IS DAILY WET SHAVING BAD FOR YOUR SKIN?

In Conversation with Paul Thompson – Founder of Wilde & Harte

What inspired you to start Wilde and Harte? 

The brand and purpose of the business was conceived over drinks at The Wolseley in 2011, as two friends discussed the chore of regular wet shaving using bland, low quality plastic or cheap alloy razors, instead of regarding a shave as an exciting self-indulgent treat to look forward to. It was decided the time was right to introduce high-end British made razors to the shaving landscape. Wilde & Harte was born.

Where and how are the razors made? 

Wilde & Harte razor collections are manufactured from stainless steel in Sheffield, the city in Northern England synonymous with the mass-production of stainless steel during the Industrial Revolution. Bringing a razor collection to market requires time, expertise and dedication. CAD (computer aided design) drawings are carefully studied to eliminate any possible manufacturing issues. This results in beautifully crafted British made razors being presented to market, offering a very comfortable and close wet shave to those trying a luxury shave for the first time, or for experienced, discerning wet shaving enthusiasts to enjoy.

How long did it take you to come up with the designs? 

It was decided the brand would create up to three initial razor collections comprising a mixture of classic designs and contemporary designs, each inspired by the grandeur and splendour of iconic houses and palaces in London. Using this reference point, Wilde & Harte quickly established a classic Art Deco influenced ‘Eltham' razor collection, a contemporary design ‘Apsley' razor collection and a modern, minimalist design ‘Osterley' collection. Each collection features multi-blade Gillette compatible razors and plastic free, 100% stainless steel safety razors. Once the designs were agreed with the manufacturing engineers, it was only 6 months from the start of manufacturing process to the first online sale!

What are the best ways to prepare the skin before a wet shave?

Before any wet shave, it’s important to soften the beard hair. Having a shower before shaving is a great idea. Else, simply massaging warm water over your facial hair will suffice.

Apply a Pre Shave Oil (if you have one) over your stubble to deliver a layer of lubrication.

Use a shaving brush to create a rich, dense lather from your shaving soap or shaving cream, then work the brush bristles in a circular motion into your beard to lift the beard hair. Your skin and beard hair are now prepared for your wet shave. 

Shave with short strokes in the direction of your beard growth. Your double edge blade, or cartridge blades will glide effortlessly through your stubble for a clean, close and comfortable shave, minimising nicks, cuts and razor burn.

Note! The use of safety razors is booming and currently the fastest growing trend in luxury shaving. Using a safety razor will give you the closest shave, reduce the risk of razor burn and ingrown hairs, and yield a remarkably low cost-per-shave. Maybe it’s time to upgrade to a safety razor shave, if you haven’t already. Wish to learn more? Have a read of our safety razor 'How To’ guide;

Does daily shaving have any long term effect on the skin? 

With a clean, sharp razor blade, warm water, a quality shaving cream or soap (not a shaving gel or an aerosol shaving foam) and the correct shaving techniques, daily shaving should not have any negative long term impact upon the skin, even if you have sensitive skin. However, if you rush your shave or purchase inadequate shaving products, you will leave yourself susceptible to a host of unsightly skin irritations such as razor burn, ingrowing hairs, nicks and cuts. 

Shaving correctly not only leaves you looking cleaner and healthier instantly, it also exfoliates by removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin - great preparation for the application of post shave skincare creams and lotions. Although daily shaving is fine, we do recommend having one or two 'shave free' days each week to allow your skin to fully recover from regular contact with your razor blade.

What pre and post shave products would you recommend to use?

This is a hugely competitive market with so many pre shave oils, shaving creams, shaving soaps, post shave lotions and moisturisers to choose from, covering every budget. However, we suggest selecting pre shave products based on how natural they are and post shave products based on moisturising properties and depth of fragrance. 

Starting with pre shave, we recommend products such as St. James of London Pre Shave Oil (alcohol & paraban free) for the first layer of prep. Then whip up a lather with a natural shaving cream like the HEATH made in England Cream Shave (vegan friendly). For your post shave routine we recommend the mild antiseptic and skin moisturising D R Harris aftershave milk to massage into the blade contact areas, preventing any post shave irritations. Wait a few minute then finish off with a splash of aftershave. Signature fragrances such as D R Harris Windsor or St. James of London Black Pepper & Lime fit the bill perfectly!