Introduction
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It's clear that a quick shave with an electric shaver followed by a splash of aftershave is not going help you look your best for work or leisure or indeed help you to stay looking young for long. To help I've put together a procedure that busy men can follow to get a perfect shave everyday. The great thing about this shaving procedure is, its quick and gives great results every time.
Step 1 - Make sure your face is clean before you start to shave.
Firstly, before shaving, your face should be clean so, this means cleansing. Most men prefer to use soap to wash their face. The skincare company's have responded to this need with facial soap bars that won't dry out your skin but will clean those pores which will help to prevent infection if you cut yourself while shaving. If you don't have a separate facial soap then its best to wash your face with a little shaving soap and then rinse this off before you start your shave. Using a gentle exfoliating cream once a week is also a good way to remove dead skin cells and prepare the skin for shaving.
Ideally after cleaning, a face towel should be dampened in warm water, rung out and the applied to your face for 30 seconds before shaving, this will help soften and loosen the hair and skin. In the real World you won't have time for this. You can save time by showering before you shave because the warm water, heat and steam will help relax your face before you start to shave.
Step 2 - Preparing your badger shaving brush for action.
Before you get into the shower, fill a shaving bowl with hot water and leave your badger shaving brush in the bowl. While you are showing, the badger hair in the brush will soften and absorb the hot water and this will help you get a better lather later.
When you get out of the shower empty the shaving bowl and use a good quality shaving soap to work up a good lather. Add a few drops of hot water from the tap to raise the temperature and loosen the lather Shaving Soap if necessary. Use the brush to apply this rich lather to your face. Use the brush to raise the hairs and relax the skin before shaving.
Step 3 - Using you shaving razor.
Make sure that you've got a nice sharp razor blade. Men who switch from using quick mass-market shaving foams to using a quality shaving soap and a badger shaving brush often report that they notice that their razor blades stay sharp for longer. When you think about it this makes sense, because the beard is being made softer before shaving so the razor has less work to do.
Always shave in the direction of the beard to prevent soreness of the skin. Use short strokes and don't apply too much pressure. After each stroke rinse the razor under the hot water tap to keep it fresh and clean.
When choosing a razor, throw out your cheap disposable razors and invest in a weighted razor that is compatible with the razor blades available in Chemists and Supermarkets. This again will provide a smoother shave and the razor itself will last for years. Edwin Jagger of Sheffield England has become the benchmark for quality craftsmanship in shaving razors and accessories, and their Diffusion range of razors Diffusion offer great value.
Step 4 - Shaving mirrors
You need a good mirror when shaving so that you can see what you're doing. If you are ever lucky enough to be able to design a new bathroom, I highly recommend that you invest in a heater pad for your mirror. Your electrician will be able to stick the heater pad behind the mirror and then wire it so that when the light is on the mirror is warmed just enough that it won't steam up.
Step 5 - Wash you face when you finish shaving.
Once you have finished shaving rinse you face first with plenty of warm water. This will remove any remaining soap and make sure your face is clean. Then rinse it again with cold water to close your pores - never rinse the soap off with cold water, as it will cause the pores to close quickly, trapping particles of soap.
Step 6 - Keeping you shaving kit in pristine condition.
Don't forget to rinse your shaving brush, razor and shaving bowl. I recommend that you dry any metal parts on a towel to keep your shaving set in pristine condition. The shaving brush should be left out to dry naturally and preferably you'll place it in a shaving stand with the bristles pointing downwards, so that water runs away from the handle. Don't be tempted to skip this step - you need to keep your razor and brush clean to avoid a build up of bacteria that could then cause a skin infection.
Step 7 - Don't forget to use a moisturising lotion
Leave it a little while until you're getting dressed and then apply a good quality moisturising lotion or cream depending upon your skin type. Do not apply aftershave to your face as the alcohol content will dry your skin and may even burn. You may need to try a few different moisturisers until you find the one that is perfect for your skin.
Step 8 - Staying organised when away from home for work or pleasure.
When travelling away from home overnight, I highly recommend that you obtain a hanging washbag (sometime known as a hanging toiletries bag). You can pack all your shaving kit into one of these bags and then hang it on the back of your hotel rooms bathroom door, to keep everything together and well organised. This will save you a lot of time when you need to pack everything up to checkout of your hotel in the morning.
Since their invention, Safety Razors have been the gold standard in shaving. Time after time they deliver the most incredible shaves, which has led many people to put down their mainstream Gillette Mach 3's and convert to the old school.
Safety Razors appeal to a wide range of people- those looking for a super close shave, those who consider shaving an art, and even those who experience terrible rashes/bumps/spots/razor burn and have tried all other options.
The fact that Safety Razors can be totally customized to fit a specific skin type or person makes them second to none. You can get different blades that will shave harsh or gently and razors that can be angled to shave super close or finely. Teamed with a shaving brush, shaving soap and HOT water, you'll quickly find perfection.
There are many different brands to consider, some more expensive than others. However the most well known, trustworthy and quality are definitely Merkur razors- a German company that quite literally creates perfection.
Shaving with a Merkur razor is definitely not a chore. It's an art, and you should feel special to be doing it. If you strive for a perfect shave, you can't go wrong with a Merkur.
Shaving with a Safety Razor
Before you go anywhere near a bathroom, you'll need to insert the blade into the razor. With most razors, especially Merkur, you unscrew the bottom, lift off the top, put the blade in and replace the parts. When you tighten it back up, the blade will bend- this is normal, so don't worry.
Now you're ready to shave. Generally it's better to shave after taking a shower, as this will soften your whiskers and open the pores on your face- making a closer shave within your reach.
First make sure you have the following things to hand:
1. Razor
2. Shaving Brush
3. Shaving Soap
4. HOT Water
5. Towel
6. Moisturizer
7. Cold water
Let the razor and brush soak in hot water for a few minutes before use to heat up, this will help open your pores further.
Lather up the soap with the brush and apply to your face- you want to get a thick lather on your whiskers to provide good lubrication. Looking like Santa is your preference.
NEVER press a safety razor down onto your skin. Let the razor do the work.
Always make sure you wet the razor before and after a stroke. Shave WITH the grain, using small strokes to get a good first shave. You can repeat the previous steps to get a close shave as many times as necessary. It is possible to shave against the grain, but this is only recommended if you don't have super sensitive skin.
After shaving, splash your face with cold water to close the pores. This will prevent irritation and spots occurring from build up of soap or oil.
Apply moisturizer to your face after closing the pores to get some life back into your skin. You'll look and feel great, and the moisturizer will mean your clean shaven face shines through.
Always clean your razor fully after use, and make sure little/no moisture is on it otherwise it could rust.
Furthermore you should change your razor blade regularly- after 5 shaves is the recommended time. If you don't change blades, it will become dull and performance will seriously be decreased. It can also become dangerous, and start cutting your skin. When it comes to safety razors, sensible is best.
Buying a Safety Razor
Safety Razors are all pretty similar, and most work with the same blades. Merkur razors work with pretty much all blades, so are well worth looking at. The most common color is silver, but you can get lovely gold plated ones for slightly more money.
Unless you are looking for a specific model, or have extremely sensitive skin, a Merkur will do you proud.
When looking at blades, once again Merkur are great to look at. Generally speaking, blades coated in Platinum deliver a better shave, as they are sharper and are able to last longer. If a blade doesn't have platinum, don't avoid it, try it! You never know how good a blade will be unless you see for yourself.
You can buy packs of 5, 10 or even 20; it's best to buy a pack of 10 so you can see which blades provide you with the best shave. Your skin will take a while to get used to a new blade, so don't let 1 bad experience put you off.
Some specialist blades include Feather DE blades. These are Japanese made and the sharpest blades you can buy. Using the same technology as when making Samurai swords, these will shave you so close you won't need to shave again for a week. Be warned, they are very sharp.
Other great brands to check out include Shick, Wilkinson Sword and Personna. Again, each blade will have a different character, so experimentation is the key.
Buying a Shaving Brush
A shaving brush can be as important as the razor you use. A great shaving brush will produce a good, foamy lather on your shaving soap, and this will help you achieve a close shave.
When shopping for a shaving brush, you should aim to get a Badger Hair brush. These are of exceptional quality as the badger hair is strong and ridgid, which means you can really work a lather into the whiskers and skin before shaving. Although more expensive than other brushes, badger hair brushes are simply the best.
If you are a keen shaver, but cannot afford a badger hair brush, don't worry. There are many other great brushes available on the market. Although they won't give you the standard of lather a badger hair brush would, they still enable you to have a great shave.
Buying a Shaving Set
Shaving sets are great because they have everything you need to get shaving right away. Most come with a great razor, blades, a brush, soap and a nice stand to put it all on.
Although expensive, it's actually cheaper to buy all the gear this way than separately. Besides, it's a one off investment that will last you forever. Unlike a Gillette Mach 3, you won't be changing razors every week. A safety razor really is for life.
Whatever you buy, you'll find out 1 thing. Shaving with a Safety Razor is an amazing experience and will leave you with the closest shave you've had in years. You'll feel like a million pounds, and will look it too!