Do you often use a single-blade razor or your multi-blade cartridge razor to shave? Are you happy with your present shaving routine, or are the shaving pain and skin sensitivity starting to bother you? Most guys don’t give much thought to what they use to shave, even though it can have a big impact on their ability to keep their skin healthy and smooth and avoid irritation.
Some people believe that all razors are the same and that their morning routine won’t be much changed by using an electric, single-blade, or multi-blade cartridge razor.
At BFH, we think that every man should embrace his morning shave and that it should be enjoyable rather than painful labour that results in nicks, cuts, and ingrown hairs.
Are Multiple Blades Always Better?
Can one blade complete the task? Are multi-bladed razors always better? How do you know which razor is right for you?
King Camp Gillette applied for a patent in 1901 to create the first safety razor.
Not until around 70 years later did Gillette decide to include an additional blade on the razor.
With two blades, you can shave twice as closely and remove twice as many hairs, according to the theory underlying this experiment.
The majority of wet shavers think that this was all a brilliant marketing ruse to persuade consumers to buy pricey, disposable cartridges rather than the conventional single-blade safety razor, from which Gillette was finding it difficult to turn a profit.
However, as more and more blades were introduced over time, Gillette became the market leader for plastic cartridge razors.
Are Closer Shaves Possible with More Blades?
Gillette reasoned that adding more blades would ensure the best possible shave by drawing the hair taut with the first blade and cutting hair below the skin’s surface with the second.
In the past, a safety razor or straight razor had produced similar effects by merely making several passes to guarantee a close, clean shave.
Each blade of a three-bladed razor was made to have a specific function:
The first blade hooks the hair follicle, pulling it up.
The second blade cuts the more exposed hair.
The third blade acts as a safety net to make sure nothing is missed.
Razors with 4, 5, and 6 blades all use the same idea.
Sadly for cartridge shavers.
Additional blades also enhance the possibility of:
Razor wounds
Skin sensitivity
Unwanted hair nicks
Dermatologists advise keeping a single-blade safety razor if these are problems you’ve struggled with.
A styptic pencil or an alum block, on the other hand, can save you from having tissue paper on your face if you are prone to cuts.
Why Do Razors with Multiple Blades Cause Ingrown Hairs?
Consequences follow from having more blades across your face.
As was already explained, the first blade of a multi-cartridge razor serves as a hook to lift the hair.
Additionally, because of this, the second blade may occasionally cut the skin’s surface hair. There are more expensive ways to obtain a close shave than this one.
Multi-blade Razors versus Safety Razors
Single-blade razors prevent ingrown hairs as compared to multi-blade razors.
Hairs are entangled beneath the skin and develop into ingrown hairs, which is one of the main causes of ingrown hair and razor bumps in males (especially true for men with curly hair).
If left untreated, ingrown hair can occasionally develop into a painful red bump on the skin, which is ugly and uncomfortable.
Can One Blade Complete the Task?
Most shaving enthusiasts still agree that single-blade safety razors were the industry standard before the early 1970s. Men frequently went to barbershops to have their facial hair cut, and straight razors were the barbers’ preferred tool.
You may efficiently cut through the hair with a single-blade razor, greatly lowering the risk of ingrown hairs and skin discomfort. This is because there aren’t any additional blades pulling and cutting the hair below the skin.
Double-edged razors, according to many wet shavers, offer the closest shave imaginable.
How Difficult Is It to Use a Single-Blade Razor?
Shaving would be much easier if all hair types and skin sensitivity levels were the same.
Hairs of all thicknesses, all curls, all straights, and hairs that grow in both directions sometimes make it difficult to shave with a straight razor.
Fortunately, there has been the development of many adjustable safety razors that make it simple for any beginner to get their closest, most comfortable shave ever on their first-ever wet shave.
You should always remember that it frequently takes practice and patience to learn the angles, pressure, and speed at which to use the single-blade safety razor.
The Verdict
It’s probably time to switch to an adjustable safety razor if you’re unhappy with your shaving regimen or encounter any kind of skin discomfort when shaving.
A safety razor is certain to yield better results overall, deliver a closer shave, lessen skin irritation and ingrown hairs, and ultimately save you money on shaving.
Safety razors often require some getting used to, but if you invest in some good ones, you can discover a set of razors that are tailored to your particular skin type and level of facial hair.
Written by: Ridhiman Das
Edited by: Aniket Joshi