How To Get A Great Shave While Driving To Costa Rica
Driving to Costa Rica is no small core—it’s a long road and you’ll have to find time for personal care while on the road. This can be difficult, but if you’re prepared and have the right tools, it’s possible to get a great shave even while on the road.
Here’s what you need to know before you leave for your long trip to Costa Rica:
Invest in a beginner’s straight razor. This will be your best friend while driving to Costa Rica. It will give you a close shave and help you avoid nicks and cuts. Additionally, you won’t need to buy extra disposable razors while en route. You might find that the quality of razors available isn’t like at home.
Make a Shaving Travel Pack
Pack a small bag with your shaving essentials to last you throughout your long journey. Keep everything you need in a clear and dry place. Your wets shaving essentials should include the following:
- straight razor
- shaving cream
- brush
- aftershave
- small mirror
- strop
A travel-sized mirror will do the trick. You’ll also want to make sure you have a good quality blade (more mentioned below).
We recommend a Naked Armor Merlin Straight Razor travel kit to get started—their straight razors are sharp and the Merlin won’t rust while on the road as it’s made from stainless steel. Don’t forget to grab a strop, you’ll need one to keep your razor sharp between shaves. The Naked Armor kit comes with all the hardware you need except the mirror.
Prepare To Shave with a Straight Razor
Prep your skin before shaving. This means cleansing and exfoliating to remove dead skin cells and prevent ingrown hairs. Keep a separate gallon of water ready for cleaning your face before and after your shave. Make sure to always use the best potable water possible—never use gray water to shave your face.
Lather up. Use a shaving brush to lather up your shaving cream or soap. This will help the razor glide over your skin and avoid nicks and cuts. Don’t forget to rinse off your razor between strokes. Shave with the grain. Shave in the direction that your hair grows to avoid irritation and ingrown hairs.
Rinse and moisturize. Rinse your face with cool water after shaving and apply a soothing moisturizer to calm your skin. Avoid using alcohol-based aftershaves as they can dry out your skin. You’ll encounter much higher humidity than while at home, so make sure you have the proper soaps and aftershaves for the increased temperatures. You won’t really need a moisturizer once you get below Mexico unless you end up spending time in the higher elevations.
Study How To Perfect The Straight Razor Shave
If you’re new to straight razor shaving, it’s important to do your research before attempting to shave while on the road. There are a few things you’ll need to consider, such as the angle of the blade and how to avoid nicks and cuts. The image below shows you the straight razor basics, I know it looks complicated but once you get the hang of it you’ll have a blast learning the lingo.
We recommend doing a deep dive on straight razor shaving for beginners before attempting to shave while on the road. Whatever you do, don’t try and wet shave while driving. Especially on the bad roads south where you are apt to hit a few bumps. LOL
With a little preparation, you can get a great shave even while driving to Costa Rica. Just make sure you have the right tools and know how to use them.
Safe travels!
