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by Fendrihan July 26, 2019July 18, 2019

Straight Razor Series: Diamond Sharpening Pastes

We’ve already broken down traditional sharpening pastes, but we’ve received a lot of questions about diamond sharpening pastes. We’re breaking down diamond sharpening pastes a little more, so you’ll know when, and how, to use them. Background As the steel-making craft improved, making razors harder than the materials used to sharpen them, traditional paste materials began to meet their match. This contrast of a softer grit against a harder blade is counterproductive; it dulls rather than sharpens a blade. Fortunately,…

by Fendrihan June 21, 2019June 21, 2019

Straight Razor Series: Sharpening Pastes

One of the best ways to sharpen and smooth a straight razor is by using a sharpening paste. Simply put, a sharpening paste is a compound that varies in abrasiveness. The micron of sharpening paste measures the size of abrasive grain used. How to Use Sharpening Pastes To restore a straight razor sharpness, a progression of sharpening pastes is used. Starting with a coarse grit paste makes removing residue easy and is a quick way to prepare the blade for…

by Fendrihan May 24, 2019May 10, 2019

Straight Razor Series – Comparing Grinds

As our Straight Razor blog series continues this week, we’re explore blade grinds. We’ve broken it down to highlight the main aspects of the grind. What’s the Grind? Simply put, the grind is determined by a blade’s hollowness. Blades that have a thinner edge have a hollower grind and vice versa. Grinding Methods Grinding methods refer to two aspects of the razor. The first describes the curvature of the straight razor’s cross section. The second involves the blade’s final shape…

by Fendrihan April 26, 2019April 15, 2019

Straight Razor Series – Comparing Point Types

Straight razors can be complicated tools. You might have been confused by references to a straight razor’s spine, tip, tang, scale or edge. We’re here to explain everything you need to know about straight razors. We’ll have a few blog articles focusing on different aspects of the straight razor. This week’s we’re taking a look at Point Types. Point type refers to the shape of the blade’s tip. There are five standard point types that differ in sharpness and precision….

by Fendrihan February 1, 2019January 29, 2019

FAQ’s – Straight Razor Shaving

I want to start using a straight razor, what should I do? We get a lot of questions from our customers who want to learn more about the basics of straight razor shaving, so we’ve put together some FAQ’s on straight razor shaving to help! Happy Shaving. Which straight razor should I use? If you’re new to wet-shaving, starting modestly with a 5/8” or a 6/8” blade, like the Boker King Cutter Straight Razor 5/8”, or something similar is ideal. You want…

by Fendrihan December 14, 2016June 3, 2019

Choosing the Right Leather Strop for Your Straight Razor

Chances are good that you’ve seen a barber using his strop, either in the movies or while you’ve sat in the chair; he deftly sharpens and polishes his straight razor to perfection, ready for use. But these leather accessories aren’t just for barbers and movie stars. If you have a straight razor, you should also be using a strop at home to keep your blades in tiptop shaving shape. With repeated use the blade of any razor gets dull; after honing…

by Fendrihan October 27, 2016October 27, 2016

Win a Fendrihan Full Hollow Ground Straight Razor

Welcome to another happy Friday. The weekend’s about to begin, and we want to help one lucky Fendrihan member start their weekend with a bang. That’s why we’re giving away one custom, handmade Fendrihan Thiers Issard French straight razor. With a full hollow ground 5/8″ blade and black scales, it’s the perfect way for a distinguished gentleman to complete his shave. For your chance to win, enter up to six (6) times in the form below. Complete all six options,…

by Fendrihan July 18, 2016May 3, 2019

How to Shave with a Straight Razor

An old-fashioned tradition, straight razor shaving was once a professional service confined to the barbershop. Men would visit the barber for a haircut and receive a straight razor shave along with it. The old practice moved into the home, but was overshadowed by the safety razor, and, later on, by the disposable razor. Today, straight razor shaving is still thriving as a niche community, but the ultra-convenience and low initial cost of disposable razors has limited its popularity amongst younger…

by Fendrihan February 5, 2016September 22, 2023

Are Straight Razor Shaves Legal in North America?

Many modern men have a perennial attraction to the old-fashioned barbershop experience, and one of the touchstones of barbershop quality has always been the straight razor shave. Though extravagant in today’s shaving world, it is part and parcel with the old men’s tradition, and many still go in search of it. Barbers who provide straight shaves are less commonplace today, but the tradition is still very much alive. Only licensed barbers are permitted to give customers straight shaves, and every…

by Fendrihan November 13, 2015January 19, 2016

The Straight Razor Story: Dramatic Shaving Scenes in Cinema

Shaving scenes in cinema have borne a special, dramatic weight since the very beginnings of the Silver Screen. Who would have guessed that the quotidian affair of simple grooming would find itself spread so broadly across cinema? Brisk coming-of-age scenes, solitary moments of despair, and even characters embroiled in heated moments of crime. The razor itself can act as a Chekhov’s Gun, hinting at mistrust between lovers, or as a symbol of consummated love. It’s often in those moments…

by Fendrihan January 24, 2014September 22, 2023

Shaving with a straight razor: more than a ritual

Shaving with a straight razor is almost a lost art form. Long before the advent of the electric face mower and mass produced shaving blades, men ritualistically began readying and preparing for their day with that perfect morning shave. However, it is not just the unique practice performed by your local barber, nor is it an archaic ritual steeped in mystery, because there are still those men who appreciate this almost lost art of traditional shaving that was practised for…

by Fendrihan September 4, 2013September 22, 2023

Learning to Strop: A Short and Succinct Guide to Straight Razor Maintenance

Practitioners of classic shaving should be all too familiar with the painful embarrassment that blunt razor blades can inflict on their faces. As a result, it is no coincidence that practitioners have come up with all manner of methods to help them maintain a sharp edge on their razors, with one method being the practice of stropping. Although said practice was once limited to professional barbers in their barbershops, modern consumers have access to all of the tools and supplies…