We all know that we can shave easier when our straight razor is sharp. But can a straight razor be too sharp and unsafe for your skin? Read on to find the answer!
If you have been shaving with straight razors, you might notice that straight razors are pretty ineffective when they are dull. It is harder for us to cut our hair, and if we try too hard to shave, we can also hurt our skin.
For this reason, men care about sharpening these razors frequently enough to keep them sharp. However, can a straight razor be too sharp? Can it cut our skin if it is too sharp, or should we keep it as sharp as possible?
In this article, we will answer this question based on our experience!
Can a Straight Razor Be Too Sharp?
Yes, straight razor can be too sharp for most people, especially the ones who are not skillful at shaving with this razor. The answer also depends on the users’ routine and technique.
Some people prefer the straight razor to be as sharp as possible, and others just want to keep the razor sharp enough to shave effectively.
So, why do some people think a straight razor cannot be too sharp because the sharper, the better?
When a straight razor is super sharp, it can easily cut hair. You will not need to add too much force while shaving to cut the hair. Moreover, sharp straight razors will give you the closest shave you can possibly get.
The ones who love to get the sharpest straight razors and can use them with ease are normally the skillful and experienced ones. They know exactly how to hold the razor and how much force they should put in.
On the other hand, many men do not have the best experiences with hyper-sharp straight razors. They complain that even though these razors can cut hair easily, they can cut their skin too.
In this case, the best straight razor for them is the one that is sharp enough to cut hair easily but is not too sharp to the point that it can hurt their skin.
The razor burn, itching, cuts, nicks, and irritation caused by extra sharp razors are also more serious. So, men who are not skillful with using straight razors want to keep the razors sharp just enough to shave comfortably.
Tips to Use Sharp Straight Razors
Let’s say you love sharp straight razors and to use it more, but you are also uncomfortable with the skin damages it may cause. Here are some tips for using straight razors with less skin issues:
Sanitize Your Razor
Straight razors do not have any protective bar like a safety razor, so you are more likely to cut your skin with it. Even when you are confident about your shaving skills, it is safer to keep your razor clean and sanitize it before using it.
If you cut your skin with a dirty straight razor, you will get more infections.
So, how to sanitize it? Before doing anything, you need to buy a disinfectant product. Remember that the product needs to be approved to use for razors.
Now, rinse the razor with clean water and dry it with a towel. Next, spray it or soak it in the disinfectant. You can also use alcohol 70%, Hydrogen Peroxide, or distilled white vinegar if you do not have the disinfectant product.
Among all of these razor sanitizers, alcohol is the best option as it can prevent bacteria and rust. Besides, it also evaporates faster.
Shave Slowly and Focus 100% on the Shave
To prevent cuts and nicks, you better shave slowly and put 100% of your focus on the shave.
When you feel like the razor is hurting you, you can put less force on the shave or even slow it down to be in more control.
Do not shave when you are in a rush because while rushing up, you are more likely to slip the razor and potentially cut your skin and fingernail.
The chances of getting razor burn is also much higher when you shave fast.
Sharpen Your Straight Razor Regularly Enough
Different shavers might need to sharpen their straight razors differently, but on average, we recommend you sharpen the razor once every three months or six months if you use it regularly.
If you do not use it much, you can even sharpen it once a year.
Use Shaving Products and Post-Shaving Care Products
You can use shaving products while shaving or apply post-shaving skincare products to moisture and calm your skin down after shaving.
Straight razors can easily leave some razor burn and irritation, and these products will help a lot.
Different Ways to Test Your Straight Razor If It is Sharp Enough
If you are unsure whether the straight razor you are using is sharp or dull, the tests below will help you out. You can also do these tests while honing the razor:
Test By Shaving
The easiest way to know if your razor is sharp enough is to shave with it. You can start with a small area of hair first, shave the hair, and notice whether it is hard or easy to shave.
If you feel like shaving is too hard and the razor does not cut hair easily, you can consider sharpening it.
Test with Your Arm Hair
While honing at any stage, you can cut your arm hair to see if the razor is sharp enough.
You can cut the hair follicle’s base and see if you can do it easily. The razor is now sharp enough if the hair pops or gets cut off.
Test with Your Finger Nail
Before doing anything, wet your thumbnail.
Next, glide the straight razor on the top of your wet thumbnail and try to cut a little bit of it.
If the razor can pass the nail easily, the razor is sharp enough.
Test with Some Strands of Hair
Now, prepare some hair strands to see if the razor is sharp. There are a few ways to do it.
You can keep the razor upsize down, drop the hair strand on the blade.
Another way to do it is by holding the razor and tapping the hanging hair strand. If the hair pops, you have a sharp razor.
Test with Paper
To test if your razor is dull or sharp, you can use a piece of paper.
First, keep the razor at a slight angle and add some force on the paper from the top of it.
If your razor can cut the paper easily, then the razor is sharp. But if it is dull, it will bend the piece of paper or tear it (not cut it) when you put more force.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do Straight Razor Shaves Last?
Razor shave can last around two days. Even if you had a really close shave, the hair would start to grow a bit after two days, and you can see it.
What Problems Can Super Sharp Straight Razors Cause?
When shaving with an extra sharp straight razor, you can get irritation, cuts, nicks, razor burns.
Too much effort can also cut a patch of your skin.
Can I Get Ingrown Hair If I Shave with a Sharp Straight Razor?
No, a sharp straight razor will not give you ingrown hair. In fact, this is the best razor for preventing ingrown hair.
While using other razors, your skin will contact and get scratched by many blades at the same time.
If there is enough hair, dirt, or rust stuck in the middle of the blades, they will pull your hair and raise the chance of growing ingrown hair.
Straight razor on the other hand, comes with one single blade so it is hard for it to pull your hair, except when the blade is damaged.
Besides, remember that it is not solely about the razor type you use to cause ingrown hair, but more about your shaving technique. If you shave with the grains, you will have fewer chances to get ingrown hairs.
But if you shave against the grain, you will be more likely to grow ingrown hair. When your straight razor is sharp, it can even prevent ingrown hair as it will not need to contact your skin as much as the duller ones.
Can I Shave with A Sharp Straight Razor Every Day?
Yes, you can shave with a straight razor every day if you have good skills set to do it without hurting your skin.
At first, it can be difficult to shave quickly but you can do it better in a shorter time by practicing. Straight razors are also more environmentally-friendly than disposable razors.
However, if your skin is sensitive, shaving with a sharp straight razor every day can be too much for your skin to handle. Even when you are skillful at shaving, your skin will still need to contact the blades.
If you do not have special needs to shave everyday, we suggest you not shave more frequently than once every two days using straight razors.
When Should I Replace My Straight Razor?
If your razor is dull, do not replace it; instead, you can sharpen it.
However, if you spot some damage on the razor blades and the razor tends to cut your skin easily, it is time to buy a new one.
Does Straight Razor Give the Closest Shave?
Yes, the razor type gives you the closest shave compared to all other razor types.
A straight razor can touch your skin and hair directly and reach the follicles easily. You can also adjust the angle to get the closest shave possible.
Conclusion
So, what about your opinion? Can a straight razor be too sharp?
Personally, we think it can get too sharp and be more aggressive for our skin, but we also understand why many men prefer extra sharp straight razors.
Even when you do not like straight razors that are too sharp, you still need to keep them sharp enough to be effective.
With the tips and the guides we provided, you hope you will have a better experience shaving with straight razors.
