Even men with beards have to trim them, but even the most clean-shaven guy tends to shave in ways that damage their skin and prevent them from getting the best shave possible. There are a myriad of reasons for this, such as time constraints or simply not knowing the correct way of shaving.
Before you put a razor to your face again, consider the following shaving tips:
Slow down
Getting a good shave takes time, and you should plan on at least 10 minutes to complete your shaving ritual. Apply a generous amount of lather to your face and let it sit for 2-3 minutes. This will allow it to soak into your skin and soften your hair, giving you the least amount of friction when you begin shaving. It also allows debris a chance to soak into the shaving cream, resulting in a smoother shave. When you do begin to shave, be deliberate and take your time to avoid cutting yourself.
Keep your face hot and moist
Heat and moisture help keep your pores open, giving you a closer and less damaging shave. They also soften your hair, making it easier to slice through with minimal irritation. To ensure that your face stays heated, shave after a long, hot shower, and dip your razor in hot water in between each stroke.
Clean your face
Shaving your face is a naturally damaging process and no matter how careful you are, causes microscopic cuts on your skin. While these cuts are too small to be noticeable and usually don’t hurt, they are large enough to let bacteria and other harmful substances into your skin. This can cause infection. Make sure that you clean your face thoroughly with soap and water before you shave.
Shave with the grain (at least at first)
The best way to avoid irritating your skin is to shave in the direction that your facial hair grows in (also known as shaving “with the grain”). Most mens’ hair grows down, so make sure to shave in this direction first. For a closer shave, try shaving with the grain first, then across the grain. After this, it’s ok to shave against the grain once, but make sure that you only go over each area once to avoid cutting yourself. Use shaving cream between each directional change in order to avoid the risk of razor burn.
Rinse with cold water
Since shaving cream is essentially soap, you need to make sure to get it all off your skin or it will cause irritation throughout the day. Washing your face with cold water after your shave not only removes shaving cream, it also reduces blood flow and closes your pores-which lowers irritation and helps you avoid razor burn or bumps.
Use a sharp blade
This should be pretty obvious. A sharp blade cuts through hair quicker and avoids ripping it out-which can be irritating and painful. A sharp blade also means that you don’t have to push too hard on your skin-making it less likely that you’ll cut your face. Aim to change your blade once every few weeks to ensure you always use a sharp enough blade.
Moisturize after your shave
Shaving inherently dehydrates your face, which can lead to cracked or red areas that are painful and unsightly. In order to hydrate your skin properly, use a moisturizer deigned for sensitive skin instead of aftershave.
For those who consider using a manual shaver too much time-consuming thru observing the above stated tips plus the need of all the essentials: shaving cream, water, preshave, and aftershave, using an electric shaver is the alternative.The important is to get the perfect shave in any circumstances whatsoever!
