{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Wet Shaving Talk For 14 July 2026","description":"You\u2019re listening to Wet Shaving Talk powered by Sharpologist.com where we\u2019re dedicated to preserving the art and skill of classic shaving. I\u2019m your host Joe Borrelli and today is July 14th, 2026.  ____________________________________________________________________________ Today On The Show: &amp;nbsp; Straight Razor Month&amp;nbsp; Types of Straight Razors The Prep:&amp;nbsp; How to Prep for a Straight Razor Shave Starting A Wet Shaving Blog, Youtube Channel or Podcast?&amp;nbsp; Here is what you need to know Straight Razor Month: Picking a Quality Vintage Straight Razor  ___________________________________________________________________________ Types of Straight Razors&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; Straight razors are primarily categorized by their blade widths, grind types, and point styles. 1. Blade Width Measured in eighths of an inch, the width affects how the razor maneuvers and holds lather.   5\/8&quot; and 6\/8&quot;: The standard sizes. They offer excellent balance and are ideal for beginners.   4\/8&quot; and Smaller: Narrow blades. Perfect for precision work, tight spots under the nose, and clean edging.   7\/8&quot; to 9\/8&quot;: Wide, heavy blades. They slice through coarse hair effortlessly and hold a large amount of lather.   2. Blade Grinds The grind is the cross-sectional shape of the blade, determining its flex, weight, and sharpness.   Full Hollow: The thinnest, most common grind. The blade flexes slightly, providing high feedback and a very sharp edge.   Half\/Quarter Hollow: A middle-ground option. It provides a stiffer feel than a full hollow but retains a keen edge.   Wedge: Thick, heavy, and completely stiff. It does not flex, making it excellent for mowing down thick stubble quietly.   3. Point (Tip) Styles The shape of the nose changes both the safety profile and the precision of the shave.   Round Point: A curved tip with no sharp corners. Highly recommended for beginners to prevent accidental nicks.   Square\/Spike Point: A sharp, 90-degree corner. Offers surgical precision for lining up sideburns and beards, but bites easily.   French Point: A rounded slope that ends in a subtle point. Combines a safer profile with good precision.   Spanish Point: A concave curve with a distinct upper notch. Great for navigating facial contours and detail work.   4. Traditional vs. Shavettes   Traditional Straight Razor: A single piece of forged steel that requires a leather strop to align the edge and a whetstone to sharpen.   Shavette (Disposable Blade Razor): Looks like a straight razor but uses replaceable half-double edge or single edge blades. It requires zero maintenance    ___________________________________________________________________________ The Prep: How to Prep a Straight Razor Shave&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; How to prep for a straight Razor Shave? I\u2019ll tell you. &amp;nbsp;   Heat:&amp;nbsp;     A hot shower for at least 5-10 minutes or wrapping your face with a hot towel for 5-10 minutes will do the trick.&amp;nbsp; You need to really soften the beard in order to make the whiskers \u201cstand up\u201d so they\u2019re easier to cut.     Lather Lather and More Lather:&amp;nbsp;     All wet shavers know the importance of a good lather.&amp;nbsp; Although there are times you can \u201cskimp\u201d on your lather with safety razor shaving (not recommended) you cannot get away with it in straight razor shaving.&amp;nbsp; Because there is no guard on the blade, it's extremely important to make sure you have as much lubrication as possible.&amp;nbsp;   A good note when lathering, once you think you\u2019re lathered up, lather for an additional 30 seconds. This ensures you have lubricated the whiskers enough to shave.&amp;nbsp;     A \u201cShave Ready\u201dBlade:     A \u201cshave ready\u201d blade is the most important part of the straight razor experience. Make sure your blade is sharp enough to shave or all the other prep will not matter.&amp;nbsp; We will get more into shave ready blades on a future episode.&amp;nbsp;   &amp;nbsp;  ___________________________________________________________________________ Starting a Wet Shaving Blog, Youtube Channel or Podcast?&amp;nbsp; Here is what you need to know.&amp;nbsp;   Recently, I was asked by a listener how to start a blog.&amp;nbsp; Here is what I told him: &amp;nbsp;   Know your Stuff!&amp;nbsp;   Practice makes perfect&amp;nbsp;   Don\u2019t be sensitive&amp;nbsp;   Listen to feedback   Don\u2019t Do it for a million bucks!&amp;nbsp;    ____________________________________________________________________________ Straight Razor Month Is Coming! How to Choose a Vintage Razor Follow these simple steps:   Check the Maker:&amp;nbsp; Is it a well known brand? Is it made in a country that is known for making good razors? (France, Germany, England, Spain, USA)   Check the spine &amp;amp; Blade Wear: Is the spine shiny?&amp;nbsp; Is the bevel on the blade shiny?&amp;nbsp; Are their chips in the blade? Is there rust?&amp;nbsp;   Is it being sold by a reputable dealer? Is it honed?&amp;nbsp;   These are all things you need to consider when purchasing a straight razor.&amp;nbsp; I\u2019ll go into more detail. Trust me I learned the hard way  __________________________________________________________________________ Our show is powered by Sharpologist.com, \u201cWhat Your Father Didn\u2019t Teach You about Shaving\u201d&amp;nbsp; Special Thanks to: &amp;nbsp; Mark aka Mantic 59 Most of All\u2026\u2026\u2026.YOU!!!! &amp;nbsp; Don\u2019t forget to check out my blog site www.shavestraightandsafe.com&amp;nbsp; for the tips and interesting wet shaving stories! &amp;nbsp; Please feel free to contact me at joe.wetshavingnews@gmail.com&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; Subscribe to my  You Tube Chanel for videos regarding some interesting wet shaving content. &amp;nbsp; Don\u2019t forget to check out my book \u201cThe Modern Guide to Straight Razor Shaving\u201d available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and at Pasteur's Pharmacy in NYC.&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; If you\u2019re a vendor and would like to be featured on the show please contact me!! 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