MensXpert.com- Get That Perfect Shave

We all know that hurrying up a shave is not the greatest of ideas. Being at the receiving end of a razor sharp blade everyday can be quite disconcerting, but if done the right way, it can be quite a pleasant experience.

Preparation

Warm it up. Take a hot shower first or compress a face towel dampened with hot water against the skin. The heat and moisture will soften the beard and open the hair follicles, allowing for easy stubble removal. A quick splash of warm water is not that effective, though we tend to resort to it most of the time.

If you have problems of dragging yourself out of bed in time or hate the exercise of patting your face with a warm towel or have gone on a shower strike, there are products that come to your rescue such as preshave oils. These oils are applied to the skin before lathering and shaving. These soften the beard and provide lubrication. (Men with oily skin may not find these so comforting).

Lather

Don’t just use any cheap shaving cream, or if you’re even more miserly, the soap bar. A good shaving cream contains emollients (oils) that are essential in moisturizing the skin before a shave. You can tell if a shaving cream is good if it forms thick foam when rubbed into the beard. Work up a rich, creamy lather and though this part may take time, do it properly. There’s also a choice of shaving gels if you don’t prefer creams, but make sure you get the emollient fix.

Blade

Get a razor that has a movable head and at least two blades. Though razors are disposable, don’t go in for one of the cheap ones. Choose a blade that’s of a good quality (consider sturdiness and sharpness). The exact number of uses of a blade depends on the strength of your facial hair and the blade quality, so if you feel the blade is pulling your hair rather than cutting it, its time you threw it away and used a new one.

Technique

After you’re lathered up and the follicles are supple, don’t rush in with your blade working around your features like a lawn-mower. Apply gentle pressure on your razor against your skin and use swift, easy, natural strokes. Follow the natural grain of your face. This means shaving downwards for most guys. By shaving upwards (going against the grain of you hairs), the razor tends to drag the follicles up causing irritation which can possibly lead to ingrown hairs and razor bumps. Keep dipping your razor in warm water to unclog hairs and warm the blade for a smoother cutting. If you’re still left with a few stubborn hairs, shave across the grain.

Refresher

Now that the shaving part is over, it’s time to wrap things up. Splash your face with cold water to close down the pores that had been opened up earlier with warm water and the razor. This will instantly refresh your skin. Now splash some aftershave onto you skin and work it in.

Not all aftershaves burn, so skip the high-alcohol-content ones that are entirely composed of scented alcohol and which dry and irritate the skin.