SHAVING: Tips on the Classic Wet Shave
This year you’ll spend an average of 60 hours in front of a mirror shaving. That’s 138 days over your lifetime or over 2,000 football matches you could have watched. And over the course of a lifetime you’ll have removed a whopping 27 feet of whiskers.
So why do we go to so much trouble to stay smooth? Well, the fact that shaving makes us feel cleaner, fresher and generally more businesslike has a lot to do with it (as does the fact that if we didn’t we’d all end up looking like Gandalf) With a few simple measures you can make it a much more skin-friendly experience and get better results in the process. Here’s how…
Try shaving after a shower or in it, if you have a steam-free shaving mirror. After just two minutes the warm water and steam will have caused the hairs on your chin to expand – making them softer and much easier to shave. It’s thought that if you wet the hair adequately before shaving the force required to slice them with the razor is reduced by up to 70% as well as opening your pores, releasing any dirt and grime.
SOFTEN UP
Any grooming expert will say the same thing: preparation is key. Rush it and you’ll end up with patchy results and a face that looks like it’s been attacked by Edward Scissor-hands.
Key to the perfect shave is softening the beard. So even before you touch your razor and begin shaving spend a few minutes preparing your skin and stubble. For the best results start by washing the face thoroughly using plenty of warm water and a gentle face wash. This is important because you need to remove any grease and grime that might be coating the hairs (and thus preventing water being absorbed properly). It’ll also cleanse the skin of impurities, ensuring the razor glides over it smoothly. It’s a simple step but one that can have a big impact on shaving.
CREAMS AND GELS
Gels. These provide a moisture-rich lubricating cushion over the skin and are quick and convenient to use. Some are transparent, allowing you to see where you’re going when you’re shaving. Try Anthony Logistics Shave Gel – smooth, transparent shave gel for a super-close shave.
Foams. Like gels, shaving foams are convenient and easy to use but can be drying so are best avoided if you have dry or sensitive skin. But foams like Task Essential Sweet Shave Shaving Foam are ideal for normal to oily skin.
Creams. Shaving creams tend to be the richest of all the shaving aids and, like shaving soaps, are the traditional product to use. Many, like Geo F Trumper Shave Cream Rose – 200gm tub, are glycerin-based to reduce the chances of the cream drying your skin – perish the thought.
SOAP FREE SHAVE
Dropped the Soap? Bodcare sure has. Being natural product pioneers. They have developed a perfect, irritation-free shave in a nutrient rich, long lasting, non-lathering, soap-free shave cream that outlasts traditional cans of foam by 4 times. Infused with regenerative and powerful antioxidant properties, you couldn’t wish for a smoother glide while keeping the pH level of your skin balanced. You can check them out at https://bodcare.com/shave/
START SHAVING!
Begin by tackling the less tough areas of beard around the cheeks and jowls and leave the toughest bits (usually found around the chin and mouth) until last – that way they’ll have had more time to soften and will be much easier to slice with the razor. Do not press too hard, also crucial is the direction in which you shave. It’s tempting to try shaving against the direction of hair growth in the hope that this will achieve smoother results but in reality, you just risk pulling the hairs back on themselves and, as a result, unnecessary irritation. So, if you don’t fancy a nasty shaving rash always go with the grain and not against it
Product Smart – Shave Smart
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