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Straight Razor Shave Print E-mail
A Close One
Like all arts, straight-edge shaving requires patience, skill, and the right tools

By Raoul Hauptman
Photo by Shana Novak


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(click image to enlarge)
HAVE YOU EVER HAD a professional shave with a straight-edge razor? Your home disposable can barely take off all that stubble, but a straight razor can remove multiple layers of dead cells, leaving your skin as soft and glowing as a baby’s, uh . . . face. Given the added environmental benefit of not contributing more Bics to the local landfill, it’s tempting to be able to do it at home.

For do-it-yourselfers, the key- word is dedication. Kim Wood, whose family owns the 95-year-old barbering emporium Paul Molé, in New York City (paulmole.com), strongly recommends starting with a safety razor before working up to an injection straight edge, as the latter’s 1/8-inch-deep blade is a lot less forgiving. She also suggests taking lessons with a barber, to learn how to angle the blade and stretch the skin. Even so, she estimates it will take a year to become proficient. “It’s an art,” she says, “so it takes a lot of practice, patience, and Band-Aids.”

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The perfect kit:

Dovo Seven-Day shaving set ($1,275), dovo.com;

Caswell-Massey of Lexington shave brush ($95), caswellmassey.com;

Nashville Knife Shop professional razor strop ($70), nashvilleknifeshop.com;

Sheffield Mint pewter shaving mug ($50), classicshaving.com;

Dominica Bay Rum aftershave ($14), calantilles.com;

cotton steaming towels (6-pack, $15), classicshaving.com
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