Traditional wet shaving is one of the odd hobbies I indulge in, basically it consists of shaving with an old-fashion straight razor (Sweeney Todd style), or a double-edged safety razor (this is what I use) instead of a cartridge or disposable razor. A boar or badger brush(badger is better – it’s really quite complicated, there are varying grades), is also used to lather liquid cream instead of spraying it out of a can.

Why would anyone do this? It produces a far closer shave for many people who find shaving against the grain with a cartridge razor too painful, the blades are far cheaper than their cartridge cousins (I pay about 7 cents a blade), and it’s cool as shit and makes you feel manly as hell shaving with something that could kill you.

NOW WATCH AS I SHOW YOU HOW THE SHIT GOES DOWN

THE GEAR

This is a Tweezerman pure badger brush, quite cheap but produces a good lather. Pure badger brushes are midrange brushes.

A Merkur HD with Japanese Feather blades, a very solidly constructed razor with what are probably the sharpest blades on the market (the company also manufactures surgical blades).

This shit takes a while so I let the smooth news of public radio wash over me while I shave, Terry Gross of NPR is my SHAVING BUDDY.

My current state of unshavenness (SHUT UP IT’S THICKER THAN IT LOOKS IT’S BLONDE AND THERE’S LIGHT ON IT OK!!!)

Letting the brush and bowl soak in hot water while I shower, so they’re nice and warm when I get out.

AT THIS POINT I AM OUT OF THE SHOWER.

A few minutes of lathering gets you this (it’s not perfect, but good enough – you want thick peaks of cream coming off the brush)

LET’S DO THIS BUTTIES. Lather and shave 4 times. With the grain, across the grain, across the rain, against the grain. I GAZE INTO MY FLOWERED MIRROR AND FOCUS MY HOT LITTLE HANDS WITH ZENLIKE ATTENTION, KNOWING THE SLIGHTEST TWITCH COULD RESULT IN ME LOSING MY FUCKING FACE. I also grab my robe so my nips don’t pop out all over the place on camera.

After splashing some cold water and aftershave on my face, I’m done! That was awesome, and I made it with no cuts.