Traditional Shaving Glossary

The world of shaving is full of unique terms, traditional tools, and grooming techniques. Whether you're exploring wet shaving or switching from a cartridge razor to a safety razor or straight razor, this glossary helps you decode every essential concept. Learn the meaning behind terms like lather, pre-shave, aftershave, shavette, and more. Ideal for beginners, barbers, and grooming enthusiasts alike.

  • a
    • Across the Grain
      “Across the Grain” (ATG) is a shaving pass made perpendicular to the direction of hair growth....
    • Adjustable Razor
      An adjustable razor allows the user to modify the blade exposure or gap, giving full control...
    • Aftershave
      A lotion or balm applied after shaving to soothe irritation, disinfect the skin, and provide a...
    • Aggressive
      In shaving, “aggressive” refers to a razor that exposes more of the blade to the skin, resulting...
    • Alum Block
      A natural antiseptic block used after shaving to soothe cuts, reduce irritation, and tighten...
    • Art of Shaving [AOS]
      Explore the refined world of Art of Shaving (AOS), where tradition meets innovation in premium...
    • Artisan
      In the shaving world, “artisan” refers to small-scale producers who handcraft shaving products...
    • Ass Milk
      Ass Milk is a premium skincare line made with pure donkey milk, renowned since ancient times for...
    • ATG / Against the Grain
      “Against the Grain” (ATG) is a shaving pass where the razor moves directly against the natural...
  • b
    • Backbone
      In shaving brushes, “backbone” refers to the firmness or resistance of the bristles when...
    • Badger
      “Badger” refers to shaving brushes made with badger hair, considered the gold standard in...
    • Balm
      A balm is a post-shave skincare product designed to soothe, moisturize, and protect the skin...
    • Barber’s Notch
      Barber’s Notch is a tribute to classic shaving tools, inspired by the traditional notch seen on...
    • Base Plate
      The base plate is the lower part of a safety razor head that rests under the razor blade. It...
    • Bay Rum
      Bay Rum is a timeless fragrance that blends exotic spices, Caribbean bay leaf, and warm rum...
    • BBS (Baby Butt Smooth)
      “BBS” stands for “Baby Butt Smooth” — a term used to describe the ultimate goal of a wet shave:...
    • Beardruff
      Beardruff is the beard-care solution designed to fight beard dandruff — dry, flaky skin beneath...
    • Blade Buffing
      Blade Buffing is a premium care process designed to maintain and restore the sharpness and...
    • Blade Exposure
      Blade exposure refers to how much of the razor blade protrudes beyond the head or safety bar of...
    • Blade Gap
      Blade gap refers to the distance between the razor blade and the safety bar or base plate on a...
    • Bloom
      In traditional wet shaving, bloom refers to the process of softening a shaving soap by adding a...
    • Boar Hair
      Boar hair is a natural bristle material commonly used in high-quality shaving brushes. Known for...
    • Bout
      In the context of straight razor sharpening, a bout refers to an irregularly shaped, natural...
    • Bristle
      In wet shaving, “bristle” refers to the hairs or fibers that make up the head of a shaving...
    • Bundle (Shaving Brush)
      The bundle refers to the collection of bristles (natural or synthetic) that make up the head of...
    • Butterfly
      "Butterfly" refers to the butterfly-style opening mechanism found in certain safety razors. With...
  • c
    • Cartridge Razor
      A cartridge razor is a modern shaving tool that uses disposable multi-blade cartridges. Known...
    • Closed and Open Comb
      In traditional safety razors, closed comb and open comb describe the design of the razor head. A...
    • Cut Throat
      The Cut Throat razor, also known as a straight razor, is a traditional shaving tool consisting...
    • Cutting Edge
      The term "Cutting Edge" refers to the sharpened part of a blade that makes contact with the hair...
  • d
    • Damn Fine Shave [DFS]
      "Damn Fine Shave" (DFS) is a popular term in the traditional wet shaving community. It refers to...
    • DFS (Damn Fine Shave)
      DFS stands for “Damn Fine Shave” — a term used in traditional wet shaving communities to...
    • Double-Edged Razor
      A double-edged razor, commonly referred to as a DE razor, is a classic safety razor that uses a...
    • Dry Shave
      A dry shave is the process of shaving without using water, shaving cream, or soap. It’s often...
  • e
    • Essential Oils
      Natural oils added to shaving products (soaps, oils, aftershaves) for fragrance and...
  • f
    • Fragrance Oil
      Fragrance oils are concentrated aromatic compounds used to scent shaving products, colognes, and...
    • Frameback
      The Frameback is a unique style of straight razor that features a thin replaceable or fixed...
    • French Point
      The French Point is a type of straight razor tip design, characterized by a slightly rounded and...
  • g
    • Gel
      Gel is a lightweight, often transparent grooming product used in shaving or hairstyling. In...
    • Grain
      In shaving, “grain” refers to the natural direction in which your facial hair grows....
    • Grit
      Grit refers to the coarseness or fineness of a sharpening stone, typically used for honing...
  • h
    • Honing
      Το ακονίσμα (Honing) είναι η διαδικασία οξύνσης της λεπίδας ενός παραδοσιακού ξυραφιού με τη...
    • Horse Hair
      Horse hair is a natural material used primarily in shaving brushes. Sourced ethically from the...
    • Hot Towel
      A hot towel is a traditional element in wet shaving, used to soften facial hair and open the...
  • i
    • Injector Razor
      An injector razor is a type of single-edge safety razor that uses replaceable blades inserted...
  • k
    • Knot
      In traditional shaving brushes, the knot refers to the bundle of bristles tied together and...
  • l
    • Lather
      Lather is the foamy substance created when shaving soap or cream is whipped with water and a...
    • Loft
      In shaving brushes, the loft refers to the length of the bristles from the handle to the tip....
  • m
    • Mug
      A shaving mug is a traditional vessel used to hold and lather shaving soap with a brush....
  • p
    • Passes
      Passes refer to the number of times the razor blade is moved across the skin during shaving....
    • Post-Shave
      Post-shave products are applied immediately after shaving to soothe and protect the skin. They...
    • Pre-Shave
      Pre-shave products are applied before shaving to prepare the skin and hair. They help soften the...
    • Pure Badger
      Pure Badger is a grade of badger hair commonly used in traditional shaving brushes. It is...
  • r
    • Razor Bumps & Burn
      Razor bumps and razor burn are common skin irritations caused by shaving. Razor bumps occur when...
  • s
    • Safety Razor
      A safety razor is a classic shaving tool designed to offer a close shave while minimizing the...
    • SE (Single-Edge)
      SE stands for Single-Edge razor, a type of safety razor that uses a single-edge blade instead of...
    • Shavette
      A shavette is a type of straight razor that uses disposable blades instead of a fixed blade....
    • Shaving Cream
      Shaving cream is a smooth, creamy product used to soften beard hair and provide lubrication for...
    • Shaving Foam
      Ready-to-use foam in spray form, applied before shaving to soften facial hair and help the blade...
    • Silvertip Badger
      Silvertip Badger is the highest grade of badger hair used in shaving brushes. Known for its...
    • Slant Razor
      A slant razor is a type of safety razor where the blade is held at a slight angle, rather than...
    • Soap Load
      The process of loading a shaving brush with soap by swirling it on the surface of a shaving soap...
    • Sotd / Sotn (Shave of the Day) or (Shave of the Night)
      SOTD (Shave Of The Day) and SOTN (Shave Of The Night) are popular terms among shaving...
    • Strokes
      In shaving, "strokes" refer to the individual movements of the razor across the skin. Proper...
    • Styptic Pencil
      small stick applied directly to razor cuts to instantly stop bleeding. Contains astringents such...
    • Synthetic Hair
      Synthetic hair is a modern alternative to natural animal hair in shaving brushes. Designed to...
  • t
    • Tallow-Based Soap
      A traditional shaving soap made using tallow (rendered animal fat) as a primary ingredient....
    • Three Piece
      The Three Piece razor is a classic safety razor design composed of three separate parts: the...
    • TOBS (Taylor of Old Bond Street)
      TOBS, or Taylor of Old Bond Street, is a prestigious British grooming brand founded in 1854....
    • Top Cap
      The top cap is the upper part of a safety razor's head that covers the razor blade and secures...
    • Twist-To-Open [TTO]
      The Twist-To-Open (TTO) razor is a type of safety razor featuring a butterfly-style mechanism...
    • Two Piece
      The Two Piece safety razor is made of two main parts: the handle and the head, which includes...
  • w
    • Wet Shaving
      Wet shaving is the traditional method of shaving that involves using water, shaving cream or...
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