Your First Week with a Safety Razor: What's Normal

The short answer: Your first week with a safety razor will be slower than a cartridge, and you may miss spots or nick yourself once or twice. That's normal. Shave with the grain only, use no pressure, and change nothing else for a week. Most people find the motion feels natural by the second week.

Switching from a cartridge to a safety razor is a small skill change, like learning a new grip on something you've done for years. Knowing what's normal makes the first week a lot less frustrating.

What's normal

• It takes longer. Your first shaves might take twice as long. That shrinks quickly.
• You miss a few spots. Especially under the jaw and on the neck. You'll learn where they are.
• A nick or two. Usually from pressure or a changed angle. Rinse with cold water and hold a clean towel on it until it stops.
• Your hand feels awkward. Holding a razor at an angle instead of pressing a pivoting head is new. It clicks.
• Not quite as close yet. One pass with the grain is a comfortable, presentable shave. The closeness comes as you add passes later.

What's not normal

• Irritation or redness that's getting worse each shave.
• Repeated deep nicks.
• Pain, bumps that won't settle, or signs of infection.

The first two almost always come down to pressure, angle, or a dull blade. See what causes irritation and what to change. For pain, persistent bumps, infection or a skin condition, talk to a doctor or dermatologist.

A simple plan for week one

Shaves 1 and 2: learn the angle

Shave after a shower. Lather well. Rest the head flat on your cheek, then lower the handle until the blade starts to cut, about 30 degrees. Do your cheeks slowly with the grain. Go gently around the jaw and neck, or leave the neck for another day.

Shaves 3 and 4: let go of pressure

Hold the handle near the end with your fingertips. Let the razor's weight do the work. If you can feel the head pushing into your skin, you're pressing.

Shaves 5 to 7: the whole face

Map your neck grain (see how to shave your neck), stretch the skin, and use short strokes. Stay with the grain everywhere.

What to hold off on

• Against the grain. Save it for week three or later.
• Switching blade brands. Change one thing at a time so you know what made the difference.
• Multiple passes. One pass, done well, is the goal for now.

Change the blade on schedule

Fresh blades are cheap. Change every three to five shaves at first, or sooner if it tugs. See how often to change safety razor blades.

By week two

Most people notice the shave getting faster and the motion becoming automatic. That's when it stops feeling like a project and starts feeling like a better way to do something you were going to do anyway.

For the step-by-step version, keep your first 5 shaves open on your phone while you shave.