· Ewan Hartley
Safety razors for beginners: the first month
The first three shaves feel nothing like a cartridge, and that catches most people out. Here is what to expect, in order.
Week one: forget about closeness
Set the dial to one. It will feel like very little is happening. That is correct: you are learning the angle, and a mild setting forgives the mistakes you are about to make.
Rest the head flat on your cheek, then tip the handle down until the blade just touches. Move in short strokes, with the grain, and let go of the pressure you are used to applying.
Week two: add a second pass
Once the angle is automatic, go over again across the grain. Two gentle passes get you closer than one hard one and leave nothing behind on your neck.
Week three: move the dial
Go to two. If nothing stings the next morning, stay there. Most people never go further, and there is nothing to prove by doing so.
What tells you it is going well
No burn on the neck, no weepers, and a blade that glides. If any of those slip, drop the dial a notch before you change anything else.
What to buy alongside the razor
Very little. A pack of blades, because the razor ships without them, and whatever cream or soap you already own. Everything else can wait until you know you are keeping the habit.
A brush and a hard soap do make a difference, mostly by putting more water on your face for longer. But starting with what is already in your bathroom removes any excuse not to start.
The first month, week by week
| Week | Dial | What you are working on |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | The angle, and letting go of pressure |
| 2 | 1 | Adding a second pass across the grain |
| 3 | 2 | Checking nothing stings the next morning |
| 4 | 2 | Leaving it alone. Most people stop here. |
Figure from our own verified buyer reviews, 38 ratings, 2026.
What normal looks like, and what does not
Normal: a shave that is slightly less close than a cartridge for the first fortnight, and noticeably better after that. A little redness that clears within an hour.
Not normal: burning that lasts, weepers on the neck, or a razor that catches. All three come from the same three causes, in this order: pressure, angle, tired blade.
Why an adjustable razor is an easier start
A fixed razor asks you to buy the right aggressiveness before you know what suits you. If you guess high, the first week hurts and the razor goes in a drawer. If you guess low, you are buying again in six months.
Starting at one removes that gamble entirely. You learn on the mildest setting the razor has, and the range is still there when you want it.
How long before it feels natural
Three shaves for the angle, a fortnight for the pressure, a month before you stop thinking about it. After that it is faster than a cartridge, because you are not fighting a pivoting head.
More on this: the adjustable razor itself, our guide to safety razor blades, and how to choose a safety razor.
Questions beginners ask us
Is it going to hurt?
Not at setting one, held flat, with no pressure. The three things that cause pain are pressing, a bad angle and a tired blade, and all three are within your control from the first shave.
How many blades should I buy to start?
Ten. That is two months for most people, and long enough to settle into the habit before you reorder.
What if I cut myself?
Cold water and a moment of pressure handles almost everything. A small nick on the first week is normal and is nearly always the neck, taken too fast.
Do I have to shave every day?
No, and a day or two of growth is easier to shave with a safety razor than with a cartridge, because a single blade does not clog.
Can I use it on my head?
People do. Go slower, keep the dial low, and be aware that you are working without a mirror for most of it.
Is it worth it if I only shave twice a week?
The cost argument gets weaker and the skin argument gets stronger. Twice a week means coarser growth each time, which is where a single blade and an adjustable head are most comfortable.
Ewan Hartley · Editor, Kelvedge
Writes the guides on this site and reads every verified rating the razor receives. Shaves with a double-edge daily, at setting two.