There are some standard tips on shaving well: change the blade often enough, use smooth strokes and don’t drink too much of your favorite single malt first.
But I’ve found a few tricks that people don’t seem to talk about – that still make big difference. One or two I picked up from a throw-away comment somewhere. Others I found by trial and error.
I’d definitely recommend giving all these a try:
1. Shave AFTER you shower, not before. It’s tempting to shave first because then you shower all the soap away. But if you shower first, your beard gets nice and soft. Some people shave in the shower but I can’t get the mirror to stay completely clear – and you can just rinse your face afterwards to get rid of the soap.
2. Soak your brush before you use it (you are using a shaving brush, aren’t you? Even if you use a gel, it’s worth it. And you should try a soap or cream.). Just stick it in water and leave it for a minute while you get everyone out of the cupboard. Or run it under the tap for a while. But don’t just quicker get it wet – let the water really soak in, even if you then have to flick some off. It helps you get a better lather.
3. How coffee can help you get a better shave – no, I’m not going crazy and suggesting coffee instead of shaving soap. What I mean is when you get up in the morning, don’t shave straight away. Have breakfast or a coffee or something first. It gives you skin a chance to wake up and just as importantly it gives you a chance to clear your bleary eyes and wake up fully yourself. Which means you’ll be more alert and more accurate in your shaving.
4. If you have dry or sensitive skin, use oil underneath shaving soap. Don’t feel you have to spend a fortune on expensive shaving oil. Get yourself a bottle of ordinary olive oil, put some in a jar and dab it on your face and wipe around. Then lather up as normal. It’ll give you a super smooth shave. But also it’ll leave your skin moisturised. Better to avoid drying your skin out in the first place than just put balm on afterwards.
5. Get a proper shaving mirror. One on an extending arm. Mine only cost £5 from Tesco’s, so it doesn’t have to be expense. Then you can have it right up close so you can see exactly what you’re doing. Plus, they look cool.
6. After you’ve rinsed your face in nice warm water, splash it all in cold water – the colder the better. It might make you breathe in suddenly, but it’ll close your skin pores up and help stop any tiny nicks from bleeding. For me, this actually makes more difference to how my skin feels afterwards than using a shaving balm – it’s that important.
7. Don’t chop and change your razor too much. It’s hard for me to say this, because I like trying different ones. But you get used to a particular razor and learn how to get the best out of it. Swapping around all the time leaves you using the technique that’s right for one with another – and you get a shave that’s not as good as you could get with either.
Do that lot and you should get pretty close to the perfect shave.
You can read Alexander’s blog “A Smoother Shave” at
www.alexandernewton.wordpress.com for more tips, advice & musings on getting a better shave.
