The St James of London is a three-piece European crafted and perfectly weighted benchmade three-piece safety razor.

The top and bottom pieces of razor head come off the body.

The head gets unscrewed from the body, then the base is separated, a blade inserted, aligned, closed back up and re-screwed to the body. It’s durable and easy to keep clean.

The St James of London Cheeky safety razor is what is known as a closed comb, fixed head razor, meaning that it has a safety bar beneath the blade, rather than teeth. This gives you more protection from nicks, cuts, and razor burn and fixed head does not allow for any blade adjustment - hence more consistent & safer shaves.

Our double edge safety razors have a longer 4-inch handle that is anatomically shaped to feel snug in your hand and look great on the shelf. The razor is perfectly weighted to reduce the force needed for a close, comfortable shave.

ST JAMES OF LONDON CARTRIDGE & SAFETY RAZORS,HAND-TIED BADGER SHAVING BRUSHES, STANDS & BOWLS

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO SHAVING WITH A DOUBLE EDGE SAFETY RAZOR

Shaving with a safety razor is an incredible feeling. Whether you're making a change from cartridge razors or electric razors, this will help you get started.

WHY SWITCH TO A SAFETY RAZOR

• A closer shave
• Gentler on sensitive skin
• Best for shaping facial hair - goatee, beard-lines
• Inexpensive cost for blades

USING YOUR SAFETY RAZOR

Wet shaving with a double-edge safety razor is easy to master within a short amount of time.

1. PRE-SHAVE PREPARATION

Like with a disposable cartridge razor, you need to hydrate your hair and skin to soften your stubble and reduce the risk of skin irritation, and razor burn.  

Wet your face. A shower gets the job done, but if you want to take things to the next level, grab a soft, wet hot towel and leave it on your face for a few minutes. You can also use a pre-shave oil to enhance the razor blade glide.

2. LATHERING 101

Creating lather with shaving creams using a shaving brush allows for your facial hair stand up so the razor can do its work - also exfoliates your skin in the process too. There are a few different ways to lather up:

Directly to your face with your hands. You will  be able to shave, but this method is less effective and will not allow for an even shave cream application.

Directly apply to your face using a shaving brush. This is a common method where you put a small dab of shaving cream on the brush then then apply it directly to your face.  Pre-soak your brush so that it's saturated but not dripping wet.  For highly glycerin dense creams like ours, a shaving brush is key.

Use a shaving brush and swirl a few times right in the shave cream bowl. If you prefer to use a separate bowl to create a lather, drop a nickel-size bit of shaving cream into a bowl with a few drops of water.

Finally, swirl it around in the cream until you have a nice, buttery thick lather. You can add water and cream to adjust the consistency.

This method gives you the creamiest lather, the most lift, and exfoliates the skin (shaving brushes remove dead skin cells that can cause ingrown hair).  

When you're finished, clean and dry your brush properly to keep its quality.

3. SHAVING STROKE TECHNIQUE

The idea behind the safety razor technique is to shave with the grain first and let gravity do the work. Less drag equals less irritation and lets the razor glide but still offers a close shave. Here is a shaving technique to get you started:

• Hold the razor at about a 45-degree angle to your face and use short gentle strokes with as little pressure as possible for the first pass.
• Going with the grain, glide down without applying pressure in the same direction
• Turn the razor over and overlap the finished area using the other side of the double edge razor blade
• Repeat going across the grain
• Optional: repeat going against the grain

Once you feel comfortable with the razor, you'll be able to tailor a more personalized technique.

4. POST-SHAVE CARE

When you’re done, splash some cold water on your face to wash away any remaining lather and close up your pores. Next, apply an aftershave gel or lotion which will cool your skin and moisturize.

CARING FOR YOUR SAFETY RAZOR

Maintaining a sharp blade and a properly functioning double edge razor takes a few simple steps at the end of your ritual:

• Rinse with warm water to clean the blade
• Pat it down with a towel to dry
• Replacing your razor blade every 2-3 weeks (longer if not shaving every day) will keep your shaving routine smooth and comfortable