Not everyone is a fan of facial hair or body hair. This disdain has led to many innovations in depilatory practices, each with their own ups and downs. While you might want to use a hair-removing cream or even break out the big bucks for electrolysis or laser hair removal, the most cost-efficient way of getting rid of those unsightly and unwanted hairs is still the good old razor. Unfortunately, some people cannot stand to shave as often as they would like, or rather, their skin does not tolerate frequent shaving sessions. It is with this particular demographic in mind that we have decided to shine a light on the wonderful innovation that is the shaving kit. With the various pieces of equipment found within a proper kit, a person can get rid of hairs without harming their skin or feeling like their skin wants to harm them.
Shaving Kit Contents
A proper shaving kit will include several of the following items or devices for people to use in the course of their shave.
- Razor - You cannot do a lot of shaving without a razor to do the actual cutting. While most kits come with a simple modern razor, others may have a different aesthetic and come with either a straight razor, for an old timey approach, or an electric razor.
- Beard Wash/Oil - Obviously relegated to kits with a focus on men, some guys want to groom their beard and proper long-term grooming of a beard includes treating that patch of hair with the proper hydration and nutrition.
- Shaving Cream/Gel - You should never use a manual razor on your skin without something to keep the skin lubricated and hydrated. These substances help keep the blade against the skin while making the skin easier to cut across. They also help the shaving process by catching most, if not all, of the tiny hairs that come off as you clean your face, legs or wherever else you decide needs a clean shave.
- Spare Blades - No razor blade lasts forever. Since blades dull over time, it is necessary to trade them out instead of going through the fuss of taking them over a sharpener like a kitchen knife. Most kits will come with multiple blades so that you can always have a sharp shave and never risk hurting yourself by shaving with a dull blade.
- Aftershave - This is a substance applied to skin after a shave to revitalize and calm it down.
Types of Razors
As we mentioned in the previous section, there is more than one type of approach to cutting your hair.
- Straight razor - This is one of the oldest forms of razor and is wielded in a manner very similar to a knife. The construction is basically a hollow handle that stores the blade when it is not in use and a folding mechanism to draw and store the blade from within the handle. A nickname for the straight razor would be the "cutthroat." Their blades are most commonly made of either stainless steel, which is low maintenance, or high-carbon steel, which requires a good degree of upkeep to remain functional.
- Safety razor - This design features a protective barrier between the blade and the skin, reducing the risk of self-injury. This design also made it easier for a person to shave themselves instead of hiring a barber. Another name for this type of razor is "guard razor."
- Cartridge razor - This design first appeared in the 1960s and has since exploded into the most common shaving implement across the globe. This sort of razor consists of a handle and a port that plugs into the back of a compatible blade, resulting in a complete razor. When a particular blade grows dull or otherwise unusable, the user can simply push a button on the handle to discard the old head and make room for its replacement.
- Disposable - These are cheaply made razors sold in bulk and only good for one to two shaves.
- Electric - This razor has moving parts that are powered by electricity.
