The Secrets to a Great Shave

Start With No More
Than Stubble

If your hair is too long, you'll experience a lot of razor drag, which will bring on the irritation. That's not what you want for a smooth, safe shave. If you have more than a few days' worth of growth, then you might need to start with a beard trim. Yes, it's an added step but don't rush the process. Instead, pull out your beard trimmer and buzz the scruff down to a "1" on your guard's head setting. Or even go guard-free to clean up your stubble and prep it for a proper shave.

Wash Your Face

Washing your face at the start will give you a clean, smooth canvas to work with. You want to rinse away any excess oil or sweat, along with any skin care products you're currently wearing. Choose a gentle cleanser without any high concentrations of harsh active ingredients (namely, avoid exfoliating acids), so that you don't agitate the skin before the blade hits your skin. Use warm water to open up the pores and soften the hair to make the shaving process even smoother.

Apply Pre-Shave Oil

If you tend to get irritation from razor drag, try a lubricating pre-shave oil. This creates a thin, protective layer over the top the skin to help the razor glide smoothly. Most also help soften whiskers and nourish the skin to ensure less irritation or nicks. You want to apply it to dried skin, so make sure to fully dry your face after washing. Let the product set on the skin for a minute or two before introducing a blade, so that it can provide the proper nourishment and lubrication.

Apply Your
Shaving Gel

The type of shave cream you use is a personal preference, but we do recommend something that doesn't lather too much. Ideally, you want something that doesn't totally cover up your whiskers. We'd suggest a translucent gel as opposed to a big foamy cream. That way you don't go over areas more than you need to, keeping irritation to a minimum. When you apply shave gel, sweep it across the face in an upward motion. This helps lift the hairs up and away from the face, making them easier to catch in the razor—the end result is a smoother, more precise shave.

Use a Clean,
Sharp Blade

The type of razor you use is also a personal preference. Most of us learned to shave with a cartridge razor, while others have dove into the world of safety razors. Just remember that the fewer the blades, the more gentle it is on your skin. Also, make sure to replace your blades regularly. You don't want to use an old razor with dull blades—it's guaranteed to tear up your face.

Shave With
the Grain

You've heard this before, but you should shave in the direction of hair growth. You might need to inspect the hairs before trimming them down prior to the shave, especially around the neck since most of us have natural growth patterns that grow in different directions. Be sure to rinse the blade with warm water between strokes, to minimize friction and drag. Don't press too hard, and make small, gentle strokes so you're not dragging the razor across your face. If you need to, you can always lather back up and go in for a second pass.

Rinse and Apply
Aftershave

Once you're done shaving, rinse everything away with cold water. If feels refreshing, of course, but also helps tighten skin and close up pores. Then you're ready to apply a toning and soothing aftershave. You could go straight to a facial moisturizer, but if you want to ensure there's no irritation or razor burn, an aftershave tonic can prep the skin and minimize redness and rashes.