Razor

Types of open razors

Always buy an open razor from Europe: Böker, DOVO, Muhle and Thiers-Isard. Then you just have quality. The European manufacturers produce beautiful sustainable razors. These razors will last for life. If you maintain your open razor well, you can later pass it on to your grandson.

Where do you have to pay attention if you are going to buy an open razor?

The width of the blade or shaving leaf

With each open razor, the width is noted in inches (an inch "is 2.54 cm). A 5/8" or 6/8 "(= inch) wide shaving leaf are the usual dimensions of an open razor. A 5/8 "razor is suitable for light to normal beard growth. If you have a heavy/stiff beard growth then you benefit a lot from a 6/8" razor. The heavier the beard growth, the heavier the razor must be.

The length of the shaving leaf

The shaving leaf or blade of the most common ranges have a length of approximately 7 cm. These blades are suitable for shaving the entire beard. If you have a beard, it is important that you can shave the beard contours tightly. In this case you will benefit a lot from a razor with a shortened shaving leaf of approximately 4 cm. DOVO is one of the few manufacturers to have a number of razors with a shortened blade.

The head or tip of the shaving leaf

An open razor with a rounded point at the end causes slices less quickly. A few razors have a square point or a barbert tip. These are slightly less forgiving. But are much more suitable for the tight shaving of the beard contours.

Metal alloy of the shaving leaf

Most razors are made of carbon steel. Carbon steel or carbon steel is easier to grind and polish. Therefore very suitable for the starting shaving. Carbon steel rust faster than stainless steel (stainless steel or stainless steel). So well maintained and dry. Stainless steel is also widely used for razors. Stainless steel is harder and therefore more difficult to grind. The advantage is that it stays sharp for longer and needs less maintenance because it hardly rust. Stainless steel rases are slightly more expensive than knives of carboon steel. Many open razors are full-hollow-ground (hollow cut).

Shaving instruction with open razor

Use the razor safely and carefully! Practice in the beginning around the sideburns and cheeks. Place the shaving leaf flat on the skin and then carefully make the 30 -degree angle. Do not shave (super) smoothly in the beginning. After a few days you can carefully shave the chin and neck section. First soap and prepare the face. Hold the razor light and smoothly with the fingertips. Holding razor between thumb and 3 fingers. Keep the razor at an angle of 30 degrees in relation to the skin. Use a slightly smaller angle at the cheek, chin and upper lip. Also use the right angle (30 degrees) at the curves of the chin. Press the razor very light on the skin. First shave with the beard hairs. Pull the skin tight while shaving with the other hand. Shave with quiet small and even movements. Start with the sideburns and cheeks, then the neck and finally the chin and snoring part. Don't forget to rinse the razor clean while shaving.

Maintenance open razor

You must do the maintenance of the open razor before or after each shave. First the open razor must be targeted. You focus with the canvas side of the string strap. By aiming at the micro level, the metal particles of the fold is ironed smoothly again. Around 20 times the knife iron back and forth over the canvas side. After aiming you have to polish the razor over the leather side of the string strap or strap. By polishing, the fold of the knife becomes smooth and clean again. This keeps the razor good and comfortable sharp for a long time. With quiet light movements, the razor iron back and forth over the ironing strap 20 times. After about three -quarters of a year, the razor is bone. This of course depends on how often it is used, type of beard hair and shaving technique. Then it must be sharpened with the sharpening stone.

More information about open razors.