Identifying All The Parts of a Straight Razor

Simplicity is the name of the game when it comes to straight razors, but these classy shaving tools are more complicated than they might seem at first. Learn more about the different parts of a straight razor and how each component contributes to the perfect shave.

1. Edge

The edge is the most important part of a straight razor. It’s the component of the razor that separates your hair follicles from your face; a good straight razor edge is as sharp as possible and made from the highest-quality stainless steel. The benefit of stainless steel is that corrosion/rust is limited and not very likely under normal circumstances.

2. Face

While the edge might be the most important part of a razor for people who shave, the face is the most important part for brands. The face is the flat side of your straight razor blade. Companies, such as Boker like the example above, like to put their logos on these parts of straight razors.

3. Heel

The heel is the back end of the razor’s edge. It marks the point where the edge ends and the tang begins. Most people don’t use this section of the blade to shave but definitely can be used if desired.

4. Toe

The toe of a straight razor serves the same purpose as the heel, but it’s at the front side of the edge. People who shave with straight razors tend to use the part of the blade right next to the toe as a tool for getting rid of those pesky hairs that appear under the ears and next to the nose.

5. Point

The point of a razor is the foremost part of the blade. It generally isn’t sharp, and it’s actually usually rounded. In this example with a Spanish tip, you could use it to remove hairs as your skill level increases. People who shave with straight razors can use the points of their razors for pinpoint blade maneuvering.

6. Spine

Are you tired of all the anatomical analogies yet? You guessed it; the spine is the part of a straight razor that runs along its back or opposite of the cutting edge. The spine of a razor usually bulges out to a degree to make it easy for you to grip. This varies with different manufacturers and models.

7. Shoulder

The shoulder is the part of a straight razor where the blade and the tang meet along the spine. This straight razor component is the largest part of the spine, and it serves as an indicator of where the blade of your razor ends and the tang begins. The bulge of the shoulder makes it easier to determine where you should grip the tang while you’re shaving.

8. Tang

If you’ve ever used a machete, you might already know what a tang is. No, this part of your straight razor doesn’t have anything to do with that surprisingly bitter instant drink mix of astronaut fame. Rather, it’s the part of your razor you grip while you’re shaving to make sure you get the closest and safest shave possible.

The tang extends from the shoulder of the razor all the way down to the pivot pin. In fact, this part of a straight razor continues past the pivot pin to end in a small tail.

The tang on a straight razor is usually about as long as the blade, and it’s made from thick steel you can grip carefully to give yourself a precise shave.

9. Jimps

Not all straight razors have jimps, but those that do are usually more stable and easier to use. These recessed, textured features provide friction at the point where your thumb and index finger hold your straight razor. These razor features first came into existence in the 1800s, and while some men might prefer the feeling of raw steel under their fingertips, razors with jimps provide a cleaner grip and enhanced control during the shaving process. In the example above, you could clearly see the jimps which will provide that extra comfort and grip when shaving cream and water is being used.

10. Tail

The tail of your straight razor is the part of the tang that sticks out beyond the pivot point. You can put your thumb on the tail while the razor is closed to open it, and this component is one of the most important parts of your straight razor even though it might seem useless at first glance; the tail provides a counterweight to the blade of the razor to make sure your shaving tool is perfectly balanced.

11. Pivot Pin

The pivot pin is the part of your razor that allows you to open or close your shaving implement. It’s not enough for a pivot pin to allow you to open your razor whenever you need it; this component must also be just tight enough to keep your razor steady while you shave.

12. Scales

Every straight razor handle is unique. Some straight razors might have spirals on their handles, or others might have stripes. Whichever pattern you find on your razor handle, you’ll notice that this part of your shaving tool is textured to give you a better grip.

Posted on April 29, 2019April 23, 2019 by Sean Mason

To beard or not to beard, that is the question.

Thinking about letting your facial hair grow wild? Let us break it down for you…

There’s one question that has plagued men since time immemorial: Are beards the best, or is a clean shave the way to go? Throughout the history of civilization, beards have gone in and out of style dozens of times. These days, men can choose their facial hair styles freely, but this freedom comes with a cost; as a modern man, you are burdened with the responsibility of deciding between shaving cream and beard oil whenever you shop for grooming goods online. In this guide, we’ll answer all your questions about beards, and we’ll help you make the hard decision between a smooth, clean shave and a beautiful beard dripping with beard oil.

Do Women Like the scruff?

Let’s face it, guys: Most of the things we do, we do to impress members of the opposite sex. Whether we’re looking for girlfriends or trying to show our wives that we’ve got what it takes, we’re constantly on the lookout for new techniques to impress women with our rugged manliness.

However, do women like beards, or do they prefer the smoothness that comes after a meticulous wet shave? According to Psychology Today, the answer to this question is anything but simple. It seems that women prefer men with light stubble as long-term partners, but they view men with long beards as the most aggressive and socially mature. What’s more, women think that men with short facial hair are the most dominant.

The good news for men who like a nice wet shave or who have stocked up on a lifetime supply of shaving cream is that you have to shave relatively frequently to get the stubble that women desire in sexual partners. While women might not give you the time of day for the first 24 hours or so after you shave, once your clean shave wears off and your stubble sets in, the time will be right to hit the club or flex at the gym.

If you’re looking for a long-term relationship or you’re trying to show the mother of your children that you’re an epic provider, however, you might want to ditch the shaving cream temporarily and invest heavily in beard oil. The research is clear that women see men with full facial hair as being more aggressive, dominant, and mature, and your committed partner might even lose respect for you if you say goodbye to beards and end it all with a luxurious wet shave.

While the allure of a clean shave might fit in well in a boardroom or a job interview, beards are the way to go if you want to hit it off with the ladies. Just don’t forget to keep some shaving cream on hand in case the science on this subject ever changes.

Long Beards vs. Neatly Trimmed Beards

Modern life can be hectic, and it can seem like you don’t have enough time for a wet shave every morning. Beards can look great in professional environments, but just make sure that you don’t overdo it.

No employer likes scraggly beards. This doesn’t mean that you should try to have a clean shave every time you show up for work, but you also shouldn’t let your facial hair run amok. In certain industries, long beards might be perfectly acceptable, but you should keep your facial hair well-trimmed no matter how long it gets.

There’s nothing worse than being forced to give yourself a wet shave after you suddenly learn your employer doesn’t like beards. If you like your beard, take care of it, or you might have to make a choice between a clean shave and losing your job sooner than you think.

Can You Have the Best of Both Worlds?

Please, we beg you: Don’t go for the neckbeard! Anything else, however, is fair game. Who said that you have to grow a long, scraggly beard? As long as you have a razor, there are a million and one different ways that you can creatively rock your facial hair.

Just because you have a beard doesn’t mean you have to abandon the luxury of a wet shave entirely. In fact, many men keep their beards in check by applying shaving cream to the areas around their necks and shaving every other day or so. Beards with clearly defined perimeters look more professional, and you can also use a straight razor or a safety razor to explore your facial hair possibilities to your heart’s content.

Employers might like cleaner beards better than wild beards, and the ladies will appreciate the contrast between the ruggedness of your beard and its manicured edges. Just don’t get too creative; complicated mixes of facial hair and cleanly shaved skin look downright weird, and they’re hard to maintain day in and day out.

A World of Stylish Beards to Choose From

Every man should go down the bearded route at some point in his life. The question is, should you stop shaving now and let your beard go wild? As you debate the pros and cons of being bearded, consider some of the best beard styles that celebrities rock without a care in the world.

The ZZ Top/Duck Dynasty Jungle
These men know how to grow some serious facial hair! If you’ve ever been to a ZZ Top concert or watched an episode of Duck Dynasty, you probably stared in amazement at the waterfall of facial hair cascading off these famous celebrity faces. Not everyone can grow a beard like Dusty Hill or Phil Robertson, but if you can, you might as well flaunt it.
The Mel Gibson Jehovah
If it’s always been your dream to look like a biblical figure, you could learn a thing or two from Mel Gibson. This famous Hollywood actor and director has been cultivating his facial hair for decades now, and he so fully looks the part that it would only be natural to see Mel rolling in on a thundercloud shooting bolts of lightning from his fingertips. The Mel Gibson beard is anything but tame, but it’s polished enough to look right at home in a board room or a Michelin-starred restaurant.
The Chris Hemsworth Stubble
Remember what we said about women and stubble? Actor Chris Hemsworth pulls off this effect perfectly. While you’ll sometimes see Chris clean-shaven, he ditches the shaving cream just as frequently and lets a short beard grow out. If you want to remain popular with the opposite sex, just remember to give yourself a wet shave every week or so to keep things from getting out of hand.
The LeBron James Masterpiece
If you don’t mind taking half an hour out of your day to sculpt your face every day of the week, you might want to emulate the look that LeBron James has been perfecting. While he never lets his beard get much longer than thick stubble, he expertly deploys a clean shave around his mouth to disrupt the overpowering look that so many beards end up having.
The Daniel Radcliffe Lounge
This former Harry Potter lead proves that you can do a lot with very little. While the density of Radcliffe’s facial hair is nothing to write home about, his refusal to keep up with a daily wet shave has resulted in a thin layer of hair covering his upper lip and chin. Even if you can’t grow a full Mel Gibson beard, you can take a page from Daniel’s book and rock a short beard that will make you look as rugged and manly as possible.

Nobody Likes a Dirty Beard

There’s a very simple reason many men end up avoiding beards altogether. The longer your facial hair becomes, the harder it is to maintain, and there’s nothing more embarrassing than a dirty beard. While beard oil keeps the skin under your beard healthy and makes sure that your facial hair stays nice and soft, applying this oil every day doesn’t do much to keep your beard clean.

If you want to make sure that your beard doesn’t get too dirty, you’ll need to wash it every day. Even though your facial hair is different from the hair on your head, you should use a beard wash and you may also want to bring a beard comb into the shower with you to make sure that you get all the accumulated gunk out of your facial hair.

Men with beards understand that having rugged facial hair requires constant vigilance. You have to be extra careful when you eat, and even spilled drinks can ruin the masculine appeal of your beard and drag strange smells with you wherever you go. Nonetheless, sporting an immaculately maintained beard is much more mainstream than it used to be, and as long as you can grow enough facial hair, the sky is the limit in terms of the epic beard styles you can try out.

Posted on April 18, 2019April 18, 2019 by Sean Mason — 1 Comment

What Are The Different Types Of Razors?

Everyone likes a neat and clean appearance. The good news is that it doesn’t take much effort to get that classic look. All you need is a good razor. There are different types of razors flooding the market. We’ll help you pick the right one.

Use in the stone age, the first known version of a razor was a shaving stone which was essentially a flaked obsidian.

The Egyptians used a rotary razor.

Shaving was adopted by Alexander’s troops. The Romans replaced the circular razor with a straight one.

Straight razor was most commonly used till the 20th century. This razor had a stainless steel blade that is sharpened on one side.

Next came the shavette, had a disposable blade. It is easy to use but less durable.

In 1880 came the first marketed safety razor. Safer to use than straight razor but required practice.

1903 saw King Gillette sell the first double edge safety razor which had edges and protective bars on both sides of the blade.

First disposable safety razor came in 1960. The entire razor is discarded after use over a period of time.

Then came the cartridge razor with disposable blades. whose head remained bent at a slight angle for a closer shave.

The foil electric razor run on batteries or can be recharged. For this, no shaving gel or foam is needed. Since the blades move back and forth, they don’t work well on facial curves.

Based on the same principle as the electric razor, the rotary electric razor has blades that rotate on the head. They are easy to use and work well on facial contours with minimum effect.

If you are interested in learning more, check out the infographic below.

Posted on February 5, 2018July 13, 2018 by Sean Mason

The History of Dovo and the Medieval Heritage in Every Blade

The History of Dovo and the Medieval Heritage in Every Blade

Solingen, Germany, a city in the Rhineland region of the country, is the home of DOVO Straight Razors. DOVO Steelware was started there in 1906 to produce razors using the talents of local steelworkers in the town renowned since the Middle Ages for its metalworking craftsmanship and quality.

Born in the City of Blades

It is fitting that quality shaving razors are from Solingen, as the town has been called the City of Blades since Medieval times. When knights in shining armor defended castles, forts and ladies in Northern Europe, their swords and knives came from this village. In those days, a Solingen blade was considered quite fine and one of few worthy of being used by a knight.

In Solingen, swordsmithery was such a highly regarded art and business that Medieval swordsmiths swore a guild oath to never take their sword crafting secrets outside of the village. This oath lasted from the 5th century until the 1700s, when a group of Solingen swordsmiths broke their oaths and started making swords and knives in Shotley Bridge, England.

This story sounds almost mythological when considering human nature. After all, 1300 years is a long period during which to keep a secret among many men. Still, the story is proven real through recent discovery of blacksmith smelters over 2000 years old, found in and around the town.

Swords bearing the Solingen mark have been unearthed in places like the British Isles and other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. The swords were so prized that they were very actively traded throughout the European continent. Even today, knives and blades from Solingen are considered prized.

Such secrets are hard to keep and, as proven later in the 18th century, holding onto the well kept heritage of Solingen became more difficult as time became modern. In the 15th century, what was inside Solingen became contained behind a fortification. What was outside could be kept out using these walls, especially considering the availability of fine swords from which the town flourished.

Modern Days Keep the Heritage Alive

Some bladesmen from the home village where DOVO razors were born migrated to America in 1736. Rather than taking their swordsmithing secrets abroad, these honorable men left that heritage behind for a new one in the New World. Descendants of these immigrants later became the founders of Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing, makers of Studebaker cars.

In 1906, a new type of blade was in fashion. No longer were swords carried by military men or gentlemen. The Edwardian era brought fashion and style to Solingen. With those concepts came shaving using a locally crafted razor made in the same quality as swords and knives of the Medieval era.

In Wald, a village near Solingen, DOVO Steelware started producing open razors. Bladesmithing began in a forge and grinding shop opened by the founders of a new shaving razor company, two men by the last names of Dorp and Voos. Thirteen employees started crafting the blades still made today, using the same craftsmanship of their 2000 year swordsmithing heritage.

Men who love a great quality shaving blade continue turning to razors from Solingen, where knights and gentlemen have sought the best blades in the world for well over 2000 years. Most popular are DOVO Shavette Razors and their professional quality replacement blades.

Posted on April 13, 2016October 23, 2017 by Sean Mason