Men: How to Shave Your Face Without the Irritation
Men may be surprised to learn that women sometimes have the same troubles when they shave their legs and armpits. And from that, I’ve learned that shaving is more than just slapping a mound of cream on your face and running a razor across it. There is more to shaving than charging up your electric shaver and pushing it across your skin too.
For men who use a razor, the best facial shave in the world can be achieved by using a method called the “Wetshave”. Do I lie? Why do you think you see the barbers in old western movies wrap a hot towel around his customer’s face before he starts to shave him? The steaming hot towel softens the beard so they can be removed with less irritation.
To create your own hot wetshave, fill your bathroom sink about half full with hot tap water. Then, thoroughly soak a thick wash cloth in the water. Wring the cloth out just so it’s not dripping wet. Lean your face over the sink and place the hot cloth on the bearded part of your face. Depending on the coarseness of your whiskers, you may need to resoak the cloth and apply it again.
The heat and moisture will actually soften your beard. The result? Your whiskers will be easier to shave off without the irritation of razor burn.
But, before you start to shave, be advised that facial moisturizers aren’t just for females! Men need to use a good conditioner on their faces too! So, apply a pre-shave conditioner over the bearded area of your face.
The next step, if you prefer to use a razor instead of an electric shaver, is to put on a light layer of shaving cream on your whiskers. Too much cream will only clog your razor!
The shaving cream you use should be made especially for your face. That is, if your skin is sensitive, then your cream should be designed to care for sensitive skin, and so on.
Before you touch your razor to your face, is it clean and sharp? Dull, dirty razor blades are the leading cause of nicks and cuts. Do you use a razor that sports a pivotal head? A pivoting head on a razor allows you to shave your contoured face easier than a stationary head. Do you prefer a single blade, or does your razor have a double blade? A double blade will give a man a smoother, closer shave because the second blade cuts what the first one misses.
The next step is to begin shaving your beard. Use one hand to hold your razor while you smooth your skin out ahead of the razor with your other hand. Don’t make more than one short swipe across your face before you rinse your razor clean in the sink water.
Once you’re done shaving, rinse off the rest of the shaving cream by splashing cool tap water on the bearded area of your face. Follow that by patting your face dry with a soft, absorbent towel.
Instead of using after shave, a scented skin conditioner will help make your face feel touchably soft.
Men who use electric shavers should wash the bearded areas of their faces first. Pat your face dry, then use a pre-shave conditioner. Make sure the blades on your shaver are clean and sharp. Then, shave your whiskers.
The final step is to rinse your face with cool tap water and apply a skin conditioner.
