Beginner Wetshaving Tutorial How To Angle and Pressure for Double Edge Safety & Straight Razors

Hey Everybody!
When you start off shaving with a vintage razor, the first thing to master is: angle and pressure!
Luckily, we have created this video to demonstrate these two important concepts to ensure you get the best experience when wet shaving!
I’m Matt Pisarcik, founder of Razor Emporium, welcome to our channel!
At Razor Emporium, we believe in empowering men and women to practice traditional grooming using quality new and vintage shaving supplies. Our business is made up of three core areas, Service, Retail, and Education.
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[@TwisterMS]

Great Video with lot of pearls of wisdom!

[@germanshepherd13]

excellent point about adding about 10% pressure. if I let just the weight of the razor to do the work I would get a horrible shave. well done sir

[@Wittar7090]

That’s the best description of how to find the angle for a straight razor I have seen. I have had a few serious cuts on my face trying to have it.

[@buckturgidson1448]

Great and important video Matt. I thought for the longest time that I had very sensitive skin because of almost constant razor burn. I started trying less aggressive razors and less efficient blades but that didn’t help. If anything, it seemed to make things worse. I had a couple packs of Feathers that I was scared to use but was also too cheap to get rid of. So I decided to use them but to deliberately go slow and easy to avoid bleeding to death. Of course I was rewarded with the closest, least irritating shave ever. The light bulb clicked on in my head and I never looked back. Now my ideal combo is a mid-to-moderately aggressive razor and a sharp blade. A good preshave, short, light strokes and frequent rinsing of the razor and irritation is a thing of the past. Proper technique is *everything*.

[@buckturgidson1448]

@@bobjones8321🤞🏼 👍🏻

[@cynthiat5215]

This is the video I've needed! I know this is geared for guys facial hair and, I'm shaving my legs lol. I just got a DE safety razor to replace a cartridge, different world to say the least. I can't tell you how great this to the point info was. And, genius method to find the angle sweet spot. Thank you!!!!

[@fredlampher8154]

I recently got a Parker SR1 shavette and did my first shave with it last weekend. Luckily, I did pretty well but definitely need to build more confidence especially around my chin area. Will give it another go this weekend. Another great video Matt!

[@daleeichler3993]

Been using a safety razor for some time and possess a nice collection. Just started with a straight razor recently and the techniques described were the same ones employed with my new endeavor. Confidence is paramount and my first shave with the straight razor was AMAZING!

[@droogii1142]

Almost any wet shaving is better than cartridge shaving, so some education for new people is always good to see.

[@byronsvideos3307]

I tried straight edge years ago. Always came away hacked up and bleeding. 25 years later I’m ready to try again. Now that there’s instructional videos like this!!! I’m excited to give this manly morning sport a try.

[@dfrazier51]

If this video would have been shown to every 16 year old boy 50 years ago, the cartridge razor business would never have got off the ground. When I used double edge razors as a young guy, I would be a bloody mess. When cartridge razors came out, they seemed to be the greatest thing ever invented. The problem was not the double edge razor, it was my lack of proper technique.

[@rickyiglesias5384]

just did my second ever SR shave. my face is destroyed. i needed this video. next time I will wise up and lighten that angle.

[@Bearcwy]

I remember the first time I tried a straight razor I was in my late teens to early 20's. I had no idea what I was doing and didn't know anything about proper angle or pressure. Heck I didn't even know you were suppose to strop the razor. I bought what I thought was a good used Straight razor from an antique shop, well at least it looked good and was sharp so I thought. Well I lathered up well with can goo and set about trying to shave with it. first stroke down the center of my cheek pulled but went ok. The second stroke I got about half way and Zing, I cut myself a good one right below my ear! I stopped using it and finished with my Gillette cartridge razor. Took me 5-6 minutes to get the bleeding to stop. That left me with a pretty good scar on my left cheek for many years and didn't pick one up again for a long time. Fast forward to about 10 years ago, Age 35, my Grandfather gave me an old Gillette safety razor and I learned to shave with it. I collected many safety razors about 20 of various types all vintage but 2. Then my eyes turned back to straights and started buying some of those and then more. Well I know own more than 40 straight razors about 20 are shave ready. I've learned you have to strop a razor and how to do it and when. I even started to learn to hone with the help of a friend who has been honing razors for over 20 years I know of. I have cut myself a few times since that first time but I would not change my journey in vintage shaving for anything.

[@johntyrer9290]

Excellent tutorial thank you

[@frankinda3113]

Thanks for the informative video. I’ve been away from wet shaving for a long time and found that I need to learn it all over again. So here I am and having fun too. So far only a couple of minor nicks and gaining confidence everyday. Cheers

[@saldomino1639]

Thanks Matt for the Video and advice u D Man !

[@williamdemopolis8679]

Great instructional video

[@bastawisy3000]

Great video Matt, it's always good to emphasise these basic principles.

[@razoremporium9709]

Congrats Mohammad Khalifa Hassan - you're the winner of the Weekly T-Shirt give-away! Please contact us at [e-mail] with your address and size and we will get it shipped out right away! Thanks everyone! Stay tuned next week for another giveaway! - Razor Emporium Team

[@bleutz]

I have not cut myself with my safety razor (yet), but I did learn how to shave from your videos!

[@JeroenvKL]

Great video! And nice that you advice to start from the top cap. Some people tend to advise to start on the safety bar and than angle the handle upwards until you feel the blade, but then you really start with a lot of blade chatter or tugging.

[@kianvaziri6939]

thanks for giving me confidence in applying a little pressure matt!

[@NezNar]

Great guide, thank you.

[@zbushong]

An excellent video on THE fundamentals of wet shaving. Thanks, Zac

[@jimvargas9475]

Just getting started with straight shaving. Very useful tips. Thanks.

[@npwilliamson]

Beautiful simple instructions there Matt. I know that elusive 30° blade angle was obsessing me when I started out. Great advice to just figure it out by feel. Wish I’d seen this video when I first started!

[@DanielMorris-e3v]

I’ve been wet shaving with DE for several years now. Definite learning curve lots of dings at first but now ding free unless I rush. Very smooth shave unless I rush. Notice a pattern here? I just purchased my first straight razor from your site yesterday. Looking forward to the curve again and the eventual increased smoothness and comfort.

[@johnwachter6975]

Great insight on how to get that angle 👍🏻thanks Matt💈

[@swimskim5874]

Just got into wet shaving a week ago at 20 years old because of you and a few other channels. I was looking for a video exactly like this,thanks!

[@RKinNJ]

Love your Video's Matt I've been using a DE for about 6 years now and just recently got into straight razors about 4 month's ago... I"m not sure what took me so long but I'll NEVER go back to a cartridge razor. Wet shaving is LOVE Wet shaving is LIFE!

[@Deadbuck73]

A protractor to shave! Lol 😂 I love it!

[@mikeh9701]

Hi Matt- Nice presentation on angle and pressure, the two pivots of wet shaving. I hope you are having a great week. Best regards!

[@terrym1065]

Matt, right on👌 Brain power, given everything else is equal, is the key to success. Angle and pressure must be maintained somewhat equal throughout the shave. Thanks again and yep great place to be. Enjoy!

[@airdbreck]

Great video

[@madridberlinidiomas3208]

Really useful Thanks a lot. Good work !

[@clarkpd1]

Thanks for another great video. Still new to straight razor shaving. All this info is helping me a lot.

[@doobotz]

Thanks once again for the tutorials! 👍🏻

[@hiddenaces8984]

Thanks for the advice man I’m super new to shaving in general just started being able to grow a small mustache level of new and this was just amazingly helpful

[@myblueskynight]

I’ve been Wet Shaving for about 3 years now. Amazing how your technique improves! I feel I can shave with any DE razor, using any blade with confidence. I so enjoy my morning go-to Superspeed and Personna blades every day! On the weekends I use my Fat Handle Tech. I enjoy Wet Shaving so much I may never have a beard again.... HAHAHAHA. Great video, Thanks!

[@DonThorvund]

Great video, Matt. I can’t wait to get my for razors back form their tune-ups!

[@ricjefferson1493]

Nicely done, Matt

[@riflessionitonsorie]

Good job

[@greeneeguy]

Great video Matt. I got myself good once with a Weck hair shaper, coming down right under my ear. That took a while to heal as well 😬. Cheers 👍🏻💈

[@ssiewnad]

great Vid

[@WolfRanger2008]

I practice what you preached and consequently have escaped any lacerations that will or have left permanent scares. ;-)

[@dougiesshavin1627]

Great info, thanks. Have a safety razor and straight razor. For me , just methodically using them is working for a better shave. Getting better every day.

[@ChrisHirner]

The one thing i had trouble at first with was it never occured to me to use the top cap as a guide. I struggled trying to find the right angle and all of that but one day i was just looking at the razor and thought lets try sitting it against my face at 90 degrees and tilt it down until it starts to cut. After that there was no looking back. Been wet shaving now for 10 years. Wish there had been more vids back then might have saved some red skin and cat scratches when i started out.

[@CH-ec5on]

I tried on of those "disposable" straight razor from a beauty supply shop and had no knowledge how to use it. That was a painful experience. The first time I tried my Gillette Tech I thought I knew what I was doing. Well I did not try again till a few years later. Now I use it regularly and try to straight razor shave when I have the time.

[@pompgt7234]

I’ve gouged myself a handful of times. Full on skin flap situations. No visible scars. #blessed

[@DrRonP]

I’m late watching this but good video. I’ve been DE wet shaving for about 8 years but tried using a Ralf Aust straight razor about three years ago. Too much pressure and wrong angle. Before I knew it that fine German blade made a genuine slice along my cheek! I didn’t even feel it. I just saw the blade cut in. I’ll pick it up again though. Waiting until I have more time.

[@odysseusjak]

I cut my self with my safety razor about -- I don't know -- less than a month into it. Everything was going great up to then. But, one morning, I was not fully awake and not paying attention (which I would think would the first thing about this type of shaving), and moved the razor SIDEWAYS and cut my cheek. It was just a little cut but boy, did I wake up! Since that time, I've only cut myself one other time but that was when I was shaving my head and did the same thing, moved the razor sideways. I was fully awake; it was just a mistake on my part. Those are the only two cuts I ever got from traditional shaving. And that's been about 5 years now!

[@RazorEmporium]

sideways will cut you with just about any razor. glad you've stuck with it!

[@zhar9393]

The pressure point is correct. You really are supposed to apply some. The issue arises with some areas where the direction of shave is weird or you hold the razor upside down or its a bend like between your jaw and the neck. In those areas (if it hurts after you shave) you should really pay attention to not press at all (you still will be but now doing it less). So its just a perception thing.

[@MadAzn53]

Nice tutorial and I’ve cut myself with a DE cause I didn’t understand those two concepts. This was right when I stopped using carts and I used the wrong angle, pressure and got slightly distracted. Learning lesson but love wet shaving

[@lmyersify]

Just started with a straight razor. Managed to cut myself a few times on the first cheek 😳. Rest of the shave went well, I’m guessing because I took it much easier after the first cheek! Definitely in this for the long haul, but will probably swing between the straight and a DE while a learn the craft. Good riddance to cartridge razors! Thanks for the great videos....they are really informative!!

[@johngoard8272]

Excellent video Matt never thought of the safety bar as being a source of skin stretching makes more sense to me now why it is there. (Still enjoying my black handled Super Speed Adjustable from RE!!)

[@kgrinda]

Nice review. Like in sports remember the basic fundamentals. When I'm in a hurry or just a bad mood is when I get sloppy and cut myself. The not paying attention or even over confident will end up with cuts on your face. .

[@MikeRaley]

I totally agree when you quit paying attention to what your doing is when mistakes happen. Fortunately for me I'm retired and I can take my time to enjoy it.

[@natebauermeister270]

Tried to get into straight razors, but never got hooked. Will always be a safety razor fan!

[@ApplePiMan314]

My first time with a safety razor I must have used too much pressure, remembering my days with a cartridge razor. My entire neck started seeping red. I was afraid to shave again for about a week. Needless to say my technique has improved since that day last month.

[@RickIacobo]

Pressure is super important. Especially like me - that's been using a cartridge razor for 30 years... Glad I had my tetanus shot before my first safety razor shave haha As with anything worth doing, it takes time to master - and you'll get a better shave because of it.

[@michaelhalbert9264]

Good information. My daughter bought me a safety razor a few years ago, The first time I used I cut myself once, the second time twice, the third time five times I'm getting back into wet shaving again, this time no nicks or cuts (I hope)

[@jeronimomacias481]

Yup I have a small battle scar from when I was learning to use a straight razor.

[@mattbowman3641]

Awesome vid Matt,yea i have a decent 40mm x 5mm scar on the side of my head from being too ham fisted with my r89 and feather blade combo lol.after i clean up all the blood,i learnt!!i haven't knicked myself since.i just bought a vintage welkman and son Sheffield straight...needless to say I'm practicing holding an angle with a butter knife.so when i go to shave for the 1st time hopefully i have some kind of muscle memory built up.haha aww man,i hope my theory works!!!

[@iggychaffin]

Hey Matt, great vid. Years ago when I started wet shaving I watched several of your beginner "how to" Vids and they were great. Of course you will have some nicks and cuts starting out but if you stick with it you'll enjoy nice close shaves after that. I've even cut my ear at the top of the sideburn area getting to close with the tip.

[@tommyharris5817]

Stick to cartridge razors, my friend. I dumped all my 12 DE razors after going back to carts (Mach3 and Hydro3) after 5 years of DE shaving, as they give me a closer, more comfortable, and quicker shave.

[@koosk41]

I enjoyed the video from the beach in Torba, Turkey. The tee-shirt I am wearing however is not a Razor Emporium one, so the only negative in this picture! 😂

[@Shaverboy516]

Great information Matt, I haven’t ventured into using a straight razor, I’ll stick to using a safety razor for now:)

[@apertioopening3425]

Nice

[@sheshaveswithjill4838]

Good info.

[@hukmanshaves6939]

my second shave with a straight razor i was just about to start on the left side using my right hand my left arm hit the blade and pushed it into my skin. i now have a 3 inch scar on my left cheek lol

[@KenDegner]

Great info! Thanks. Been using a DE for a year now and it seems I may be using too long of strokes. Learn something new every day. A little too nervous to try a straight razor though, perhaps in time?

[@travisthornton1117]

I been wet shaving for about 4 or 5 months now and I still have a habit of doing long strokes like I’m still using my old Gillette 5 blade Cartledge razor and I cut my self every time to mainly on the top of my head because I don’t have much hair so I take to long of strokes and I pay for it too.

[@rcnut123]

I made the mistake of getting a slant while still being inexperienced. First shave with it tore me up good. Had to wait 4 days before I could shave again. Had a similar issue with my first open comb de.

[@Martiniization]

Yes, concentration (i.e. steady focus), angle, pressure and stretching.

[@petergrange64]

I'm finding it hard to use with my left hand, as I'm new to straight razor. First time went quite well but had to use my right hand on both sides. 2nd time must of applied the wrong angle and pressure as cut a old scare open on my left side just by my ear. I'm still having to use bick shaver though for when I go from cheek to my neck as the blade seems to be ripping the hair out which really hurts, had my 3rd shave now with no cuts but same again as soon as I get to my neck it starts to rip the hair out instead of cutting. Same on chin, I really don't know what I'm doing wrong. I've looked at the blade under a magnifier and seems to be little bits of bur on it, no matter how many time I strop. Pete uk 🇬🇧

[@Surferdude106]

Great video Matt! Can you do a video on the new Gillette Pure lineup?

[@Void3.0]

I lost my DE virginity last night. I shaved my neck up to my beard line & I shaved my head. I didn’t cut myself once, I did go over a spot but that doesn’t count. I used the D89, I’m so proud of myself 😁 P.S I’D LOVE A SHIRT 🤞🏻💈💈

[@acfnugget7880]

Good advice, although I have no probs with normal shaped razors, I hate my Q shave adjustable, just cannot get a decent shave no matter what setting. Reckon I'll stick to my Braveheart and R41 for now, at least I've got confidence in them, with no blood on my hands lol.

[@jensebu78]

Thanks for the nice video! I use SE,DE and straight(s). The amount of "blood" is the same. A little from time to time, but never a problem. Better shaves i still get from DEs or SE... Cleaner... But that might be me ;-)

[@tommyharris5817]

I dumped all my 12 DE razors after going back to carts (Mach3 and Hydro3) with my newfound technique which I learned from using DE razors for 5+ years. I find that carts give me a better shave compared to DE shaving. For a closer, more comfortable, and quicker shave a cartridge razor is the way to go.

[@RazorEmporium]

Glad it worked for you

[@sheshaveswithjill4838]

I lacerated my calf muscle in my leg using a particular SE razor thinking the angle would be the same as GEM style razors I have. Ended up with a 3" x 1/2" scar.

[@3stooges242]

Should I give you my shirt size now or wait until it's official great video lol

[@bign1667]

I did every mistake with the safety razor and its taken me a week for my face to recover. I will one day try again but not for a while.

[@DeadPool-qb6qf]

Never lacerated my face with a straight razor, but i dropped the toe almost directly on the top of my adams apple. Great experience.

[@dioni82]

Hi Matt, I thought you might be interrested in the following item on flea bay: "GIANT Vintage Gillette Old Type DE Safety Razor Brass Advertising Store Display".

[@KHLthe2nd]

I put a nice vertical cut on my left cheek going across the grain. Thankfully, no scar resulted.

[@spies41]

First time I used my straight razor, 4 cuts. Right before going to church service. Good thing I happened to have a "non-sting" (b.s) stiptic.

[@robertross8565]

I may get a hot towel shave someday, but I will never use a straight razor. I will stick with my trusty DE razor thank you very much.

[@djbartz1978]

Great video. The scary safety razor. Hahaha

[@zackboring3314]

the pressure thing..................welp I did my first shave with a DE and i was using it like a Disposable............................the after shave was probably the worst pain I've felt in so long lol

[@MikeRaley]

That's what I do. Let the weight of the razor do the work. Of course I have a heavier razor a Weishi long handle which I know you don't think much of. But sometimes you have to go with what you have.

[@PaulJ1177]

I've given DE shaving several honest attempts over the past few years and it's always been a disaster. Maybe I'll give it one more try.

[@RazorEmporium]

Paul J what have you used?

[@PaulJ1177]

@@RazorEmporium EJ DE86 (black handle), Feather Popular, and the Wilkinson Sword plastic razor with various blades. Also use an Omega boar brush with various creams.

[@ShawnGarib]

Yup, I did....

[@brianjohnson6021]

I too have a straight razor scar, I left my ringer on when shaving and got startled when it rang and now I got one on my right cheek bone

[@mattbowman3641]

Aww dude,yea that reminds me when i was sharpening 1 of my knives.i was on the final stone and my effing phone went off.deep in concentration,i shit myself...dropped the knife it bounced off the bench and landed tip down in my foot.man that sucker bleed like a biatch!!lolol i feel ya...

[@johnflynn4923]

Hopefully this tutorial will save many from cutting the face off themselves and destroying numerous towels!

[@Pastor.Dragon]

I find using a half-blade shavette the hardest to get proper angle and pressure.

[@magnoliamike]

Brett Johnson when I got into traditional WetShaving the first thing I bought was a Classic Samurai Shavette. Keep practicing just with the green just at your sideburns for about 73 strokes on each side of your face then put that down and pick back up your double edge or whatever you’re using and keep on doing that until you trust yourself to go little bit further

[@caseyneal1289]

I own a Dovo Soligen straight razor and for weeks now I have been struggling to get a good close shave out of it. It cuts the hair, but it leaves light stubble on all parts of my face. I make sure my face is warm after a shower, I lather my face multiple times, and I use light pressure. I strop the blade after each use. What could I be doing wrong? I know its me and not the blade, the blade could cut my house in half! Any tips??

[@D4PPZ456]

A note on pressure. For many razors, they actually provide more weight than is necessary for a good shave. The DE89, for example, is a razor that I had to consciously learn to apply less pressure than its natural weight on, and it isn't even considered a heavy razor. Imo, you need to find the combination of razor and blade which allows you to put minimal pressure without getting any tugging on the hairs, it should glide like butter with the most minimal amount of pressure. He suggests weight + 10% pressure, but do your best to get it as low as possible. If I had to guess, I'd put my pressure with the DE89 at around 70 percent of its actual weight went left to sit on the face, and this really makes a huge difference for irritation if you have sensitive skin.

[@buddhamack1491]

So I went to order some more Polsilver blades and noticed that they had basically doubled in price from a number of places.

[@RazorEmporium]

Buddha Mack yes that’s what we have found too. I think they are out of production.

[@dvarnav]

Well made well presenting of the 2 axis of well shaving. I am starting now this Rex ambassador as my first safety razor and I hope that I have made a good start what do you believe ?

[@Ian-sn8gk]

I've tried DE shaving three times so far, and each time I am a bloody mess. Feather Popular razor, first tried the included Feather blade, then tried twice with Derby. My face is in agony for the next two days. After the first stroke on my neck, I'm bleeding a ton. I look like a burn victim. Will most likely switch back to cartridges, unless I can figure out what the hell is going on. I wanted to try DE because cartridges gave me kind of a raw feeling after using them, but now that raw feeling is actually deeply soothing compared to my DE experience.

[@Rumpleskin]

Thanks again.too scared for straight razors...lol

[@grantyazel3375]

Great Video! My nastiest cut was when I was in a hurry to a family breakfast. I was using a DE I didn't have much experience with at the time ( futur replica ) and approached my chin from the side instead of up, wasn't used to the weight of it and snagged my chin. Tore off a small piece of skin and left a scar. The styptic pencil definitely helped there.

[@oliverfasola19]

They’re fairly safe although be careful handling while not shaving

[@ukulelebobby]

👍