Shaving has been part of every man’s routine since ancient history. While sporting a beard seems to be a big trend nowadays, a handful of men still like to sport a clean shave every now and then.
But shaving is more than just a good razor and a shaving cream, it’s about preparation and precision, especially if you want to prevent nicks and burns along the way. Lucky for you, we’re here to help with our men’s ultimate guide to shaving! So get those beards and moustaches ready for their best shave yet!
START WITH A STEAM
Before picking up the razor, you’ve got to prep your face for what’s to come by softening the beard hair and the skin underneath them.
If you shave in the morning, try to shower in hot water to help open up your pores and smoothen your beard. This will also rid your face of puffiness for a better surface to shave in, preventing nicks along the way. You can also achieve the same effect in the evening with a hot towel.
PREP YOUR SKIN
Before putting on that shaving cream, we recommend using a pre-shave solution like Suavecito Pre-Shave Solution. They’re designed to fill in those nooks and crannies in the face for a smoother glide while protecting your skin from nicks and bumps.
LATHER UP
Ditch the traditional shaving creams that contain aerosols which can dry up the skin. Switch to American Crew Moisturizing Shaving Cream that protects and moisturizes your skin at the same time while the blades do all the dirty work.
INVEST ON A BRUSH
We all want what’s best for our skin. And now that you’ve got a better shaving cream, we think it’s also time to ditch the hand application and get a good old-fashioned shaving brush. Pick one that’s made of the badger hair like the Parker Shaving Brush for soft and smooth experience.
USE TOP-OF-THE-LINE TOOLS
A multi-blade razor like the Gillette Fusion Pro-Shield promises a close shave but even with a tool like this you’ll have to properly use it right to achieve optimum results. Here are some few rules to follow for a proper shave:
- EASE UP: Since most multi-blade razors are so sharp, you don’t need to put on too much pressure to get a close shave. Less force means less irritaton.
- SLOW DOWN: Don’t rush when shaving! Slicing quickly through the hair and skin increases the risk of razor burns and ingrown hairs.
- FOLLOW YOUR FACE: Since facial hair grows in different directions on different parts of your face, especially your chin, you may want to go with the grain on your first pass. For a closer shave, make a second pass against the grain.
SOOTHE UP
Once you’re done shaving, it’s important to put some after-shave on your face to ward off irritation and restore the skin. Avoid formulations that contain alcohol since it tends to make the skin dry and overcompensate with increased oil production which will lead to ingrown hair. Try VMV Hypoallergenics 1635 Aftershave Salve which will surely soothe and protect your skin.
Ready to shave? Just follow our guide and you’ll surely come out clean and irritation-free. Let us know in the comments if this helped in your shaving routine!