Tips For Getting That Perfect Shave

Basic shaving can be quick and easy, just pick up a razor and drag it across your face until the stubble’s gone.



A really good shave, on the other hand, requires a little more effort and know-how. Proper wet shaving techniques, quality products and post-shaving skin care can help you look and feel your best and help avoid razor burn, razor bumps and irritation.

A good, close shave followed by the right facial wash and after shave moisturizer products go hand-in-hand to achieve optimum skin health. And, it can turn a chore into a pleasant morning ritual. This is how you shave right.

Be sure your beards is thoroughly wet: One of the keys to a great close shave without irritation or razor burn is to make sure your beard is thoroughly wet. Hair swollen with water becomes quite weak and therefore easier to cut. Showering before shaving is the ideal way to ensure you beard is properly moistened. If a shower is not possible, rinse your face and then apply a warm moistened towel to your face for at least a couple of minutes. Never shave cold or apply shaving products to a dry face – this is one of the major causes of razor burn and shaving rash.


Quality shaving cream: Use a shaving cream that has a high concentration of lubricants (e.g silicones) and moisturizers, the best shaving creams create a rich creamy lather and do not foam up like the cheaper ones. The less “foaming” in the shave cream the better, as it is what is in contact with the skin and beard that matters – all else is wasted. Less resistance, less irritation and less nicks also mean a longer lasting blade! While the primary function of the shaving cream is to lubricate your face so that the razor will glide smoothly and effortlessly across the surface, it also serves to lock the moisture into the whiskers, keeping them soft and upright, primed for the cut. Leave the shaving cream on your face for at least a minute before you begin cutting, so that the beard is as soft and wet as possible.



Shaving brush: One of the best tools you can use to achieve the optimum shave is a shaving brush, and it does a couple of things. It helps raise the hair so that a closer cut is possible, it helps create a rich creamy lather with the shaving cream that stays close to the skin and it helps remove dead skin cells (exfoliation) which reduces the chance of blemishes, razor bumps and also helps the skin look and feel smooth and healthy. Always look for a shaving brush with bristles that have the right balance between softness (to create a rich creamy lather that stays close to the skin) and resistance to raise the beard (making a closer cut easier).

Shaving cream: Apply the shaving cream using the brush in a circular motion ending in an upward stroke to help lift the beard up and away from the face.

Use quality razor blade and change the blades frequently: Always use a good quality, sharp razor blade. You’re not just cutting off hair, you’re also scraping off up to two layers of surface skin when you shave. A dull blade is traumatic to the skin, making your face feel scratchy and look blotchy – a dull razor is one of the contributing factors to razor burn and shaving rash.

Depending on the toughness of your beard, change the blade somewhere between every three and every ten shaves, if you shave every day. Two weeks is too long to go without changing blades. Regardless of the number of shaves, if the blade becomes dull, ditch it.

Rinse your blade in hot water before you begin to shave and after every few swipes, this removes the accumulated shaving cream, whiskers, and skin. The use of hot water here is to help lubricate. It has nothing to do with “killing bacteria.”

Ideally shave in the direction of the beard growth. Start with the sides, then the moustache area and last the chin. The chin hairs are the toughest, so this allows them the most time to soften under the shaving cream.

If you want an even closer shave, apply more lather from your brush (add more cream if necessary) to the areas you wish to shave again but don’t over shave. Keep everything moist, this is one of the extra advantages of using a brush. Too much shaving will cause skin irritation and the dreaded razor burn and shaving rash.

Rinse the blade thoroughly before you put it away. (The water temperature isn’t going to have any impact on bacteria; you’re rinsing the blade to get rid of hairs, shaving cream, oils, and gunk, not to kill bacteria. You’d need to boil the razor for that or rinse it in alcohol, which is not necessary.) After rinsing, shake the razor, but do not wipe the blade with a towel or tissue – that will just make it dull faster.



Cleanse and soothe after shaving: After shaving, when the skin is most vulnerable, rinse the face with warm water and use a facial wash  that has a high concentration of a natural antiseptic that is ideal to help cleanse and protect from spots and shaving rash.

Rinse with the coolest water that is comfortable and pat dry with a clean towel. (Don’t rub! Just pat).
Use after shave lotion or balm: shaving can remove up to two layers of skin, no other regular activity does this which is why it is so important to use a good quality moisturizer after shaving.

An after-shave lotion is designed as an after-shave balm and moisturizer in one, it is the ideal way to replace lost moisture and soothe the skin. These formulas are designed so that they are not greasy, absorb quickly and dry with a matte finish so that your face doesn’t look shiny. Typically, moisturizers  made for women are too greasy as men tend to have not only thicker skin but also oilier skin than women due to men’s larger sebaceous glands. The best after shave lotions not only replace lost moisture and soothe, but also have ingredients that will cool and refresh the skin.