Your first ever lesson on Shaving technique
We all remember our first attempt at shaving. It was about a year or two before we needed it, as we longed for the day of having to complete that manly process of shaving in the morning before starting our day.
We could almost taste the respect we were going to gain by being old enough and manly enough to have to shave. It was one of them jobs that as a young fella of 13 you could see yourself right after having a shave, transform into a diet coke add and becomes the ultimate alpha male with your shirt off and muscles bulging.
Or like Michael McIntyre says “one of them jobs when you really feel like a man, like bleeding the radiator or when you use a measuring tape and let it reel back in…”
Unfortunately, the reality was, we hadn’t a clue what we were at. When it comes to shaving technique, unless you had a real Dapper Dan by your side, the most advice you got was from watching a Gillette add. For most men this is as much as they have ever known about the technique of shaving.
Well today we will arm you with the knowledge of the right techniques to get the right results when using your razor.
- Apply minimal pressure & use short strokes – Safety razors are typically heavier than disposable and cartridge razors. The key is not to press at all, but let gravity do the work with a light hold on the razor. Let the razor do the work – do not press too hard. Use shorter strokes to avoid pressing the razor too hard.
- Rinse the blade under hot water before you begin to shave and after every few strokes. This removes the accumulated shaving cream, and cut hair that could interfere with a clean shave. Hot water helps lubricate your skin, but it doesn’t kill the bacteria on the razor.
- Shave in the direction of the beard growth –This is the key. Shave with the grain. Start with the sides, followed by the moustache area and then the chin. The chin hairs are the toughest, so this allows them the most time to soften under the shave cream. Every man’s facial hair has its own growth direction. If you are unsure about the direction of hair growth on your face, let it grow for a few days and you’ll see the pattern. Shaving against the grain directly leads to razor burn and in growing hairs, not just resulting in this shave being bad but compromising any future shave as well.
- Have a second shave; do not repeatedly pass over one area- Instead of going over and over a particular area to get a smooth finish, it is suggested to re-lather for a second shave. Repeatedly stroking the same area will scrap off not only all the shaving foam/oil you have apply but will also scrap off all natural oils of your face. Instead, repeat the whole process. Rinse your face, re-lather with foam/oil and shave using the guidelines above.
These 4 pointers will transform the result you get from your shave. They will help avoid razor burn, razor bumps and in growing hair.
For any more advice call in to our shop at Larkins Lane, lower Main Street, Letterkenny or
Contact us on our Facebook page Mavericks Traditional Barbershop https://www.facebook.com/Maverick-Traditional-Barbershop-1544230652533677/?fref=ts
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