Shaving is so easy! A shave should not feel like a chore nor should it leave your skin feeling raw! A little time and effort invested in your face should lead to an enjoyable experience and great results every time.

So treat your face right and either watch our shaving guide videos or follow our five simple shaving tips below for a smoother, closer, more comfortable shave with less irritation...

1: WASH

Cleanse your face first with a quality face wash or a gentle exfoliating scrub. Giving your stubble a good wash and soak with plenty of warm water will soften the bristles. Wet stubble is so much easier to cut, which means less tug and pull, less irritation and more comfort. Ideally you should shave during (or straight after) a warm bath or shower and it can save time too!

Tip: You can also use our Shave Gels as a pre-shave face wash or beard shampoo.

Tip: Don’t use a face scrub every day unless it is specifically designed as a daily use product. By over exfoliating, you may actually make your skin greasier as it tries to cope with the loss of moisture caused by the scrub.

2: MASSAGE IN

Work your shave gel, cream, oil or serum thoroughly into your stubble or beard ensuring it is all evenly covered especially any sensitive or rash-prone areas. Massaging the shave prep in helps lift the bristles making them easier to shave (so fewer missed ones) plus it ensures even coverage.

The shave prep forms a thin lubricating barrier between your skin and the razor blade and this is the bit of the shave prep that does all the important work. Any lather on-top does not actually do anything except obscure your view!

Tip: Really want some foam? Squeeze some shave gel into a wet shaving brush, work into a lather and then apply to your face.

3: SHAVE

Whatever your razor of choice, a clean and sharp blade is a must-have! If your blade feels blunt then replace it before shaving.

Take it slow and steady. Don’t rush.

Don’t press too hard.

Rinse the razor frequently in warm, soapy water to help prevent clogging and to ensure you get the most bristles in a single pass. Shaving against the direction of hair growth is a major cause of razor burn, redness and rashes. So try to shave in the direction of your hairs’ growth as this will reduce tug and pull and lessen the chance of irritation.

Generally speaking this is down on the cheeks / chin and upwards on the neck. If you are at all unsure, run your finger across your stubble to see which direction the hair is growing.

Take special care when shaving around the sensitive neck area.

For heavy stubble or several days’ growth focus on short gentle strokes and thorough rinsing.

If closeness is a problem, re-apply your shave prep and try shaving carefully across the grain (XTG) in a second pass.

Tip: Only a few missed bristles separate a good shave from a great shave. Use your finger tips to feel for any missed bristles before you finish and rinse.

4: RINSE

Rinsing well with cool water will help to remove any residual shave prep and shaving debris from your skin and from any facial hair.

It also helps close up the skin’s pores, leaving your skin naturally better protected.

Then pat your face dry with a clean towel. Do not rub as this can cause irritation to your freshly exposed skin.

5: MOISTURISE

Even a great shave, with great prep and a great razor will inevitably strip away some of your skin’s natural defences. Skin is amazing stuff and in time it will recover its natural moisture balance all on its own. However, applying a post shave balm or moisturiser immediately after shaving or washing will help trap in moisture and speed up its natural recovery process.

Ideally use a moisturiser or balm with UVA / UVB filters or with a sun protection factor (SPF) – the sun and wind can be very damaging to your skin so these will further help to protect your face and help prevent signs of ageing.

Tip: Don’t apply aftershave to your face, the days of ‘splash it all over’ are long gone. Aftershave is primarily made from alcohol and, like soap, it has a drying effect on your skin. To wear aftershave or a fragrance, simply apply it to the back of your neck or your wrists.

Tip: For optimum razor blade life, after use shake off excess water and allow your blade / cartridge to air dry naturally before storing. If you have a blade guard or handle holder, use them to help keep the highly engineered blades in prime condition.

More shaving tips...

If you are interested in shaving your legs, underarms or bikini area then we have put together a guide for you here.

HOW TO SHAVE PROPERLY

Or watch our short video guide for some key tips on how to get a great shave.