Shaving is part of the daily routine for billions of people across the globe. As with many other things that become part of our routine, it's easy to stop thinking about how you're shaving, to simply fall into a rhythm and get slightly complacent. There are however easier - and harder - ways of shaving, and it's often worth optimising your personal process. From preparing your skin before you get started to looking after the shaved areas once you're done, here are a few important things to keep in mind.
Your skin needs preparing
Your shaving routine shouldn't start the moment the razor touches your face - you need to take the time to prepare beforehand. In most cases, you need to make sure that you wash your face properly with warm water and a gentle soap, and then apply an appropriate shaving gel.
This is important for everyone, but perhaps especially so for people with skin that's on the more delicate side of things. It will help to ensure that the blade is able to cut through the hair as easily as possible, reducing unwanted irritation, while also speeding up how long it takes to shave the area in question.
The tools you use are important
If you want to take shaving seriously, then it's important that you don't just use the first razor you can get your hands on. It's worth taking a look at a few different options, whether that's safety razors or electric razors.
That process doesn't end once you've bought a high quality tool either. You need to make sure that you keep the blade sharp; that will mean replacing safety and cartridge razor blades on a regular basis, and honing your straight edge razor between every use.
Take your time
Even with the best tools for the job, you need to take your time. Shaving simply isn't something that should be rushed; even if it's technically safe with cartridge and electric razors, you won't get the desired result and will likely end up missing patches.
With safety razors and straight edge razors in particular, rushing will likely result in cuts and knicks. With straight edge razors, these can be more than a mere annoyance - they can be a genuine health risk, and it's crucial that you do everything you can to avoid them from occurring.
Aftershave skin care is key
Once you're done shaving, it's important that you take care of your skin. It will likely be especially sensitive, and you'll need to take steps to ensure that it's prepared for the day ahead. One important thing to do is to rinse with cool water. This helps to close the pores, stopping dirt from getting in and spots from forming.
Hopefully with time, your shaving routine will become something you actively take pride in. By focusing on the overall experience rather than simply the act of shaving, you can make sure that you're doing all you can to ensure the experience is as pleasurable and easy as possible.
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