Shaving Tips
Usually shaving tips are one of those things that are passed down from father to son. But not all fathers may understand the subtleties of proper skin care or what is the best equipment with today‘s technology. So a few shaving tips might be just the ticket if you like to be clean shaven and reduce the risk of skin damage.
There are basically only two shaving methods--wet and dry. Wet is done with a safety or disposable razor and dry is accomplished with an electric razor. With both methods, there are steps you can take to get a close shave and not damage or injure skin. Some people use straight razors as in the old days but these people are few and far between so our shaving tips will deal with safety/disposable and electric variety razors.
One of the best shaving tips is not to shave immediately upon waking--don’t rush right into the bathroom to shave even if you are late for being somewhere. Take a few minutes to grab a cup of coffee or a piece of toast or visit with the family first. That’s because you need to wait at lease twenty minutes after waking up to shave. The skin has a certain amount of ordinary inflammation while you sleep, and it’s best to allow it to disappear before shaving.
If you going to wet shave, experts recommend that you prepare your skin first. There are many facial soaps that help to clean the skin and also remove natural oils. This is most important if you have sensitive skin. If you are one of those guys who prefers not using a special soap, one of the best shaving tips is to at least wash your face with warm water.
Never shave without shaving cream or gel. Also never cover the skin with the lather from just plain soap. Both of these methods will cause skin damage and excessive irritation. If you are out of shaving cream, get some, or don’t shave. It also is not always the best idea to go low-cost. Get a quality cream or gel made exclusively for shaving. Some guys use shaving oils instead of creams and gels. These work fine but care must be taken to keep the face wet and not to let it dry out during the shaving process.
One of the shaving tips not known by everyone is that you should always shave by going with the grain, not against the grain. For example, it is the same situation with human hair growth as it is with animals. When you pet a dog, one direction is smooth--that’s with the grain, the opposite of that feels rough and makes the hair stand up--that’s against the grain.
When you are done shaving, apply an aftershave that is moisturizing and not just any cheap aftershave product. You need one that does not contain alcohol because alcohol will dry out your skin. Also take proper care of your razor. Rinse it many times while you are shaving and if it is not disposable, rinse it out when you are done and leave it open to dry out. With a safety razor, don’t overdo the blade life--change the blade after every three to four shaves.
If you use an electric razor, the process is almost completely opposite that of the wet shave. You want your skin to be dry. Do not wet your face at all before shaving. Pre-shave products for electric razors do contain alcohol because you want your face to dry out. It also doesn’t matter if you shave with the grain or against it. If you have a rotary shaver, shave with a circular motion as the blades rotate in a circular motion. Make sure to properly clean and lubricate an electric shaver as per the instruction manual.
No matter how you choose to shave, your biggest concern should be proper skin care, so as to avoid cuts, ingrown hairs, rashes and skin burn. The choice of a razor is simply a matter of comfort. Find the type of razor with which you are happiest, follow a few good shaving tips, and your skin should be happy for life.