The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man Read Online Free PDF

razor will eliminate the skin irritation and give your face a clean, healthy look. With a safety razor, you’re just using one blade instead of several that chew up your face while cutting your whiskers.
    You’ll feel like a badass. It’s nice taking part in a ritual that great men like your grandfather, John F. Kennedy and Teddy Roosevelt took part in.
    The Tools
    Safety razor. Switching from a cheap disposable razor to double-edged safety razor is like upgrading from a Pinto to a Mercedes. A safety razor is a machine. It’s nice holding a piece of heavy, sturdy metal in your hand while you’re shaving, as opposed to a piece of cheapo plastic.
    You can find safety razors in a variety of places. First, ask your grandpa if he still has one lying around. Chances are he does. If Gramps doesn’t have one, try checking antique stores. I found my 1966 Gillette Superspeed Safety Razor in an antique store in Vermont. I paid only ten dollars for it. If you don’t have any luck there, stop by eBay and do a search for safety razors. You’re bound to find a few there. Finally, if buying a used safety razor doesn’t fancy you, you can always buy a new one from one of several companies that still make them. A highly recommended safety razor is from Merkur. They have several types to choose from at varying prices. Look to spend about forty dollars for a new safety razor.
    Blades. You can choose from a variety of different blades. Each blade has a unique sharpness and cutting ability. Experiment with different kinds until you find the ones you like.
    Shaving brush. If you’ve never used a brush during shaving, you’re in for a treat. A brush helps hydrate the shaving cream in order to form a thick, rich shaving lather. Using a brush to lather up helps get the shaving cream up under each whisker which results in better, smoother shaves. Plus, lathering up with a brush just feels nice on your face.
    Brushes are made out of two types of animal hair: boar and badger. Boar bristles are stiffer, hold less water and are cheaper than badger bristles. You can find a boar hair brush at Wal-Mart for about four dollars. If you really want to have a nice shaving experience, splurge and buy a badger hair brush. Badger brushes create more lather and feel a lot nicer on your face.
    Soaps and creams. If you’re like the average guy, you’ve probably been getting your shaving cream from a can. This blue/green, chemically laced goop does nothing for your face and smells like a hospital. Traditional shave creams and soaps on the other hand are full of natural ingredients that nourish your face and leave you smelling absolutely manly. While these high quality creams and soaps may cost more than the can stuff, just a dab creates copious amounts of lather.
    The Technique
    Prep your beard. If you want a clean shave, you need to prep your beard adequately. The goal during beard prep is to soften your whiskers so shaving is easier and causes less irritation. The best way to soften your beard is to shave right when you get out of the shower. The hot water from the shower should hydrate and soften your beard enough for shaving. If you haven’t showered, at least wet your whiskers with some hot water. A hot towel is also a great way to soften stubble.
    Lather up. Take a small dollop (about the size of nickel) of shave cream and place it in a mug. Take your brush that you’ve presoaked with water and swirl the cream around until you get a nice thick lather. Apply the lather with your brush in swirling motions. When your face is covered, take a few strokes to smooth everything out.
    Shave. Unlike shaving with cartridge razors, shaving with a safety razor actually requires some skill and technique. Once mastered, though, you should be shaving effectively in no time. The four keys to a successful shave with a safety razor are:
1. Use as little pressure as possible. You don’t need to use pressure because the weight of the safety razor is sufficient to cut