How to Get the Best Shave

The New Zealand made double edged safety razor with a single blade will give you the really close shave you have been looking for without causing any irritation to your face. If you have shaving products that work for you and that you enjoy using then stick with them. For those seeking the classic wet shave and want to appreciate the art of shaving like your grandfather did then read on.

Before you start to shave your face massage a soap or facial scrub containing only natural ingredients into the beard and leave it there for a few minutes to prime the hair follicles. I do this whilst in the shower. Then rinse and this will remove dead skin cells too. If you haven't the time for a shower use a hot, wet face cloth and leave it on your face for a minute or two. The more you can soften the beard and relax your skin the better the shaving experience will be. There are some preshave products on the market and the ones I have tried tend not to work.

Now fill a sink with hot water, dip your shaving brush into the water, shake off excess then swirl lightly into a natural shaving soap. The reason you use a shaving brush is that just a small quantity of shaving soap is enough for a workable lather. Apply the shaving brush to the face in a circular motion. This will whip up a thick moist lather lifting each hair of your beard whilst protecting and lubricating the skin.

Take your time as you shave. Always shave with the grain of your hair, this is the direction the hairs grow so check your neck to see if it grows in the same direction as you face. The simplest method is to run your fingertip down your cheek prior to a shave, does it run smoothly? Now run your fingertip in the opposite direction, does it feel like sandpaper and make a scratchy sound? Shave in the direction that's smoothest, there is no need to press on just let the your razor's blade do the work.

Hold the razor like you would a fountain pen or table knife, The razor will feel weighty and balance nicely so that the blade is about 45 degrees to your face. Use your spare hand and facial muscles to hold your face gently taut creating a flat surface for the blade to glide over. Take slow, short strokes first to build confidence, rinsing your razor in the sink after each stroke. Once you feel confident and you want that smooth as baby's bum close shave then re-lather and shave lightly across or against the grain. You simply won't get a smoother closer shave than this.

If you suffer from irritation during or after shaving then check out the tips on shaving with sensitive skin.