The feeling of freshly shaved skin is hard to beat! Men have been shaving for centuries, as far back as the Ancient Egyptian era.
Shaving products like razors and shaving products have been updated considerably from the past, but many men still struggle to achieve a close, satisfying shave.
If you can relate, you’re in the right place!
We’ll cover all you need to know about getting a close shave. No one likes to leave their home with painful stubble peeking through their skin, but fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to avoid this.
Keep reading to find out how you can get a close shave the next time you’re in the bathroom!
How To Get A Close Shave
Achieving a close shave involves three main phases: pre-shaving, shaving, and post-shaving.
Pre-Shaving
This stage is the preparation phase before you begin shaving. This isn’t as complicated as it sounds, but it’s important to help you reach as close a shave as you can.
The tips below may even reduce the time it takes to shave, as they make the procedure go by a lot easier.
Apply Warm Water
If you can shower before you shave, great, but if you shave at a different time to when you bathe, you can wash your face with some warm water.
The gentle heat from the water expands the pores, softening your hair and your skin.
Warm showers usually work better than splashing your face, as your skin remains in contact with the warm steam for longer, accelerating the effects.
Open pores let you shave your hairs nearer to their roots, leading to a smoother finish. The hairs will be softer too, letting the razor slice through them evenly and cleanly.
Clean Your Face
Washing your face will remove dirt, sweat, bacteria, and dead skin cells. As the skin is clean, no residue prevents razors from cutting the hairs as close to their base as possible.
This also reduces the risk of ingrown hairs, as the upper layer of skin is removed through exfoliation, letting hairs grow through the skin easily.
This step also reduces the risk of shaving spots or bumps afterward.
Creams Or Oils
You won’t need to invest in pre-shave oil before shaving, but it can help you get a close shave.
Pre-shave creams and oils can also help sensitive skin that experiences irritation or pain afterward.
These products generate a smooth surface, a lot more than shaving cream alone. This helps the razor glide over your skin, achieving a closer shave with limited irritation.
The blade will also take off the shaving product as it moves over your skin, leaving a moisturized and hydrated finish.
These moisturizing properties will minimize irritation as the skin tends to become dry after shaving.
Shaving
The shaving stage involves shaving the skin after the prep stage.
Blades And Razors
Achieving a close shave also depends on what blade and razor you choose. Try to find a high-quality razor with a sharp blade, as these work well at cutting through strands efficiently.
There are endless types of razors that you can experiment with to find the best results.
Examples include DE (double edge) safety razors, multi-blade options, and cutthroat razors that are sometimes called straight razors.
Straight razors are best for shavers with more experience, so it’s best to stick to a DE safety or multi-blade cartridge option.
Try a few out and see which ones deliver the best results.
Shaving Brush
Shaving brushes will help you get an amazing shave. These tools create an unbeatable thick lather, but they will also exfoliate your skin and prep the facial hair strands for shaving.
The brush will gently raise the hairs upwards, meaning the razor blade can cut through them easier. Circulate your brush in quick, circular movements to achieve the best finish.
Soap Or Cream
Your choice of shaving soap or cream matters more than you think.
Your product should produce a luxurious lather that softens the hair, hydrates the skin, and reduces the risk of cuts from the blades.
As with razors, try lots of different shaving soaps and creams and see which one you like.
Swapping canned foams for a specific shaving cream can make the shaving process a lot easier.
Shaving Method
The triple pass technique will help you achieve a very close shave.
Begin by using your shaving cream to create a lather on your skin. As you start to shave, shave in the direction the strands grow in.
After you finish, re-apply the lather and shave again in the opposite direction. Apply another last layer and shave against the grain.
Shaving in several directions means that you cut every possible hair at its base, no matter what direction they grow in. This will help you get a great, smooth, and even shave.
Post Shaving
The post-shaving steps also matter as these will ensure your skin stays soft and free from irritation afterward.
Aftershave Products
Apply an aftershave cream or balm afterward. Razor blades can graze your skin, leading to irritation afterward.
Aftershave products will calm and moisturize the skin once more, reducing irritation and softening the skin.
Lots of aftershave products contain antibacterial substances that prevent infection to shaving cuts, ingrown hairs, or nicks.
Soothing Gel
You can also use soothing gel to stop any bleeding from shaving wounds. This is a welcome update from tissue patches stuck to the face in the past!
Like aftershave products, these often contain astringent ingredients that sanitize and heal cuts.
You’ll only need to apply a small amount on any cuts to stop them from bleeding, but bear in mind that these might sting a lot on application.
The Bottom Line
Now you know some of the best tips and tricks that can help you achieve a close shave!
The advice above is sectioned into three stages, pre, during, and post-shaving.
Once you practice the steps a few times, you’ll find that your shaving process becomes a lot easier and finishes quicker.
Remember to purchase well-made and high-quality shaving products, as these will help you achieve the best results.
These include razors, blades, shaving brushes, creams, and aftershave products. You may need to trial and error a few of these to find the best products for you.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look good, but there is such a lack of resources out there for men!
This website is for people like past me, who would have loved some guidance when first starting out.
Please enjoy my content. Trust me, bro - we’ll find you the perfect regime within no time.
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