What are metal razors like?

You mean those safety razors? I use my dad's. It was made in the early 30s.

1. Smoother shave.

2. Infinitely cheaper. Blades cost maybe 20 cents? And you get more shaves out of them.

3. Changes shaving from a chore to a ritual. You absolutely need to pay attention or you will walk away missing half your face skin.

Now that last point might have scared you a little. Don't let it. As long as you're paying attention and not pressing like your trying to cut open a box, you'll do fine. There's a technique that you follow:

3 passes...

1. With the grain

2. Across the grain.

3. Against the grain.

In. That. Order. Or it hurts even if you don't nick yourself.

But in the event that you do, you want either an alum block or a styptic pencil. Yup, it stings like crazy but that's a great incentive to pay attention while you're shaving.

Once you're done, splash and gently rub a little witch hazel onto your skin. This causes any remaining stubble to pull back in just a little bit and make an even smoother shave.

With some practice, you can go from making your lather in a cup to fully shaven in less than 10 minutes and not use a mirror at all.

handles are one thing, the edge is everything.

old school delivers a better results, but takes more skill.

The more easily the edge of the razor slips through hair as you shave, the more delicate you can be with your grip and the lower the force you must apply with the razor. This is important because the softer and more yielding your beard, the better and safer will be your shave with an old school razor.

What else would razors be made of?

I pay a dime a blade and use a new blade every time. That's enough for me.

Get yourself a handle, a tube of Cremo, an alum block, and some aftershave, you'll be sold.