The average man will shave more than 20,000 times throughout his life and with modern man’s growing preoccupation with his physical appearance shaving will always remain at the forefront of any man’s grooming regime. Preparation is key to any clean shave so use a facial cleanser or exfoliator to get rid of any dead skin cells and help prepare the skin. Timing is crucial so ideally wait until after you have showered for optimum results as the steam from the shower will open pores and swell the hair shaft making it softer and easier to shave.
A close shave
Applying shaving oil is crucial to achieving a baby soft shave as it will help soften the beard, offer the skin maximum protection for shaving and help ease the razor’s glide across the hair. Grooming expert and founder of The Perfect Shave salon and website, Robert Gillespie recommends applying the pre-shave oil to skin that has been patted dry. “Pour the equivalent of a £1 coin into the palm of the hand and massage the pre-shave oil into the beard going against the grain. This will lift the hair from the skin, and open the pores enabling a closer more comfortable shave,” he recommends. Ren Tamanu High Glide Shaving oil, £15 (www.lookfantastic.com) is perfect to lubricate the skin and is specially formulated with 100 percent pure plant oils to provide a smooth, easy shave while minimising post-shave dryness and irritation.
Before you begin your shave, thoroughly massage shaving cream or gel into the stubble as this will help to soften the beard. Choose a vitamin E or aloe vera based shaving cream or gel that will help protect against razor rashes and burns. King of Shaves Ultragel ULX, £3.99 (Boots stores nationwide) is ideal for more sensitive skintypes as it contains skin cooling menthol, essential oils and soothing aloe vera and vitamin E.
To achieve a perfect shave, choose a razor that suits your style. If you are pressed for time, use an electric razor and dry shave for instant results. The new Smart Control3 from Braun, from £45 (Boots stores nationwide) is ideal for this and is a classy addition to any bathroom shelf. Its unique three stage cutting system is designed to capture hair growing from different directions offering a closer finish.
For the cleanest cut, you cannot beat the trusty wet shave. There are many different varieties available today from the more traditional double edge blades to the latest multi blade technology promising the ultimate finish. Whichever you choose, be sure to use short and slow strokes and always shave with the grain as going against it will cause irritation to the skin. Try and change blades after every two or three shaves for maximum results.
Directions wise according to the www.theperfectshave.com, Start shaving on the cheek areas first moving inwards towards the mouth. Leave the moustache and chin areas until last. The hair in this area is the stiffest on the face and requires more time for the shaving cream to soften. After shaving the cheek areas move onto the neck area, and finally back to the moustache and chin area.
The after effect
Give your skin a refreshing drink post shave with a soothing (alcohol-free) balm. Check the ingredients list for soothing ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile to help prevent any irritation. Elave shave balm £7.49 (www.elave.co.uk) will calm freshly shaved skin as it is free from common skin irritants which leave the skin aggravated making it ideal for sensitive skin. It also contains calming aloe vera to soothe sensitive skin.
