People often overlook the importance of steaming your face before shaving. This simple procedure helps soften your beard and prepare your skin for contact with the razor.
How to steam your face before shaving
- Wet a towel with hot water. Make sure the temperature is comfortable for your skin and does not cause a burn.
- Use a clean, soft towel made of natural material: cotton or bamboo. Squeeze out excess water. The towel should be damp but not soaking wet so that water does not run down your face.
- Place the towel on your face. It should cover the areas you will be shaving. Relax and hold the towel on your face for one to two minutes until it begins to cool. If your stubble is tough, you can repeat the procedure two or three times, soaking the towel in hot water again.
How do you shave with a T-shaped razor?
- Cleanse your skin. Wash your face and neck with warm water and a gentle cleanser; it will help remove dirt and excess sebum so that bacteria do not get into micro-cuts and cause inflammation.
- Apply a shaving product. Choose a product: foam, cream, or shaving gel. They will soften the stubble, reduce friction with the blade on the skin, and protect against irritation. Foam is suitable for most skin types and provides excellent glide. Cream has a thicker texture; it is better to choose it for those with sensitive and dry skin. But transparent gel allows you to see the shaving area and therefore is ideal for shaping the contours of the beard and moustache.
- Shave. It is important to properly prepare the skin and follow the shaving technique, first moving the razor in the direction of hair growth or across it. Shaving against the grain, although it gives smoothness, often only irritates the skin more. If the hairs have grown a lot, it is better to first shorten them with a trimmer and then go over them with a razor that has maximum contact with the skin to achieve smoothness. With your free hand, stretch the skin to create an even surface. Shave in the direction of hair growth with short, smooth movements; this will remove the bulk of the stubble.If you need to achieve perfectly smooth skin, you can make a second pass across or against the grain. Do this carefully to avoid irritation.
- Do post-shave care. After the procedure, wash off the shaving cream with warm, but not hot, water so as not to provoke the production of sebum, especially if you are already prone to oily skin.
Men’s skin is different from women’s: It is denser and rougher, more prone to oiliness, and less susceptible to dehydration. Due to high testosterone levels, it ages more slowly and stays elastic longer. But there are also disadvantages: frequent shaving irritates the skin of the face, and microtraumas lead to inflammation and ingrown hairs. Therefore, it is important to use shaving products that soothe, relieve inflammation, and help restore the skin’s protective barrier.
How to shave properly with an electric razor
- Prepare your skin for shaving. Wash your face with warm water and a mild cleanser to remove dirt and oil. If you have long stubble, trim the long hairs first with a trimmer.
- Steam your face well—you can do this by taking a shower or applying a hot towel. Next, apply pre-shave oil, which is necessary if you are using a hot compress. After that, you can use shaving gel or foam.Shave. Wet the razor periodically in hot water at an angle of 30 degrees, stretch the skin well, and move the razor in the direction of hair growth.If necessary, wet your face with warm water and move the razor diagonally against the hair growth to achieve smoothness. Proceed with caution: avoid applying excessive pressure to the razor as it may lead to irritation.
- Do post-shave care. Apply a cold compress with a towel or wash with cold water. Apply an aftershave lotion, preferably alcohol-based, to “burn” the inflamed area of skin and protect it from bacteria. You can also use moisturizer.
How do you shave with a straight razor?
- Prepare for shaving. Steam your face in the shower or with a hot towel. Wash your face with warm water and a mild cleanser. Use shaving foam or cream to ensure excellent glide and skin protection. Whip up the foam with a brush—it will lift the hairs and make shaving easier—or apply the cream evenly to the shaving area.
- Shave. Use your free hand to pull the skin in the shaving area taut, creating an even surface. Shave with short, smooth, undercutting movements. Do not slide or press on the face. Shave in the direction of hair growth; this will remove the bulk of the stubble. For greater smoothness, you can make a second pass across or against the hair growth. It is important to be careful; this can injure the skin. Barber Vasily Nosov recommends going over it twice: first in the direction of hair growth, then diagonally.
- Do aftershave care. Rinse your face with cool water. Apply aftershave lotion or balm. Hold the shavette with two fingers—the index finger and the thumb. Place the tip of the shavette between the fingers. The angle to the skin should be approximately 35 to 45 degrees. The smaller it is, the less likely it is to cut.
Aftershave care
- Salons cool the skin after shaving. At home, this is not necessary—just wash off the gel or foam and apply an aftershave. Choose one that not only soothes but also moisturises, prevents ingrown hairs and inflammation, and reduces swelling. The product should absorb quickly and not leave a sticky feeling. Paying attention to squalane and bisabolol in the composition; they soften and strengthen the protective barrier of the skin.
- If your skin is sensitive, try shaving in the evening to give it time to recover, then apply a soothing and restorative gel.
- For dry skin, choose a product with a thick, creamy texture. For ageing skin, use a fluid with rejuvenating components. And if you have skin, pay attention to products with azelaic acid, which fights hyperkeratosis, acne, and ingrown hairs.
- Before and after shaving, you should wash the razor and spray it with any alcohol-containing antiseptic.
