Shaving tips: My shaving routine
I’m not going to claim that this is the perfect shaving routine, but it’s what I’ve been doing after reading a lot of articles about how to shave better–more comfortably and closer.
Just a simple shaving routine
I have a moustache, soul patch (the thing under your lower lip), and a bit of chin whiskers (try as I might, I can’t grow the classic Web 2.0 goatee). Which means that they need to be trimmed. I trim everyday and I have a nifty trimmer with settings for length so my chin and moustache are setting 4 and soul patch 3. I trim before I shower because I find the little bit of oil on my skin helps the trimmer glide on my face. Also, dry whiskers are stiffer than damp, which makes it easier for them to be trimmed.
I shave after I shower and for the opposite reason, after a shower whiskers are softer and easier to shave with a razor. Yeah I know, go figure.
Some mornings I exfoliate. Yes, really. I found some great stuff, okay it was a gift from a girlfriend when she closed her salon, from Woody’s. Smells pretty good and all I need to do is scrub my face and let it sit for about a minute then rinse. Does it help? Yeah I think so.
That clean, close shave is easy
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Okay, so here comes another tip … soak your razor in the sink with hot water before you start shaving. Turns out that a warmed razor shaves better. Have I done a comparison? Not yet, but that’s a great idea.
So I’m out of the shower, sometimes freshly exfoliated, with clean skin and softened whiskers. I run the hot water in the sink, soaking my razor as above, and re-wet my face. Why re-wet? Why not just not dry my face? Because I wear glasses. Simple as that.
Face wet, next comes the shaving cream du jour which right now is another Woody’s product–Woody’s foaming gel, they have a whole pre, shaving, and post line–, but what ever you use just the right amount for your face and whiskers. For the foamy stuff about a golf ball is good. Gel, something between a nickel and quarter is good I’ve found.
Rub it in, of course, get a nice lather going. I do circles myself to get the stuff around all the face fur.
Next comes the shaving part.
Shave, rinse, repeat
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Every guy I know has their own routine for shaving. Where you start on your face, direction, etc. Here are a few tips I’ve read and found. Your cheeks are generally where the less-coarse whiskers are, so I start there. One, then the other.
Here is a key. Rinse your razor often. This keeps the blades clean and clear for a better shave.
I do my neck, then around my moustache, etc. These are where the toughest whiskers generally are. If you don’t have a moustache/lip caterpillar–do that last. These are always the toughest whiskers.
Against the grain, closer with a cost
Most folks will tell you that shaving with the grain of your beard is better for you and your skin. However we guys all know that shaving against the grain (up strokes on cheeks and neck for example) will get you a closer shave. What’s the deal?
Well here’s what I know. Shaving against the grain will, no doubt, get you a closer shave, but you also run the risk of getting an ingrown hair. Had one? Yeah, they suck. To reduce that risk, just don’t go over that area more than a couple times. I’d also guess that not shaving with the grain then against would be a good idea too.
Aftershave, cologne, balm?
This is probably one of the biggest questions I’ve read about. What’s the right thing to do after you rinse the extra stuff off and dry?
Right now, I don’t have the answer for you, but I know that sometimes I put on some balm (especially if I haven’t shaved for a few days)–again Woody’s post-shave rescue is great, but most often I just spray on some aftershave/cologne (Burberry Brit).
Why? Simple, my girlfriend, and just about every woman I’ve met, loves that stuff. Duh.
Now it’s your turn. What’s your best shaving tip?
Tags: grooming, men, razors, shaving tips, Shaving tips for menRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Men's cologne and scents, Shaving tips for men, Skin care for men
10 opinions for Shaving tips: My shaving routine
Wade Rockett
Apr 11, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I shave in the shower, as the last thing I do. I turn the hot water up a bit and use it to thoroughly wet my face before shaving.
I shave with the grain and then against it, because one of the guys on Queer Eye said to. But if I’m in a hurry, I just shave against the grain. I’ve never had an ingrown hair - something like that might lead me to change my shaving ways.
Now, at one time I would start with an electric shaver to whittle the coarser whiskers down to size, then use the safety razor and cream. After several years I stopped doing that just because cleaning electric shavers is a pain.
Tris Hussey
Apr 12, 2008 at 6:41 am
Great tips Wade. I’ve heard shaving in the shower is good for a better shave and your skin. Unfortunately even if I had a fog-free mirror, shaving without my glasses is just a bad thing.
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Apr 13, 2008 at 7:37 am
[…] Manscaping 101, a blog devoted to men’s grooming. So far, he’s posted articles on shaving to saving money on razors to styling your hair to cologne to the standard definition of […]
sloot
Apr 13, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Even when I’m shaving, it’s a once a week kindof thing. If I’ve left it too long between , I’ll use the beard trimmer on it before starting my shave.
Next I’ll shave with the grain with a double edged old-style blade, then with the grain with a modern triple blade cartridge razor. If I want the shave to last, I finish with an against the grain shave using the modern triple blade.
Here’s a topic for you: Beard trimmers, what to look for, stupid useless features to avoid, and how much I should expect to pay for one. (The one I have is ancient, and needs to be replaced. I don’t want the next one to die in a year)
Tris Hussey
Apr 13, 2008 at 3:23 pm
You know I’ve seen several references to the old double-edged razors still being the best for shaving. I sense an experiment coming.
Good idea on the beard trimmer. I have a Phillips one that I’m pretty happy with, but I did go for bare bones.
Jason
Apr 13, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I actually started with a DE razor, (talk about saving money on blades), and I can not remember why I switched away. Never had an issue with it, I have been thinking about switching back.
For reference on this subject may I offer the Shave Tutor: http://www.youtube.com/user/mantic59
He has a bunch of good info on both DE razors and wet shaving in general.
Tris Hussey
Apr 13, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I’m going to give him a look and even start looking for a good old DE. Never tried them, but they are supposed to still give the best shave.
Jason
Apr 14, 2008 at 6:47 pm
According to ShaveTutor the trick is to do multi-pass shaving. I have not re-aquired a DE yet, but I plan on it eventually.
I have a Shick Quattro at the moment, it is fine but I am not sure if it is any better than my old DE was. It has been a while and I *am* sure I didn’t really know how to use it back then.
Tris Hussey
Apr 14, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Yes, I agree. I’m going to look for the post that talks about how to use a DE razor. I remember that angle is everything.
Michael
Jul 4, 2008 at 5:53 am
This is my first post but I thought I’d throw in my two cents…I’m in the Air Force and HAVE to shave my face everyday and due to genetics, I’m also shaving my head otherwise I’d have that puff of hair that everyone seemed to stare at. The closest and best shave I ever had was with an old fashioned straight razor and the guy that did it took about 45 mins to shave my face. He went with the grain, across the grain and ended with against the grain. I was convinced that I’d have ingrown hairs all over my face…to my amazement I didn’t have any and I DIDN’T have to shave for three days!!! Back to my daily routine. My beard is super coarse so I shave in the shower using a Gillette Fusion. I start with my head and shave against the grain for a super smooth result, then I move on to my face. down the sides, across the jawbone and finally up my neck. My neck is the only place on my face that I’m going against the grain. I’ve seen several posts on here praising the old DE but in my case I need the wide area the Fusion provides to keep me from scalping myself.
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