So, you’ve decided to give wet shaving a try, but you’re a bit confused about which razor, soap, etc. to purchase and use.

In the above video, I show you my personal choices for the tools that will give you great results when you take your very first wet shave.  I’m very confident that these items will give you such a wonderful result, you’ll want to continue wet shaving for the rest of your life.

I strongly recommend using The Godfather Razor by Vikings Blade.  This razor is, without a doubt, my very favorite!  And it’s perfect for wet shaving beginners. You’ll experience a smooth, close shave without nicks, cuts or irritation.  The low profile Gillette Tech head  encloses the ends of the razor blade thereby increasing its safety.  Additionally, the razor head allows you to easily find the perfect shaving angle every time.

I’ve tested and used a good number of safety razors, but I keep coming back to My Godfather Razor by Vikings Blade.  It’s made from premium materials and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

The Godfather Razor also comes with five razor blades which the folks at Vikings Blade describe as being neutral. While these are good for most beginners, you’l soon want to try different blades to find one that suits your particular skin and beard.  I’ve found that Astra blades are quite good.  But, my absolute favorite razor blade, and the one I use every day, is Personna Blue.

Van Der Hagen Luxury Shaving Soap is the perfect soap for those just starting out in wet shaving.  It’s affordable and can be easily found on Amazon.  It’s also available at your local grocery store or big box retailer.  Van Der Hagen Luxury Shaving Soap is hypoallergenic making it safe for those who might have sensitive skin.  It creates a rich lather and affords a lot of protection to the skin.  A wise choice for anyone beginning to learn the wet shaving process.

Pair Van Der Hagen Luxury Shaving Soap with the Vikings Blade White Knight Shaving Brush, and you’re almost ready to take the plunge.  You’ll need a shaving bowl in order to whip up a lather. I tend to grab any bowl for use as a shaving bowl.  ( I buy them for pennies at Goodwill.)  But, if you’d rather have a new shaving bowl, you’ll find a nice selection here.

Now then, before making that first shave pass, a little face prep is in order.

Some guys like to use a pre-shave oil. I’ve done so in the past and they can be helpful.   I’d encourage you to get one and give it a try and se for yourself.  However, I’ve found that very best face prep is a good hot shower.  The water hot water and steam opens your pores and softens your beard.  You can, if you’d like, use Neutrogena Razor Defense facial scrub.  It’ll get rid of dead skins cells and raise your whisker a bit.

Once your face is prepped, grab your brush, soap and razor.  The adventure begins!

Youtube is loaded with many “how to” videos on the proper technique for wet shaving.  You can check those out at your leisure.  But, briefly, here’s the recommended method:

• Take a good hot shower to soften the beard and open your pores.
• In a shaving bowl whip a god thick lather.
• Paint the lather on your face.
• Holding your razor at approximately a 30 degree angle, take short strokes to remove the whisker.  (This is only the first pass, a second, or possible third pass will be needed.)
• After completely shaving the face, rinse and check for areas that may need more attention.
• Now, lather the face once more.  This will be the second shave pass.
• If needed, do a third pass.  The way I do shaving passes are: Pass one is with the grain, Pass two is down across the grain, and pass three is against the grain.  This third pass always results in a BBS (Baby Butt Smooth) shave.  Not to worry, The Godfather Razor allows you to do three complete passes without acquiring any nicks, cuts or irritation.

And remember these key points when wet shaving with a safety razor:

Don’t press. Let the blade glide over the skin.  Let the weight of the razor do the work.

Make sure you have a good lather on your face (and learn how to make a good lather).

Remember to take short strokes and keep the blade at the proper 30 degree angle.

• Once you’ve shaved an area and removed the lather, do not go over the bare area again.  Wait to do the next full, complete pass with a fresh layer of lather having been applied.
• Change out blades when they start showing signs of dullness.  Blades are cheap, so I change out blades after three shaves.

Afterward, apply a god moisturizing after shave balm.  Neutrogena Men’s Razor Defense Post Shave Lotion is very good.  And a 3 pack is very affordably priced.

Slather some on your newly shaved face and you’re done!

Post shave, I do a quick cleanup of my tools to keep them in top shape.  This includes rinsing and drying each piece of my razor (cap, base plate, and handle), patting the razor blade dry (carefully!), and rinsing and drying the shaving brush.

Get the razor and other tools and give it ago!  You’ll soon agree with many other wet shavers throughout the years, that the best part of the day is your morning shave!