Getting Started
Assembly | Shaving | Product Care | Misc.
While safety razors are easy to use, there may be a slight adjustment if coming from cartridge razors or other shavers. Below are some tips, tricks, and suggestions for those new to this type of razor, or who just need a refresher.
Assembly
The High Noon by Western Razor is a three-piece double edge safety razor. As the name implies, it consists of three parts.
To assemble:
Place the blade ➁ between the cap ➀ and clamp ➂ to put together the razor head
Screw the razor head onto the handle ➃
Do not overtighten the screw!
The clamp should be oriented so that the blade extends out slightly over the guard.
That’s all there is to it!
Check out this video for a quick assembly and getting started primer:
Shaving
Shaving Basics
Shaving with a safety razor is basically the same as with most other types of razors: wet your face, apply shaving cream, and shave!
However, below are a few suggestions to get the best quality shave out of your Western Razor:
Let the weight of the razor do most of the work. Compared to a plastic cartridge razor ours is quite a bit heavier and its weight is enough to cut the hair when pivoted in your fingers. You don't have to "press down" as much like with lighter cartridge razors.
Hold the razor at around 30 degree angle to your skin. Also, unlike cartridge razors, our razor head is fixed, so move your wrist around to follow the contours of your face or the area you are shaving.
Make at least two shaving passes: first with the grain (in the direction the hair grows), then against the grain. In the early days more passes (e.g. with, perpendicular to, and finally against the grain) and taking your time each pass will help you get used to the minute differences and ensure a closer shave with fewer nicks.
Shave using relatively quick ~1" strokes--kind of like quick, short, controlled bursts.
For some areas of the face, it might help to slightly pull the skin taut or push out the skin (or just make a funny face) to create a flatter surface for the shave.
We’re working on our own tutorial video, but in the meantime we think this one’s pretty good if you prefer a video to text:
(Note: even though the gentleman in the video uses a brush to apply his shaving cream, this isn’t strictly necessary. You can apply most shaving cream by hand just as well.)
Women's Shaving Needs
Safety razors work great for women as well! They work just like any other razor on other parts of the body like legs and underarms.
Here’s a quick video tutorial from YouTube that shows how to accomplish this:
Shaving more sensitive areas and bikini lines (or any other part of the body for that matter) isn’t much different than shaving a face, thus many of the suggestions from the prior section apply here as well. But here are a few additional tips to prevent nicks:
Pull the skin taut to get a flatter surface area for the blade.
Sometimes squatting/getting into a squat position helps.
Shave with the grain, at least for the first pass; you can do subsequent passes perpendicular to or against the grain to get a closer shave.
Pay attention and take your time, especially in the early days!
Head Shaving
Safety razors work just as well for shaving your head as they do for shaving your face (or any other parts of your body)!
It works pretty much the same way. Check out this video for a quick how-to guide:
Product Care
See our dedicated Product Care page for everything you need to know about maintaining your razor, brush, and other Western Razor products to ensure they last for a very long time.
Miscellaneous
Razor Blade Info
Our razors use standard double edge razor blades. Be sure to get this type when buying replacements (or just buy our blades!).
Each blade should last you upwards of 5-7 shaves (depending on thickness of hair, surface area shaved, etc…), but eventually they will need to be thrown out. You’ll know it is time for a blade replacement when you feel the blade “tug” at the hair and not cut quite as effortlessly.
Razor Blade Disposal
Check with your local jurisdiction for the recommended disposal or recycling methods of double edge razor blades. For example, in Boston, the official Boston Public Works website recommends putting used blades “in your trash container (barrel or bags) for disposal.”
You can also collecting used blades in a “blade bank” or case and then wrap them up with tape when you’ve collected a bunch and dispose of them together. A couple blade bank options are listed here.
Shaving Cream or Soap
While we recommend Caswell-Massey shave cream, you can use whatever shaving cream you already use with your new Western Razor. Most shaving creams can be applied by hand or by brush. By hand, just wet your hands slightly, lather the shaving cream in your hands, and apply it to your face.
Shaving soap, however, can only be applied with a brush. Wet the brush, lather up the shave soap (or cream), then apply to your face in a circular motion.