I can also give you a couple tips for improving your experience based on watching how you're using the razor. One is procedural. You aren't rinsing the blade nearly often enough. One pass with one side, one pass with the other side, and rinse clean. You can make some exceptions for several of the very short strokes necessary around the chin and upper lip. A clean razor moves smoothly and doesn't irritate the face. Second is technique - I'm seeing a lot of short strokes with overlap, putting the blade against newly soap-free skin. This increases irritation. See if you can mentally divide your face into three to four inch long strips the width of the blade, and think of it like mowing the lawn - you need to have a little overlap so you don't miss anything, but you don't want any more than necessary. Use where the soap is cleaned off as your guide. Third, don't try to clean up missed or unsatisfactory bits as you go. Wait until the end, then dab on some fresh soap, what's left on the brush should be plenty, if it's drying, just dribble some more hot water on it. Use just enough to cover the problem areas, and give them another pass of the blade, only as much as needed, and preferably from a different angle than last time, since missed or unsatisfactory bits can be caused by facial topography as much as mistakes in technique. On the maintenance end, removing, rinsing and dying the blade by hand, then flipping it over before putting it back in will increase useful life by a few shaves, but as you've noticed, the blades are very cheap, so I usually only bother when I'm low on supply. I hope you find these helpful, I've been using one pretty regularly for over a decade and wish I'd been told these things right away.
Listen to this guy. Especially the one pass rule. These style of razors are extremely accurate for removing hair. When you are doing it right it only takes one pass most of the time but sometimes your face can be stubborn based on it's shape. You don't necessarily need to go the whole nine yards like fanatics will do. I just use basic gel with my hands lol, but perhaps the soap and brush are better and one day I do plan to try it, but not today. I do do the aftershave thing, though.
@Matthew Jensen: I quite agree with the parent post. I'll add a few things that you might find useful: 1. Sticking to short strokes, about 1-3cm in length at a time (just a little over an inch at most) makes it easier to keep an eye on the angle. The way I do it is I: - keep the razor on the skin (sort of ploughing rather than raking) while advancing in a one direction - make a short forward stroke, - then a tiny back stroke - about half a centimeter or less, about a fifth of an inch, which I find helps displace the lather and hair in the lather hole a little and helps the lather flow through better without aggravating the skin I can keep advancing and making continuous adjustments to the angle with ease, while keeping the lather flowing pretty well even on longer growth. 2. An easy to adjust grip is e.g. by holding the handle roughly in the middle with your thumb and index finger and using your pinky to support the handle from the bottom. That way, you can fine tune the angle using the pinky while using the pinch point between the index finger and thumb as pivot point. Combined with whole hand and wrist movement, it should make keeping the angle effortless with practice. 3. Mapping the directions in which your hair grows is worthwhile if you haven't already. It seems to grow in several directions and going with or across the direction of growth first should help make the shaves easier. 4. Experimenting with lather might prove worthwhile. Try using as much water as you can while the lather still holds together and is slick. For me, a good point is when the lather gets a somewhat pearly sheen, the peaks are a bit droopy, the brush moves through the lather without effort and it feels like I just put a damp cloth on my face when I apply it. Lathering in a bowl might help you dial this down, though it can be done while face lather, too. I just find it faster to do this in a bowl. Also, if it seems like you've overdone it, try lathering it for a few more seconds, it might start coming together. 5. Stretching the skin and "bullfrogging" (sort of trying to tuck your chin into the neck) might help shave some spots more easily. 6. You could also try something called the "Gillette slide". There are at least three variants of it, the simplest one probably being a technique where you tilt the razor ~10-45 degrees relative to the direction you're going to be shaving in and then perform your strokes. The picture in this thread might help visualise it: www.reddit.com/r/wicked_edge/comments/2x9zoq/great_ad_from_1929_featuring_the_gillette_slide/ 7. As for the razor you got - Tatara razors are very well regarded. As you've already observed, very well thought out (maybe except for the grip on the handle) and made. You can, however swap the handle for another razor handle that uses an M5 thread, if you'd like. Maggard razors and Italian Barber (under the RazoRock brand), for example, offer several different styles. If you were to email them with questions, they tend to be pretty responsive.
I think I could just watch you review about anything because your detailed precision on discussing your experience is just so entertaining and insightful! Thank you for this video! I'll never use something like this (I love my beard too much) but this was a treat to watch!
Very helpful review! I've always been a strong proponent of shaving with straight razors, but through this video, I see the benefits of a well-made safety razor. Thanks!
They're traditionally round because of the way they thread closed. Because the point at which the threads stop and it locks closed can change significantly due to the orientation of the screw and thickness of the blade being sandwiched in. Were it off round, it would essentially never be correctly oriented when it stopped threading.
I would definitely like to see more on this in the future, I love safety razors and have used them for a few years and your new opinion in very interesting
@@jimmyrustler8983 They are worth trying and can often be picked up from Turkish barber shops for not a lot. They can be pretty big and stiff, so allow for a little break in.
That's a beauty! The name's very cool too, I like hidden details like that. I agree with your criticism on the round profile of razor handles too, I made a wooden sleeve that slides onto one or two of mine that are round, it helps to orient the blade to your face as well. I have some very old single edged "safety" razors that I still shave with. Including a Rolls Razor Imperial No. 2, and a Valet autostrop in mint condition with a heap of spare blades. Good wet shaving is all in the prep. Especially in the case of straight razors.
I have both the Masamune and Nodachi. I much prefer the smaller, Masamune handle - and I have very large hands - it just fits my hand better than the larger, Nodachi handle. The Masamune feels really mild but you need to spend some time with it and once you find the angle, the blade will shave your stubble right down close for a BBS shave without irritation. I was surprised, thinking I needed the Nodachi to get a close shave. But once I learned the angle that the Masamune requires, I am now getting the closest, smoothest shaves without any irritation.
I switched to a safety razor for cleaning up the edges of my beard last year and im never hoing back. I get nice clean edges and the savings on blades is incredible. Feather blades are kind of spendy but Altra blades are literally 8 cents apeice and feel about 90 percent as good as feather.
I’ve used the Feather for years as I prefer a milder shave. However, I recently borrowed a friend’s Edwin Jagger 3ONE6 to see if I would get on with a slightly more aggressive/more razor. Turns out I did, albeit taking a few shaves to get used to the different angle and care needed. After a bit of research it didn’t take me long to stumble upon the Tatara Masamune, and even less time to pull the trigger on a closed comb variant, stand and brush. The feather is a brilliant razor, no doubt, but in terms of aesthetics and fit/finish, the Masamune is a big step up in my opinion. It’s all subjective and YMMV, but I found that the Masamune shaved as though the Feather and the 3ONE6 had a baby. It feels as mild as the feather, but more efficient, with a very different, more positive “sing” as you shave. My Feather has now been relegated to travel duties now. I think with Feather you pay for the fact it’s made in Japan and has some brand heritage. While it is high quality, it is not CNC machined, it is moulded and plated, meaning it is relatively brittle compared to the Masamune which is entirely CNC machined from solid stainless steel, sandblasted and finished by hand. Both can be had with a stand for a similar price, but for me it just feels like with the Masamune, you know where your money has gone. Like I said, the Feather is a brilliant razor and comes highly recommended. However, if anybody has a Masamune and gets on with it, unless they like collecting razors and have the disposable income, I wouldn’t be telling them to rush out and get a Feather any time soon.
I've been using a vintage 1940's safety razor since I was old enough to shave (Given to me by my Grandfather). These new razors just don't cut it (Pun intended).
The Nodachi is a different head as well as a different handle. It has a bigger blade gap and more blade exposure, which will make it more aggressive and thus less suitable for a beginner like yourself. So you didn't want a Nodachi. However, Tatara is interesting in that it enables swapping parts between different razors. So if you bought a Nodachi, you could use the Nodachi handle with the Masamune head.
The interchange of parts goes beyond just the handle, the base and cap can all be swapped out to dial things into your liking, both open and closed combs too.
Not gonna lie, I want one for the premium sense of things. But I don't think I NEED one. If you've used one of these, you've used them all. I'll grab one when markets return and investments come through again.
@@Matthew_Jensen If you like traditional Japanese stuff a Kamisori & Japanese natural stone may be worth considering. Iwasaki is a pretty solid bet for a Kamisori.
Pretty cool but I’m like you and am not a big stickler to what I shave with. Plus I have a beard for last few years so baring the old cheek and neck beard, I shave lazy now
I can also give you a couple tips for improving your experience based on watching how you're using the razor.
One is procedural. You aren't rinsing the blade nearly often enough. One pass with one side, one pass with the other side, and rinse clean. You can make some exceptions for several of the very short strokes necessary around the chin and upper lip. A clean razor moves smoothly and doesn't irritate the face.
Second is technique - I'm seeing a lot of short strokes with overlap, putting the blade against newly soap-free skin. This increases irritation. See if you can mentally divide your face into three to four inch long strips the width of the blade, and think of it like mowing the lawn - you need to have a little overlap so you don't miss anything, but you don't want any more than necessary. Use where the soap is cleaned off as your guide.
Third, don't try to clean up missed or unsatisfactory bits as you go. Wait until the end, then dab on some fresh soap, what's left on the brush should be plenty, if it's drying, just dribble some more hot water on it. Use just enough to cover the problem areas, and give them another pass of the blade, only as much as needed, and preferably from a different angle than last time, since missed or unsatisfactory bits can be caused by facial topography as much as mistakes in technique.
On the maintenance end, removing, rinsing and dying the blade by hand, then flipping it over before putting it back in will increase useful life by a few shaves, but as you've noticed, the blades are very cheap, so I usually only bother when I'm low on supply.
I hope you find these helpful, I've been using one pretty regularly for over a decade and wish I'd been told these things right away.
Listen to this guy. Especially the one pass rule. These style of razors are extremely accurate for removing hair. When you are doing it right it only takes one pass most of the time but sometimes your face can be stubborn based on it's shape. You don't necessarily need to go the whole nine yards like fanatics will do. I just use basic gel with my hands lol, but perhaps the soap and brush are better and one day I do plan to try it, but not today. I do do the aftershave thing, though.
@Matthew Jensen: I quite agree with the parent post. I'll add a few things that you might find useful:
1. Sticking to short strokes, about 1-3cm in length at a time (just a little over an inch at most) makes it easier to keep an eye on the angle. The way I do it is I:
- keep the razor on the skin (sort of ploughing rather than raking) while advancing in a one direction
- make a short forward stroke,
- then a tiny back stroke - about half a centimeter or less, about a fifth of an inch, which I find helps displace the lather and hair in the lather hole a little and helps the lather flow through better without aggravating the skin
I can keep advancing and making continuous adjustments to the angle with ease, while keeping the lather flowing pretty well even on longer growth.
2. An easy to adjust grip is e.g. by holding the handle roughly in the middle with your thumb and index finger and using your pinky to support the handle from the bottom. That way, you can fine tune the angle using the pinky while using the pinch point between the index finger and thumb as pivot point. Combined with whole hand and wrist movement, it should make keeping the angle effortless with practice.
3. Mapping the directions in which your hair grows is worthwhile if you haven't already. It seems to grow in several directions and going with or across the direction of growth first should help make the shaves easier.
4. Experimenting with lather might prove worthwhile. Try using as much water as you can while the lather still holds together and is slick. For me, a good point is when the lather gets a somewhat pearly sheen, the peaks are a bit droopy, the brush moves through the lather without effort and it feels like I just put a damp cloth on my face when I apply it.
Lathering in a bowl might help you dial this down, though it can be done while face lather, too. I just find it faster to do this in a bowl.
Also, if it seems like you've overdone it, try lathering it for a few more seconds, it might start coming together.
5. Stretching the skin and "bullfrogging" (sort of trying to tuck your chin into the neck) might help shave some spots more easily.
6. You could also try something called the "Gillette slide". There are at least three variants of it, the simplest one probably being a technique where you tilt the razor ~10-45 degrees relative to the direction you're going to be shaving in and then perform your strokes. The picture in this thread might help visualise it: www.reddit.com/r/wicked_edge/comments/2x9zoq/great_ad_from_1929_featuring_the_gillette_slide/
7. As for the razor you got - Tatara razors are very well regarded. As you've already observed, very well thought out (maybe except for the grip on the handle) and made. You can, however swap the handle for another razor handle that uses an M5 thread, if you'd like. Maggard razors and Italian Barber (under the RazoRock brand), for example, offer several different styles. If you were to email them with questions, they tend to be pretty responsive.
I think I could just watch you review about anything because your detailed precision on discussing your experience is just so entertaining and insightful! Thank you for this video! I'll never use something like this (I love my beard too much) but this was a treat to watch!
Very helpful review! I've always been a strong proponent of shaving with straight razors, but through this video, I see the benefits of a well-made safety razor. Thanks!
They're traditionally round because of the way they thread closed. Because the point at which the threads stop and it locks closed can change significantly due to the orientation of the screw and thickness of the blade being sandwiched in. Were it off round, it would essentially never be correctly oriented when it stopped threading.
I would definitely like to see more on this in the future, I love safety razors and have used them for a few years and your new opinion in very interesting
Man I've been using a horsehair brush from my very first shave, till present, that's the way to go, nice quality right there
I've never tried horsehair, although I do have 2 brushes made with boar and badger hair that are my favorites.
@@jimmyrustler8983 They are worth trying and can often be picked up from Turkish barber shops for not a lot. They can be pretty big and stiff, so allow for a little break in.
That's a beauty! The name's very cool too, I like hidden details like that. I agree with your criticism on the round profile of razor handles too, I made a wooden sleeve that slides onto one or two of mine that are round, it helps to orient the blade to your face as well.
I have some very old single edged "safety" razors that I still shave with. Including a Rolls Razor Imperial No. 2, and a Valet autostrop in mint condition with a heap of spare blades.
Good wet shaving is all in the prep. Especially in the case of straight razors.
We need more of this shaving 🪒 videos with Japanese inspired razors 🎌
I have both the Masamune and Nodachi. I much prefer the smaller, Masamune handle - and I have very large hands - it just fits my hand better than the larger, Nodachi handle. The Masamune feels really mild but you need to spend some time with it and once you find the angle, the blade will shave your stubble right down close for a BBS shave without irritation. I was surprised, thinking I needed the Nodachi to get a close shave. But once I learned the angle that the Masamune requires, I am now getting the closest, smoothest shaves without any irritation.
lol! You and I have the same philosophy both in razors and in shaving. “Like an idiot”. ROTFL😂
I switched to a safety razor for cleaning up the edges of my beard last year and im never hoing back. I get nice clean edges and the savings on blades is incredible. Feather blades are kind of spendy but Altra blades are literally 8 cents apeice and feel about 90 percent as good as feather.
Have you checked out Feather from Japan?
I’ve used the Feather for years as I prefer a milder shave. However, I recently borrowed a friend’s Edwin Jagger 3ONE6 to see if I would get on with a slightly more aggressive/more razor. Turns out I did, albeit taking a few shaves to get used to the different angle and care needed. After a bit of research it didn’t take me long to stumble upon the Tatara Masamune, and even less time to pull the trigger on a closed comb variant, stand and brush. The feather is a brilliant razor, no doubt, but in terms of aesthetics and fit/finish, the Masamune is a big step up in my opinion. It’s all subjective and YMMV, but I found that the Masamune shaved as though the Feather and the 3ONE6 had a baby. It feels as mild as the feather, but more efficient, with a very different, more positive “sing” as you shave. My Feather has now been relegated to travel duties now.
I think with Feather you pay for the fact it’s made in Japan and has some brand heritage. While it is high quality, it is not CNC machined, it is moulded and plated, meaning it is relatively brittle compared to the Masamune which is entirely CNC machined from solid stainless steel, sandblasted and finished by hand. Both can be had with a stand for a similar price, but for me it just feels like with the Masamune, you know where your money has gone.
Like I said, the Feather is a brilliant razor and comes highly recommended. However, if anybody has a Masamune and gets on with it, unless they like collecting razors and have the disposable income, I wouldn’t be telling them to rush out and get a Feather any time soon.
nodachi handle agreed, my friend I'm convinced you can review anything😅
A faux ray skin handle is a brilliant idea for a razor.
I've been using a vintage 1940's safety razor since I was old enough to shave (Given to me by my Grandfather). These new razors just don't cut it (Pun intended).
The Nodachi is a different head as well as a different handle. It has a bigger blade gap and more blade exposure, which will make it more aggressive and thus less suitable for a beginner like yourself. So you didn't want a Nodachi.
However, Tatara is interesting in that it enables swapping parts between different razors. So if you bought a Nodachi, you could use the Nodachi handle with the Masamune head.
The interchange of parts goes beyond just the handle, the base and cap can all be swapped out to dial things into your liking, both open and closed combs too.
I use Stirling shave soaps. Good stuff
This is wholly useless in my life, but here I am watching it anyway. Cool to see you branching out.
Hmm I think that perfectly cylindrical handle would make edge alignment difficult...
(This is a sword joke.)
Not gonna lie, I want one for the premium sense of things. But I don't think I NEED one. If you've used one of these, you've used them all. I'll grab one when markets return and investments come through again.
You'll just have to Ranger Wrap your handle. Voila. Fatter grip, "stickier" grip and tactically hip.
I figured you just shaved with a katana. 😕
That's a mental picture..
@@Matthew_Jensen a badass one
@@Matthew_Jensen If you like traditional Japanese stuff a Kamisori & Japanese natural stone may be worth considering. Iwasaki is a pretty solid bet for a Kamisori.
There's arm shaving sharp and then there's whisker shaving sharp lol
Short controlled slow passes, discipline, and concentration, agreed, like using a Japanese sword
So, like any razor then? 🙄
Pretty cool but I’m like you and am not a big stickler to what I shave with. Plus I have a beard for last few years so baring the old cheek and neck beard, I shave lazy now
i would *love* a video dedicated to meditation