The Gillette Atra is one of the longest selling and most popular disposable razors ever produced by Gillette. After being in production for over 30 years to date (the first Atra was manufactured in 1977) it still remains a favorite among the men that prefer the wet shave.
So, why is the Gillette Atra so popular? It’s the first razor ever produced that has a head that pivots, allowing the blades to follow the contours of the face, thereby eliminating nicks and cuts, and reducing shaving burns. The later introduction of the lubricating strip, marketed as Lubra-Soft, left the skin soft and fresh and allowed the men to skip the aftershave step, thereby cutting down time spent shaving. But is that there all to it? Does having baby-smooth skin just mean grabbing a razor and having at it? A surprising number of men say, “No.”
Wring out a towel in hot water and lay it against the skin for about five minutes. If you don’t have the time for this, shave after you shower. The softer the hair is before it’s shaved, the closer the shave will be. A good wet shave involves a use of lubricants like lotion or a shaving cream to soften the whiskers and keep the skin from getting burned while shaving. Massage the cream into the skin and let it sit for a moment, allowing the skin and hair to soften further. Then a manual multi-bladed razor, preferably the Gillette Atra, is dragged across the skin to remove the hair in the direction the hair is growing.
Rinse the blade well after every pass to remove the gunk of shaving cream and cut hair and then pass it over again. Razor burns occur when the razor is passed over the same area of skin more than once or twice, so it’s important to keep the swipes as limited as possible. After the initial pass of the blade, the whole face is wiped over with a towel soaked in a mixture of very cold water and rubbing alcohol to remove all the little bits of hair that are left stuck on the skin and to disinfect it at the same time. A facial massage with an aftershave balm or facial moisturizer is a nice luxury that keeps the skin conditioned and also keeps ingrown hair at bay.
Knock the blade against the side of the sink after rinsing it off and give it a final rinse in alcohol when you’re done. And that is how to use your Gillette Atra to get a perfect shave.