*these tips are from http://maleskincare.com/mentips.htm
It is best to
shave after you get out of the shower (or even while you're still in there).
There are many fog proof mirrors on the market.
Make sure razor
is clean. If you have a manual blade, change the blade often. A pivoting
head razor is a bit more forgiving to your curves and bumps and good if
you have a tendency to doze in and out while shaving early in the morning.
As for single bladed razors, they are less irritating than double bladed
ones. The double bladed razors give a closer shave, but that often means
really close as in SKIN, too.
Prepare the skin
by washing with warm water and a no scent, no dye glycerin soap like our
handmadesoap. It will leave
an invisible film to help your razor glide on your face.
Lather with firm
but gentle pressure, moving the the lather AGAINST the grain or against
the direction of your hair growth. This is sort of coaxing the hairs
to get up off the surface of your face. Rinse with cooler water.
Next, especially
if you have a tough beard, soak a washcloth in very warm water and place
the cloth directly on your face, covering your beard. Sit down, relax,
think about your day in a peaceful manner. Leave it there for at least
a few minutes. This moist heat will soften your whiskers and your skin,
and reduce ot eliminate razor burn.
Fill your sink
with very warm (again, not hot) water and lather if you use a manual razor.
(Clickhere to skip ahead to Dry Shave if you go electric).
Using either a
shaving brushes or your fingertips, work shaving cream, foam or gel or
even a glycerin soap lather into your skin with a circular manner and spread
it evenly
over all your
hairs.
HINT: While it
seems like going against the grain gives you a closer shave, it's
really doing your face and beard an injustice. The hair grows back thicker
and tougher. Shave with the grain and in a few weeks, once your beard is
"trained" you will get a closer, smoother
shave.
Dip your razor
into the sink of hot water, and make a short sweep down a side of your
face WITH the grain. After every few sweeps, dip the razor until
you've removed all the hair. A good order to go in: sideburn, upper
cheek of one side, jawbone, neck
area, other sideburn
and upper cheek, lower jaw and chin and lastly the upper lip.
After each sweep,
lift the razor away from your skin and place down again when ready to shave.
In other words, avoid dragging the razor across your face. Sounds dumb,
but you know you do it, it's early, you're tired. This will reduce those
nicks and cuts.
ANOTHER
HINT: to pull your skin taut with your free hand and then shave over
the area that is pulled tight. This also makes the whiskers pull away from
your skin, making it easier for the razor to grasp them.
The
Dry Shave. After soaking your beard, dry it completely. Dust with
cornstarch or powder. Your skin needs to be completely dry before taking
the electric razor to it. Pick a spot near the hinge of your jaw and go
AGAINST the direction of your hair growth (up). If your shaver has the
three rotating blades, you can move in a circular movement, if it is a
straight blade, long repetitive strokes work best. ***
Finally rinse
the face with warm water water (neither hot nor cold) by patting the skin.
Do not, wipe. That will irritate your freshly shaved face.
Meanwhile the
neither too hot nor too cold water will close those pores. Feel around
for any stray hairs you may have missed. And pat your face dry with a clean,
dry towel. Rinse your equipment.
Lastly,
moisturize. Avoid scented lotions, they tend to burn worse. Our Revive
isideal. Some men like alcohol based after shave which has an antiseptic
quality. Avoid them as they tend to dry your skin out.
Ever wonder why
it appears that men age more slowly than women? Some say the reason
men age so gracefully is that shaving actually exfoliates your skin. So
in in of youth.
Don't forget to
top it off with a good SPF 15 moisturizer like our
Anti-oxidantDay Cream with SPF 15 before
a sense the daily task of shaving can be your fountagoing out.
