Dump the electric and move to wet shaving
Dump the electric and move to wet shaving
There is no doubt that electric shaving can be faster and simpler than wet shaving. However, electric shaving is harsher on the skin as it strips away natural oils and usually requires the hairs to be dry and brittle to get a close shave. For a closer and more comfortable shave, our advice is to move to wet shaving.
But hey, it's a free country, so if you wish to continue with the electric we suggest you apply a few drops of a shaving oil to your face beforehand as these will prepare the skin and stubble and help leave you feeling moisturised (not sand papered)!
Initial preparation
To help avoid razor rash, don't shave first thing in the morning. Have breakfast, let your skin wake-up! Shaving is made much easier by giving the area to be shaved lots of warm / hot water (or steam) before shaving.
So have a bath or shower and wash your face (or legs or whatever!) as this softens the bristles and opens up the pores of the skin preparing it for a closer and less painful shave.
The name on the blade is not important
The brand name of the blade is far less important than the state it is in. You will not get a close shave from a blunt blade; you will be shaved on parts of the face and not on others and you will end up with redness and blotches on your face and neck. The cure is simple. As soon as you feel a blade is not performing properly, replace it!
Smart or old fashioned?
Certainly smart and no longer old fashioned - shaving with a cut-throat razor (or open or straight razor) is becoming popular again. A little practice with this rediscovered method can give you a great shave and really give you the edge trimming shaped beards and lining up those awkward sideburns.
Mentholated or un mentholated
Very occasionally, menthol can cause a slight reaction with some skin types so simply by switching to an un mentholated version of a product can help significantly to reduce redness and sore areas.
You do it every day, but are you doing it right?
Follow these basic steps to help obtain a smooth rash-free shave:
Step 1: Make sure your stubble or hair has been thoroughly wetted with warm or hot water (see the advice on initial preparation).
Step 2: Ensure that your shave preparation (oil, gel or foam) is thoroughly massaged into the stubble or hair (lather is irrelevant ? lots of foam does not mean a better shave).
Step 3: Use a decent sharp clean blade.
Step 4: Shave slowly using short strokes and rinse the blade often in hot water. Do not press too hard, especially around sensitive areas such as the neck for men or the bikini area for women.
Step 5: Shave with the grain ? in the direction of hair's growth for the vast majority of the shave. If you go 'against the grain' do so at the end, and then only if you have to. Shaving against the direction of hair growth is the primary cause of razor burn, redness and rashes.
Step 6: Afterwards, rinse the area you have shaved thoroughly with cool water.
Aftershave ? Men, do you splash it all over?
Back in the seventies, Henry Cooper may have been slapping aftershave all over his face after shaving, but things have changed somewhat now (thank goodness)!
Aftershave is primarily made from alcohol. When this is applied to a cleanly shaven face it really stings! Worse still, alcohol is very drying to the skin. When you shave you strip the skin of some layers of protective tissue and oils so you do not want to add to your skin's problems drying it out and abusing it with alcohol.
There is no doubt that electric shaving can be faster and simpler than wet shaving. However, electric shaving is harsher on the skin as it strips away natural oils and usually requires the hairs to be dry and brittle to get a close shave. For a closer and more comfortable shave, our advice is to move to wet shaving.
But hey, it's a free country, so if you wish to continue with the electric we suggest you apply a few drops of a shaving oil to your face beforehand as these will prepare the skin and stubble and help leave you feeling moisturised (not sand papered)!
Initial preparation
To help avoid razor rash, don't shave first thing in the morning. Have breakfast, let your skin wake-up! Shaving is made much easier by giving the area to be shaved lots of warm / hot water (or steam) before shaving.
So have a bath or shower and wash your face (or legs or whatever!) as this softens the bristles and opens up the pores of the skin preparing it for a closer and less painful shave.
The name on the blade is not important
The brand name of the blade is far less important than the state it is in. You will not get a close shave from a blunt blade; you will be shaved on parts of the face and not on others and you will end up with redness and blotches on your face and neck. The cure is simple. As soon as you feel a blade is not performing properly, replace it!
Smart or old fashioned?
Certainly smart and no longer old fashioned - shaving with a cut-throat razor (or open or straight razor) is becoming popular again. A little practice with this rediscovered method can give you a great shave and really give you the edge trimming shaped beards and lining up those awkward sideburns.
Mentholated or un mentholated
Very occasionally, menthol can cause a slight reaction with some skin types so simply by switching to an un mentholated version of a product can help significantly to reduce redness and sore areas.
You do it every day, but are you doing it right?
Follow these basic steps to help obtain a smooth rash-free shave:
Step 1: Make sure your stubble or hair has been thoroughly wetted with warm or hot water (see the advice on initial preparation).
Step 2: Ensure that your shave preparation (oil, gel or foam) is thoroughly massaged into the stubble or hair (lather is irrelevant ? lots of foam does not mean a better shave).
Step 3: Use a decent sharp clean blade.
Step 4: Shave slowly using short strokes and rinse the blade often in hot water. Do not press too hard, especially around sensitive areas such as the neck for men or the bikini area for women.
Step 5: Shave with the grain ? in the direction of hair's growth for the vast majority of the shave. If you go 'against the grain' do so at the end, and then only if you have to. Shaving against the direction of hair growth is the primary cause of razor burn, redness and rashes.
Step 6: Afterwards, rinse the area you have shaved thoroughly with cool water.
Aftershave ? Men, do you splash it all over?
Back in the seventies, Henry Cooper may have been slapping aftershave all over his face after shaving, but things have changed somewhat now (thank goodness)!
Aftershave is primarily made from alcohol. When this is applied to a cleanly shaven face it really stings! Worse still, alcohol is very drying to the skin. When you shave you strip the skin of some layers of protective tissue and oils so you do not want to add to your skin's problems drying it out and abusing it with alcohol.