If you are bewildered by the array of razor options available on the market today spare a thought for the men living around 30,000 BC. In those simpler times, the go-to razor was made of flint. This early single bladed disposable razor gave a rough and ready shave but didn’t stay sharp for long.

Do you feel confused by contradictory advice about the art of shaving? Are you dissatisfied by the results of your shaving technique? Read on to learn how to get the perfect shave every single time.

The Perfect Shave

So, you want the perfect shave? You want to look your best for a hot date, for a party or for the office. The perfect shave is not the quickest shave, nor is it the cheapest.

The perfect shave is about effectively removing hair from your face while leaving the skin on your face. You know when you’ve had the perfect shave because you can feel little or no stubble on your face after you’ve shaved. At the same time, your skin feels great.

A poor shave leaves you with a stubbly chin. The best test of this is to rub faces with your partner. If the result is sandpaper burns on their face there’s something wrong with your shave.

If you have sore skin on your face or a shaving rash you’re in need of a shaving tutorial. It’s not tough or manly to endure this discomfort. It’s poor technique or a poor razor that’s to blame.

Why a Wet Shave?

Some people like to shave with an electric shaver and that’s fine.

One thing’s for sure. You are never going to get as close a shave with even the best electric shaver as you can with a wet shave. An electric shaver doesn’t get as close.

There is an upside to an electric razor. They can be quicker than a wet shave. But remember, the perfect shave isn’t about speed.

An electric razor can be kinder to your skin than a badly used wet razer. With a quality blade and some better technique, the wet shave is going to win hands down.

How Many Blades?

You can buy a razor with one, two or as many as five blades. How many blades do you need for a perfect shave? The manufacturers of the multi-blade shaving solutions argue they wouldn’t make them if you didn’t need them.

The principle is that the first blade cuts the visible hair. As it cuts it lifts the hair and the second blade comes along in time to take a little more. Each successive blade takes another bite at your beard.

The position of the blades and the geometry of the design make the blades kinder to your skin. So, does this make the multi-blade option the sure-fire choice? What about iconic, double-edge safety razor blades.

According to Rockwell Razors, having one blade reduces the chance of a cut hair retracting below the surface of the skin causing in growing hair. The resultant irritation can result in infections and unsightly inflammation.

The single bladed option can be as effective as a multi-blade. Once you have learned some technique and had some practice it is good for a close shave and for your skin condition.

Shaving Cream

Shaving cream is essentially a lubricant. Some multi-bladed razors purport to incorporate lubrication in the razor head but no razor manufacturer suggests that this replaces the need for some shaving cream. Choose one that gives you a creamy lather giving you the maximum razor slide.

Check your Blade

Using a blunt razor is sure to lead to a poor shave and irritated skin. Pay attention to how effectively you razor is cutting and don’t keep using it if the edge is dulled.

How many times you can use the blade depends on the blade and how tough your beard is. It could be as high as 10 times of as low as 3.

More on razor care later but do check your blade before using it on your face. It’s not unknown for other people to borrow an unsuspecting person’s razor to shave legs or other parts of their anatomy They may be less scrupulous in caring for the razor than you would be.

Get Ready

Assemble the tools and products you will need. You should have a shaving brush, shaving cream, your safety razor, and shaving lotion. You may also need a beard trimmer.

Prepare to shave in a place where you have clean hot water, a towel, and a good clear mirror, in a suitable position.

Shorten Longer Beards

If you are shaving after having grown a beard, remove as much of the hair as possible with a beard trimmer. Your razor will collect long hair and clog it up so it’s best to reduce it somewhat. Making the razor do less unnecessary work will also extend its life.

Warm and Wet

A warm, wet beard cuts easier than a cold, dry one. Use warm water to wet and warm your face before shaving. Even better, have a hot shower or use a hot towel to soften your skin and hair.

Trying to dry shave can result in razor irritation and rash. It will reduce the life of the blade too.

Wash and Massage

Use a facial wash, cleaning and massaging your beard area. Starting with a clean face means less likelihood of any infections in any slight abrasions caused by shaving. The gentle rubbing of your face will tend to stimulate the hairs and raise them in readiness for the razor blade.

Get Soapy

Using a shaving brush, apply the shaving cream to your face. Use the brush to massage your face. This increases the lather and lubrication as well as lifting your whiskers.

Go with the Grain

Don’t shave against the direction of your beard. Shaving against the grain tends to result in cuts, irritation and razor bumps. Stroke your beard with your fingers and learn where the hair lies and where it changes direction.

Shave in the direction the hair lies using gentle, light strokes. Don’t press hard and don’t use long strokes. Keep the strokes short and accurate.

A sharp blade is designed to cut with little pressure. Glide the blade over your skin and you won’t need to do many passes over the surface to achieve a successful shave. Fewer strokes and you will irritate the skin much less.

Razor Care

As you shave, regularly rinse the head of the razor to remove the build-up of shaving cream and bristles. Rinse in hot water to keep the soap from clogging up the blade and to keep your face warm.

Resist any temptation to knock the razor on the side of the basin. Don’t use anything other than hot water to clean the shaving cream from the head. Tapping the head or poking at it with any implement is likely to result in damage, distortion of the blade, and reduced effectiveness.

Once More with Feeling

The next step is to repeat the shaving process once more. This might take a little more time but it’s a sure way of catching any pesky bristles that have escaped the first pass. Start by washing off the shaving cream and feeling all over your face to detect any tell-tale bristly areas.

Re-apply shaving cream and shave your face with the same gentle short strokes you have learned to use. Rinse the remaining shaving cream off.

Protect and Moisturize

Exfoliating products fill the shelves of beauty stores. You have just exfoliated your face while shaving. This removal of a microscopic layer of dead skin can be beneficial but it also leaves the skin temporarily vulnerable.

Dirt and bacteria can attack your skin if it is left unprotected. Use an antiseptic facial cleanser to reduce the likelihood of infection. Products containing witch hazel or tea tree oil are natural antiseptics and will also sooth the skin.

Soap and shaving will tend to remove moisture from your skin. This drying effect is damaging to your skin and can leave it exposed to the risk of minor infections. Replacing the moisture and protecting the skin is the last stage of your shaving regime.

Aftershave lotions containing a moisturizer will help reduce dryness, promote healing, and protect the skin from damage. They are much more helpful than alcohol-based aftershave lotions that simply make you smell nice. Use these great smelling lotions on a date night but do so sparingly.

The Art of Shaving

So, now you know how to wield a razor and achieve the perfect shave. It takes practice and like anything worth doing it’s worth persisting at it. Once you have the technique down, you’ll appreciate the smooth face and how gentle it is on your skin.

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