3 Steps to the Perfect Shave

Shaving can be an arduous task, but it doesn’t have to be. Shaving should be a pleasurable, if not cathartic experience if done right. Men’s facial hair is often coarse, difficult to manage, and downright itchy, so it is important to know how to get rid of it in a way that will make you feel refreshed. In the interest of improving men’s skin care, The Body Shop is happy to present these 3 steps to the perfect shave in order to make your face-shaving experience the best it can be. Ladies, hopefully you won’t need these tips, but feel free to share them with the guy in your life.

1. Get Soaked and Soaped – Starting off by rinsing your face with some hot water to let those whiskers soften is a great first step to the perfect shave. Be liberal and get your face nice and wet, and use the steam from hot water to help make your scruff more flaxen. Once you are dripping, don’t towel off—using the moisture from the water beneath your lather will help you get good coverage and assure that the gel or lather will adhere nicely to your facial fur. Be sure to lather up thoroughly in all areas of your face you want to shear. If you want a really relaxing and thorough experience, using a shaving brush to work the lather in will help to get those follicles standing on end. Ideally, you should let the lather do its job for a minute or two to soften your skin and beard.
2. Go With the Flow – When you are ready to get razing, always start by shaving with the grain. If you aren’t sure what this means, run your fingers across your stubble to find which way is smooth and which is rough. Shave in the smooth direction to start, and for a really close shave, re-lather after the first pass and shave against the grain. Use a sharp razor to avoid nicks and cuts, but don’t rush through. Taking your time while shaving can reduce the time you spend blotting blood with torn corners of TP. A normal safety razor should do the trick just fine, but if you are feeling extra hardcore, you can try shaving with a straight razor, it can actually be better for your skin, and its more environmental friendly. Besides, you’ll be the toughest guy on your block.
3. Soothe and Relax –Use a facial wash and moisturizer to keep your skin clean and soft. After rinsing with some cool water, pat (don’t rub) your face down to dry off.  Using an aftershave to help your pores close is great, but look for an aftershave with moisturizers so your face doesn’t dry out. This should also help sooth your skin of any irritation caused by your shave. If your face still feels itchy or looks red, try using a razor relief balm to ease the discomfort.

If you follow these three easy shaving tips, you’ll be able to maintain a great smooth look and a face that your lady won’t be able to keep her hands off. And ladies, your man will appreciate the kind of shave he will get if you tell him about these tips. (You can reward him with a smooch to show your appreciation!) Be sure to check back to The Body Shop Blog for more great tips on skincare for both men and women.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 13th, 2008 at 6:06 am and is filed under Beauty Tips, Skin Care - Products. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.