Creams The Shaving Brush Shaving Soap and Cream Shaving Mugs Other Shaving Products Wet Shave Like A Professional – 2nd Edition 2017 – Copyright Real Men Real Style Return to Table of Content Day 4: Your First Wet Shave Step 1: Set Your Space Up Step 2: Wet Your Beard Step 3: Create Your Lather Step 4: Apply the Lather Step 5: Shave Step 6: Rinse Day 5 (and Onward): Vary Your Shaving Technique Vary the Skin and Hair Temperature Vary Your Skin Treatments Vary Your Lather Vary Your Razor One Week to a Wet Shave: Conclusion Shave Maps – Direction of Hair Growth and Blade Route Wet Shave Like A Professional – 2nd Edition 2017 – Copyright Real Men Real Style Return to Table of Content Check out our RECOMMENDED courses: Wet Shave Like A Professional – 2nd Edition 2017 – Copyright Real Men Real Style Page 1 Return to Table of Content One Week to A Wet Shave Wet Shave Like A Professional – 2nd Edition 2017 – Copyright Real Men Real Style Page 2 Return to Table of Content One Week to a Wet Shave In a heartening trend, men of all ages seem to be realizing that the multi- bladed cartridge razor is an overpriced gimmick. That shows fortitude in the face of intense ad campaigns telling you that more blades, more gel strips, more vibrating motors, and more anything else they can strap onto a razor handle is better for your face. Facts have a way of coming out in the end. And the fact about shaving is this: you don't need the latest in plastic cartridge technology to get a good shave with minimal effort. What's the alternative? The same thing our fathers and our grandfathers did, before disposable razor cartridges became widespread: the wet shave. Wet Shave Like A Professional – 2nd Edition 2017 – Copyright Real Men Real Style Page 3 Return to Table of Content A Step-by-Step Guide to Wet Shaving "Wet shave" is a cultural shorthand for a broad idea: shaving your face with a single-bladed metal razor, generally with cake soap or plain water instead of canned foam or gel. There's quite a purist culture of wet shavers out there, and it can intimidate a man who's used canned foam and a cartridge razor all his adult life. Depending on where you go for your information, the specifics of razor types, soap types, blade types, and more can get overwhelming. The purpose of this guide is to take things one day at a time and get you from a cartridge shave to a wet shave in a week -- without feeling frustrated. Take your time and go one day at a time. You don't need to be an expert in 24 hours. You don't even need to be an expert in a week -- you just need to be a guy who's comfortable shaving with lather and a single-bladed razor. Once you've made the transition, there's a whole world of details and specifics out there that you can get as invested in as you want. But these basic steps will get any guy shaving comfortably, without having to devote his whole life to the skill. Wet Shave Like A Professional – 2nd Edition 2017 – Copyright Real Men Real Style Page 4 Return to Table of Content Day 1: Get Educated Wet Shave Like A Professional – 2nd Edition 2017 – Copyright Real Men Real Style Page 5 Return to Table of Content Day 1: Get Educated If you're reading this, you probably already know the basics of wet shaving, or have at least some notion that you'd like to change from cartridge razors. But since every guy's heard slightly different information, take this first day to just look over the basics. Use this section to get a good idea what we're talking about, and why it's worth your while. What's the Problem with Cartridge Razors? For a lot of guys, we are talking about a transition from something they're used to, here. Disposable cartridges (and disposable razors, for that matter) have been the norm in America, and to a lesser degree in Europe, for about a generation. Wet Shave Like A Professional – 2nd Edition 2017 – Copyright Real Men Real Style Page 6 Return to Table of Content The case for cartridge razors is usually about convenience and shave quality. If you believe the manufacturers, a cartridge with multiple blades shaves closer and smoother than a single blade, and the process is quicker and easier. The convenience part is probably true. There's no denying that spritzing on some gel or foam and running a cartridge razor over your face a couple times is probably at least a little quicker than a wet shave with a safety razor. But the shave quality is pure hype -- you can get yourself baby- smooth with a basic single-bladed razor, and you can get a terrible, patchy shave with lots of painful nicks using a cartridge razor. Your technique and the frequency with which you change your blades have a lot more to do with your shave than the number of blades you're using. And that brings us to the biggest problem with cartridge razors -- those little bundles of extra blades are expensive. For good shaves, you want to be changing your blades every week or so. Maybe stretch it to two weeks if you don't shave every day, or if you've got high-quality blades, but in general -- every week. Less than that at the blade gets dulled and nicked, and those rough spots will miss hairs (leaving stubble) and catch on your skin (leaving cuts). Single blades for safety razors cost maybe a buck a piece for the classy brands; less if you go bulk. Cartridges, on the other hand, start about around $20 for a pack of four or six, and go upwards from there. Do the math and you'll realize that you're talking a difference of literally hundreds of dollars each year. Wet Shave Like A Professional – 2nd Edition 2017 – Copyright Real Men Real Style Page 7 Return to Table of Content And that -- along with the general cheapness of the product and the reliance on chemical gels and "soothing" strips -- is the big problem with cartridge razors. The Wet Shave Alternative - What's Involved? So all right -- you'd like to save some money, get a better product, and maybe feel a little more in control of your own shaving process. That's why you're here. What's involved in the transition? Not too much. A traditional wet shave requires four basic things: ● a single-bladed safety razor (generally metal) ● soap of some kind (generally cake soap in a mug) ● a brush to apply lather with ● water (generally warm) In a pinch, you can even do without the soap and brush (more on that later). Most of the transition comes down to knowing how to select the right equipment. Once you've got it, the shave itself is pretty familiar -- you'll need a little less force and a little more respect for the heavier razor, but it's the same basic motions as shaving with a plastic cartridge razor. Wet Shave Like A Professional – 2nd Edition 2017 – Copyright Real Men Real Style Page 8 Return to Table of Content Further Reading You don't need to know much more than that, but if you want to get into the whole wet shaving culture thing, it's got a strong online presence that you can check out.