Shaving for men should be a pleasure not a chore. To really get that Perfect shave, it boils down to two key elements. The Preparation and the tools. Here I am going to explore the Preparation, as to bash out an old cliche but Preparation is everything. Remember this should be a little chance to indulge, not a perfunctory task to just get out of the way. To get that perfect shave, you need to give yourself time. Consider it a little pampering time each morning, a bit of quality time for you. The preparation can be boiled down to three stages.
Stage 1 - As I previously suggested, give yourself time, it is not something you can really achieve if you are just running out the door. You need at least 10 to 15 minutes. Book this time with your self in the morning, it will be worth it, as shaving can be therapeutic, so the benefits go beyond just that smooth face.
The ideal face is a warm and wet face, and I always find it best to shave in the shower, if you have a fog-less mirror this should be straight forward. This is the equivalent of the old barber's hot towel treatment, as it helps enlarge and soften the hairs, open up the pores. Where possible use a facial scrub, but not everyday unless it is a daily one. This helps get rid of the dead skin cells, and soften the beard. Then apply a nice facial cleanser to clean the face of any debris. When wet shaving you should really use a shaving brush, and one that has been in the shower with you, or in warm water for a few minutes. Apply a good quality shaving cream, just a little, and then work up in circular movements on you beard area. If you have a shaving dish you can work up the cream in that, but I prefer the face, as the brush also has a slight exfoliating effect. Some people apply a shaving oil prior to the shaving cream, but if you have a quality shaving cream you will not necessarily need to do this. Ultimately shaving for men is down to personal choice and skin types. Lubrication is the key, as the smoother the journey of the blade, the less moisture is removed from the face.
Stage 2 - Now we get down to some blade action. There are a myriad of Razors for men, but I recommend a multiblade razor of at least 4 blades. There is a six bladed razor - but that just sounds crazy. I use one with a wire cage element, as I have found it reduces nicks and cuts, if you are a beginner, but if you shave correctly you should avoid these anyway. Make sure the blade is SHARP, and do not use one that is anymore than a week old. Now, contrary to what your Dad might tell you, shave WITH the grain. It is like a piece of wood, when you shave with the grain you get a smoother finish. If you shave against the grain, then you may end up with that burning sensation, or red and raw feeling, rather than the smooth finish you want. Hold the skin tight, but don't pull it to tight, and gently glide the razor across your face. Don't press down too hard on the blade, and move it slow but steady. Too hard and fast is when cuts can occur. After very stroke, rinse out the razor under warm water. If you are in the shower doing all of this, it is all very easy.
Stage 3 - Rinse your face in cold water, as this will help close up the pores, then pat dry with a towel. Don't rub dry, as this can make it irritable. Then apply a good quality moisturiser, that matches your skin type. It really is important to moisturise as every time you shave you take moisture out - so you need to put it back. As women have known for years, dry skin ages more quickly. If you want to stay and feel young then moisturise. Do not apply Aftershave in the old school way of splashing it all over, that just dries out the skin as well.
Make sure you have washed out your brush, giving it a good rinse then flick out. Always, always store hanging down so any residual water can drip out. If you store your brush on its base it can go rotten and get mildew, and the hairs are more likely to drop out, reducing the life of the brush. Keep out in the open so air can get to it as well, do not shove it in a cupboard or box as that too is a sure fire way to get mildew.
Male Hair Removal should be a pleasure not a chore, and with the right techniques and right tools you are on your way. Find out more top tips on Shaving for Men here
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