Shaving your face is an essential part of any mans grooming routine. It’s one of the things that you learn at some point from adolescence to manhood. However, many men never learn how to shave the right way. So, if you’re tired of getting razor burn and an irritated face, we provide you the following guide on how to shave properly.
Shaving Products That You’ll Need
Razor
While many men claim that straight razors provide the best shave, this isn’t necessarily true. Razor technology has advanced significantly over the years, and today’s razors provide safer and more comfortable shaves. Invest in a good quality razor. Double edged safety razors are best. It’s nice holding piece of heavy, durable metal in your hand while you’re shaving as opposed to a cheap bit of plastic.
Recommended Razors
Merkur 34C Double Edge Safety Razor
Merkur 25C Long Handle Safety Razor
Merkur Futur Adjustable Safety Razor in Gold Finish
Blades
There are plenty of different blades to choose from. Each blade has a distinctive sharpness and cutting ability. Experiment with different blades until you find the ones you like.
Recommended Blades
Merkur Stainless Platinum Safety Razor Blades 10 Pack
Shaving Brush
The shaving brush is often the missing piece from a man’s shaving arsenal. Using a shaving brush is probably the best way to improve a man’s shaving experience. A brush generates more lather, lifts hair on your face, opens up your pores, and naturally exfoliates your skin which results in better, smoother shaves.
Brushes are made out of two types of animal hair; badger and bore. Badger hair brushes are considered the best type for shaving as it’s soft, flexible and comes in different grades. In comparison, bore hair brushes are stiffer and hold less water. They’re also cheaper. If you really want to improve your shaving experience, splash out on a badger hair brush. Badger hair brushes create more lather and lubricate the skin for a very close, non-irritating shave.
Recommended Brushes
Edwin Jagger Traditional English Faux Ivory Best Badger Hair Shaving Brush
Edwin Jagger Handmade Imitation Ivory Shaving Brush Super Badger Hair with Drip Stand
Shaving Creams
If you’re like most men, you probably get your shaving cream from a can. Traditional shave creams and soaps are full of natural ingredients that nourish your face. Using shaving cream and soaps result in a much closer shave compared to the chemically laced gunk from a can. While these high quality creams and soaps may cost more than the canned stuff, just a small dab will create enough lather for you to lather up twice.
Recommended Creams
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream
Proraso Shaving Cream Jar
Proraso Shaving Cream tube
How to Shave Properly
Prep your beard – This step is the most important and often the most overlooked. If you want a clean shave, you need to prep your beard first. The main aim during beard prep is to soften your whiskers, so shaving is easier and causes less irritation. The best way to prepare your skin for a smooth shave and soften your beard is to shave right when you get out of the shower. The hot water from the shower should soften your beard enough for shaving and open your pores. If you haven’t showered, then splash your beard with hot water when using an exfoliating gel. A hot towel is another option. For those with especially tough beards or sensitive skin, shaving oil may be applied to further soften the beard and reduce razor drag.
Lather up – Take a small amount of your shaving cream and place it in a cup. Soak your shaving brush with water and swirl the cream around until you get a nice thick lather. Using your shaving brush, apply the cream in a circular motion. When your face is covered, take a few strokes to smooth everything out.
Shave – There are five keys to a close, comfortable clean shave with a safety razor; 1) use little pressure 2) shave with the grain 3) angle the blade as far away from your face as possible 4) rinse your blade often 5) concentrate on beard reduction not beard removal. Using a safety blade may take some time getting used to if you’ve used cheap disposable cartridges all your life.
There’s no need to apply pressure because the weight of the safety razor is enough to shave your beard. If you apply pressure, you’ll end up cutting your face. To resist the temptation of applying pressure, hold the safety razor at the tip of the handle.
Before applying the razor to your face, you need to learn the direction of your beard growth. Shaving against the grain is very aggressive on the skin and can lead to irritation, razor burn and ingrown hairs. When learning how to shave properly, shave with the grain of your beard.
Angle your razor at around 30 to 45 degrees so that the blade is closer to being parallel with the skin. Now slowly lower the razor until the blade can cut your whisker.
Every time you pass the blade on your face, your blade is collecting whiskers and shaving cream. This prevents the blade from making a clean cut. Ensure that you rinse your blade after each pass.
The aim with shaving should be to gradually reduce your beard, not beard removal. Most men try to remove a section of beard in one pass of the razor. This aggressive technique is what causes the most skin irritation. If you want to avoid skin irritation, pass your razor over your face a few times until the beard is reduced sufficiently.
Post-shave – After shaving, rinse your face off with cold water to close your pores. Gently pat your face dry with a soft cloth and apply a good post shave balm. Avoid using products that contain alcohol as they can cause drying of the skin and unnecessary irritation.
