How to Shave

Wash your face or rinse the area where you want to shave/hair. Washing the skin will help remove excess oil and dead skin cells, agents that can interfere with the shaving process or cause irritation to the skin after shaving, and significantly reduce bacteria that can cause an infection. Rinsing the skin also helps to moisturize the part of the beard/hair that is about to be shaved, making them softer and easier to shave.

• Use warm water to rinse your skin before shaving. The warm water will help soften the hair follicles and open the pores, allowing you to get a cleaner shave.
• You should shave after showering. If you usually shave in the morning, shaving after showering will give your beard time to absorb the moisture in the shower and help the shaving process go more smoothly.

Apply a lubricating product to a wet face, shaving cream will be the ideal choice. You should not use the razor directly on your skin because your face will appear full of scratches. The razor should never come into direct contact with the skin without any lubricant acting as an intermediary. Otherwise, the blade will drag on your skin instead of sliding gently across the surface of the skin. ^[6]

• Apply shaving cream (or gel) all over your face. Shaving cream helps soften the beard and moisturizes the skin, but if you’re in a hurry, you can also shave with hair conditioner or even with soap (only if you’re really in a hurry).
• If you use a shaving brush to foam the shaving cream, put a dime-sized amount of cream in a coffee cup, bowl, or other type of object. Wet the shaving brush with cold water. Put the brush in the bowl to stir the shaving cream in a circular motion. Add water if needed, stirring the shaving cream to form a smooth lather. This process can take about 2-3 minutes. Use the shaving brush to apply the cream to the face in a circular motion, repeating several times for the entire face.

Leave the shaving cream on the skin for 1-2 minutes. If you can leave the cream on for a few minutes before you start shaving, you will notice a difference. Shaving cream will moisturize your beard, making them softer and wetter. ^[7]

Hold the razor properly. If you use a multi-blade knife, and this seems to be the most common type of razor, hold the razor with your index finger sliding down to the tip of the handle, resting the tip of the razor flat against your skin. You must raise the handle at an angle of about 30 degrees.

• If the razor handle has a spring to keep the blade pressed against the curve of the face, to start shaving, you should raise the handle high enough to apply moderate pressure on the spring.
• Pull the handle of the knife to slide over the skin to conduct a shave. You don’t have to press hard ; Pressing hard or scraping horizontally can cause you to cut into the skin. Try to move the razor over the surface of the skin as gently as possible.
• With practice, you’ll gradually learn how to position the razor, how to move the razor across your skin, and lift the razor at the end of a smooth shave. Rolling razors similar to “Headblade” can help you maintain the right shaving angle in hard-to-reach areas. ^[8]

Shave in the proper direction. During the first shave, always remember to shave in the direction of beard growth. That means you’ll shave in a downward direction, but that’s not always the case. Shaving in the opposite direction (shaving against the direction of the beard growth) will give you a closer shave, but it is also prone to irritation and results in the most cuts. If your skin tends to break out or swell, or you often experience ingrown hairs, or if you simply notice that your face is too beautiful to be scratched, you should Shave in the direction of beard growth. Here are a few things to keep in mind when shaving:

• If your beard is quite thick because you haven’t shaved in a long time, trim it before shaving. Razors are easier to use only for beards that grow after a day or two rather than a month or two.
• Everyone has a different type of beard. If you are unsure about the direction of your beard growth, stop shaving for a few days and observe the angle of your beard growth. Beards in different parts of the face can grow at different angles . This means that you will have to move the razor around your face and shave in different directions to be able to go down in the direction of the beard growth.
• You may need to shave a few times. When shaving forward, you will find that you cannot shave as much beard as when shaving in the opposite direction. (Plus, you’ll also find a lower risk of cutting your skin.) It’s perfectly normal to shave once, then apply another layer of shaving foam, and shave again. It won’t make you any less manly – or less feminine.
• For a cleaner (and safer) shave, on the second shave, try to move the razor horizontally. If your beard grows downward, shave from left to right (or right to left). This will give you a cleaner shave without irritating your skin as much as when you shave against the direction of hair growth.
• Some people shave in four different directions. This method will give you a closer shave because clear hairs in the same place can grow in different directions.

Regularly dip the razor in warm water to remove any hair stuck in it. You should keep the blade in use as clean and unclogging as possible. Whenever you think dirt may have accumulated between the blades, dip the razor and stir the razor in the water. You can add soap to the water for extra smoothness (this can make the water scum, but it will help prevent the blade from building up minerals that cause scratches and often become dry after use.) ).

Stretch the skin when possible. You don’t really need to stretch the skin too much, but if your skin is sagging, this action will help create a flat, toned surface for the razor to move easily over the skin.

• For example, if you’re shaving under your arms, raise your arms as high as you can so that the skin underneath your arms is stretched. Multi-blade razors have a ripple or better yet, a rubber band on the tip that will help stretch your skin before you shave.
• The skin below the jawline is the most troublesome area for many men because it is often covered. When you shave in this area, stretch the skin at your cheekbones so that the skin just below your jawline is pulled upwards. Then proceed to shave in the direction of beard growth.

Do not use force when shaving. You should not press hard or apply pressure on the razor. If you need to do this, your razor is not sharp enough. A sharp razor will be able to easily remove the beard in a position that is flat with the skin.

• Pressing the razor against your skin can help you get rid of the hair a little deeper, but it also gives the blade a chance to come into contact with the sensitive skin that covers the hair follicles.
• Pressing hard on the knife will also only cause the blunt blade to drag on the hair, not cut it off. Instead, you should use a light force to guide the razor along the skin. Keep the razor as flat on the skin as possible so the sharp blade doesn’t scrape deeper into the skin than necessary.

Use a pre-shave lotion specifically designed for electric shavers. Since electric shavers work by trimming beards instead of shaving them, it’s a good idea to keep your beard stiff and crisp.

• “Preshave Oil” or other alcohol-based pre-shave products will help remove excess oil and leave your beard stiffer, ready for a dry shave.

Bringing the shaver to your face, you can shave in the direction or opposite of the beard growth. Unlike razors, which make it difficult to shave against the direction of your beard growth, electronic shavers allow you to do this completely.

• If you use a rotary shaver (round head) instead of a straight shaver, you can shave in small, circular motions.
• Use light force. Don’t press the shaver too hard on your skin, or you may end up clipping a few pieces of skin from your face. Also, don’t move the shaver too quickly, and allow the shaver time to do the hard work for you.
• Shave in sensitive areas first. You should do this because the shaver will often become hotter after a few minutes of use, and this heat can irritate the skin. So it’s best to start with the sensitive areas first and then work your way up to the rougher areas.

Shave off the beard in the area you want until your skin becomes smooth. Because the electric shaver will trim the beard instead of shaving, you may need to shave several times so that the small grooves on the rotating head of the machine can remove all of the beard. Remember to be patient as you proceed to re-shave at the desired area, and remember not to press too hard.

Clean the electronic shaver after use. Beard/hair and dead skin will stick to your shaver. Lift the shaver head and remove the dirt into the dustbin.

• Alternatively, you can also add a small amount of machine lubricant to the shaver head after cleaning it. This way, the shaver head can easily move over the surface of the skin.

If you have time, wash your face after shaving with warm water and an exfoliating cleanser. Washing your face after shaving will help you remove dead cells that accumulate on the skin during the shaving process.

• Exfoliating cleansers that contain tea tree or witch hazel are great for you, as they help protect against breakouts and soothe irritated skin. ^[7]

Rinse skin with cold water. Cold water will help soothe new cuts and reduce bleeding by constricting blood vessels. ^[9]

Blot dry skin and moisturize skin. Scrubbing with a towel should not be used as this can irritate freshly shaved skin. Apply a generous amount of moisturizer free of fragrances and other irritants (for example, baby oil) to your skin if your face is fairly dry. Never use deodorants, antiperspirants, perfumes, or any other product that will burn freshly shaved skin.

• You can apply aftershave lotion to your face as a soothing agent or perfume to soothe your skin. If you use aftershave and it causes your skin to burn, this means you have irritated the area during the shaving process. Next time, remember to be extra careful when shaving in this area.