Single Blade Fundamentals
Everything a safety razor asks of you, learned in one read.
Know what you're holding.
Three parts and a blade. The guard shields the blade's corners. The head holds the blade at a fixed angle. The handle's weight does the work.
Nothing wears out. The double-edged blade is the only part you replace. They are non-proprietary so you can get anywhere.
Let the weight work.
A cartridge taught your hand to press. Unlearn it. The razor already weighs what it needs to; guide it like a pen.
For tricky areas, pull the skin taut and work in short passes. If you can hear the faint whisper of the blade, you're doing it right.
Thirty degrees, give or take.
Rest the head flat against your cheek and the blade can't touch you. Lower the handle until the edge just meets the skin.
The head is machined to hold that angle; don't fight it.
An inch at a time.
The sea never takes the shore in one rush; it arrives in waves, each reaching a little further than the last.
Shave in short strokes, clearing ~one inch, then start the next behind it.
Rinse, dry, rest.
Rinse the head under warm water, no need to strip it down. Shake it dry and store it somewhere airy: a stand earns its keep here, as drying the blade fully means it holds its edge longer.
Change the blade when it tugs rather than glides; most get a week or two from one.